This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Thu Dec 23, 2004 8:16 pm
I am wondering how many WIXers can testify to making their first solo CIVILIAN flight in a warbird?
My oldest Son will hopefully solo in an L-5 this coming Spring. His Grandfather soloed 60 years before in an L-5 in 1945. We want to mark the event. His Grandfather (my Dad) went on to have a long professional flying career (which included a little civilian warbird flying too, (i.e. T-6, BTs, AT-21, P-63, C-47s, AT-11, more L-5s, PT-13/17, P-38, T-34s, and others). My Son's first 18 hours or so (pre-age 16) of instruction have been in an Aeronca L-3.
Let's hear from the WIXers who have saved that one special most important flight for a real warbird, probably not a common thing anymore.
List type, registration, and date if possible.
Lowell Thompson
Kellogg, Idaho
Thu Dec 23, 2004 10:35 pm
I soloed in a Cessna 150, but I had about 20 hours on the Pilatus P-3 before that.
I was released as a single pilot, without a backseat driver about 3 years ago on the little Pilatus.
I was solo on the Focke-Wulf from the start though, my father did the flight test after the rebuild and he has about 25 hours on it, maybe 30, while I have over 200 now.
Fri Dec 24, 2004 5:36 am
Well, like Ollie, I legally soloed in a C-150 (N2982V) up at Boeing Field in Seattle.
I grew up, however, flying my dad's actual Korea veteran Ryan L-17B, which was our family aircraft. I had probably hundreds of hours in it (not logged, of course) before I ever took my first official flying lesson.
http://www.warbird.org/L-17/individual_ ... 8-1007.htm
I sure do miss her...