What oddballs have you flown or been flown in?
Shy Torque
I also had a flight in a friends Aircoupe,the wheel was so close that I actually found it easier and more comfortable to fly the damn thing using the opposite wheel
.
But it was a great little flight and helped us to cope with having watched a fatal Hunter crash that day
rgds LR
I also had a flight in a friends Aircoupe,the wheel was so close that I actually found it easier and more comfortable to fly the damn thing using the opposite wheel
.But it was a great little flight and helped us to cope with having watched a fatal Hunter crash that day
rgds LR
Aircoupe
Did my Flying Scholarship in an Aircoupe at Surrey and Kent Flying Club. Nice little aeroplane, simple to fly, solo after two hours! (Had done a little gliding before, though!)
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First flight was in a Dan Dare 727... odd ones Fouga Magistair back seat and several SF260 flights.
Proudest achievement, have been all over this rock we live on and so far in near enough forty years in the industry, I have never ever paid for a single flight.
Proudest achievement, have been all over this rock we live on and so far in near enough forty years in the industry, I have never ever paid for a single flight.
Last edited by NutLoose; 12th Mar 2013 at 22:07.
I too have had the 'pleasure' of the Fauvel and the primary at Bicester. They were dragged out during my instructor course and we were told to stop whimpering and get in/on and fly them.
The Fauvel had one saving grace in that it climbed on a fart - and after the scariest aerotow I've ever done, I had a pleasnat hour's soaring. The twitchiness in pitch was quite disconcerting and having been briefed on the 'flick loop' wasn't keen on trying it.
It did used to get winch launched - a process which required a yolk as there were two hooks, one either side of the canopy. The stability problem really came to the fore in the winch. One pilot, Pete R##k (RIP) who weighed about 50kg didn't get it under control and the thing pitched up from the ground, the cable back released where the thing did a flick loop at 200' and landed straight ahead. The oft told story mentions they couldn't persuade him to get out so towed him back to the launch point still in it. He was just sat there with a fixed starre, gripping the controls shaking! Seem to reacall it had it's wing tip ''accidently'' run over run by a later CFI on the retrieve tractor who wasn't keen on anyone flying it.
The Primary was fun - in a scary sort of way. Didn't so much glide but plummet. Some pilots did a "Primary Streak'' - flying it naked. One was towed down Bicester High Street at 200'!
The Fauvel had one saving grace in that it climbed on a fart - and after the scariest aerotow I've ever done, I had a pleasnat hour's soaring. The twitchiness in pitch was quite disconcerting and having been briefed on the 'flick loop' wasn't keen on trying it.
It did used to get winch launched - a process which required a yolk as there were two hooks, one either side of the canopy. The stability problem really came to the fore in the winch. One pilot, Pete R##k (RIP) who weighed about 50kg didn't get it under control and the thing pitched up from the ground, the cable back released where the thing did a flick loop at 200' and landed straight ahead. The oft told story mentions they couldn't persuade him to get out so towed him back to the launch point still in it. He was just sat there with a fixed starre, gripping the controls shaking! Seem to reacall it had it's wing tip ''accidently'' run over run by a later CFI on the retrieve tractor who wasn't keen on anyone flying it.
The Primary was fun - in a scary sort of way. Didn't so much glide but plummet. Some pilots did a "Primary Streak'' - flying it naked. One was towed down Bicester High Street at 200'!
Aircoupe
Another one here who did a Flying Scholarship with S & K in 1963 on the Aircoupe. However there were significant differences between the Forney built version that we used and the original Ercoupe. The latter had the coupled controls and steering, the Forney version had conventional rudder pedals which controlled the nose-wheel steering.
Neither would stall or spin though, the control surfaces were too small.
Neither would stall or spin though, the control surfaces were too small.
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The Peak 100, a one off 2 seat glider around in the early 60's; had one flight in it from Camphill in Derbyshire. I believe the airframe is still in existence but don't know where.
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Flying circuits and bumps at the controls of a French Navy Nord 262 Fregate at Ajaccio airport in 1980. Exchange visit from METS at Finningley. Engine fail procedure involved a huge trek through the Corsican mountains to reach the sea, due to the imperceptible climb rate on one Turbomeca Bastan(it wasn't a whole lot better on two).
Those Frenchies know how to live - they sent two Fregates to Nimes to bring 70 ladies over for the weekend party in our honour! Seldom been so well hosted.
Those Frenchies know how to live - they sent two Fregates to Nimes to bring 70 ladies over for the weekend party in our honour! Seldom been so well hosted.
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Just remembered; when I was at Church Fenton in 1980/81 one of the studes took me for a spin round York in his own Gypsy Moth. Still think about that from time to time - thanks mate, hope you read this.
