So, Earl, what was it like to fly?
Surprisingly, it was a "kitty kat" on the ground because of the wide spaced landing gear, 2 tail wheels and tons of power. First thing you have to get used to is that "other" ponie in the corner of your eye! Not being a trained fighter pilot, doing formation takeoffs and etc, it took me a few minutes to get to where I just ignored what was in the corner of my eye!
If I remember correctly, 3 degrees right rudder trim, although with the counter rotating props, torque and "P" factor was not a factor like in the single ponie. Thing climbed like a nothing I had ever flown, with 45 inches and 2750RPM, if I remember correctly again, 5K per min on the ROC and you better be getting ahead of this thing, if you wanted to level off at a certain altitude! Easy on just about everything you wanted to do in it! Slow rolls were very easy, as you didn't really have to do much except dance on the rudders to keep the nose on what ever you had picked out on the horizon. If you couldn't do a slow roll, plus or minus 50 feet in altitude management, you couldn't do one at all.
Off to "Pig" one, target range in the gulf, a target barge anchored 5 mile off shore, did some slow low passes to get used to the 6 guns mounted together in the center wing section. Wow! I would hate to be on the other end of that spray of .50 cals. We had the rocket trees on that bird, but no rockets, tried that later. Solid platform for gunnery of any kind!
Spins were restricted, it would go "flat" after about 3 turns, but we did all the other stall stuff, power on, gear and flaps out, it would just nod its head, level out and start flying again. Hammerheads were a joy, easy with two throttles to work with. Accelerated stalls were a blast, because it would snap into a spin before you could blink a eye, but a little opposite throttle and rudder and she just flew right off.
Landings were easy, again the wide gear. Used 200IAS and a 360 degree overhead approach, bleeding speed to 100IAS over the fence, and try to roll level just as you crossed the end of the runway. It was very sable in all flight attitudes, so a novice like me didn't have much trouble with it. Had about 5.5 hours in it I think. Lost all my flight logs and etc in house fire in 88, but I think that was about right.
It was a great aircraft, just got to the war 2 years to late. I don't think any every saw any action of any kind until the Korean thing!
