Went Flying Today......2018

aftCG said:
They are hand held cell phone pics taken with my early model Google Pixel. I do my post processing on the device with an app called Snapseed.
I have done many bracketed exposures on my DSLR on a tripod, run them though Lightroom and program for layering the bracketed RAW images into HDR. It produces better images, but like a lot of things "the best *** is the one you have with you".

These next two were done the hard way. Biggest F stop I can get that will still bracket, exposures of 20-30 seconds each.
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Beautiful photos! I'm surprised the wispy clouds behind the Taylorcraft (??) aren't blurry given the long exposure time. Very nicely done sir!
 
Still no flying, unless you count simulators as flying! One more week then back home for good and back to work to get the plane done ASAP!!
 
aftCG said:
I spent Friday and Saturday polishing this beast in preparation for the Arlington airshow. I attempted to fly my Citabria to swap it for a week but the cumulous clouds over the mighty Cascade mountains forced me to perform the coolest maneuver in aviation: the 180 degree turn.
Hoping the weather is better Wednesday morning so I can try again
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Another cell phone pic
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"THAT'S a hangar." Crocodile Dundee
 
Those really are nice photos. Could be my Cub and Decathlon, except for the wheel pants and the underside of the Dec wing.
 
Bartman said:
is that seriously your runway? wingspan is about 32 ft, what is the width there, 33? lol
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First time I’ve had corn on both sides and yes it is now too narrow. I havent taken the challenge of 35’ of wing on a 36’ strip but if it has any other crop there it’s fine. Now I just have a long narrow taxiway to another strip. Have you ever seen Olibuilt’s video where they’re breaking corn over to get to a place to take off? Some if us (literally) live in the field. 🌱
 
HalfTonChamp said:
First time I’ve had corn on both sides and yes it is now too narrow. I havent taken the challenge of 35’ of wing on a 36’ strip but if it has any other crop there it’s fine. Now I just have a long narrow taxiway to another strip. Have you ever seen Olibuilt’s video where they’re breaking corn over to get to a place to take off? Some if us (literally) live in the field. 🌱
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See.AB0037F4-5B1E-4921-BBC5-C19EF12C0661.webp
 
HalfTonChamp said:
First time I’ve had corn on both sides and yes it is now too narrow. I havent taken the challenge of 35’ of wing on a 36’ strip but if it has any other crop there it’s fine. Now I just have a long narrow taxiway to another strip. Have you ever seen Olibuilt’s video where they’re breaking corn over to get to a place to take off? Some if us (literally) live in the field. 🌱
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I suppose if you don't grow the crop you don't turn the prop! (feel free to use that if it hasn't been said before :) )
 
Nothing that exciting, but yesterday I did 27 landings in a Cub and a Stearman. That puts me at just above 11% of the average daily activity at the world's 11th busiest GA airport. Cannot say I am not getting my money's worth.
 
Bartman said:
gotcha. for what it's worth, that is perfectly composed photo! whoever was standing on the strut to get that shot, he/she deserves a beer and an hour of front seat time (not in that order)
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Very clever comment. Have not heard that before but that means little. And in fact true. As all pilots do, you have to sacrifice to fly. Re: the photo. Have to point the GoPro on the ground in 3-point and guess the sight picture. The secret is—- the camera runs all the time and I just get screenshots that are framed properly. That’s all I can do and fly the airplane too!
 
Bob Turner said:
Nothing that exciting, but yesterday I did 27 landings in a Cub and a Stearman. That puts me at just above 11% of the average daily activity at the world's 11th busiest GA airport. Cannot say I am not getting my money's worth.
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Impressive. I would bet noone in the world did more that day. You walked the walk (so to speak). 👍
 
On Saturday I found myself at the airport in severe clear weather and not just one, but two fly-ins to attend. Oh, and a BT-13.
The focus of the day was to get to Concrete, WA which is in the foothills of the North Cascades. The short version is they've had an annual fly in of antique aircraft (and a small but very cool museum) for many years. After I showed up at the Arlington airshow last year in the BT I was encouraged to attend.
I'm assuming I don't have to explain to any reader here why that would be cool. Sadly, the guy who ran the museum (and put together the annual event) passed away and the museum collection is being sold off.

The void left a "show must go on" vibe and the fly in was a go for this year.

Only I never made it. The evening before I learned of a fly-in at Skagit Bayview (KBVS) from 11-4. For airspace reasons that was along my route to Concrete.
IMG_20180714_114536-02.webp
I believe every warbird in the picture except the polished BT in the foreground are part of the Heritage Collection. And yes, almost completely blocked from view is a stunning red-tailed P-51.

I must have the attention span of a parakeet because when ever I have seen "Heritage" I have assumed they were Paul Allen's planes.

Not so much. Greg and Alan Anders are the primary pilots of a collection started by their dad. I'm here to tell you those guys can yank a stick around. They opened the show by coming in low in the T-6s and cutting the place up.