Also flew from Aberdeen (Dyce) to Shetland (Sumbrugh) in a BEA DC3. Many times - used the brown bag most times - tended to get a bit rough up there - same on the St Clair but no brown bags.
Rgds SOS
Also flew from Aberdeen (Dyce) to Shetland (Sumbrugh) in a BEA DC3. Many times - used the brown bag most times - tended to get a bit rough up there - same on the St Clair but no brown bags.
Rgds SOS
Last edited by SOSL; 16th Mar 2013 at 19:32.
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The Bicester Fauvel
Believe the Bicester (ex Rhine Army GC & RAFGSA) may now reside at Dunstable, no info re flyable ? any one confirm, PH.
Beverley again; Malta and back in the boom.
WHAT A BL**DY RACKET!!!
Changed my life: I'd been thinking of volunteering for Shacks but, after that experience, decided I didn't fancy four piston engines banging away and went to Argosies instead
WHAT A BL**DY RACKET!!!
Changed my life: I'd been thinking of volunteering for Shacks but, after that experience, decided I didn't fancy four piston engines banging away and went to Argosies instead
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In case you all don't know, if its powered and you have a registration or details etc you can see its fate here, ie if it still flies or was withdrawn,
See
GINFO Database Search | Aircraft Register | Operations and Safety
See
GINFO Database Search | Aircraft Register | Operations and Safety
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In 1944, Keesler Field, Gulfport, Mississippi, my father was in command of the air-sea rescue craft, and wangled for me a visit to a B17, but only on the ground.
He had a trip in one from Keesler to St. Pete, Florida, and the pilot spent most of the trip at 100 feet, chasing cows; my Dad never flew again after that in anything!
In l956, flew on a DC3 in Mexico, the trip was from Chihuahua to Casas Grandes. The pilot was a full blooded Tarahumara Indian; the door to the cockpit left wide open....and the descent to the airstrip tucked between a couple of substantial mountain ranges was memorable....
An Eastern Airlines Electra, engine coughing and spluttering on the taxi to takeoff at Washington National. Captain came on blower and announced to the pax "I suppose you have noticed that we're having a little problem, so we have changed our mind about leaving for Boston" and they rolled out another Electra that worked well enough. And another Electra, flying across the mountains in Puerto Rico, passing through the middle of a nasty cu-nimb, the passengers all praying sincerely....
But on this thread I am most impressed by all the exotic gliders mentioned. Nobody yet mentioned the Schweizer 2-33, which is a real dog.
I prefer to fly aircraft that other people have flown extensively and thoroughly,
say the J3 on floats, or the Supercub. Now there is a well tested design!
He had a trip in one from Keesler to St. Pete, Florida, and the pilot spent most of the trip at 100 feet, chasing cows; my Dad never flew again after that in anything!
In l956, flew on a DC3 in Mexico, the trip was from Chihuahua to Casas Grandes. The pilot was a full blooded Tarahumara Indian; the door to the cockpit left wide open....and the descent to the airstrip tucked between a couple of substantial mountain ranges was memorable....
An Eastern Airlines Electra, engine coughing and spluttering on the taxi to takeoff at Washington National. Captain came on blower and announced to the pax "I suppose you have noticed that we're having a little problem, so we have changed our mind about leaving for Boston" and they rolled out another Electra that worked well enough. And another Electra, flying across the mountains in Puerto Rico, passing through the middle of a nasty cu-nimb, the passengers all praying sincerely....
But on this thread I am most impressed by all the exotic gliders mentioned. Nobody yet mentioned the Schweizer 2-33, which is a real dog.
I prefer to fly aircraft that other people have flown extensively and thoroughly,
say the J3 on floats, or the Supercub. Now there is a well tested design!
VFW 614, with an M45H screaming in one ear and a VFW-Fokker PR guy in the other, yelling that THE PRODUCTION AIRCRAFT WILL BE MUCH QUIETER... Also back seat in the Norman NDN-1 Firecracker, which is still around... And a night flight over Vegas in a "stealth" quiet S-55.
Last edited by LowObservable; 14th Mar 2013 at 00:50.
Hour of circuits & bumps (& more bumps..) in John Travolta's old DC3 in Mojave.
ME seaplane rating in an Apache on floats.
Many fun hours in a Steen Skybolt! (poor mans Pitts). Happy days
ME seaplane rating in an Apache on floats.
Many fun hours in a Steen Skybolt! (poor mans Pitts). Happy days
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Bristol Frightener
For me, the ODDEST was the Bristol Freighter. Not only the oddest, but also the dirtiest. Powered by two Bristol Hercules 2000 HP Oil Pumps they leaked as much oil as they burned. Remember a Nav being a bit anxious to open the clam-shell doors while still taxying. Result, two chopped up doors and two damaged props. Maybe he was affected by the Carbon Monoxide which used to leak into the cockpit area through the wing roots.