What really unusual/different/old/new/exciting aircraft have you flown?
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FFF said:
SSD - I'm jealous, I'd love to fly a Waco!
I saw it flying over our hotel in Clearwater, and tracked it down to Clearwater Air Park where I found the pilot. He was doing joy-rides - front cockpit controls removed, and 2 passengers in there with him flying from the back cockpit.
I showed him my log book and licence and we talked tail dragger technique for a while (most of my time is tailwheel, mostly Chipmunk but also several others including varoios Cub types and Citabrias). I eventually persuaded him not only to put the front controls back, but to let me do the flying. After some persuasion, he even agreed to let me do the take off provided he was happy with my taxying.
He was, and I did. It was actually very easy to fly, with a reasonable view from the front cockpit even with the tail down. It had a Jacobs radial but a fixed pitch prop, and was quite heavy and stable - very like a Stearman. We flew out over the sea and the costal strip, but he wouldn't let me aerobat it (we didn't have parachutes, which he said were madatory for aeros in the 'States).
By no means an oustanding 'flying' experience - It's not a srpightly-handing machine. But a big open-cockpit biplane in those balmy temeratures was fun! And it's an unusual one for the logbook.
SSD
SSD - I'm jealous, I'd love to fly a Waco!
I saw it flying over our hotel in Clearwater, and tracked it down to Clearwater Air Park where I found the pilot. He was doing joy-rides - front cockpit controls removed, and 2 passengers in there with him flying from the back cockpit.
I showed him my log book and licence and we talked tail dragger technique for a while (most of my time is tailwheel, mostly Chipmunk but also several others including varoios Cub types and Citabrias). I eventually persuaded him not only to put the front controls back, but to let me do the flying. After some persuasion, he even agreed to let me do the take off provided he was happy with my taxying.
He was, and I did. It was actually very easy to fly, with a reasonable view from the front cockpit even with the tail down. It had a Jacobs radial but a fixed pitch prop, and was quite heavy and stable - very like a Stearman. We flew out over the sea and the costal strip, but he wouldn't let me aerobat it (we didn't have parachutes, which he said were madatory for aeros in the 'States).
By no means an oustanding 'flying' experience - It's not a srpightly-handing machine. But a big open-cockpit biplane in those balmy temeratures was fun! And it's an unusual one for the logbook.
SSD
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Not so much the aircraft (though rare and interesting in themselves) as these flights spring to my mind:
Antilles Air Boats' Short Sandringham (the one now in the Southampton Hall of Aviation) from Calshot late one summer evening, the legendary 'Charlie' Blair in command and his wife actress Maureen O'Hara as 'flight attendant'. Standing up with head in the astrodome, watching the glowing exhausts and the just-coming-on lights of the Isle of Wight and imagining I was aboard a C-Class Empire Boat cruising down the Nile. Pure magic!
Right seat in Philip Wolf's Beech Staggerwing out of Redhill during that very hot summer in the '70s, climbing to 10,000 feet or theraabouts and watching the fires burning below as we wound down the windows (itself a rare treat in an aeroplane) and cruised around Hampshire and Wiltshire, basking in the deliciously cold air.
Jump seat ride in the B-17 Sally B during a display at RNAS Yeovilton (strictly forbidden now, of course), with the late Don Bullock in command, Keith Sissons co-pilot. During one particularly low, typically Bullock pass I could perceive no difference in the view through the windscreen, deck angle aside, than when we'd been parked on the apron. "How low were we on that pass?" I asked Don after we'd landed. "Oh not very; there was at least two feet between the props tips and the runway." He may have been exaggerating, but not by much.
Antilles Air Boats' Short Sandringham (the one now in the Southampton Hall of Aviation) from Calshot late one summer evening, the legendary 'Charlie' Blair in command and his wife actress Maureen O'Hara as 'flight attendant'. Standing up with head in the astrodome, watching the glowing exhausts and the just-coming-on lights of the Isle of Wight and imagining I was aboard a C-Class Empire Boat cruising down the Nile. Pure magic!
Right seat in Philip Wolf's Beech Staggerwing out of Redhill during that very hot summer in the '70s, climbing to 10,000 feet or theraabouts and watching the fires burning below as we wound down the windows (itself a rare treat in an aeroplane) and cruised around Hampshire and Wiltshire, basking in the deliciously cold air.
