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Totally Frivolous Plane Ride!

tapwatertapwater Member Posts: 10,336 ✭✭✭
edited July 2015 in General Discussion
..I went and did something totally frivolous today. Went down to the Kankakee airport and
booked an aerobatic flight in a Boeing Stearman. I had the old fashioned cloth flying "helmet"
with earphones and mike, plus a parachute. The pilot said he'd tell me if we had to get out but
if I looked in the mirror and he was gone.....GET OUT!

..He let me have the stick on the way up to 5-6,000 ft. I can still make coordinated turns and climb
straight. We did loops, spins, hammerheads and aileron rolls for almost a half hour. I can't get this
silly grin off my face. I found out that I definitely prefer a stick to a yoke. (I thought I would.)
You haven't lived until you're spinning toward the ground, Altitude indicator spinning like it's
motorized, in an open cockpit!

..Here's a link to the organization and their planes. This brings up the Stearman first.

http://www.airpowersquadron.org/#!boeing-stearman/c1bay

Comments

  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,518 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Wild and Wonderful.
  • Ditch-RunnerDitch-Runner Member Posts: 25,366 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    good for you
    sounds like a fantastic ride .

    I would never make it not sure what its called I sure there is medical term I have ( chicken or puzzzzzzy maybe is what I call it ) but any spinning looping at the amusement park rids do me in big time in a plane it would take a week to clean it out [:I][:I]
  • savage170savage170 Member Posts: 37,569 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I done something similar only in a T-6 Texan. I done that about 7 years ago I still grin about it
  • Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,493 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Wunnerful, ain't it? Nothing like a few nip ups, whifferdills, and inverted rat's * with a stick in your hand.

    May you someday experience the same thing - in a jet.
    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    After being in a condemned cummuter plane and a C-130 doing "combat drops" and "tactical takeoffs" I am done with crazy flying!!!

    Picture this, pilot with a heavy Russian accent "we will be arriving at the Baghdad International Airport in a few minutes" then all of a sudden the plane nose dives into a corkscrew, comes back level and bounces off the runway.

    Or crammed into a C-130 in Afghan like a bunch of sardines at night and the plane goes what feels like totally verticle!!

    I know there are far worse rides to be had in a hostile area, I know what I went through is nothing compared to what others have done but for me it was enough!
  • tapwatertapwater Member Posts: 10,336 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Rocky Raab
    Wunnerful, ain't it? Nothing like a few nip ups, whifferdills, and inverted rat's * with a stick in your hand.

    May you someday experience the same thing - in a jet.


    ..This was a last minute bucket list idea. Now you've got me to
    thinking about the step up to a jet. My pilot in charge was really
    good at keeping the G's pretty close to neutral except in a few
    attitudes where there was a lot of positive.
  • dcon12dcon12 Member Posts: 32,038 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by tapwater
    quote:Originally posted by Rocky Raab
    Wunnerful, ain't it? Nothing like a few nip ups, whifferdills, and inverted rat's * with a stick in your hand.

    May you someday experience the same thing - in a jet.


    ..This was a last minute bucket list idea. Now you've got me to
    thinking about the step up to a jet. My pilot in charge was really
    good at keeping the G's pretty close to neutral except in a few
    attitudes where there was a lot of positive.



    Damn! I got get me a bucket! Don
  • woodshed87woodshed87 Member Posts: 23,478 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Didnt you just get Yer Guts Fixed
    What The hell Are You thinkin'[:0]
  • Ray BRay B Member Posts: 11,822
    edited November -1
    My flying instructor did that and a few strafing runs in a Piper Colt.[8D]
  • pwilliepwillie Member Posts: 20,253 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ....always wanted to fly a bi-plane with open cockpit!
  • tapwatertapwater Member Posts: 10,336 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by woodshed87
    Didnt you just get Yer Guts Fixed
    What The hell Are You thinkin'[:0]


    ..No Woody, no gut issues lately, but with all my health issues, what's it gonna hurt? There's a bolt head that sticks too far out of my spine and it's been years since the bleeding ulcer and finger amputation. They say I have mild, transient epilepsy but I don't believe them. I want to do as much fun stuff as I can while I still can.
  • jimdeerejimdeere Member, Moderator Posts: 26,272 ******
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by dcon12
    quote:Originally posted by tapwater
    quote:Originally posted by Rocky Raab
    Wunnerful, ain't it? Nothing like a few nip ups, whifferdills, and inverted rat's * with a stick in your hand.

    May you someday experience the same thing - in a jet.


    ..This was a last minute bucket list idea. Now you've got me to
    thinking about the step up to a jet. My pilot in charge was really
    good at keeping the G's pretty close to neutral except in a few
    attitudes where there was a lot of positive.



