Author Topic: ride in a pitts  (Read 658 times)

Offline mechanic

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Re: ride in a pitts
« Reply #15 on: September 26, 2010, 04:14:47 PM »
Congratulations man, that's an awesome looking ride!

Outside view of your tumble.

http://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/299768/bi-plane-tumble-flat-spin.html


Similar typ of thing but very different to the one he did on me. He induced the tumble from level flight, there was no climb into the move. Just straight from level flight at 140 speed and flips into the tumble instantly.

He said it was a Lomcovak i think. He mentioned two types of tumble that sounded the same, one was a lomcovak and the other i forget. We did the more advanced move of the two. The plane we were flying is owned by a pilot named Alan Cassidy, if anyone knows of him. Bruce knows him very well.
thanks for checking out the story guys
S!


edit..... hey Cyrano, they had an Extra 300 i think it was, sitting on the tarmac. They said that the insurance is not worth it to take people for joyrides in it anymore :(
« Last Edit: September 26, 2010, 04:19:27 PM by mechanic »
And I don't know much, but I do know this. With a golden heart comes a rebel fist.

Offline cpxxx

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Re: ride in a pitts
« Reply #16 on: September 27, 2010, 03:37:00 AM »
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!

Offline Shuffler

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Re: ride in a pitts
« Reply #17 on: September 27, 2010, 08:47:33 AM »
WOW GREAT POST!!

Long??? I hung on your every word. Glad you had that great experience and a good time.

I have a customer in Laporte that is refurbishing a russian jet trainer for shows. As soon as it is finished and checked out we are going up in it. I'm looking forward to the ride.

We have built several items for this machine.
80th FS "Headhunters"

S.A.P.P.- Secret Association Of P-38 Pilots (Lightning In A Bottle)

Offline mechanic

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Re: ride in a pitts
« Reply #18 on: September 27, 2010, 12:33:38 PM »
 Thanks for those posts guys, it is so enjoyable to hear similar experiences. Quite a wonderfull thing to experience one's self but also wonderfull to read other's experiences in the same type of situations. I cannot imagine what flying a fighter jet must feel like. Please anyone feel free to share their flights, I love to read about these things.

And I don't know much, but I do know this. With a golden heart comes a rebel fist.