Originally Posted by SleepyC

You guys still had to have giant stones to even try the stuff!

Nah, not really Steve. The first time you take off in a Pitts, and you're all by yourself, you really learn what it's like to fly. My S1 time is BY FAR the most fun I've ever had in an airplane, and that includes the Sukhois and Extras I've flown. There is just nothing like a Pitts.

BUT... Your doing all of this IN the plane. This video shows a calm cool dude, but how many could have landed that plane? Anyone who does aerobatics in a Pitts - Decathlon - Extra, or a aerobatic Cessna are bad ass.

I have one aerobatic ride (probably pretty mellow compared to most big dogs) in a YAK 54 and it was insane.

You guys are giant balled dudes... I understand risk management and all of that, but still you only get one REAL mistake.

Originally Posted by Shaker

There is just nothing like a Pitts.

+1

BTW, i think it’s funny I gotta argue with you guys for you to take a compliment.
HAHAHA

Originally Posted by SleepyC

BUT... Your doing all of this IN the plane. This video shows a calm cool dude, but how many could have landed that plane? Anyone who does aerobatics in a Pitts - Decathlon - Extra, or a aerobatic Cessna are bad ass.

I have one aerobatic ride (probably pretty mellow compared to most big dogs) in a YAK 54 and it was insane.

You guys are giant balled dudes... I understand risk management and all of that, but still you only get one REAL mistake.

No wonder it hurts when I sit down . Most acro pilots will admit to a number of "mistakes"....usually, but not always, it's the ones close to the ground that end it forever. I think we could all write a small book of "tales"!

On the crankshafts - the early Lycomings used the standard cranks which had lightening holes drilled in the prop flange (between the bolts). If you were smart you replaced it a with solid flange crank, which also had a few other beef-ups to prevent cracking and failures.

The MT and Hoffman props eliminated this and provided other performance benefits with the reduction in gyroscopic forces. They could NOT be flown in the rain however as it would tear the leading edges to pieces, even with protective tape on them. This was usually only an issure during cross-country stuff.

I guess I was fortunate to have a great instructor who beat it into my head to always admit mistakes, and then never repeat them. My biggest mistake was early in my aerobatic flying. Push, Push, Pull, Goodnight. I was very fortunate to have enough time to wake up and regain control of the airplane.

Originally Posted by Shaker

My biggest mistake was early in my aerobatic flying. Push, Push, Pull, Goodnight. I was very fortunate to have enough time to wake up and regain control of the airplane.

I had the same experience. I had been flying Sportsman, and when I got my Pitts S-2A I immediately moved up to Advanced. The very first maneuver in the Known was push pull horizontal eight. The push part was ok but the pull part put me right out. Took me a while to get my head back on straight just to fly back to the airport.

Originally Posted by SleepyC

BUT... Your doing all of this IN the plane. This video shows a calm cool dude, but how many could have landed that plane?

Without taking anything away from Kirk (who has mad skills), pretty much anyone who is competent in the airplane could have landed it. I never flew a Cap 21, but I DID fly a Cap-10B, and Cap-20L a little. I almost bought one (Cap-20L), and it was really a beautiful flying airplane.

Impressive. You know what they say. Always fly the plane all the way to the crash. It may not be one if you do.

Rule #1 - Always fly the airplane.

Originally Posted by Shaker

Rule #1 - Always fly the airplane.

ALWAYS.

Originally Posted by Shaker

Without taking anything away from Kirk (who has mad skills), pretty much anyone who is competent in the airplane could have landed it.

Yep, it was just a deadstick landing...over an airport. The difference is that most would be unlikely to throw in a one wheel landing on such an occasion. Kirk is a great pilot.

Originally Posted by vmceachern

Impressive. You know what they say. Always fly the plane all the way to the crash. It may not be one if you do.

Fly it until the engine is shut down....and even then you might have to "fly" it a bit until someone grabs it or ties it down. Been there, done that...too!

Someone should start a thread about full scale "So There I Was" stories. Only rule would be that it has to be a true story.

Originally Posted by Pistolera

Someone should start a thread about full scale "So There I Was" stories. Only rule would be that it has to be a true story.

Great idea. You start.

This one time at bandcamp...............