During the day I was approached by one of the museum staff to ask me if I would like to participate in an event.
IMG_20180714_115628-01.webp
The Interstate Cadet NC37266 was rescued from a scrap heap and restored to original condition. A 65hp, no electric plane. The tail wheel is spindly and prone to damage so they have that dolly to move the plane around.

Cornelia Fort was a flight instructor out with a student on Dec 7, 1941 when she became the first aircraft to be fired upon by the Japanese. At first a plane tried to ram her, then made a strafing pass (missed). She dove for the airport and she and her student were strafed as they ran for cover. The plane had a few rounds go through the tail and the two made it safely to cover (unlike another plane on the ground with the same predicament).

After the presentation where they described the historic event and the story of the acquisition, historic validation and restoration. Then it was time to wheel it out along with their T-6 "zero" and reenact the event over the airfield.

Why the BT? Well it turns out she became a WASP and delivered aircraft from the factory to the airfields they would be stationed at. On March 21, 1943 she became the first woman to die in the service by having a midair collision with another BT. They had been flying in formation (something the WASPS weren't trained to do) and it was after the planes broke up and went their own directions that she collided with the landing gear of another BT, and it took out her canopy. The other plane made it to the ground.

Fortunately historic accuracy wasn't required, so rather than get in a midair all I had to do was a low pass. I had a fantastic seat from 800' AGL to watch the zero cut that Cadet up in front of the crowd.

Later in the afternoon they flew their very, very nice P-51 and the Skyraider you can see in the picture. That Skyraider is a hotrod and can hold its own against a Mustang. It's shocking to see such a lard ass plane maneuver so effectively.
 
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aftCG said:
On Saturday I found myself at the airport in severe clear weather and not just one, but two fly-ins to attend. Oh, and a BT-13.
The focus of the day was to get to Concrete, WA which is in the foothills of the North Cascades. The short version is they've had an annual fly in of antique aircraft (and a small but very cool museum) for many years. After I showed up at the Arlington airshow last year in the BT I was encouraged to attend.
I'm assuming I don't have to explain to any reader here why that would be cool. Sadly, the guy who ran the museum (and put together the annual event) passed away and the museum collection is being sold off.

The void left a "show must go on" vibe and the fly in was a go for this year.

Only I never made it. The evening before I learned of a fly-in at Skagit Bayview (KBVS) from 11-4. For airspace reasons that was along my route to Concrete.
View attachment 938
I believe every warbird in the picture except the polished BT in the foreground are part of the Heritage Collection. And yes, almost completely blocked from view is a stunning red-tailed P-51.

I must have the attention span of a parakeet because when ever I have seen "Heritage" I have assumed they were Paul Allen's planes.

Not so much. Greg and Alan Anders are the primary pilots of a collection started by their dad. I'm here to tell you those guys can yank a stick around. They opened the show by coming in low in the T-6s and cutting the place up.

During the day I was approached by one of the museum staff to ask me if I would like to participate in an event.
View attachment 939
The Interstate Cadet NC37266 was rescued from a scrap heap and restored to original condition. A 65hp, no electric plane. The tail wheel is spindly and prone to damage so they have that dolly to move the plane around.

Cornelia Fort was a flight instructor out with a student on Dec 7, 1941 when she became the first aircraft to be fired upon by the Japanese. At first a plane tried to ram her, then made a strafing pass (missed). She dove for the airport and she and her student were strafed as they ran for cover. The plane had a few rounds go through the tail and the two made it safely to cover (unlike another plane on the ground with the same predicament).

After the presentation where they described the historic event and the story of the acquisition, historic validation and restoration. Then it was time to wheel it out along with their T-6 "zero" and reenact the event over the airfield.

Why the BT? Well it turns out she became a WASP and delivered aircraft from the factory to the airfields they would be stationed at. On March 21, 1943 she became the first woman to die in the service by having a midair collision with another BT. They had been flying in formation (something the WASPS weren't trained to do) and it was after the planes broke up and went their own directions that she collided with the landing gear of another BT, and it took out her canopy. The other plane made it to the ground.

Fortunately historic accuracy wasn't required, so rather than get in a midair all I had to do was a low pass. I had a fantastic seat from 800' AGL to watch the zero cut that Cadet up in front of the crowd.

Later in the afternoon they flew their very, very nice P-51 and the Skyraider you can see in the picture. That Skyraider is a hotrod and can hold its own against a Mustang. It's shocking to see such a lard ass plane maneuver so effectively.
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Is this the reality of the scene from ToraToraTora?
 
HalfTonChamp said:
Imagine the logbook entry. 12/7/41, maneuvering flight, stalls, slow flight. Attacked by Japanese Zeroes. 1.2hrs.
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That would be a great log entry. The aircraft logs mention the tail surfaces being replaced but no mention of a dog fight
 
aftCG said:
On Saturday I found myself at the airport in severe clear weather and not just one, but two fly-ins to attend.............................It's shocking to see such a lard ass plane maneuver so effectively.
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Thanks for the pics!
 
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