Pics here, and some stats below, for a 1943 Boeing "Stearman" PT-17 that I am flying, the aircraft that U.S. pilots used as they prepared to transition into the fighter aircraft of WWII. This particular aircraft was also used to train the Greek  Airforce and has a few interesting placards in Greek, and it served for a while as a crop duster which is pretty common for this type of aircraft. It is a real workhorse, and still feels like it's rigged fresh from the factory.  Despite its lumbering looks it's a very agile aircraft in the air, the stick forces are high in roll, but very light in pitch, and the rudder force is very high, but the aircraft really does what you tell it to. The tall, narrow landing gear, the large 7 cyl. radial engine out front, and the fact that the aircraft has 300 pounds of fuel in the top wing (which is 9.5 feet high) makes its pilots work hard to keep from swaping ends in it. . . imagine a 109. . but with a  higher center of gravity.

Flying this aircraft is somewhat sentimental to me, not only because it is a vintage "warbird" but also because this is the type of aircraft that my grandfather was an intructor for U.S. Army Aircorps in. (He was based out of Thunderbird Field)

My passenger here is Chris Miller, and we were flying out of O22
This is a great little airport, it is up in the mountains, has a paved strip and is intersected by a  grass crosswind strip where you can fly in and camp under the wings (or in a tent if your high-tech like that) there is a lake, and lots of mountains that rise up right on each side of the airport departure end.  I really love flying up there in an open cockpit. . . sure I look like an absolute dork/hells angel, but I love flying over the pines taking in the mountain air when I am feeling serene, or doing diving rolls straight down over the water when I am in that mood!



Me finishing the Pre-flighting of "Snowball" (the callsign that she has been given by ATC controllers when  bringing her into the traffic pattern for airshows)


Getting Strapped in to the 4 point harness  (look at the surface area of the ailerons, she really rolls when you tell her to!)


The Pilot in command is seated in the rear seat, with passengers, or the instructor seated in front. Here is the PIC's view (needless to say you have to do lots of S-turning to see where you are going on the ground)



Looks kinda familiar to most of you I assume. . . compare this to the P-39, P-40, P-47, P-51, P-38 etc.


Taxiing for departure



She comes into her own once airborne and looks a little less like a lumbering beast!


a few seconds later (yeah, I am trying to wave to the camera while flying)


I, on the other hand, always look like a lumbering monstrosity!
;-D


Here is my Grandfather (center-rear) with his US Army Air Corps Flight Students.





Here I am before getting my gear on!


On roll-out after landing RWY 17 at Columbia Airport (O22) If your ever flying in the vicinity, it is really worth flying in to.




Aircraft Serial Number : 75-8074-MGB
Aircraft Manufacturer: BOEING-BROWN
Model : STEARMAN E75NL
Engine   Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
Model: W670 SERIES
Aircraft Year: 1943
Owner Address: 10767 AIRPORT RD
COLUMBIA, CA, 95310-9727
Type of Owner: Individual
Registration Date: 20-Oct-1998
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Standard
Approved Operations: Acrobatic


Manufacturer: BOEING-BROWN
Model Name : STEARMAN E75NL
Aircraft Type: Fixed Wing Single Engine
Engine Type: Reciprocating
Aircraft Category: Land
Number of Engines: 1
Number of Seats: 2
Max. Gross Weight: Less than 12,500 lbs
Aircraft Code: 1380121

Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
Model Name: W670 SERIES
Engine Type: Reciprocating
Power: 250 hp
Fuel Consumption: 18.75 gph
Engine Code: 17018








S!

TX-EcoDragon
Black 1
TX Squadron XO

That guy in the cockpit looks pretty darned scary if you ask meTX-ZenBlack 6

very cool eco.... I'm looking into gliding as a new hobby.TX-KingsnakeWhite >+

Very cool Emu.Better get a fire extinguisher back in that thing, no telling when you might get pounced from above by some Zero's.TX-Deck out.

Yeah Zen. . that is pretty much how I felt about it. . .". . . EEEEEK . . ."and King,  glider flying is definitely something that many people find to be an awesome way to fly, I think that learning in archetypal aircraft is a great way to enhance particular skills, a glider pilot learns most of the same things about reading weather and managing an aircraft's stored energy that a powered flight pilot learns, but the glider pilot actually practices it, and if the engine quits on his power plane, and becomes a glider, he is well prepared to have only one chance at making his intended landing spot!And Deck, there is a fire extinquisher in that square red compartment on the left side of the fuselage under the pilot's arm . .  . just in case the Bf's get the edge on me!S!TX-EcoDragonBlack 1TX Squadron XO