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General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: rllong on February 13, 2010, 10:50:49 AM

Title: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: rllong on February 13, 2010, 10:50:49 AM
I actually got around 30 minutes of stick time in a P-51 last year at Oshkosh and put together a little video of the experiance, although it did not help my flying in Aces High, still die a lot..lol. Going back this year and planning to get a full hour of duel instruction logged in my logbook.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UdaK-rBPuI
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: infowars on February 13, 2010, 11:14:23 AM
Wow,  that's so cool.  Wtg bro
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: FireDrgn on February 13, 2010, 11:16:17 AM
Its official  i hate you. :devil    LOL   WTG  U lucky bastage.
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: TonyJoey on February 13, 2010, 12:14:12 PM
Nice! I've sat in the cockpit of that exact plane before, but didn't get to fly it. :aok
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: MutleyBR on February 13, 2010, 01:17:33 PM
Lucky you!  :aok

I love the 51!

Mutley  :salute

Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: oakranger on February 13, 2010, 01:26:37 PM
That is awesome! 
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: SunBat on February 13, 2010, 01:35:55 PM
Nice!!!!
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: SKJohn on February 13, 2010, 02:14:35 PM
Somebody's gotta ask it:

As one of the very few people with actual P-51 stick time, how does it feel compared to the AH P-51? (minus, of course, the G forces)

Also, what does a ride in one of these cost?
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: Bucky73 on February 13, 2010, 03:02:33 PM


As one of the very few people with actual P-51 stick time, how does it feel compared to the AH P-51? (minus, of course, the G forces)


I'm SURE it's the same :rofl
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: rllong on February 13, 2010, 03:03:49 PM
minus the g-force of course AH has it pretty close. the roll rate, climb rate and view from the cockpit is right on. I was quite supprised at how well the plane handled in normal flight. It was as stable as the cherokee 180 I fly. The accelaration on take off will roll your eyes inside out..lol. though quite heavy on the controls the plane responds right-now to any input. I did a couple of 90 deg bank figure eights and was easily pulling 6 g and was able to maintain altitude and air speed (250 mph) throughout the manuver. It's not cheap but was worth every cent to me for the experience, $1200.00 for around 30 minutes. I plan on getting a full hour ($2200.00) this year with actual logged duel flight instruction entered in my log book.
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: Flench on February 13, 2010, 04:07:39 PM
That's really cool ... I would give my left #$%  to do that , right one two , lol ....
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: Brooke on February 13, 2010, 05:32:49 PM
Way to go!  That is awesome, and thank you for posting a video of it.  :aok
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: Saurdaukar on February 13, 2010, 05:47:23 PM
Excellent opening music choice.

Well done.

I cant even begin to imagine the difference between a 150-300HP GAA and a Merlin...

Question - climate appears to be relatively mild (no cold weather clothing) and the canopy appears to be cracked open on final taxi - was the cockpit extraordinarily hot during the flight or does the existing climate control/venting/whatever do the job?

That engine must generate a ridiculous amount of heat.
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: rllong on February 13, 2010, 06:41:41 PM
hey thanks saurdaukar. It was the last week in july with high temps in Oshkosh running around 75 or so. It was early morning around 7am and the temp at that time at ground level was maybe 55 or 60 degrees. It never got hot in the cockpit while flying but I could see where it probably would in hot temps with sun directly overhead. The ventilation was pretty good and I'm sure it was much better in the front seat. That old merlin sits so far out front I really don't think it would put off much heat in cockpit, I could not tell much change after the 30 min in the air.

Thank all you guys and gals for the interests. I really loved it and love sharing my experience. Sorry the video is not better, it is my first time using any kind of editing software and the camera was not the best in the world. This year I am planning on using a high def camcorder on the ground and have another in the plane with me. Also may be a little better at putting together a movie :airplane:
 
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: rllong on February 13, 2010, 07:43:48 PM
OK just try to imagine this, I am no expert on P-51's but I believe this one is a converted single seater. I was sitting on the floor where the extra fuel tank used to be using the bottom part of my parachute as a seat (actually pretty comfortable). It had a stick, rudder pedals, throttle and prop controls, an altimeter and airspeed indicator in the back. So back to the "imagine this", this plane is light, and with 1500+ horsepower and swinging an 11 foot diameter prop it has the counter torque of something bigger than King Kong. I had my feet lightly on the rudder peddles when Stan my pilot nailed the throttle on take off and from what I could tell it took almost all the right ruder to hold it on the center line. In the air the acceleration was nothin like I have felt before. Stan gave me the controls at about 1500' altitude after takeoff. I turned east toward the practice area and pulled back on the stick a little to get some altitude and let me tell ya that sucker went to 5000' and 250 mph before a cat can lick its bellybutton :x.


