Warbird Information Exchange

Yesterday on a calm, sunny 50 degree December WI day, fellow WIXer "sdennison" aka Scott and I went yanking and banking for 30 minutes in the T-33. Scott knows how flight controls work, but is not a pilot. I briefed him on the (hyd boosted) aileron sensitivity and the necessity to keep his feet off the rudder pedals. Well holy smokes!! His experience racing midget and sprint cars definitely translated into a rapid read of the airplane's handling characteristics and he flew it incredibly well--aileron rolls, steep turns, straight and level--better than a lot of licensed pilots I've taken. Apparently it runs in the family--as many of you know his father was a fighter pilot in WWII and a career USAF officer. Great job flying the jet Scott! Just remember to use rudder when you start your flying lessons in taildraggers in '07. Next time we'll have to get some "hero" shots of you with all the gear on! See you 'round the batcave!

[img][img]http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l187/kep130/IMG_1792.jpg[/img][/img]

Congratulations to Scott on his flying experience with the T-33! It sounds like it was fun.

I always thought a flight in a T-33 would be a lot of fun. If I ever get a chance, I would love to get rides in a T-33 and a T-28.

I hope maybe we will get a chance to see you and your T-33 at Thunder Over Michigan in July?!?

Jim C.

Congrats Scott! The sensitivity of the controls in a T-33 are amazing, it is more like all you need to do is think about turning, climbing, rolling etc and the plane does it! My friend Kay says that he always has to brief very carefully pilots who have flown prop warbirds or other jets about jerking the stick to and fro.

Tom P.

I'll be flying in and I'll see you there Jim!

[quote] I'll be flying in and I'll see you there Jim!

Great news! looking forward to seeing you and your T-33 there. Thunder's early list of jet warbirds is looking very good at this point: T-33, F-86, T-2 and MiG-17.

Aw heck it was you guys! I had asked Santa Claus to bring me one of those RCAF T-birds!
SOunds Awesome!

Wow, can't say that I have been the topic of a thread before and sorry, but I am still trying to come down from that experience!

The Major is an amazing man and great friend. To be able to say that the first aircraft I piloted was a T-33 will be cherished forever. That' like saying the first race I ran was Indy.

I am truly amazed at how similar the feelings are between a car at speed and the T-33. It talks to you and if you listen well, life is good. Don't get me wrong, I understand that I just barely visited the outer boundries of what it takes to be a pilot and I was very lucky. No "profiling" here as all of you who do this regularly are the real deal. I'm just moving into the neighborhood.

I can only think that my Pop had some exposure here as his past with Jugs and Lightnings now takes on a whole new meaning.

Thanks to all for the kind words and support. If you ever get to meet Paul, you will know how lucky we all are to have guys like him promoting warbirds.

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"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

Scott,

Sounds like a great experience! Heck, I'm jealous. Just the other day I was thinking, what would I rather do, fly in the back seat of a T-33 or drive a sprint car? Maybe I don't have to choose. If you let me drive your sprinter and Paul gives me a ride in my favorite jet warbird type ...POOOF...wake up call! Some dreams are too good not to pursue!

John

Better date myself here, I was in the "old school" days of wingless sprint cars, CRA, outlaws, USAC. etc. You know, back when men were men and all the sheep knew it...my first midget in 1974 was a Curtis Offy.

I'm 56 now so, don't think I can give you a ride but definitely can tell you that running the cushion at Eldoro is almost like an aileron roll in the T-33. Now, I'll take the T-33 anytime.

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"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

Doesn't much matter to me. That much horsepower in a 1400 pound package is nothing but neat! I spent fair amount of my younger years picking clay out of almost every port in my body. The good old days ! I think it sweet that you drove in Earls Palace! It's kinda like the Rhyman Auditorium of the Country Music world...a little old and run down but nobody would trade appearing there for anything! Although I never attended any of now infamous airshows down in Breckenridge TX, I have to think Eldora is has the same atmosphere...at least it did.

By the way, should you mention roll and sprint car in the same sentence? Sorry for the detour...back to aviation now!

John

John,

Try a visit here http://dennisonenterprises.zoomshare.com/0.html and go to the racing pictures pages 3 & 4 for my "aileron" roll in a sprint car in 1977 at El Centro. You'll know why, perhaps I had a handle on the T-33.

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"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

scott.... an early xmas present!!! i'm glad you enjoyed!! a 30 minute flight / a lifetime memory!! congrats!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Scott,
Cograts on your ride with Paul. It had to be fun for sure. I'll date myself here by saying my first ride in a T33 was in 85 at Langley AFB while assigned to the 48th FIS. We had T33's and I believe we were the last active duty unit with them at the time.
Your ride must have been better since you got to fly it too. I got to hold on and try to keep from having to clean the cockpit later. Keep flying and hope to cross paths with you guys some day.
David

You guys are great! This was not just an unbelievable opportunity provided by my friend Paul but a chance to "bond" with my father in a way that I did not have the chance when he was alive.

Sorry for the digression but Dad and I were estranged for many years and although he related to my racing and I to his piloting, this moment became an opportunity for us to come to a common ground. He helped me understand what he lived for and I think, somehow, he knows that what I did was akin to his experience.

So bs aside....I love flying!!!!!!!!!!!!! To just step back and appreciate the experience I was just given...WOW!

I hope that other WIXER's can appreciate what I have had the opportunity to do.

I have no delusions of grandeur but would like to learn to fly in my father's footsteps to kind of close the loop. Best part is, I love flying and finally having control of an unbelievable aircraft.

So, my ultimate thanks to Major Paul Keppler and his ultimate kindness and generosity. Life is full of "profilers" and genuine people. Find the genuine and enjoy the "profilers".

You guys (friends) on WIX are an amazing wealth of knowledge and friendship and a great enjoyment. My humble thanks to all!

"sdennison", "jet pilot", son of an "Aviator"

Proud son of Robert Chalmers Dennison, 60th FS, 33rd FG, CBI. DFC, AM (2 OLC) Class of 43K

Thank you my friends!

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"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

Hey there scott!, Paul!

Wow.. thats really great that you had such a great flight. Awesome!
Really glad you got the yankin' & bankin' treatment too! Thats
really special! We had to behave ourselves with the ceilings coming
home from waukegan.

I was just driving the truck home with a xmas tree on top when you
guys came over pewaukee lake and I said to ginny.. hmmm that looks
alot like paul.. you were already past but not too many planes around
here have tip tanks like a t-33 and move that fast!.. ~3:20 or so..
So who took the side shot? from?

Wish I would have had the nikon there to capture that big grin on your
face. Has it worn off yet? .... hmmm.. yeah paul
we may have to re-suit him up!

And I'll definitely 2nd the notion of what a great guy paul is... although
he probably still hasn't forgiven me for the joke I played on him in racine
with my parents... ..

Sweet dreams scott!

henning

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"The best way to control the future is to create it".