TheKentishFledgling
23rd Sep 2002, 20:23
Last Sunday, after many planned, aborted, cancelled etc trips, I finally managed to fly in a Pitts S2A with stiknruda :)
I met up with stik, and we briefed thoroughly on the flight ahead. After leaving the ground we would leave the circuit to the north where I could get a feel for the responsiveness of a Pitts, and then we'd try some gentle aerobatics.
I've already flown some aerobatics with FNG in his Cap 10, so this was going to be "an extended into to aerobatics"!
Next I had to strap in!
Strapping in describes it badly IMHO. It should maybe be called
"attaching yourself to the aeroplane". It has a five point harness attached to the seat, and
then a two point harness which is fixed to the actual airframe. Stik made
sure I had the straps done up _tightly_ before we started up, before we
took off, and before we started any aeros. The longer you're in the
seat, the hotter your rear gets, and so the foam in the cushions will
soften, and you'll "sit lower" in the seat, and consequently, the straps
will need tightening!
I'd been shown where the barf bag was, and told not to be afraid to use
it.
As the intercom in the Pitts wasn't working, we'd agreed a set of hand
signals that were going to be used on the flight - thumbs up, thumbs
down, and "stick shaking" for handing over control.
I had a few minutes to have a good look around the cockpit I was in - which was certainly cozy! Over the nose I
could see __NOTHING__ and couldn't really lean my head over enough to
see anything, thanks to the SEVEN AND A HALF GRAND canopy (!!!!!!). This was mentioned in the briefing, when I was shown how to jettison the
canopy - but I think that at that price you'd be reluctant to do that
;-)))
The S2A has full dual controls (including toe brakes!) but the
instrumentation in the front cockpit is very sparse: compass, altimeter
and ASI.
The take off was awesome - the acceleration throws your head back into
the headrest and within seconds the tail is up, then you're off the
ground and holding her level at a-few-feet AGL and building speed...then
UP! As I said, awesome!
Within a minute or so, the stick was shaking violently - the signal for
me to take control. The Pitts really was like nothing I've flown before when turned. I guess I'd
describe the ailerons as "crisp": the start a turn when you want to, and
stop when you want to....if that makes any sense? :) Climbing was also, errr different to other aeroplanes I've flown before! It don't 'alf climb quickly :D
But soon the stick was shaking again ("check harnesses plz"!), and a few
seconds later we were flying along inverted - nice!
I've no idea in what order or anything. I think we: looped, aileron
rolled, slow rolled, barrel rolled, rolled off the top and also flew a
cuban eight. Also a four point hesitation roll, and a vertical down
line with a hesitation roll - amazing fun ;-)
The first roll we did we entered at about 100, and the next 120 - that
gave much "cripser" performance.
The stick started shaking again, and we then flew an aileron roll. It
took me a couple of "following through" rolls to realise Stik wanted me to
try and fly one! The first I tried was a bit crappy and required a bit
of fwd stick while inverted, but I think the second was a bit better!
Then came the signal that meant we were re-joining and landing, and a few minutes later we were overhead the airfield.
The turn from downwind to final one long turn, with a check on the
outside of the turn for traffic. Then starts the major sideslip until
the wheels are about 18" AGL, when the stick comes smartly back and you
touch smoothly down (or at least we did!).
Overall it was a super flight, and imho, aerobatics are some of the best fun you can have in the air - roll on next time (no pun intended!) :D
Thanks a lot Stik!!
theKentishFledgling
I met up with stik, and we briefed thoroughly on the flight ahead. After leaving the ground we would leave the circuit to the north where I could get a feel for the responsiveness of a Pitts, and then we'd try some gentle aerobatics.
I've already flown some aerobatics with FNG in his Cap 10, so this was going to be "an extended into to aerobatics"!
Next I had to strap in!
Strapping in describes it badly IMHO. It should maybe be called
"attaching yourself to the aeroplane". It has a five point harness attached to the seat, and
then a two point harness which is fixed to the actual airframe. Stik made
sure I had the straps done up _tightly_ before we started up, before we
took off, and before we started any aeros. The longer you're in the
seat, the hotter your rear gets, and so the foam in the cushions will
soften, and you'll "sit lower" in the seat, and consequently, the straps
will need tightening!
I'd been shown where the barf bag was, and told not to be afraid to use
it.
As the intercom in the Pitts wasn't working, we'd agreed a set of hand
signals that were going to be used on the flight - thumbs up, thumbs
down, and "stick shaking" for handing over control.
I had a few minutes to have a good look around the cockpit I was in - which was certainly cozy! Over the nose I
could see __NOTHING__ and couldn't really lean my head over enough to
see anything, thanks to the SEVEN AND A HALF GRAND canopy (!!!!!!). This was mentioned in the briefing, when I was shown how to jettison the
canopy - but I think that at that price you'd be reluctant to do that
;-)))
The S2A has full dual controls (including toe brakes!) but the
instrumentation in the front cockpit is very sparse: compass, altimeter
and ASI.
The take off was awesome - the acceleration throws your head back into
the headrest and within seconds the tail is up, then you're off the
ground and holding her level at a-few-feet AGL and building speed...then
UP! As I said, awesome!
Within a minute or so, the stick was shaking violently - the signal for
me to take control. The Pitts really was like nothing I've flown before when turned. I guess I'd
describe the ailerons as "crisp": the start a turn when you want to, and
stop when you want to....if that makes any sense? :) Climbing was also, errr different to other aeroplanes I've flown before! It don't 'alf climb quickly :D
But soon the stick was shaking again ("check harnesses plz"!), and a few
seconds later we were flying along inverted - nice!
I've no idea in what order or anything. I think we: looped, aileron
rolled, slow rolled, barrel rolled, rolled off the top and also flew a
cuban eight. Also a four point hesitation roll, and a vertical down
line with a hesitation roll - amazing fun ;-)
The first roll we did we entered at about 100, and the next 120 - that
gave much "cripser" performance.
The stick started shaking again, and we then flew an aileron roll. It
took me a couple of "following through" rolls to realise Stik wanted me to
try and fly one! The first I tried was a bit crappy and required a bit
of fwd stick while inverted, but I think the second was a bit better!
Then came the signal that meant we were re-joining and landing, and a few minutes later we were overhead the airfield.
The turn from downwind to final one long turn, with a check on the
outside of the turn for traffic. Then starts the major sideslip until
the wheels are about 18" AGL, when the stick comes smartly back and you
touch smoothly down (or at least we did!).
Overall it was a super flight, and imho, aerobatics are some of the best fun you can have in the air - roll on next time (no pun intended!) :D
Thanks a lot Stik!!
theKentishFledgling