Jump seat ride in the B-17 Sally B during a display at RNAS Yeovilton (strictly forbidden now, of course), with the late Don Bullock in command, Keith Sissons co-pilot. During one particularly low, typically Bullock pass I could perceive no difference in the view through the windscreen, deck angle aside, than when we'd been parked on the apron. "How low were we on that pass?" I asked Don after we'd landed. "Oh not very; there was at least two feet between the props tips and the runway." He may have been exaggerating, but not by much.
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Jump seat ride in the B-17 Sally B during a display at RNAS Yeovilton (strictly forbidden now, of course), with the late Don Bullock in command, Keith Sissons co-pilot. During one particularly low, typically Bullock pass I could perceive no difference in the view through the windscreen, deck angle aside, than when we'd been parked on the apron. "How low were we on that pass?" I asked Don after we'd landed. "Oh not very; there was at least two feet between the props tips and the runway." He may have been exaggerating, but not by much.
I recall the Barton airshows C. 1979. Don Bullock's low pass in the B17 - all you could see unless you were in the front of the crowd was the top of the fin going past....
Airshows ain't what they used to be.
SSD
I recall the Barton airshows C. 1979. Don Bullock's low pass in the B17 - all you could see unless you were in the front of the crowd was the top of the fin going past....
Airshows ain't what they used to be.
SSD
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Yes, from the crowd's point of view it was utterly pointless unless you happened to be in the font row. Don offered me a trip in the Invader when that arrived, but I hadn't been able to set it up before he put it into the valley at Biggin and killed all aboard. A tragic and unnecessary waste of lives.
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Flying the genesis glider was probably the most unusual
I´ve been passenger in the Convair CV-990 ´Coronado´ in the late 70s, the Sonic Cruiser of that time, the fastest subsonic transport ! Some are still existing, but none of them in airworthy condition.
I´ve been passenger in the Convair CV-990 ´Coronado´ in the late 70s, the Sonic Cruiser of that time, the fastest subsonic transport ! Some are still existing, but none of them in airworthy condition.
Why do it if it's not fun?
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SSD, I admit it, I'm a vain git who's sometimes more interested in the looks of an aircraft than how it handles. And all Wacos looks beautiful - they've got exactly the shape that a classic bi-plane should have! So I don't care whether it's "an oustanding 'flying' experience" or not! 
There are at least two companies in the US who are currently manufacturing Waco kits - original Waco designs in almost every way. Way out of my price range unfortunately, even if I did have the time and space to build a kit, which I don't - and buying a pre-built one will have to wait until I win the lottery. I don't believe the PFA have approved any of the kits yet, anyway, so there'd probably be a heap of paperwork to do.
LnS, I said a "couple" of thousand feet, which is lower than a "few" thousant feet!
Anyway, I don't know what you're talking about... I've taken a Super Cub to well over 10,000' before. (But only because the scenery was over 9,000', so I think it's allowed!)
FFF
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There are at least two companies in the US who are currently manufacturing Waco kits - original Waco designs in almost every way. Way out of my price range unfortunately, even if I did have the time and space to build a kit, which I don't - and buying a pre-built one will have to wait until I win the lottery. I don't believe the PFA have approved any of the kits yet, anyway, so there'd probably be a heap of paperwork to do.
LnS, I said a "couple" of thousand feet, which is lower than a "few" thousant feet!
Anyway, I don't know what you're talking about... I've taken a Super Cub to well over 10,000' before. (But only because the scenery was over 9,000', so I think it's allowed!)FFF
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The Original Whirly
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Oh I forgot, I did about 20 minutes in a Pitts too, great fun.
I also did quite a lot of flying in Welshpool's F22A when they had it, at least before I took up whirly-wing flying and couldn't afford to do both.
I suppose looking at my logbook would be sensible before posting on a thread like this.
I also did quite a lot of flying in Welshpool's F22A when they had it, at least before I took up whirly-wing flying and couldn't afford to do both.
I suppose looking at my logbook would be sensible before posting on a thread like this.
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FFF a few thousand feet in a CUb? Mine used to have nosebleeds if it went that high
QDM
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Favourites that spring to mind.......
Pitts (thanks stik!)
Cessna Golden Eagle
Baron 58
Auster (thanks LNS!)
