[DZAUTO]

For those who have kept up with our progress, hear is a video from the flight deck of our first (and so far, ONLY) test flight.
We are STILL chasing a gremlin in the left engine, which SO FAR seems to be ignition (right magneto in left engine???).
For the past few weeks, I've been fabricating steps for the entry door in the rear. I'll post pictures when done.

This video is from a go camera that one of the airport workers attached inside the flight deck FINALLY, he got around to putting the video on a thrumb drive for me!!!

 

[alhewitt]

For those who have kept up with our progress, hear is a video from the flight deck of our first (and so far, ONLY) test flight.
We are STILL chasing a gremlin in the left engine, which SO FAR seems to be ignition (right magneto in left engine???).
For the past few weeks, I've been fabricating steps for the entry door in the rear. I'll post pictures when done.

This video is from a go camera that one of the airport workers attached inside the flight deck FINALLY, he got around to putting the video on a thrumb drive for me!!!

Tom, the guy flying has, 'good hands'. I use that term to describe airmanship. I liked his left cross wind aileron deflection during takeoff, so often never used in big airplanes by many of todays pilots. I also like his gray hair, he's the kind of guy that has been there and done that.
A quick story for the readers; At age 25 I was the club officer in a unit in Vietnam, that was 50 years ago and it was my ground job, the rest of the time I was a pilot flying missions. One day this guy comes into my bar with lots of gray hair, I thought 'he looks like 'father time'. He was at lest 4 ranks higher than me and had a star and wreath around his wings, in other wards a very accomplished pilot. He was 48 years old and I though, how can this guy even see to fly? How naïve I was! Turns out this guy could fly circles around me and most of the rest of the pilots in the unit. Point is gray hair is good when it comes to task that require knowledge and skills. Kind of like working on cars, no substitute for experience... Al

 

[DZAUTO]

Tom, the guy flying has, 'good hands'. I use that term to describe airmanship. I liked his left cross wind aileron deflection during takeoff, so often never used in big airplanes by many of todays pilots. I also like his gray hair, he's the kind of guy that has been there and done that.
A quick story for the readers; At age 25 I was the club officer in a unit in Vietnam, that was 50 years ago and it was my ground job, the rest of the time I was a pilot flying missions. One day this guy comes into my bar with lots of gray hair, I thought 'he looks like 'father time'. He was at lest 4 ranks higher than me and had a star and wreath around his wings, in other wards a very accomplished pilot. He was 48 years old and I though, how can this guy even see to fly? How naïve I was! Turns out this guy could fly circles around me and most of the rest of the pilots in the unit. Point is gray hair is good when it comes to task that require knowledge and skills. Kind of like working on cars, no substitute for experience... Al

Al,
He is a retired AF Col pilot. He also is one of the pilots that flies the B29s (FIFI and Doc) and is a Commemorative AF member. He knows jets and round motors.

 

[SSuper Dave]

Tom, what is that curved red stick that looks like its in the middle of everything. You can actually see the minute that the controls come alive!

 

[chaze]

alhewitt,

Your post reminded me of when I was instructing students in the Navy S-2 at NAS Corpus Christi back in the 70's and my squadron was tasked with providing recurrent training to a group of "Air Attack" pilots (wild fire fighters) from Ramona, CA.

Geez louise, those guys flew the S-2 like they were borne in it and could land that thing like a butterfly touching down on a lily pad with sore feet. Learnt me a thing 'er two in the process.

 

[alhewitt]

alhewitt,

Your post reminded me of when I was instructing students in the Navy S-2 at NAS Corpus Christi back in the 70's and my squadron was tasked with providing recurrent training to a group of "Air Attack" pilots (wild fire fighters) from Ramona, CA.

Geez louise, those guys flew the S-2 like they were borne in it and could land that thing like a butterfly touching down on a lily pad with sore feet. Learnt me a thing 'er two in the process.

Loved the S-2 or 'stufes' as they were called... Al

 

[DZAUTO]

Tom, what is that curved red stick that looks like its in the middle of everything. You can actually see the minute that the controls come alive!

That is the manual hydraulic pump handle. If hyd pressure is lost (for example both engines out), the person in the right seat can pump up pressure. OR, if for whatever reason, hyd pressure is needed on the ground BEFORE engine startup, the handle can be used to pump up pressure. Max pressure ia 1000psi. On military configurations, hydraulic pressure is needed for brakes, landing gear and bomb doors. Because Our A26 was modified into a corporate interior after becoming surplus, the bomb doors have been permanently closed, sealed and all actuating components for the bomb doors have been removed. So we just need pressure for brakes and landing gear.

 

[JJ'65]

Interesting. I'd assume that a parking brake is set, and chocks removed, before start-up to fly. Do you use a piece of (Navy) GSE or (Air Force) AGE to run an electric hydraulic pump for that?

 

[DZAUTO]

Interesting. I'd assume that a parking brake is set, and chocks removed, before start-up to fly. Do you use a piece of (Navy) GSE or (Air Force) AGE to run an electric hydraulic pump for that?

The chocks are in place. When the engines are started and hyd pressure builds up, the brakes are set and the chocks are left in place until we are ready to roll.
The hyd pumps are engine driven on the back of the rear case of the engine.
If hyd pressure is needed BEFORE engine startup, it is done by pumping the red handle.

 

[rkd]

Love this!