    Damn! I got get me a bucket! Don


    Better get two. They fill up fast.[8D]
  • WarbirdsWarbirds Member Posts: 16,934 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    That sounds awesome!
  • tapwatertapwater Member Posts: 10,336 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Dave W.
    That sounds awesome!


    ..It was. It was good to fly a little again. My neck is a little sore
    today. I don't think it was from the aerobatics as much as me just
    rubber-necking, trying to keep a focus point to avoid disorientation.
  • spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,717 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    still resisting getting an ultralight aircraft..have used up 4 of the 9 already and don't feel i should push it
  • Don McManusDon McManus Member Posts: 23,690 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Putting a B-17 ride in my bucket later this summer.

    Hopefully it does not go aerobatic.
    Freedom and a submissive populace cannot co-exist.

    Brad Steele
  • tapwatertapwater Member Posts: 10,336 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Don McManus
    Putting a B-17 ride in my bucket later this summer.

    Hopefully it does not go aerobatic.



    ..A few years back, I had the chance but the B-17 was booked up. I "settled" on the B-24 Liberator. Once in the air, we had the run of the aircraft. Went up to the bomb sight, the tail gun and everywhere.

    ..Me scanning for ME-109's
    [img][/img]waistgunner.jpg
  • GrasshopperGrasshopper Member Posts: 17,040 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Good for you Dale,,don't die wishing you had done something,,,[:I][:)]
    I am thinking about the milf neighbor now,,no wait,,the Mrs. wouldn't like it and I would die today.[:o)]
  • tapwatertapwater Member Posts: 10,336 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ..They also had a B-29, B-17, P-51 Mustang, F4U Corsair, SBD Dauntless and a C-45 Expeditor, all available for rides.
  • tapwatertapwater Member Posts: 10,336 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ..Know what one of the best parts of the day was? There was a bus load of veterans from a local vets home there, all in wheelchairs. I saw they were short on help so I volunteered to push some of the old guys down the flight line. There were even a couple WWII vets among them.
    ..They were interesting fellas. I asked about volunteering at the home and was told they were always short of help, even if it was to just sit and listen to the residents...Maybe I got a checkmark in the "good deed" column..[^]
  • andrewsw16andrewsw16 Member Posts: 10,728 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    For those afraid of being airsick, a little secret I found out. It is really easy to get queezy when you are just a passenger. But, if you are the one in control, it just doesn't seem to happen. I've have numerous friends up in a Cessna and had them start complaining they were going to puke. I told them to put their hands on the yoke and I let go. I then talked them through some basic control movements and they totally lost their airsickness. I think it is something to do with being able to "feel" the aircraft and anticipate movement that you don't get when you are just a passive passenger. So, if you get a chance to pilot a plane, even in aerobatics, take it. I doubt you will get sick. [:D]
  • tapwatertapwater Member Posts: 10,336 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ..Andrew, at first the pilot kept checking with me to make sure I wouldn't puke in his Stearman. Finally, he said that as long as he saw that big smile in the mirror, he knew I was okay. I was watching the controls and instruments at times, just to learn and it steadied me also.
    ..When training in Cessna 152's and 172's, I had the controls from checklist to landing and never felt a tinge a airsickness. I think you have a good point...[^]

    ..Addition: I make for an awful passenger in a car if someone else is driving!
  • Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,493 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Very true. Now you know why it's sometimes tough to be an instructor pilot. And also why your IP may suddenly decide to demonstrate a maneuver to you!
    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
  • tapwatertapwater Member Posts: 10,336 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ..Rocky, when it comes to flying, I take your word as Gospel. Thanks for chiming in. I take it as a compliment. You still have me pondering about that jet experience. My better half says "Go do what you want to do while you can." Isn't she a peach?...[^]
  • Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,493 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm the one honored, good sir. All I can do is toss in a tidbit or two from my life's experiences.

    If you get to that jet, here's one major tip: You almost never actually move the stick to do maneuvers. Pressure is all it takes. In many cases, just THINKING about pressure does it. Only in low speed or for very violent moves do you move the stick. I used to do lazy 8s and have the student hold the stick to see if it moved. None of them ever detected any motion, and we flew lazy 8s to 90? of bank and 45? nose high and low.
    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,690 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,

    And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

    Sunwards I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth

    Of sun-split clouds - and done a thousand things

    You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung

    High in the sunlit silence. Hovering there,

    I've chased the shouting wind along and flung

    My eager craft through footless halls of air,

    Up, up the long delirious burning blue

    I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,

    Where never lark, or even eagle, flew;

    And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

    The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

    Put out my hand, and touched the face of god.


    High Flight
    by John Magee
  • tapwatertapwater Member Posts: 10,336 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ..Very nice Allen. I've read that before. It would be more fitting if I were the pilot in charge. It's still very pertinent, especially in the presence of folks like Rocky, you and so many others here. We all have those sleep "flying" dreams. I take those as a sign that it's something we should do, however rare and fleeting.
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