Aviation MegaThread!!!!

[anonny]

[No False Enthusiasm]

How do you "step on the ball" in that aircraft?

NFE

[BillsR100]

A bazillion photos of VERY LOW flying aircraft
Enjoy.

http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNe...A/Default.aspx


Sample:


"This photo and the following one are my two favourite shots of low level flying. A South African Air Force Harvard trainer rips up a beach on the Atlantic coast near Saldanha Bay with its propeller tips no more than three feet from the sandy surface. A group of Army officer candidates walking up the beach are just now realizing that their lives are in jeopardy. In the far distance you can just make out three other Harvards."

[Flying-D]

Here are a couple shots I took last Friday of a friends Radial Rocket. He's an ag operator, with businesses in both Missouri and Florida, and this is his commuter! I think that it's one of three flying now. When he arrived, my first flight instructor (now retired from the airlines) was in the back seat. It was built for him by another friend in Texas, and the fit and finish is absolutely amazing.

[JamesG]

There's a back seat in that? It must be bigger than it looks.

[Flying-D]

Originally Posted by JamesG

There's a back seat in that? It must be bigger than it looks.

Yeah...not much to help you with scale there. For reference, the spinner is about 7 feet off the ground, and that's an M14 9-cylinder radial engine under the cowl. Here's a shot of Pete getting ready for a test flight, which gives you a better sense of scale.

[Daniii]

Originally Posted by Flying-D

Yeah...not much to help you with scale there. For reference, the spinner is about 7 feet off the ground. Here's a shot of Pete getting ready for a test flight, which gives you a better sense of scale.

Wow. How does he close the canopy? Rope tied to it?

[Flying-D]

Originally Posted by Daniii

Wow. How does he close the canopy? Rope tied to it?

I guess it's a stretch, but there's just a standard release on the left side...

[RedRocker]

Damn, that's a beauty! What's the cruise speed on that little jewel?

[Flying-D]

Originally Posted by RedRocker

Damn, that's a beauty! What's the cruise speed on that little jewel?

They publish economy cruise at 200 MPH (maybe 70% power?)...if I remember, he said he's getting 4000 FPM on initial climb, and I can tell you that it looks like it! I didn't ask to what altitude.

[scottfromboston]

Originally Posted by Flying-D

They publish economy cruise at 200 MPH (maybe 70% power?)...if I remember, he said he's getting 4000 FPM on initial climb, and I can tell you that it looks like it! I didn't ask to what altitude.

Just. Plane. Silly. (ha ha)

My dream is to build an F1 rocket someday. It's only taken me a year to get 80% of the way through my little Vans sample wing section, so I figure I've got about 100 to go to get the real thing pounded out.

[Flying-D]

Originally Posted by scottfromboston

Just. Plane. Silly. (ha ha)

My dream is to build an F1 rocket someday. It's only taken me a year to get 80% of the way through my little Vans sample wing section, so I figure I've got about 100 to go to get the real thing pounded out.

Got one of those on the field here (CGI), owned by a corporate pilot. Nice plane that unfortunately doesn't get much exercise. He did a complete glass cockpit, but I have to admit that I like steam gauges better. I think he added a year to the build just working the bugs out of that little modification. As an interesting note, the F1 Rocket was built on the field here by the father of the guy who built that Radial Rocket at his shop in Texas. The old man is over 80, and still works 6-7 days a week. He's an institution here, a great guy, a good friend to anyone with an interest in aviation, and still does exemplary work. Papa John Farquhar... He's your guy for advice if you ever need any.

...and he BBQ's a mean brisket, which according to him is the only thing anyone should ever BBQ.

[RedRocker]

Where in Texas is his shop?

[Flying-D]

Originally Posted by RedRocker

Where in Texas is his shop?

Here ya go...

http://www.airbornekustomz.com/index.html

Great folks. I don't know the son (in Texas) so much, because I'm here and he's there. He's got a good reputation though. I can say that the paint on the Radial Rocket is show quality.

[scottfromboston]

Originally Posted by Flying-D

Here ya go...

http://www.airbornekustomz.com/index.html

Great folks. I don't know the son (in Texas) so much, because I'm here and he's there. He's got a good reputation though. I can say that the paint on the Radial Rocket is show quality.

I've seen that guy's page linked from van's air force. Some beautiful work in there.