Yak 52 (thanks Lowtimer!)
Cap 10 (thanks FNG!)
Jodel D140 on skis
...and Cyclone AX3...but that was just scary!
Hopefully soon stik's Pushpak as well!
tKF
Pitts (thanks stik!)
Cessna Golden Eagle
Baron 58
Auster (thanks LNS!)
Yak 52 (thanks Lowtimer!)
Cap 10 (thanks FNG!)
Jodel D140 on skis
...and Cyclone AX3...but that was just scary!
Hopefully soon stik's Pushpak as well!
tKF
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QDM
Know exactly what you mean. I took my L4 up to 7000ft the other week (took a while) it does seem a little flimsy - didnt like it at all..!
Interesting types er..
Isaac's Fury - fantastic in the air, 'interesting' on the ground -particularly with a 15-degree ground camber and worn bungees!
Spezio Tuholer - only a few mins on this so far but great fun... (it broke!) Hopefully going to get it back in the air soon after a couple of years - can't wait.
Lots of gliders - K6,7,8,'10',13, Puchaz, Bergfalke4, Blanik (creaky)
Lots of stuff when I was a kid, Miles Messenger and Gemini, Tipsy B, Commanche260, Rallyes, Jodels and loads of other things I’ve forgotten - wish I paid more attention instead of arguing with my brother in the back....
Actually, I must be one of the few PPLs with NO C152 or PA28 time - never even been in one!
Kingy
Know exactly what you mean. I took my L4 up to 7000ft the other week (took a while) it does seem a little flimsy - didnt like it at all..!
Interesting types er..
Isaac's Fury - fantastic in the air, 'interesting' on the ground -particularly with a 15-degree ground camber and worn bungees!
Spezio Tuholer - only a few mins on this so far but great fun... (it broke!) Hopefully going to get it back in the air soon after a couple of years - can't wait.
Lots of gliders - K6,7,8,'10',13, Puchaz, Bergfalke4, Blanik (creaky)
Lots of stuff when I was a kid, Miles Messenger and Gemini, Tipsy B, Commanche260, Rallyes, Jodels and loads of other things I’ve forgotten - wish I paid more attention instead of arguing with my brother in the back....
Actually, I must be one of the few PPLs with NO C152 or PA28 time - never even been in one!
Kingy
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First flight, Auster from Yeovilton, approc 1948.
Second Dragon Rapide from Heathrow.
Includes Dragon, ( pre Rapide.) Held together by open string stiching underneat, rattan chairs. Jumped out of it. Not considered as leaving a perfectly good plane.
Few others not so noteworthy.
Searey.
Second Dragon Rapide from Heathrow.
Includes Dragon, ( pre Rapide.) Held together by open string stiching underneat, rattan chairs. Jumped out of it. Not considered as leaving a perfectly good plane.
Few others not so noteworthy.
Searey.
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Actually, I must be one of the few PPLs with NO C152 or PA28 time - never even been in one!
It may be trite to say "you've missed nothing". But It's true. So I'll be trite and say it ;~))
SSD
It may be trite to say "you've missed nothing". But It's true. So I'll be trite and say it ;~))
SSD
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Anyone else flown a Helio Courier? If so could how short do you reckon you could stop in/haul the thing out again?
FLS Sprint - not bad but basically no gain on a Bulldog.
Wilga - slow, ugly and fabulous
FLS Sprint - not bad but basically no gain on a Bulldog.
Wilga - slow, ugly and fabulous
Avoid imitations
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Don Bullock's B-17 flypasts? Impressive? Oh yes, they were impressive all right. To a point. 
I watched him take off in the Sally B at a public air display at Sleap in 1978 or '79, I think. He immediately made a very steep turn to the left through 270 degrees and flew back across the runway, turning hard towards the crowd line at a ridiculously low height.
Yes, very impressive. Even more impressive was the fact that he literally dragged the port wingtip across the tarmac, taking off a good few inches of metal in the process and putting up a shower of dust and sparks. Fortunately he got away with it that time because if the aircraft had gone in he would have killed many spectators that day, probably including me, my wife and her parents. A mate of mine who had had cadged a ride in the back confirmed what I thought I saw and he said that he would NEVER fly with the guy again. Good decision.
When the B-26 went in at Biggin it was very sad but, looking back, not too surprising.
