Female Pilot Taxis a Stearman into R44
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Eheu fugaces......!
Pilot looks jolly good for 51 !
Stearman looks jolly good for 71 !
Did 60 hours on them in '41 on the "Arnold Scheme" (Class of 42C) - with no ASI in the cockpit - instructor in front had one, of course ! I'd never flown before (nor had my classmates), so we felt no pain - what you've never had, you never miss. It was a wonderful idea, for we learned to fly "by the seat of our pants".
What have they done with this one ? The original 220hp Continental has been replaced by a Wasp Junior (?) with a 2-speed prop (lifted out of an old BT-13 ?). Should go like ###t off a shovel now. It was a tough old bird.
All the old open cockpit tail draggers had this visibilty problem. You had a good look round before climbing in, and then zig-zagged along when you got moving, poking your head out like an old steam loco driver. Accidents of this kind have happened before, and they'll happen again.
Happy days over the Everglades,
Danny42C
Stearman looks jolly good for 71 !
Did 60 hours on them in '41 on the "Arnold Scheme" (Class of 42C) - with no ASI in the cockpit - instructor in front had one, of course ! I'd never flown before (nor had my classmates), so we felt no pain - what you've never had, you never miss. It was a wonderful idea, for we learned to fly "by the seat of our pants".
What have they done with this one ? The original 220hp Continental has been replaced by a Wasp Junior (?) with a 2-speed prop (lifted out of an old BT-13 ?). Should go like ###t off a shovel now. It was a tough old bird.
All the old open cockpit tail draggers had this visibilty problem. You had a good look round before climbing in, and then zig-zagged along when you got moving, poking your head out like an old steam loco driver. Accidents of this kind have happened before, and they'll happen again.
Happy days over the Everglades,
Danny42C
God , I'm so glad I chose rotor rather than fixed wing all those many years ago ........ I must have a look and see what they are saying on their side ! Time on my hands sitting in the fog ....
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Pilot looks jolly good for 51 !
Stearman looks jolly good for 71 !
Did 60 hours on them in '41 on the "Arnold Scheme" (Class of 42C) - with no ASI in the cockpit - instructor in front had one, of course ! I'd never flown before (nor had my classmates), so we felt no pain - what you've never had, you never miss. It was a wonderful idea, for we learned to fly "by the seat of our pants".
What have they done with this one ? The original 220hp Continental has been replaced by a Wasp Junior (?) with a 2-speed prop (lifted out of an old BT-13 ?). Should go like ###t off a shovel now. It was a tough old bird.
All the old open cockpit tail draggers had this visibilty problem. You had a good look round before climbing in, and then zig-zagged along when you got moving, poking your head out like an old steam loco driver. Accidents of this kind have happened before, and they'll happen again.
Happy days over the Everglades,
Danny42C
Stearman looks jolly good for 71 !
Did 60 hours on them in '41 on the "Arnold Scheme" (Class of 42C) - with no ASI in the cockpit - instructor in front had one, of course ! I'd never flown before (nor had my classmates), so we felt no pain - what you've never had, you never miss. It was a wonderful idea, for we learned to fly "by the seat of our pants".
What have they done with this one ? The original 220hp Continental has been replaced by a Wasp Junior (?) with a 2-speed prop (lifted out of an old BT-13 ?). Should go like ###t off a shovel now. It was a tough old bird.
All the old open cockpit tail draggers had this visibilty problem. You had a good look round before climbing in, and then zig-zagged along when you got moving, poking your head out like an old steam loco driver. Accidents of this kind have happened before, and they'll happen again.
Happy days over the Everglades,
Danny42C
Concerning forward visibility in the cockpit. It could be a problem in flight as well. On final approach, if there is a person in the front seat, their head is blocking your view of the runway and the occasional sideslip is required to allow you to see it and maintain alignment. I suppose once you are on short final with a reasonably wide runway, the edges come into view and then peripheral vision takes over.
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Yeah, but can she park it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?t=59&v=lrqaw7lB76c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?t=59&v=lrqaw7lB76c
The forward vis must be atrocious. How were they ever certified?
Saw six Stearmans flying a display at an airshow in Canada in about 2002. They flew so slowly it was comical, and the airshow commentator, a rugged, grizly old aviator type said "Stearmans fly at the speed of smell" !!
Saw six Stearmans flying a display at an airshow in Canada in about 2002. They flew so slowly it was comical, and the airshow commentator, a rugged, grizly old aviator type said "Stearmans fly at the speed of smell" !!
At least no one was in the helicopter.
"Plus ca change"
"On the 19th. September 1936 Flying Officer Peter Stanley Salter who was the Assistant Adjutant and Chief Flying Instructor of No. 611 Squadron collided in his Hawker Hart No. K3044 with the Percival Mew Gull G-AEKL piloted by Mr. Tom Campbell Black whilst taxiing on aerodrome after landing resulting in the death from his injuries of Mr. Tom Campbell Black as he was waiting to take off. Mr Tom Campbell Black who was best known for winning the air race held in 1934 from England to Australia, co-piloting the DH Comet Racer G-ACSS Grosvenor House.
