I had a similarly memorable ride in a Pitts too. I was doing the ground school part of a Flight Instructor's course at the airfield. One of the guys on the course is now a very well known aerobatic pilot in Ireland. At lunchtime he went to the hangar and started pulling out a Pitts Special. I jokingly said 'I'll help you if you give me a ride in the Pitts.' A short time later strapped securely into the little biplane. I was wondering at the wisdom of my joke!
The take off was followed by a near vertical climb to the edge of the stall. The rest was much like Mechanic's experience. I knew how to brace for positive G but you can do little for negative G. It was flying unlike any other I had experienced. It felt like you were balanced on a pin. Think loop and you did it. Think roll and you were upside down in a screaming dive. At one point I banged my head on the canopy.
When we got back to the field. He put on a quick low level display for the boys below. I felt pretty woozy and dizzy by then but didn't care. I thought, 'If we go in from this, I'll die happy'.
Afterward I felt a bit sick until I ate my lunch but my head was spinning for hours afterward. I could barely concentrate in class. Plus the next day my shoulder was sore and stayed that way for weeks. But it was worth it.
Recently he flew into the field where I'm based for fuel after an air display and I reminded him of that ride. This time he was in an Extra 300. I didn't ask for a ride this time! As he taxied out he blew smoke in my face and then treated us to quick display.
Brilliant!
