February 9, 2020 - Flying a Stearman
The day started with the Hangar Row A flyers heading for Cambridge for breakfast.  Weather was outstanding, as you can see.  Here Chuck and Tom are cruising along.
   
On the ramp at Cambridge:  right to left - Ron and I in the RV-7, Chuck and Tom in 172, Rich/Nhu-an in the Decathelon, Chip/Charlie in Brian's RV-8.  A few other pilots joined us from Clearview and we had a nice time at "Kay's At The Airport" onfield restraurant where the food and service is always great.  It's the best airport restaurant in the Mid-Atlantic region in my opinion.
   
Closer look.
   
Chip and I made a swaparoo for the ride back to Essex.  Ron jumped over to ride with Chip in the RV-8 while Chip's 16-year old son Charlie flew with me in the RV-7.  Charlie has already soloed and should be taking his private pilot exam soon.  He has flown over 100 hours already in multiple types:  C-172, Husky, Decathelon, Stearman, and some others I don't know off the top of my head.  And now he has flown the RV-7.  He flew the RV-7 back to Essex.  I had him do figure-eight turns and slow flight to get the feel of the plane.  At Essex, he flew a couple of approaches, then I took over.
 
Then Chip and I went up in the Stearman "Double Trouble" which has been at Essex Skypark forever.
   

Chip let me fly from the back seat and do whatever I wanted.  I just hopped across the Back River and flew over the North Point area.  I justed to get a feel for flying the big Stearman so I just pretty much did figure-eight turns at 1,000 feet.  As you might expect, flying the Stearman is considerably different than what I'm used to with the RV.  It took me awhile to get used to the noise, open cockpit, heaviness and lack of feel for the controls, but after a few minutes I was getting the hang of it.   

Then we flew back to Essex and I did six or so landings.  I know you can't see forward in this plane while taxiing or in the flare, but I was shocked at first when I couldn't see the runway on final!  As the landings progressed, I learned that you can lower the nose on final to see the runway and the Stearman does not pick up speed like the RV.  Unlike the RV, when you reduce the power on the Stearman, it will come down!  Also, making a circular, rather than rectangular base-final helps.  On the last few landings, I was landing the big plane on my own, without Chip's assistance. 

So, it was great.  I can now proudly say I have flown a Stearman!  Chip was awesome for giving me the opportunity.

After the Stearman flight, Charlie and I hopped over in the RV and headed over to Massey to let him try some landings on the wide, long grass runway there.  Charlie made three almost perfect landings there;  I was impressed.   Charlie later flew the Decathelon as well.   So a great aviation day was had by all.
   
   
Previous
Home
Next