If ya see me in the game sometime - AH call sign "psycho" - give me a shout. But don't expect too much when I am flying. I spend most of my time taking off after being shot down.. :rolleyes:
 
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: froger on February 14, 2010, 01:27:27 AM
A life long dream for me sir.

thanks for sharing the vid with us.


<S>   froger
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: trotter on February 14, 2010, 03:10:53 AM
Extremely cool sir. thank you for posting. wow.
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: bj229r on February 14, 2010, 08:28:52 AM
<S>Rlllong. I'd pawn my precious Panhead for the same experience in a P47 :aok
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: Big Rat on February 14, 2010, 08:38:37 AM
 :aok I'm deffinitly jealouse.

 :salute
BigRat
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: pervert on February 14, 2010, 09:10:18 AM
Brilliant video I'm looking forward to the second instalment! thanks for sharing it  :aok
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: SKJohn on February 14, 2010, 12:22:47 PM
<S>Rlllong. I'd pawn my precious Panhead for the same experience in a P47 :aok

I know of several converted two-seat P-51's, but can't recall ever seeing or hearing of such a thing in a P-47.  Is there such a thing?  It seems like you would've seen them at airshows, etc., if there were.  I also recall seeing a P-38 set up for a passenger, but never a P-47.  Just wondering . . .
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: Changeup on February 14, 2010, 01:13:26 PM
Ummm, I wonder if Stan the man would have been able to help you lean the seat forward in the event you needed that chute you were sitting on :x!!!  Long crawl out from there.......Helluva ride my friend!! Awesome.   Thanks for sharing that with us.

V/r

Changeup
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: rllong on February 14, 2010, 01:15:04 PM
I also have not seen or heard of a P-47 rigged for a passenger but damn taking the stick and throwing a Jug around the sky now that would be a ride. I'll have to ask the experts (commemorative Air Force) this year at EAA Airventure about any 2 place Jugs.
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: rllong on February 14, 2010, 01:21:37 PM
hey changeup, yes sir, i believe the chute was just a technicality. When they went through the emergency procedures before i got into the plane the last thing they said was "IF YOU CAN MANAGE TO GET OUT" then pull this ring- - refering to the ring on the chute. After I finally wiggled my way in and managed to get in the back seat I knew then that if something did happen we were going to have to be at least 200,000 ft altitude for me to have the time to get out... :O 
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: kilo2 on February 14, 2010, 01:34:39 PM
Cool video :salute

Now if they have and 2 seater la5s flying I would pay 1200 just for a ride.
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: Latrobe on February 14, 2010, 01:47:35 PM
AMAZING! You lucky dog!  :aok :salute

Do they not allow you to take a camera up with you to get video footage inside the cockpit, or did that idea just not cross your mind?
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: SKJohn on February 15, 2010, 08:54:05 AM
I also have not seen or heard of a P-47 rigged for a passenger but damn taking the stick and throwing a Jug around the sky now that would be a ride. I'll have to ask the experts (commemorative Air Force) this year at EAA Airventure about any 2 place Jugs.


Did some Googleing yesterday and found out that Planes of Fame has a P-47 Razorback that was set up for two seats, and as of several years back, you were able to purchase rides in it.  Also, I guess there were actually a very few two-seaters made, and IIRC these were designated the P-47G.
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: Demetrious on February 15, 2010, 09:18:14 AM
They let you pull six gravities in a 60 year old airframe?  :O
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: legoman on February 15, 2010, 09:48:15 AM
In my opinion you are the luckiest man i know lol
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: Demetrious on February 15, 2010, 09:55:45 AM
In my opinion you are the luckiest man i know lol

You're thinking of the man who OWNS a P-51.
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: legoman on February 15, 2010, 09:58:43 AM
well their both lucky! i would sell my soul for a real flight in a p51.
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: mike8318 on February 15, 2010, 09:59:18 AM
Was the aircraft name "Crazy Horse"?
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: Brooke on February 15, 2010, 02:46:08 PM
Was the aircraft name "Crazy Horse"?

I believe that Crazy Horse is another P-51 that folks can purchase rides in, based in Florida.

