Exciting stuff at Duxford...new member here

Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:42 pm

Hello all. I have been a lurker here for some time but finally joined and decided to make a post of my own. Am I the only one who regularly checks the Fighter Collection site? They've got some really exciting stuff going on there, and I never see any posts about it. Their Spit XVIII just came out of the paint shop, and looks beautiful. I am also happy to report that they are still working on the Beaufighter even though it was (is?) on Provenance for a while. The Gladiator is looking pretty close as well. http://fighter-collection.com/pages.php

Matt

Last edited by Matt_in_NC on Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:07 pm

Welcome to WIX Matt,

I hope you enjoy the ride!

Oh, and thank you for posting that URL. The Spit paint job looks spectacular!!

Cheers,

David

Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:04 pm

I just added the photo to my profile. That's my grandfather from his glory days. He served on the USS Fesseden during WWII and learned to fly on the GI bill. Unfortunately, flying couldn't pay the family bills, so he went to work for Asplundh instead. He is still living up in rural Pennsylvania, and his house is on final approach to Van Sant Airport. It's a well- known grass strip that serves as home to quite a few Stearmans and other round-engined types. Here are a few photos of him flying.

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Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:55 am

Welcome! You have good taste in aircraft. I was fooled by the shadow on the Stearman, I first thought the print was inverted.

Pirate Lex
http://www.BrewsterCorsair.com

Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:43 am

Nope, he's inverted there. He has some great stories to tell about the old days. I have a video of him somewhere doing one of the first aerobatic routines in a glider at an airshow in PA. The program was filmed by National Geographic, and was hosted by none other than Gregory Boyington. He flew in in a T6 at the beginning of the show and then starts hosting. If I can find it/ get it on my computer I will post it. He used to hang around with Charlie Hilliard and some of the other great aerobatic pilots at the time.

Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:53 am

Welcome Matt. Those are some classic pics. :shock:

Where bouts in GA are you?
Robbie

Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:10 pm

I'm not trying to start anything, but the inverted Stearman picture strikes me as a little odd. It would appear from the backround that its noonish(no long shadows) yet the light source on the a/c is definitely not from above. Also, if this is a stock Stearman 50 feet high with almost no aileron deflection, very little down elevator, there's about to be a crash.
On top of that, there's a passenger looking about right at the photographer. Matt, I don't doubt your Grandad's accomplishments, but I'd like to learn more about this photo.

Steve G

Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:23 pm

I don't know the actual history behind the inverted photo...my mom sent it to me after she scanned them out of an old scrapbook. It is a banner/ glider towing Stearman or maybe a sprayer. They usually had upgraded engines in them, but I don't know what else. I'll ask my grandad. I currently live in Statesboro, GA and am in school at Georgia Southern University. I'm finishing my degree at the moment but plan to go to some place like Embry Riddle as soon as I graduate. I finally decided to follow in the family footsteps! I've always been a warbird fan, but for now I'll just have to watch and drool. Someday though, maybe...

Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:45 pm

FutureCorsairOwner wrote:Nope, he's inverted there. He has some great stories to tell about the old days. I have a video of him somewhere doing one of the first aerobatic routines in a glider at an airshow in PA. The program was filmed by National Geographic, and was hosted by none other than Gregory Boyington. He flew in in a T6 at the beginning of the show and then starts hosting. If I can find it/ get it on my computer I will post it. He used to hang around with Charlie Hilliard and some of the other great aerobatic pilots at the time.

Yes, I'm interested in seeing this video! When was that filmed? I've seen most of the National Geographic stuff, but I've never heard of this before.

Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:27 pm

bipe215 wrote:I'm not trying to start anything, but the inverted Stearman picture strikes me as a little odd.

Looks like a 220 HP Continental on there, so no inverted system means the engine is windmilling in that photo. Must have been a heck of a dive first to start a roll that low! Stearmans really bleed off speed quickly. Does look like he's beginning to feed in the down elevator required to keep the nose above the horizon.