The big video topic

there was a legendary story of an Australian CAA inspector, who had to make a long road journey by car and there wasnt a whole pile of exciting scenery to look at, on his long journey. So, when he spotted an aircraft ahead, appearing to land on the road, it peaked his interest. Landing on the road in outback Australia is not unusual but even so, most people tend to use dirt or gravel runways. It became apparent that the pilot was doing circuits on the road and he watched as the guy flew some competent circuits and then landed and taxied to a nearby house. The CAA guy went over and asked about the aircraft, which appeared to be a Cherokee....................... Upon close inspection, it turned out to have a Chipmunk propellor, matched to to what turned out to a be a gearbox from a vehicle axle, fitted to the front of a Lycoming. The control cables appeared to be fence wire, several instruments were cobbled together into a loose arrangement in front of the pilot and the wings had a fairing outboard of each leg, where the outer and inner wing sections appeared to have been joined. When the CAA guy looked under the fairings (commercial alloy sheet), he saw that the spars had been welded together. At this point, he identified himself to the man and asked about the aircraft's origin. It turned out that the guy had always wanted to fly, was endlessly fascinated by aviation but being a lowly employee on a sheep station, didnt have much money but was good with his hands.............................. A Cherokee was found on a scrapyard, which had gone between two steel fence posts, hence the "three-part wing". It had a functioning engine but no decent usable propellor, very little in the way of instruments and just enough of a windshield and remaining perspex that it could be flown. The guy welded the spars together, replaced any needed cables with fence wire, cobbled together a reduction system for the non-matching propellor and got the whole contraption going. When asked about flying lessons, he admitted that he'd had none (formally) but had flown many times in sheep station aircraft and had recieved some unofficial tuition, to the point where he felt confident that he could carry out a safe circuit. He had a well-worn book about learning to fly and he was using that to teach himself the finer details, but by that time, he could fly competent circuits. The CAA guy said that it broke his heart to have to ground the guy because it was a clear example of the little guy having "a fair go" ( a concept etched in the heart of every Australian), a lot of what the guy had done was mechanically clever and he was harming no-one.

 

Lovely story. So typical Australian.
Erik in Oz.

 

dooing some recherche on the web, for big flaped bipe, I found this
interesting movie!

 

I'm thinking, that if you damage something, or someone's property with a drone, then you are liable ! Is that correct ?
Bob

 

An-2...but one was high wing version ???

 

yes! new wing + turbine..

 

Zowie flying bando airstrip w/ 3D props


I may be wrong, but looks to me like the DC-4 Skymaster @ Gila River Memorial

 

Have a few videos you might be interested in.
Curtis C46 Commando takeoff & Landings (several as there are a couple that fly from here in Kenai)
DC4 Takeoff & Landings (once again one is stationed here)
Vacation flight videos (from Alaska to Lower 48 and back up the British Colombia Coast) flying my Vans RV6
Oh, not to mention flying locally over the Harding Ice Field, Kenai Mountains, Mt Spur, and Denali sight seeing flights.

First video Mt Crillion near the Canada border with Alaska. Just crossed over the water from where the islands end and connected ground is again Gulf of Alaska on the left:


The above video from Memorial weekend May 2017, taken while flying my purchased RV6 from Jackson, CA to Kenai, Alaska.

More to follow this is a test post to see if I'm doing it right.

 

How about an older workhorses?

Friend from down south flew his RV9 to Kenai, this is the first time we met in person. Of course when the C46 cranked up just had to take a video.

When these do a full power takeoff you should hear the scream! Baddest sounding prop plane ever! Two P47 engines screaming for release from the ground. Makes more noise than the DC4 on take off.

Sorry, in advance for the video issue-sun was making it hard to see, but you get to hear the sound once I get it right.


Mike

 

Something a little different. At home like to fly X-plane. Here is a short X-plane 9 video of flying a SR71 Blackbird. Always wondered if you could fly vertically on take off if the winds are strong enough. Yep, you guessed it, vertical take off and landing using the chase view, performed at Elmedorf AFB in Anchorage:


Have to head out, will post more later.

Mike

 

Well next treat here in Kenai.

Spend lunches sometimes at the Kenai airport. Just glad had the video camera with me this day! Lots of photos too.

Once again need to get a better screen, have issues seeing the display when zooming, anyway here they are.

Heard them before realizing they were even parked near the tower:


Just to show how close they are to my RV6 tiedown:


Why they were holding:


Have videos of them all taking off, however my lack of video skills when zooming, this is the best one:


Was a little late getting back from lunch, all forgiven when we watched the videos.....

Mike

 

Better video of Curtiss C46 Commando Taking Off. Used a smaller twin to start the video!


These haul fuel to the outlying villages. Sure do enjoy the sound when they take-off. Have a few movies of them landing as well. Guess I'm just lucky to live here in Alaska to see and hear these incredible work horses.

Mike

 

1929 Safety Aircraft comp.:

 

I love seeing old aviation footage from back in the early days. The Curtiss Tanager had it going on, especially with the landing. Reminded me of the, "Just Aircraft" at SNF and AV.

 

Slats, bending wing, lifting fuselage, all moving control surfaces..all there already in 1929.

 

thank you for that!

 

Powerlooping an Alta X

Shop tour

fpv.air-war.org

 

I missed the part that had anything to do with experimental amateur-built aircraft.