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
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Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:37 pm

Steve wrote:I was re-reading the latest Warbird Digest. Was this the same John McKittrick that Sanders Aircraft is restoring the Sea Fury for ??

Steve


Seems it might be....read story above.


Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:37 pm

Double Ds are like motorcycling helmet, right?

:roll:

Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:40 pm

Ollie wrote:Double Ds are like motorcycling helmet, right?

:roll:


Yup, motorcycle, snowmobile, auto racing...you name it 'cept aviation it seems.

John

Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:44 pm

Here is John's Fury at Sanders.

http://www.sandersaircraft.com/restoration_seafury-mckittrick.asp

Image


Shay
_____________
Semper Fortis

Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:46 pm

SPH-5s have them. Buddies at the job with those helmets have those.

8)

Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:50 pm

Thanks Shay

next time i'll read on

Steve

Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:56 pm

Steve wrote:Thanks Shay

next time i'll read on

Steve


No prob..........I think we all posted at the same time.



Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:59 pm

Also, I believe that Cavalier had an STC for the D-model rear seat mod which included brackets for the upper seat mounting.

Thu Jul 19, 2007 5:45 pm

Steve wrote:"i'm no pilot, just an enthusiast, aviation historian, & author..... but i can say this........ these air time green behind the ears millionaire pilots need to get their wings the old fashioned way....... starting in a cub, & transitioning up as air time / experience accumulates, just like ww 2 training. tragic loss. you all learned to ride a bike with training wheels, this should be no different."

This statement is a little uncalled for Tom. This was his first sole in type. The man could fly. AND was a WIX member

Steve

Not being a wiseguy, but please do not imply that all WIX members can fly...I'm sure the poor devil could fly, and I feel for the family and all concernced parties. . Let us not take ourselves too seriously, sometimes. I remain, Reggie

Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:21 pm

I'm just putting two and two together, my Doors tribute band played a really cool gig July 4th in Thousand Oaks outdoors at a mall. I am wondering if John was there to enjoy the fireworks, it was a perfect event to take your family. Perhaps he saw us, I would have loved to have spoken with him.

John

Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:06 pm

Another TORQUE story from my posting on AWON:


HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT TORQUE!!

On my first day of Army flight school I climbed into the cockpit of an Army L-19. Sort of a military version of a Cessna 180, except it had a climb prop and a bigger engine.

Our class was split. Half in the morning, Half in the afternoon. My class got the morning shift. So there we were at on the taxi strip at 0600. My instructor was an X WWII P-38 Pilot and was real laid back. He was also very hung over.

After sort of learning how to taxi a tail dragger ("Like riding a tricycle backwards son."), we were lined up on the runway. He said, "This is how to handle the throttle," and jammed it against the firewall. Then he said, "You got the airplane."

What I had was an airplane making an abrupt left turn into a corn field, with tassels eight feet high. I was at about five feet and picking up airspeed. I managed to yank back on the stick and stagger into the air without stalling us.

Meanwhile Hot Pilot in the back seat had one foot propped on the Map case and was trying to dial in WOAI, San Antonio on the low frequency radio. Then he said "Son, didn't anybody ever teach you about TORK?"

Turns out I got that lesson in class that afternoon.
I was not a Happy Jack That Day.

Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:26 pm

REGINALD VON GLEASON III wrote:
Steve wrote:"i'm no pilot, just an enthusiast, aviation historian, & author..... but i can say this........ these air time green behind the ears millionaire pilots need to get their wings the old fashioned way....... starting in a cub, & transitioning up as air time / experience accumulates, just like ww 2 training. tragic loss. you all learned to ride a bike with training wheels, this should be no different."

This statement is a little uncalled for Tom. This was his first sole in type. The man could fly. AND was a WIX member

Steve

Not being a wiseguy, but please do not imply that all WIX members can fly...I'm sure the poor devil could fly, and I feel for the family and all concernced parties. . Let us not take ourselves too seriously, sometimes. I remain, Reggie


Reggie, the implication was not that all WIXers coud fly (I can't) but rather than some of us knew him, and that the first post could be cause for some of his friends here to get riled up. I would be very surpised if a WIXer were dumb enough to claim piloting skills he didn't have...In a room full of long time pilots.

Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:50 pm

I would be very surprised if a WIXer were dumb enough to claim piloting skills he didn't have...In a room full of long time pilots.

Don’t be too sure……

Sat Jul 21, 2007 11:37 pm

seems like it would be too easy to get busted. Isn'ty there some cool secret handshake you guys do? I know it would be relatively easy to bust someone claiming to be airborne--it's a relatively small community and all...

training to fly a P-51

Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:42 pm

I was at John's funeral and spoke to a WW2 ace there by the name of Clyde East. He registered 13 kills in the P-51. I asked him how many hours of instruction he received before he soloed the Mustang. He said, "Well, I wasn't the quickest student, so I soloed after 8 hours."
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