(NGC) -Had my Stearman flight this morning.

[Gliderjohn]

My 65th BD present from my birth mother. She paid for me to have a 40 minute flight out of a little airport NE of Wichita. Beautiful morning and the pilot ended up giving me over an hour with me at the controls 90+ of the time. Great time! My first open cockpit flight outside of an ultralight. The lake pictures are from flying over our lake. You can't really make out our residence that is just above the tail end of the lake.
Using real period equipment for all needs.



Me doing the run up and mag checks.



Smoke run for Ruth:



I was allowed two touch and go attempts on grass. First one I am a bit out of position but mange with some assist, the second one was much better with just a bit of assistance getting on the throttle quick enough.






The pilot completed the final landing but I was allowed to taxi in and park.



picture to url







GliderJohn

[Lannis]

Gitcha one!!

I've got Stephen Coonts' "Cannibal Queen" on the shelf, it sounds like a lot of fun ....

Lannis

[craigclu]

Great fun!  Here's a shot of my son and a friend at their farm field fly-in (they're in the N-4 in the air) leapfrogging a nice Stearman that arrived....

[bigbikerrick]

Thats Fantastic John! Best BD present ever!
Rick.

[oldbike54]

 

 Dusty

[berniebee]

What a cool gift! 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

 

First fixed wing aircraft I ever flew in was a Stearman. It was all downhill from there. 

[kingoffleece]

That is WAY beyond fantastic.  How very nice for you.

[wavedog]

What a great birthday gift!

[Zoom Zoom]

Well you lucky  dog!

Happy birthday. (Whenever it was/is.)

John Henry

[Texas Turnip]

I sho nuff enjoyed your post. Have you ever been to the big fly in at Oskosh, WI?

I spent many hours aboard the USS Lexington watching planes take off and land. Imagine trying to land a plane at night on an aircraft carrier.

Tex

[ohiorider]

I'd like to do another Stearman flight.  My one and only was far too short!  I envy you being a pilot, and being handed the controls.

I took the opportunity to fly in a Stearman in 1999.  I was at a small(er) air show at an airport in Lost Nation (Ohio) just off of Lake Erie.  The pilot's last name was Ramsey, he lived just south of Marietta OH, in West Virginia.  He had been a BMW bike dealer in the past.  I was in the front cockpit.  Here she is.  I recall the pilot asking if I wanted to loop.  "Sure!"  I remember him putting us into a slight dive to build airspeed ..... indicator was showing 140 - 145, as he pulled back on the stick, and around we went!

BTW - Happy Birthday!!

Bob

[Motormike]

Wow! I'm jealous!  What airport did you fly out of?  I did a lot of flying many years ago out of Topeka and flew into most of the small fields around Wichita at one time or another. 

[Gliderjohn]

From motomike:

Wow! I'm jealous!  What airport did you fly out of?  I did a lot of flying many years ago out of Topeka and flew into most of the small fields around Wichita at one time or another.

Stearman field/AKA...Benton airport. Speaking of Topeka, the T-6 Texan that has been at Benton for a number of years is now at the Commemorative AF there and was told still giving rides so I guess that is my next step.
GliderJohn

[Gliderjohn]

Happy Birthday John!  Hell of a nice gift; your birth mom must be pretty special.

That she is. We very much think alike. Has been a wonderful journey so far.
GliderJohn

[fubar guzzi]

         Birthday or not your a lucky guy          Happy Birthday by the way-----from the Mrs.+I       

[s1120]

Thats so wild!!  I love the old open planes.  We have a place near me that offers rides in a old 1929 New Standard D-25. My 14 year old really wants to go...  I gotta admit im a little shaky about it. :)  One day we will..  Its at Old Rhinebeck aerodome and im sure all you plane guys know of it..   

[80CX100]

John,    Tks for sharing, what a special birthday on so many levels 

    Your updates on this journey with your birth Mom are very heartwarming.

    Tks for taking us along on the ride with you, good food for the soul.

    Happy Birthday and wishing you many more

   

    Kelly

[Chuck in Indiana]

Thats so wild!!  I love the old open planes.  We have a place near me that offers rides in a old 1929 New Standard D-25. My 14 year old really wants to go...  I gotta admit im a little shaky about it. :)  One day we will..  Its at Old Rhinebeck aerodome and im sure all you plane guys know of it..

  Yeah, I've heard of it. He'll be as safe as if he was in him momma's arms. Neither that New Standard or the guy operating it will forget how on that flight.  They've hopped hundreds if not thousands of people in that old girl.
There is nothing quite like an open cockpit airplane..

[kirby1923]

Bravo John! Happy B day!

I used to teach basic aerobatics in the Stearman  years ago in Olive Branch MS (just south of Memphis).
The fellow that owned the company had 3 Cont.(670) powered aircraft and we taught a basic spin loop and roll course.

Great fun indeed.

I like the UPF better than the Stearman but aerobatics in an open cockpit is truly a great experience.

Bugs and oil on your face, doesn't get much better than that.
Ha!

:-)

[kballowe]

I sho nuff enjoyed your post. Have you ever been to the big fly in at Oskosh, WI?

I spent many hours aboard the USS Lexington watching planes take off and land. Imagine trying to land a plane at night on an aircraft carrier.

Tex

That boat was in Pensacola in the 70's as a training carrier.  They threatened all of the crypto school attendees with a job chipping paint and oiling that teak deck, should they flunk out.

[Roebling3]

I enjoy the idea that most of us recall the good stuff first. Don't break the spell.  Good fortune,  R3~

[drbone641]

Sweet. My heart aches. I miss the controls and the sky

[Testarossa]

I'd love a Stearman flight. My dad soloed in a USAAF Stearman in Omaha in 1942.