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
Fri Sep 30, 2016 5:40 pm
Is that a new verb? It certainly describes my last 2 summers.
I got this sponsorship: "Just take the Lysander, put our name on it, and explain what we do at every airshow and fly-in you can possibly get to." It has been a marvelous opportunity, and a complete privilege.
So I stole the aeroplane from Vintage Wings of Canada, in Ottawa, moved it to SW Ontario where most of the air events take place, stashed it in a local hangar, and flogged it all season -- 2015 and '16.
A bit of video...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vjQ5WcVmwk
Dave
Sat Oct 01, 2016 12:22 am
Sounds like a dream to me - I have seen a few Lysanders; only one flyable (at OSH, but it remained on the ground the whole week).
Birdwatchers have a "life list". where simply seeing one they haven't seen before counts. My Warbird life list is planes I have photographed in the air. The list of pre-1950's planes I have ground shots of, but nothing inflight is short:
Lysander
P/F-82
Martin B-26
Martin Mauler
ME-262
FW-190
Please twist arms to bring it to OSH '17 and help me check one off!
Sun Oct 02, 2016 12:00 pm
Chris,
The sponsor, The Lysander Fund, wanted to bring it to Oshkosh this year, but had an unfortunate scheduling contact. So, the plan is next year, yes.
I was asked to describe flying it on another forum, and made a number of remarks about its restoration and flight operation. You might find it interesting...
http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread. ... ysandering
Sun Oct 02, 2016 2:56 pm
Thanks! I heard much the same discussion from the gentleman that flew the CWH black & yellow model into OSH (Rickards, IIRC).
I have always admired the lines of the Lizzie - it should be ugly like a Blackburn Skua or Roc (my opinions only), but somehow they pulled it off.
Sun Oct 02, 2016 9:35 pm
I'm surprised few, if any, found post war use, you'd think with their short field capability that they'd found favor in Canada as Bush planes. Remember, in the days before the Beaver, guys (those that couldn't afford a Norseman) were making a living flying small Cub-type a.c. (one well-known Alaska pilot started out with a surplus L-2). You'd THINK a cheap surplus Lysander would have been a step-up in capability.
My guess is the UK engine wasn't supportable in North America...and apparently the rest of the world as well...considering their rarity.
Mon Oct 03, 2016 4:46 pm
JohnB wrote:My guess is the UK engine wasn't supportable in North America...and apparently the rest of the world as well...considering their rarity.
Leading to the question, why not just re-eninge them with a P&W R-1830 or something similar in weight / power?
Mon Oct 03, 2016 6:15 pm
"Leading to the question, why not just re-eninge them with a P&W R-1830 or something similar in weight / power?"
Heretic!

Next you'll suggest putting an R-2800 in a Sea Fury! Oh, wait...
Tue Oct 04, 2016 5:42 pm
Even back then, and even for a bush plane, the CAA (American and Canadian) paperwork and test requirements were likely byond the capabilities of most small operators.
Really, I 've wondered about this for years, any Canadian experts here to comment/ guess?
Tue Oct 04, 2016 6:30 pm
I wouldn't think a US-engine Lizzie could be certified for commercial ops.
Plus, you can't put floats on one, which is a real drawback for a bush plane in Canada.
August
Tue Oct 04, 2016 7:41 pm
k5083 wrote:I wouldn't think a US-engine Lizzie could be certified for commercial ops.
Plus, you can't put floats on one, which is a real drawback for a bush plane in Canada.
August
Other than it hasn't been done, is there a particular reason it couldn't go on floats?
Glad to see it flying,
Mr Hadfield, I did some flying with your son on the EMJ a while back he's a good kid.
Mark
Wed Oct 05, 2016 2:53 am
I think the reason why it wasn't adapted for commercial use is that the rear cockpit/cabin is so small. There isn't much room for cargo or people. And there is no side door. You have to clamber up and over to get in. Plus the steel tubing of the fuselage would make installing a door very difficult.
An older Fairchild 2C or Bellanca was commercially more efficient. Or a cabin Waco.
Also, there are no fittings for floats or skis, but it's more than that --the big arch that forms the gear legs is integral to the forward structure. There is no simple way to remove it. So getting the aeroplane on or off floats would be a big deal.
The engine... not really a problem. There were lots available in the post-war world. But re-engine-ing with a Wright 1820 of about 1000 hp would also be quite practical I would think, and not weigh much more.
No, the big kicker was making it pay. And if there was no clear way to make it pay, then it wouldn't happen.
Wed Oct 05, 2016 2:56 am
mdwflyer wrote:k5083 wrote:I wouldn't think a US-engine Lizzie could be certified for commercial ops.
Plus, you can't put floats on one, which is a real drawback for a bush plane in Canada.
August
Other than it hasn't been done, is there a particular reason it couldn't go on floats?
Glad to see it flying,
Mr Hadfield, I did some flying with your son on the EMJ a while back he's a good kid.
Mark
Mark, that's cool!
I did a flight with him too, last April, on the 777, to HKG and back. He's an RP now. Good fun!
Dave
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