Warbird Information Exchange

A few weeks ago some pictures of some T-6's on water were posted Someone emailed me a video of it and here is the link, pretty cool.
http://www.flightzone.co.za/media/harvards.wmv

i've seen the pics on more than 1 site....... i've read all the posts here on wix & elsewhere....... i've got alot of high time pilot friends who all say ...... & while i don't fly, the majority conclusion of all the feedback i've seen is that the pics are altered, fudged or what ever. don't get me wrong, i feel alot of people want to believe them, as do i, but the scales are tipped as not the real thing. what is the point?? nobody has to impress me or you with their flying skills. if you can fly it's a gift cut & dry.

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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!!

Why is this so hard to believe? It's not really something I'd like to try but its entirely possible, bush pilots have been known to use skiing to shorten landing and take-off roll.

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Dan Johnson

Exactly, I have seen it done with single aircraft, the whole event was filmed for SA Television, and I also know the photographer. There were also a multitude of witnesses, so perhaps all the non believers should do a little research before stating their 'expert' opinions!

Dave

Thanks for the video link Eric. The photos did not look like fakes and I don't see how anyone could fake the video, or want to for that matter. My hat is off to these guys. that's a good trick. I wonder if I could do that with our SNJ-5? Assuming I survived the crash, I'm trying to think of how I would explain to my father why his SNJ is at the bottom of the Missouri River. Wait a minute, those are former SAAF T-6Ds in the video right? Maybe they were all equiped for this stunt, maybe I could ask Eric Downing to loan me his SAAF T-6D? Actually he's out of town this week and I know where the hangar key is located. Who wants to ride in the back seat? Dave? dj51d? Tom?

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Albert Stix Jr.
"Work is the curse of the drinking class"

Al

You look like a trustworthy bloke, I would want to know if you have ever had any tickets for reckless driving first though

Dave

Thanks Eric,

I figured sooner or later video of this would surface somewhere........

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Roger Cain
www.sfahistory.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Stearman/


We must limit politicians to two terms:
one in office and one in jail.

Okay, I have a couple of questions regarding this feat, and they are addressed to those who have flown so many hours:

I assume that the wheels are "free" that is, no brakes are applied at any time during the water trick, correct?

If you touched the brakes, and given the speed of the airplane, and the contact with the water, would this cause the wheels to "dig" and then possibly cause a nose-over?

Thank you for your authorized opinions.

Saludos,


Tulio

Hey Tulio, MR. P explained it pretty well in the original thread, I think he's
probably one of the qualified. Last post on the page..
www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpB ... c&start=30

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

Tulio

From one of the pilots

"No brakes and with wheels spinning we do a "wheeler" onto the water, push forward on the stick for a positive adherence onto the water. At this stage speed is critical and there is no-one better than our lead to ensure that all these parameters are adhered to."

Dave

Thank you.

His explanation answers my questions.

Saludos,


Tulio

I had a friend who was a duster, he use to clean his duster off by doing that in the river, course he was turbine powered....

I think the bottom line is it is plausible, but would I want to be in one of those T-6's, probaly not.

I have heard of a certain white P-38 going down the Rio Grande

Many years ago....

Lynn