I watched him take off in the Sally B at a public air display at Sleap in 1978 or '79, I think. He immediately made a very steep turn to the left through 270 degrees and flew back across the runway, turning hard towards the crowd line at a ridiculously low height.
Yes, very impressive. Even more impressive was the fact that he literally dragged the port wingtip across the tarmac, taking off a good few inches of metal in the process and putting up a shower of dust and sparks. Fortunately he got away with it that time because if the aircraft had gone in he would have killed many spectators that day, probably including me, my wife and her parents. A mate of mine who had had cadged a ride in the back confirmed what I thought I saw and he said that he would NEVER fly with the guy again. Good decision.
When the B-26 went in at Biggin it was very sad but, looking back, not too surprising.
A few interesting types
Logbook is all Cessna/Piper basic singles, but I've been lucky enough to passenger in lots of interesting stuff (for me, anyway). Those that stick out most in my mind are:
Heli's -
Wessex - one of the last, out in Akrotiri, sedate and gentlemanly, but very hard to fly well I've been told.
Chinook - an absolute beast, all those big blades thrashing around. Did one trip with about 7 Tonnes underslung. Whole thing felt like an airborne pendulum. Quite quick when it wants to be aswell.
S61N - it was very windy the day I flew in one of these, but you'd never have known it. Main rotor hub is about the size of an R22!
Fixed wing -
Gulfstream 5 - only a short trip, but Wow, what a way to travel
Ilyshun IL-18 (the Russian Bristol Britannia) - left more black smoke behind us than an B52 as we "beat-up" Bristol and Cardiff (on a jolly courtesy of RIAT at Fairford)
Tu134 - (the Russian 1-11/DC9) - flew from LGW in one of these in 1980, Airport workers were taking pictures as we taxied out (mostly because the airline was Interflug, rarely seen in the West in those days)
VC10 - a gloriously quiet and smooth airborne experience (because all that great noise is behind you!). Last flight in one was a positioner out of Teeside a couple of years ago - zero to 27000' in about 10 minutes (ok, there were only about 10 of us onboard, but impressive for such an old lady)
C130 Herc - "Albert" is probably my favourite, spent many happy hours "down the back" trying to get comfy or peer at those big props out of the portholes. Fantastic noise, smell and vibration. The view the guys up front have is fantastic. Took part once in one of those "Tac demos" you see the RAF do at Airshows - the most I have been thrown about in any aircraft but loved every second of it.
Heli's -
Wessex - one of the last, out in Akrotiri, sedate and gentlemanly, but very hard to fly well I've been told.
Chinook - an absolute beast, all those big blades thrashing around. Did one trip with about 7 Tonnes underslung. Whole thing felt like an airborne pendulum. Quite quick when it wants to be aswell.
S61N - it was very windy the day I flew in one of these, but you'd never have known it. Main rotor hub is about the size of an R22!
Fixed wing -
Gulfstream 5 - only a short trip, but Wow, what a way to travel
Ilyshun IL-18 (the Russian Bristol Britannia) - left more black smoke behind us than an B52 as we "beat-up" Bristol and Cardiff (on a jolly courtesy of RIAT at Fairford)
Tu134 - (the Russian 1-11/DC9) - flew from LGW in one of these in 1980, Airport workers were taking pictures as we taxied out (mostly because the airline was Interflug, rarely seen in the West in those days)
VC10 - a gloriously quiet and smooth airborne experience (because all that great noise is behind you!). Last flight in one was a positioner out of Teeside a couple of years ago - zero to 27000' in about 10 minutes (ok, there were only about 10 of us onboard, but impressive for such an old lady)
C130 Herc - "Albert" is probably my favourite, spent many happy hours "down the back" trying to get comfy or peer at those big props out of the portholes. Fantastic noise, smell and vibration. The view the guys up front have is fantastic. Took part once in one of those "Tac demos" you see the RAF do at Airshows - the most I have been thrown about in any aircraft
but loved every second of it.
