Bald Eagle Aviation

[Jim Beasley]

Morning Steve -- the Mustang is not a climber and given our 100LL we're limited to less than book values. Practically, unless you're really on it won't sustain much more than around 2500 fpm on a basic straight climb. Griffon spit is easily 4000 fpm. The vertical penetration at speed is significantly greater in the griffon spit as well, but when cornering it will lose energy more quickly than a Mustang. Loved seeing the Pusher at MIV and RDG. Fantastic.

Jim,

We (the Curtiss Pusher crew, kind of at the opposite end of the flying spectrum) were admiring the Spit as it flew at Reading. We were really admiring the rate of climb! How fast will that Spit climb and how does that compare to a max effort climb in the Mustang?

Thanks,

Steve the Pusher pusher

[Airplanejunkie]

Thanks for the info. It was a highlight of a great weekend to see the Griffon Spit fly (and climb!!)

I can't claim any credit for the Pusher (besides pushing it) but it's fun to help Bob share the airplane and great to see that it's so well received.

Morning Steve -- the Mustang is not a climber and given our 100LL we're limited to less than book values. Practically, unless you're really on it won't sustain much more than around 2500 fpm on a basic straight climb. Griffon spit is easily 4000 fpm. The vertical penetration at speed is significantly greater in the griffon spit as well, but when cornering it will lose energy more quickly than a Mustang. Loved seeing the Pusher at MIV and RDG. Fantastic.

Jim,

We (the Curtiss Pusher crew, kind of at the opposite end of the flying spectrum) were admiring the Spit as it flew at Reading. We were really admiring the rate of climb! How fast will that Spit climb and how does that compare to a max effort climb in the Mustang?

Thanks,

Steve the Pusher pusher

[51fixer]

Jim's performance on Sat in the Spit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8dp2CUQ ... re=related

[CAPFlyer]

What a nice display Jim put on.

Was watching some of the other videos and in the European reenactment for Saturday it says something about Jim flying the L-4 over the battle was scuttled? Can you guys share any more information on what happened?

[Jim Beasley]

There was a brutal storm heading right towards Reading and was 6 miles away when I was flying so I chickened out and took the Spitfire home. I was super bummed I missed the L4 battle flying. But I did get to fly it in the beginning of the show with the other L birds

The storm basically missed the airport, but was all red on the radar heading right at us. Fortunately it didn't do any damage.

What a nice display Jim put on.

Was watching some of the other videos and in the European reenactment for Saturday it says something about Jim flying the L-4 over the battle was scuttled? Can you guys share any more information on what happened?

[51fixer]

Jim is heading out with BE in the morning so I did a run up this afternoon so I thought I would give you a look at running a P-51-
Unlock the control stick to unlock the controls.

Check Gear Handle is down and locked.

Flap Handle in the up position

Hyd System Bypass handle in to activate the Hyd System.

Fuel Tank Selector to fullest tank.

L/H Fuel Gauge on the Cockpit Floor.

Check Throttle for proper position.

Batt Master on and Preoil Engine.

Oil Pressure builds on the 3-1 Gauge. This gauge shows Fuel and oil pressure along with oil temp.

Electric Fuel Boost Pump on and Prime Engine, Then engage Starter.

Engine should fire as Boost Coil triggers off of the Starter Switch and then Mags on and throw in the Mixture.

Monitor gauges.

View over the nose as you taxi.

Off to the side.

Modern Panel.


Mag Check at 30" and around 2350 RPM.

Fuel Flow at 30".

Fuel Flow at idle.

Before start and post shutdown you check the oil level.


Interesting view with the flaps and inner gear dors up. Or what the bug sees on the way into the radiator scoop.

[CAPFlyer]

There was a brutal storm heading right towards Reading and was 6 miles away when I was flying so I chickened out and took the Spitfire home. I was super bummed I missed the L4 battle flying. But I did get to fly it in the beginning of the show with the other L birds

The storm basically missed the airport, but was all red on the radar heading right at us. Fortunately it didn't do any damage.

1) Always err on the side of safety. Can't fault you there.

2) Glad to hear no damage.

Hyd System Bypass handle in to activate the Hyd System.

3) Why is the Hydraulic System Bypass Handle labeled "Fuel"? (Honest question. I know there's good reasons for some things being labelled "oddly" so I'd like to know the reason behind this)

[51fixer]

There was a brutal storm heading right towards Reading and was 6 miles away when I was flying so I chickened out and took the Spitfire home. I was super bummed I missed the L4 battle flying. But I did get to fly it in the beginning of the show with the other L birds

The storm basically missed the airport, but was all red on the radar heading right at us. Fortunately it didn't do any damage.

1) Always err on the side of safety. Can't fault you there.

2) Glad to hear no damage.

Hyd System Bypass handle in to activate the Hyd System.

3) Why is the Hydraulic System Bypass Handle labeled "Fuel"? (Honest question. I know there's good reasons for some things being labelled "oddly" so I'd like to know the reason behind this)

It actually reads PULL. It is cast onto the handle. I guess wear and tear on the paint and handle since it was painted in 1980 has created this optical illusion.

[CAPFlyer]

Ahh, makes more sense now.

Thanks for the correction Rich.

[davidbray]

Quick question, how much do the avionics below the compass affect its reading? Is there a remote fluxgate?

[51fixer]

Quick question, how much do the avionics below the compass affect its reading? Is there a remote fluxgate?

The Electronic Heading Indicator, EHSI, is the primary instrument to give compass heading info. It does use a remote fluxgate as well as GPS info.
The Garmin 530 GPS/Nav/Comm also displays your heading.
The compass now serves a backup role and has a correction card on display. All the metal and electrical fields affects the reading of the compass so you have to do a process of of aiming the A/C in a known direction and record what the compass actually reads. It means if you head south using your compass you really aren't heading south. You look at the correction card and it might say that South is actually 170 on the compass rather than 180.

[51fixer]

Interesting article from Flight Archives on the Griffon 65 from Sept 1945.
http://www.spitfireperformance.com/griffon-65.pdf
Awesome site to find info from that timeframe.

[Airplanejunkie]

Interesting article from Flight Archives on the Griffon 65 from Sept 1945.
http://www.spitfireperformance.com/griffon-65.pdf
Awesome site to find info from that timeframe.

Very cool!

[ZRX61]

Nice flying, pity the commentator didn't know when to STFU ....

Jim's performance on Sat in the Spit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8dp2CUQ ... re=related

[Lynn Allen]

Nice flying, pity the commentator didn't know when to STFU ....

Well Said...

Jim's performance on Sat in the Spit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8dp2CUQ ... re=related