Piper Cub "Grace the Ace" - 80 Spins

[Biggles1049]

Searching through my old slide collection I came across one of a J3-65 Cub marked "Grace the Ace" in large titles down the side - tucked away in the back of a Hangar in Lethbridge , Alberta back in 1980. here's the Photo
Piper J3C-65 Cub, N309H, Private (http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1165897/)

It had a notice in the Cockpit window saying something about holding a record for 80 Spins.

Have searched the web - with no result - for more info . Wish I had photo'd the notice.

Does anyone have any more info please ?

[diana.swift]

I knew Grace personally and have some of her things. The picture of her airplane you have looks in much better condition than her airplane did when I saw it last. She does/did hold that record and also had an unlimited license - could fly anything. She had even been at the controls of the Goodyear Blimp once! She was a wonderful, eccentric, interesting person!

-Diana

[boldeagle]

Hi I am Kevin Page and my mother was Grace The Ace Page I flew the airshow seasons with her starting in 1967. I would like to hear from anyone interested in my mom and I have so many pix and story's of her over her life. 303.241.8618 Marina Del Ray CA [email protected];)

[lberne]

OMG. Kevin and I used to sneak that airplane out in Santa Paula back in the 70's. I did many flights in that aircraft with Grace up and down the West coast. I remember landing in Oceanside one day and Grace making me wait on the ramp while she went and did her airshow routine out on the runway. After she returned, I remember the airport manager finding us and reprimanding her. Grace also used to teach aerobatics at Martin Aviation located at Orange County Airport back then as well. I remember that they had a couple Great Lakes and one owner had a 1929 Fleet.

I believe that J3 was upgraded to an 80 horsepower Continental, if I remember correctly.

Those were great days.

Kevin - I sent you an email, but it was returned. Mine is [email protected]

[Little Mac]

Hi, my name is Bill McMillon. I took several (pre solo) flying lessons from
Grace Paige in late 1971. At that time she was flying a Champ 7ec, tail number 4320C. She was flying out of a small (I think) it was a grass strip either in or very close to Sanford Florida. She wrote in my Logbook the name of the location as 'McDonald' I was fascinated by her stories about flying and her winning a free flying lesson at several different air shows. I'd have given my right arm to have watched one of her performances. Since that time I spent many years flying for the State of Alaska retiring back in 1993.


I have tried without success to contact her son, Kevin, who left his contact information here on PPRuNe. My contact information is [email protected] Thanks, Bill

[BOAC]

a record for 80 Spins. - as quoted, nowhere near a record! If it means 80 turns in a spin, I'm impressed.

[LJP]

It was indeed 83 turns in a single spin. She told me all about it many years ago, and I seem to recall her saying she started at 10 300 feet and recovered at 300 feet.

[BOAC]

Gulp!! I think I'm impressed.....:eek:

[treadigraph]

I'm impressed she could keep track of how many times she'd been round! My head spins just thinking about it...

[LJP]

She was in the Cub and there was another aircraft doing the spotting and counting for her>

[4Greens]

Rubbish.
Most if not all light aircraft do about six turns of a spin in 5000ft. 80 is cuckooland.

[Mark 1]

Rubbish.
Most if not all light aircraft do about six turns of a spin in 5000ft. 80 is cuckooland.

Thanks for that enlightening comment! So I suppose the Nipper that did 26 turns in 3000' recorded on video didn't really happen?

Spins come in many shapes and sizes and a very lightly loaded J3 Cub may very well only lose 100-150' per turn. Even a Cessna 150 2-up only loses 300-400' per turn with almost twice the wing loading.

[LJP]

I am only conveying what she told me. I was 14 or 15 years old at the time. Take it or leave it.

[treadigraph]

I once saw Charlie Kulp spin a J-3 from not very much at all - as I recall he fitted in two turns and a vertical dive from something that seemed like 300' but more probably 800' or so.

there was also Jeremy somebody or other from CSE spinning the Tomahawk at Farnborough '78 - quite a few turns from not all that high, anyone recall? My memory suggests as many as 12 turns from perhaps 5000'. I think it was the opening of his display.

[LOMCEVAK]

Grace Page sounds like a fascinating lady who is not well known to the east of the Atlantic. It would be much appreciated if one of her friends or relatives who have posted here would like a brief biography of her and post it for us to read. In anticipation and many thanks.

[LJP]

Yup, and the C130 never had 452 pax. Believe what you want to. She was fascinating, held an an ATP. instructors, A&P, degree in English literature and more>

[fanofKevin]

I haven't heard from Kevin since about 2012. It seems he no longer has a profile on Facebook....

[India Four Two]

Have you tried his email or phone number:

Hi I am Kevin Page and my mother was Grace The Ace Page I flew the airshow seasons with her starting in 1967. I would like to hear from anyone interested in my mom and I have so many pix and story's of her over her life. 303.241.8618 Marina Del Ray CA [email protected] (%62%6f%6c%64%2d%65%61%67%6c%65%40%65%61%72%74%68%6c%69%6e%6 b%2e%6e%65%74);)

[fanofKevin]

[QUOTE=India Four Two;9223376]Have you tried his email or phone number: Yes, I did---they are no good. I met him in 1974, and I can still say he was the best person I've ever met. I spent over a year looking.... More info?

[email protected]

[Reverserbucket]

Jeremy somebody or other from CSE spinning the Tomahawk at Farnborough '
Jeremy Smith perhaps?

[Meikleour]

Would that be Jeremy James Parkinson Smith? ( my multi instructor )

[Cre8vmom]

Hi I am Kevin Page and my mother was Grace The Ace Page I flew the airshow seasons with her starting in 1967. I would like to hear from anyone interested in my mom and I have so many pix and story's of her over her life. 303.241.8618 Marina Del Ray CA [email protected];)

Hi, Kevin. I used to follow my dad everywhere when I was a teenager and he used to fly out of Eustis, FL. I remember meeting Grace probably in the early to mid-70's. She used to keep her plane at a small airport in Plymouth, FL, a short narrow runway that ran right alongside Rt 441, north of Apopka. We used to see her all the time. I can't remember if she had the Cub then or an Aeronca Champ. I think it was the Champ. I remember her telling us the stories of her spins and she would always make her landings over on one wheel when she would come in. I'll have to ask my dad if he remembers her.

[Philoctetes]

Thanks for that enlightening comment! So I suppose the Nipper that did 26 turns in 3000' recorded on video didn't really happen?

Spins come in many shapes and sizes and a very lightly loaded J3 Cub may very well only lose 100-150' per turn. Even a Cessna 150 2-up only loses 300-400' per turn with almost twice the wing loading.

And a trickle of power will speed up the spin rate and reduce the height loss per turn.......Happy Days!

[McFeegle]

Hi Biggles! I had the honour and the pleasure of meeting Grace in the 70s when she came to South Africa with her Flying Circus and i saw her do the Spins in a Pitts Special if i recall correctly. i dont remember how many it was but she held the record at the time. i also saw how she broke bags of flour attached to the wingtips on the runway as she flew past.( not in the Pitts) it was Stunning!!!
Best regards
Greg.