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Author Topic: Another way of flying  (Read 294 times)

Offline CyranoAH

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Another way of flying
« on: October 25, 2003, 09:39:18 AM »
Today was my first flight with a Bücker 131 Jungmann, a biplane from the 30s, open canopy... and I am so in love with this plane.

It's like getting in a time machine... the wind in your face, the old dials, magneto selection lever almost identical to the ones in Me109 (if I'm not mistaken, german Me109 pilots trained in the Jungmann), and the demanding landing procedures (narrow gear track)... one can't help but fall in love with this machine once you fly it.

Oh, and a note related to the Chuck Yeager thread: I flew with a gentleman who is 78 years old, and has flown this plane for more than 55, with more than 3000 hrs flight time and roughtly 29.000 landings (he's been teaching with this plane for a long time).
Best thing is he knows how to fly this plane by memory, so I've been able to fly the plane 90% of the time, with slight corrections when needed.

This is the exact one I flew today:


Gotta get me a pair of thick gloves tho, it's cold up there!! :D

Daniel
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Offline Bonden

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Another way of flying
« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2003, 12:37:20 PM »
Anyone who gets to fly an aircraft like that is standing at the door - when opportunity knocks.    

Enjoy Daniel :cool:
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Offline Furball

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Another way of flying
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2003, 01:05:38 PM »
very very nice plane, german equivalent of the tiger moth if im not mistaken.  

:p
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Offline Tarmac

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Another way of flying
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2003, 01:50:03 PM »
Nothing like an open cockpit biplane.  Had the opportunity to take a ride in a Tiger Moth two years ago.  The whole experience just makes you sigh and say "those were the days."

I envy you for being able to fly it.  My five minutes of simple turns and a deliberate stall (which the pilot had to help me recover from :) ) couldn't possibly compare to really flying one.
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Offline Curval

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Another way of flying
« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2003, 03:13:02 PM »
Really cool.

Geoffrey Bird flew a few trainers that were bi-planes as well as the Swordfish he started his sevice in.

I can't remember which one it was but there was one bi-plane he flew at the Dayton Airshow.  He said that out of all the planes he had ever flown, that one was his favourite and if he could see properly (bad glaucoma) he would own one.

Don't think it was this one...sounds too German.  ;)
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Offline Tarmac

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Another way of flying
« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2003, 04:07:09 PM »
I remember Mr. Bird talking about his trainer aircraft, too.  Can't remember what he flew though.  Since he trained in Michigan, I'd guess it was a Stearman.  Looking at the roster for the Dayton Airshow, there was a Stearman there.  Designation PT-17 for army, can't remember the naval designation off the top of my head.  NS-1 or NS-2, something like that.  

http://www.warbirdalley.com/pt17.htm

If he did some training back in the UK, it was probably a Tiger Moth.  

http://www.msu.edu/~mccar130/TigerMothTim2.jpg

(that's me in the front seat, btw  :D )
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Offline Tarmac

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Another way of flying
« Reply #6 on: October 25, 2003, 04:13:18 PM »
And Curval, I was looking up the Grosse Ile Airport (where Mr. Bird trained in the States) as something to talk about when I sent him that email a few weeks ago.  Figured you might be interested too.  Site's pretty lousy, but it's got a small aerial photo of the place.

http://www.grosseileairport.com/index.htm

I'd like to get out there one of these days (it's fairly close to my parents' house; maybe a 40 minute drive) and snap some pictures.
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Offline Curval

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Another way of flying
« Reply #7 on: October 25, 2003, 04:15:55 PM »
Stearman..that was it.  :)

Thanks for the site...very interesting seeing that.
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Some will fall in love with life and drink it from a fountain that is pouring like an avalanche coming down the mountain
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