Percival Mew Gull G-AEKL had just been named Miss Liverpool in a ceremony when the accident occurred. This aircraft was to have been used in an air race from England to South Africa that had been announced in 1936. The aircraft was sponsored by Mr. John Mores of Littlewoods. K3044 was written off but G-AEKL was repaired only to be destroyed in an air raid at Lympne on the 3rd. July 1940. Status, Pilot, Flying Officer, Peter Stanley Salter, OK. Status, Civilian, Tom Campbell Black, Killed."
"Plus ca change"
"On the 19th. September 1936 Flying Officer Peter Stanley Salter who was the Assistant Adjutant and Chief Flying Instructor of No. 611 Squadron collided in his Hawker Hart No. K3044 with the Percival Mew Gull G-AEKL piloted by Mr. Tom Campbell Black whilst taxiing on aerodrome after landing resulting in the death from his injuries of Mr. Tom Campbell Black as he was waiting to take off. Mr Tom Campbell Black who was best known for winning the air race held in 1934 from England to Australia, co-piloting the DH Comet Racer G-ACSS Grosvenor House.
Percival Mew Gull G-AEKL had just been named Miss Liverpool in a ceremony when the accident occurred. This aircraft was to have been used in an air race from England to South Africa that had been announced in 1936. The aircraft was sponsored by Mr. John Mores of Littlewoods. K3044 was written off but G-AEKL was repaired only to be destroyed in an air raid at Lympne on the 3rd. July 1940. Status, Pilot, Flying Officer, Peter Stanley Salter, OK. Status, Civilian, Tom Campbell Black, Killed."
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And Tom Campbell-Black was reputed to haunt the old Speke Aerodrome ever after.
On a nightstop at the Airport Marriott a few years ago a lady was complaining about a disturbed night. After she left I asked the receptionist if Captain Black had been misbehaving. The receptionist was shocked that I knew of him and I was informed that they never mentioned him, but that the lady's room had been in the old tower part of the building where CXaptain Black got up to a lot of his high-jinks.
http://hauntedliverpool.********.co....d-airport.html
My grandfather and T C-B were good friends. Back in the 60's I was at Speke with the old man when the subject of T C-B came up with ATC, some of them hated night shifts because of the ghost.
There was a good article about T C-B's ghost in Pilot about 20 years ago if anyone can find it.
SND
On a nightstop at the Airport Marriott a few years ago a lady was complaining about a disturbed night. After she left I asked the receptionist if Captain Black had been misbehaving. The receptionist was shocked that I knew of him and I was informed that they never mentioned him, but that the lady's room had been in the old tower part of the building where CXaptain Black got up to a lot of his high-jinks.
http://hauntedliverpool.********.co....d-airport.html
My grandfather and T C-B were good friends. Back in the 60's I was at Speke with the old man when the subject of T C-B came up with ATC, some of them hated night shifts because of the ghost.
There was a good article about T C-B's ghost in Pilot about 20 years ago if anyone can find it.
SND
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The aforementioned lady in the Stearman has embarked on a jaunt to re-create Amy Johnson's 1930 flight from England to Australia.
I understand a NOTAM has been issued to all Robbie operators.
I understand a NOTAM has been issued to all Robbie operators.
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Self Loading Bear;
My office is an old night fighter ready room. On an early start/late finish the icy fingers do sometimes crawl down your back..............................
SND
My office is an old night fighter ready room. On an early start/late finish the icy fingers do sometimes crawl down your back..............................
SND
Years ago I worked in the part of County Hall Northampton that had in former times been the gaol. A mate worked in what had been the condemned cell, which still had outside steps to the courtyard where the gallows had stood. My mate was NEVER the last out of the office!
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Here is the accident report. https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/aaib...tearman-n56200
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As mentioned in the report, getting a marshaller can prevent an accident like this. No marshaller available, then at minimum, inspect the planned taxi route prior to taxiing on it and minimize the time between inspection and actally taxiing along the route.
Summary:
The aircraft was parked outside a hangar, in an area where construction works were ongoing and temporary buildings had been erected in preparation for an event. The pilot boarded the aircraft and started the engine, before beginning to taxi. After moving off the aircraft turned through 90° to go between buildings towards the runway. The width of the area between the buildings was insufficient to allow the turns necessary for the pilot of a Stearman to see the area ahead. The pilot saw one helicopter parked ahead on the left, and another on the right, but could not see directly forward, and the propeller and nose of N56200 contacted the front of a Robinson R44 helicopter which had been parked between the other two.The pilot of N56200 immediately realised that there had been a collision, and shut down the aircraft, she and her passenger vacating it without difficulty. The helicopter was not occupied, and no injuries resulted, but its cockpit was destroyed. The collision could have been avoided if the pilot of N56200 had ensured that the area into which it taxied was clear of obstructions, either by observation, or the use of wing-walkers or marshallers.
Dead horse beating is alive and well here, Sheesh.
CC
Last edited by Checklist Charlie; 8th Apr 2019 at 03:50. Reason: .