There is also the P-51 from the Collings Foundation that folks can purchase rides in.  That one goes on tour each year, visiting numerous airfields across the country.  Details here (although they have only a portion of the schedule filled out with more to be filled in later):

http://www.collingsfoundation.org/cf_schedule-wof.htm

I've taken a ride in the Collings Foundation B-24 and B-25 but not yet the B-17.  The B-24 and B-17 tour the country each year and cost $425 for a half-hour ride.  It was amazing.  In the B-24 and B-17, they let you travel throughout the whole plane in flight, from tail gunner to nose gunner, and everything in between (including through the bomb bay, walking across the i-beam down the center to go between fore and aft.  The B-24 was great also because of the wide-open waist-gunner openings.  The P-51 is $2200 for a half hour or $3200 for an hour.
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: rllong on February 15, 2010, 05:17:42 PM
Hey guys, I had to take the video off, they were screaming and hollering at me for the music dubbing and maybe a little copyright infringe. I am redoing it without the music and just the raw footage. But what the hell, a P-51 makes it's own music. thank all you guys for the great feed back. and yes the luckest man alive is the one that owns it. try to have reinstalled soon

rllong  (Aka Psycho)
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: rllong on February 15, 2010, 05:56:30 PM
here is the new link to my musicless version of the video. Really can hear the 51 a lot better along with some control tower talk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTTKojbw1jc
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: rllong on February 15, 2010, 06:00:28 PM
[New link to video without music dubbed in, old link no longer works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTTKojbw1jc
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: Saurdaukar on February 16, 2010, 09:04:33 AM
rllong - I did some searching over the weekend.

Couple hours from me in June of this year is a fairly decent WWII-focused airshow.  The CAF "Red Nose" P-51D can be reserved for 20 minute "rides" for about $1,100.

Your original post indicates that the driver allowed you some stick time.  I'll have finished my PPL/VFR by then - do you recall whether or not there was some sort of minimum hour requirement for you to be able to run a couple patterns in it?

Trying to determine whether or not a "ride" is strictly that (course; I'd still do it anyway).  ;)

Thanks.
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: rllong on February 16, 2010, 04:32:08 PM
Saurdaukar, there is no minimum time requirment for taking the contols and flying out in the practice area. The Pilot gave me the controls at I believe around 1500 to 2000ft alt. after takeoff and told me it was mine do what I wanted to do, course he was there to get me out of trouble but it flew like a dream. He did the takeoff and landing since it takes many hours of training in a taildragger and expecially a bird with a P-51's torque and prop dia or any big engine warbird for that matter to heard the thing down the runway without ground looping. Yes it was close to $1200 for around 20 minutes but I got lucky and was the first one up that day and it was a beautiful calm 60 deg morning so I believe Stan (the pilot) was really enjoying the flight and I got to stay up around 35 or 40 minutes. Remember to take your log book with you and he will sign you off as having what ever amount of time you fly as duel instruction - looks really good in your book. I am going to shoot for a full hour this year ($2200) logged in my book. Just before you get in the plane he will ask you what kind of flying you would like to do (mild to wild), I only had enough nerve for some mild aerobatics. Not sure if I mentioned it elsewhere but Stan took the controls just before we got back to the airport and he flew the low high-speed passes that is on my video.

Psycho
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: TnDep on February 16, 2010, 04:57:01 PM
I actually got around 30 minutes of stick time in a P-51 last year at Oshkosh and put together a little video of the experiance, although it did not help my flying in Aces High, still die a lot..lol. Going back this year and planning to get a full hour of duel instruction logged in my logbook.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UdaK-rBPuI

Was going to check it out but it showed user removed the video, nm I see the new link.  Sweet I know that was fun <S>
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: legoman on February 16, 2010, 05:16:10 PM
I'm sure they leave the costumers with the biggest grins on their faces :D
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: TnDep on February 16, 2010, 05:38:03 PM
I'm sure they leave the costumers with the biggest grins on their faces :D

ya i could imagine do you mind me asking how much that cost?
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: rllong on February 16, 2010, 06:07:03 PM
tndep, it was just under 1200 bucks for around 30 minutes of flight time. I have to say it was the best money I ever spent. But when you consider how much it cost to maintain a warbird like the P-51 you can see they don't make much even at that price. I was told it burns anywhere from 60 gal of avgas up to around 120 gal per hour depending on how it is flown and avgas is around $4.50 to 5 bucks a gallon. Oh one more thing 75% of the price is tax deductible. :banana:
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: ink on February 16, 2010, 06:43:41 PM
the parking job at end was awesome :aok

wow a day you will remember forever.
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: TnDep on February 17, 2010, 12:42:35 AM
rgr that alot of money for 30 min. but what an amazing feeling and memory you would have.  I'd say it's probably worth it too. 
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: Saurdaukar on February 17, 2010, 08:21:45 AM
Saurdaukar, there is no minimum time requirment for taking the contols and flying out in the practice area.

Excellent.  Thank you.
Title: Re: check out my video of experiance in real P-51D
Post by: Whitey33 on February 19, 2010, 01:17:30 PM
Must be great experience :salute