Loony strapped to roof of Convair Coronado

[Astrocaryum vulgare]

Just a heads up to any of you who can access to Sky Channel 267 'Artsworld', keep an eye open for a compilation clip show about a Beach Boys tour in the 70's; about half way it includes a short section about a dare-devil who rode on the back of a Coronado.

I can see the attraction of riding a biplane, but the world's fastest subsonic airliner, that's plain nuts.....

[treadigraph]

The Human Fly! Mind you this is a DC-8, but I think we are talking about the same event.


A bit more on this thread...

Merry Christmas everybody.

[MReyn24050]

The Human Fly was Rick Rojatt also known as the Rocketman.
http://www.the-rocketman.com/human-fly.html

[Astrocaryum vulgare]

Thanks for that guys, interesting stuff. Shows how poor my spotting powers are

[chevvron]

Read a report in 'Flyer' (the American one) once; said that he wore a leather suit for protection, but then the pilot flew through a rain shower which literally lacerated it!!
DC8 fastest subsonic airliner; I thought that accolade went to the Trident.

[Newforest]

Originally Posted by chevvron

DC8 fastest subsonic airliner; I thought that accolade went to the Trident.

The 747 is the fastest airliner in production, about 0.85 Mach. The Coronado 990 was flying at 0.91 Mach with the Trident a close second about 0.90 Mach. The Tu. 154 was a runner up at 0.84 Mach.

In an experimental flight, a DC-8 flew at 1.012 Mach in a shallow dive.

[PaperTiger]

Originally Posted by Newforest

In an experimental flight, a DC-8 flew at 1.012 Mach in a shallow dive.

And then went on to serve with Canadian Pacific for many years; aaah Conways .
There was a plaque just inside the 1L door commemorating its "feat". Parted out in Florida eventually.

[EGAC]

I can remember ITV's World of Sport featuring the film of this one Saturday afternoon way back in the 1970s. (For their 1pm pre-horseracing slot they usually covered offbeat "sporting" items including the Reno Air Races and the New York Firemen's Olympics.)

The daredevil's line was "I am the greatest superhero who has ever lived" and IIRC his exploits were done to benefit/inspire disadvantaged children.

I'd really love to see this clip turn up on one of the web videohosts.

Any chance, anyone?

[Newforest]

Originally Posted by EGAC

IIRC his exploits were done to benefit/inspire disadvantaged children.
I'd really love to see this clip turn up on one of the web videohosts.
Any chance, anyone?

I thought I had seen it on a site, looking for it now. The Human Fly seems to have almost died before he started his stunts, see link below.
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1694842

[chevvron]

If you're talking about in a dive as opposed to 'straight and level' I'm sure I heard the Coronado also exceeded M =1.0. Wonder if they ever tried that officially with the Trident? I believe I heard a report of an 'inadvertant' pitch input on a test flight bringing up a recorded trace in excess of M=1.0,(pilot went to write something on his clipboard, touched the controls with it, and when he looked back at the Mach meter it showed above 1) but this was (apparently) unintentional. I know an ex OC Flying from Farnborough told me it was 'easily done' in a Victor, but that's digressing!!

[barit1]

It was interesting to ride over the wing on a DC-8, on the shady side, and observe the shadow of the shock-induced condensation dancing around on the wing. Very visible when the Sun angle was right.

I've never witnessed this on any other type.

[Fris B. Fairing]

This image was taken on the recent delivery flight of the Qantas Boeing 707-138B VH-XBA (but not by me!)
http://www.adastron.com/707/flyhome/nk-239.htm
(edit to differentiate between poster and photographer)

[Offchocks]

Hi Fris B. hope retirement is treating you well!

[barit1]

Originally Posted by Fris B. Fairing

This image was taken on the recent delivery flight of the Qantas Boeing 707-138B VH-XBA.

Yes, That's exactly what I saw - Never happened to see it on a 707 before, though. Thanks!