If you've never been to Air Combat USA

[Golfer]

I have a (poor!) quality video I put together.

Right click, Save as.
The Movie

I couldn't figure out a way to make VCR go to computer so I video taped it with my handycam hence the odd coloring.  Hence the poor quality and small size.

It's 9:00 long so I had to make it very small to be managable for my uploading capabilities at the moment (woo hoo dialup!) but here it is.

You know my foe as "RV6" from these boards and in the game.  The date of the fight was 16 May, 2003.  A date which will live infamy.

First off is running the takeoff checklist and an IFR departure out of Lancaster, PA.  We climb on top and are clear by 3000' picking our way around VFR out to the west to an area roughly where Gettysburg should be.

Gunsight tracking and general handling and then we get on the fight.  Because RV6 and I are hot shot AH jocks we set a rule where we can't be coached during the fight by the IPs.  This was a mistake for me since I got my butt kicked.  AreVee has around 25hrs in Marchettis and had done this several times.  I was a student pilot (a whopping 40 or so hours and earned my private ticked a month later) at the time and of course was (and still am) ace of the base.

I cut some highlights and what not but this was a day I won't soon forget.  If I figure out a way to make the VHS tape get to the computer with what I've got laying around I'll make something more high quality.

I wind up flying into the ground twice and the remaining fights RV6 wound up on my six and I just couldn't shake the bugger.  Try as I might even with various rolling reversals and at one point a vertical scissors I couldn't make myself best the experienced and deadly AreVeeSix

RV6

[Seagoon]

Hi Golfer,

Originally posted by Golfer
I wind up flying into the ground twice

I'm assuming you mean that you went below the altitude they established as the "hard deck" twice, rather than that you destroyed two aircraft that day?

[Midnight]

Damn "Hard-Deck"

I "crashed" into that pesky ground on the 3rd engagement.

I need to go back and do that again. It is one experience that must be tried. Save your $$ and make it happen for yourself.

http://www.aircombatusa.com

It's awesome, even if you can't really fit into the cockpit... like me, trying to fly with the stick between my knees and unable to get my feet onto the rudder peddals.

[Golfer]

No seagoon I chucked two airplanes:(  One into a mountainside where the Dalai Lama blessed me with eternal consciousness, and the other into a lake with a nudist beach right on the water at which only females ages 18-24 were allowed to attend.

If I'm going to be "walking home" might as well make it an enjoyable experience

And Midnight...how big are you???  Marchetti cockpit is a little limited in height but my 6'0 and hardly in shape self fit into it just fine.  Did you go by Andre in a former professional life?

[midnight Target]

He's 4'11" but weighs 450 lbs.

[Midnight]

Originally posted by Golfer
And Midnight...how big are you???  Marchetti cockpit is a little limited in height but my 6'0 and hardly in shape self fit into it just fine.  Did you go by Andre in a former professional life?

Little old me? 6'6", 230lbs. Also to make the fit even tighter, I've got a size 17 foot... (That's 13" heel-to-toe without boots)

[Golfer]

Need to change your handle to "Andre" ya friggin giant!

I just watched the video...I really need to send the VHS right into the computer.

[Midnight]

LOL... If I had a working VCR, I'd tell you to send me the video. I've got a video in on my PC card.

[kevykev56]

From the Air Combat site
All flights must be scheduled and flown within one year of purchase.
Guest pilots must weigh less than 250 lbs and stand no taller than 6' 7".
 

That keeps me out of the cockpit also...   I was seriously thinking of doing this soon also. Maybe its time to start that diet....    LOL>>>> Nah...I think I will just wait until they build bigger cockpits.

[nirvana]

I'd have to fly or drive somewhere to do it  What a disappointment.