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Sedburgh T21
Kirby Cadet Mk III
Blanik Sailplane
K7/K8/K18
Grob DG500 Twin Acro (Viking) 615 VGS RAF Kenley
Grob G-109B (Viking) 613 VGS RAF Halton
DH Chipmunk
DH Tiger Moth
SA Bulldog
PZL Wilga (Definitely a cross between a Combine Harvester and a Super Cub)
Citabria
Stolp Starduster Two
Bucker Jungmann
Cessna 150/152/172/182
Piper Tomahawk/Cherokee/Warrior/Arrow/Seminole/Seneca/Super Cub/Commance 6
Varga (US Built two seat tandem trainer, looks a bit like a Chippie, but with tricycle gear)
Dimona Katana
Blueskies
Kirby Cadet Mk III
Blanik Sailplane
K7/K8/K18
Grob DG500 Twin Acro (Viking) 615 VGS RAF Kenley
Grob G-109B (Viking) 613 VGS RAF Halton
DH Chipmunk
DH Tiger Moth
SA Bulldog
PZL Wilga (Definitely a cross between a Combine Harvester and a Super Cub)
Citabria
Stolp Starduster Two
Bucker Jungmann
Cessna 150/152/172/182
Piper Tomahawk/Cherokee/Warrior/Arrow/Seminole/Seneca/Super Cub/Commance 6
Varga (US Built two seat tandem trainer, looks a bit like a Chippie, but with tricycle gear)
Dimona Katana
Blueskies
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Was going to omit replying to this thread, as I can't remember all of them (and thought it was a bit dull 
), but here goes:
Gliders
Kirby Cadet Mk III (Dual/Solo)
Blanik (Dual)
Sedbergh T21 (Dual)
G109B (Viking) (Dual)
Powered GA A/c (Dual unless otherwise stated)
DH Chipmunk
Huskey
C172 (Solo)
C150 (Solo)
C152 (Solo)
PA28 (Solo)
PA38
Partenavia P68 (Pax)
Fuji FA200 (Solo)
Powered Military A/c (Dual/Pax)
DH Chipmunk
SA Bulldog
Whirlwind
Wessex
Lynx
Puma
Huey
Sea King
Chinook
HS125 / Dominie
Andover
C130
Hawk
Also SA355 (Dauphin) and S61 as pax when I used to do some work in the Hebrides!
[Edited a couple of times as I keep remembering another one!!]
), but here goes:Gliders
Kirby Cadet Mk III (Dual/Solo)
Blanik (Dual)
Sedbergh T21 (Dual)
G109B (Viking) (Dual)
Powered GA A/c (Dual unless otherwise stated)
DH Chipmunk
Huskey
C172 (Solo)
C150 (Solo)
C152 (Solo)
PA28 (Solo)
PA38
Partenavia P68 (Pax)
Fuji FA200 (Solo)
Powered Military A/c (Dual/Pax)
DH Chipmunk
SA Bulldog
Whirlwind
Wessex
Lynx
Puma
Huey
Sea King
Chinook
HS125 / Dominie
Andover
C130
Hawk
Also SA355 (Dauphin) and S61 as pax when I used to do some work in the Hebrides!
[Edited a couple of times as I keep remembering another one!!]
Err wasn't the question what interesting and unusual types have you flown, rather than the complete list. I've no doubt there are people here with 100+ types in the book but it's scarcely rivetting reading.
And how on earth was Kentish Fledgling able to get scared in an AX3? Bored and uncomfortable I can understand, but scared?
G
And how on earth was Kentish Fledgling able to get scared in an AX3? Bored and uncomfortable I can understand, but scared?
G
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Chinook - an absolute beast,
I don't think I'd fancy that. All those inter-meshing blades connected by shafts and gearboxes - if anything, anywhere in the drivetrain fails the whole lot will come down in a welter of splitered blades and tumbling fuselage. And these are helos that do really beat the air into submission - you can hear them so doing from miles away.
I once saw one flying over central London. OK, it's a twin-engined machine, but IMHO far less safe to be in the air over a heavily built-up area than the average GA single whose presence over the Capital's rooftops would be illegal.
SSD
I don't think I'd fancy that. All those inter-meshing blades connected by shafts and gearboxes - if anything, anywhere in the drivetrain fails the whole lot will come down in a welter of splitered blades and tumbling fuselage. And these are helos that do really beat the air into submission - you can hear them so doing from miles away.
I once saw one flying over central London. OK, it's a twin-engined machine, but IMHO far less safe to be in the air over a heavily built-up area than the average GA single whose presence over the Capital's rooftops would be illegal.
SSD