My girls get me the coolest gifts, if the timing is a bit skewed sometimes. I got my Chevy as a Father's Day gift in March, and today, I cashed in my last gift from last Christmas. A ride in this old girl: I had a chance at about age 15 to ride in a Stearman. But my dad was standing next to me, and seeing as it was HIS favorite plane too, and It was because of him that I loved them, I told him to take the first ride, I'd get the next one. The next one never happened back then. Dad p***ed 5 years ago. It was the only chance he would ever have had to fly in one. I'm so thankful that, in my stupidity, I got that one right! Today was MY turn! Even has my favorite (and Dad's) paint scheme- USAAF. I about shat myself when he asked if I'd like to fly it. I got a bout a 30 second lesson, and then took the stick. I got to fly it three separate times between him showing me some of his crop duster turns The happy camper!
^ don't forget the radial engine! Banjeaux Bob- no loops, but he did do several wingovers and highball turns!
Those planes are great! I am getting the experience of a lifetime to get to learn from the old timers and help restore one.....when the B-52 isn't calling me.
I did the same thing!Got my father a ride in the same type of plane for his birthday about 7 years ago.The smile is still on his face.
One of the two airplanes everyone should fly at least once in their lives, that and a J3. To me, the Stearman is about the romance of flying; the wind in the wires, the smell of the oil; and as mentioned, the sound of that perfect aircraft engine, the radial. What I always rememeber is those threee things, especially turning base and final as the engines ticking over slow...it's just hard to improve on that.
Well, you are very welcome. I was an F-15 guy when I was in the USAF but we have a B-52 at the museum that is undergoing restoration. Didn't mean to hijack this thread.
They'res nothing like the sound of a round motor starting. To those who serve, and have served, Thank you. To those who havent, you're welcome.
Showing love and appreciation to those who serve and have served is very important to me. If that gets into a thread I start, it's not hijacking- it's only improving it! And Storm King- you nailed my love of the Stearman with the "romance of flying" comment.
I took my son on a ride in a reproduction Waco when he was about 6 or 7. What an experience. When I stuck my head out to look down I couldn't see anything from the air speed whipping my eyelids. I needed goggles. I can now say that I rode in a "double winger" and so can he. When I was a kid we would all yell, "Look a double winger", every time we saw one.
Bought my wife a ride in a Stearman for Mother's day one year. She got the long white scarf and all. This was in Tahlequah, Ok. and I think it belonged to the manager or management of the little airport. Don't know if it's still around there or not but pretty cool rig and the radial sounded great.
The Jalopy Journal
