Monday, June 22, 2015 at 07:23AM Mind your head!
Video screenshot: Red Bull 2-man formation about to blast right thru an open hangar!
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Sunday, September 28, 2014 at 09:12AM
This short but very sweet video is from a few nights ago in Alaska at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson as several C-17's were testing their countermeasure flares. That's some beautiful northern lights to be sure!
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Tuesday, September 23, 2014 at 07:55AM
My usual goal for an AirPigz post is to give you a 3 to 5 minute avgeek experience that either thoroughly entertains or educates (or both)... but today you're gonna have to carve out at least 55 minutes if you're gonna take it all in. I found this documentary on the early 1960's British TSR-2 (Tactical Strike and Reconnaissance Mach 2) to be both extremely educational and entertaining. I admit that my interest in the details of aircraft development might run deeper than yours, but even so, I think you'll find this British effort to keep up with the rapidly advancing aerospace world of the late 50's and early 60's to be a fascinating story.
As with any cancelled project, the politics of the situation are often as interesting (and confusing/frustrating) as the aircraft itself. This documentary provides some of the story, tho I'm sure any story like this is almost impossible to know what really happened. Regardless, the interviews with key people in the the TSR-2 development along with lots of film of the aircraft easily held my attention.
(click pic to enlarge) The prototype (XR219) and only TSR-2 to ever fly
For some reason I have never really been very familiar with the TSR-2 and its tragic story of seeming to be a tremendous aircraft lacking the will of the government to build it... tho there's no disputing that delays and cost overruns certainly tainted the achievement of the designers and builders. I had seen pictures of the airplanes and usually thought; that's kinda weird looking. Interestingly, now I look at it and think WOW!
All I know is that one day I hope to be able to go to Cosford England to the RAF museum, or to the Imperial War Museum in Duxford England to see either of the two surviving TSR-2 airframes. Neither of these airframes (XR220 and XR222) ever flew, only the prototype XR219 was ever flown, but it sure seems to me that the feeling standing in front of the TSR-2 would have to be very much like that when in the presence of a B-58 Hustler or the XB-70 Valkyrie. Awesome.
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Saturday, August 30, 2014 at 10:57PM
I could try to say something of value to add to this incredible video... but I don't see that making your experience with it any better. I do suggest selecting HD, going full screen, and don't question anything. Just watch, listen, and see another vivid example of why we fly.
Here's Aaron's video description from youtube:
My July 2014 Sonex trip to the Yukon Rockies & Denali Alaska. 14.5 hours of HD handheld & wingcam video condensed down to 5.5 minutes of Epic Insanity & a perfect film score. 7000+ miles, 80+ hours, in only 8 days!
Psalm 36:5-6 - Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep.
Video screenshot: wow.
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Monday, August 25, 2014 at 09:03AM
I was looking for something simple and fun to post this morning since I'm just barely back up and running on my primary laptop after a HDD crash the same day I returned from OSH14. I've been limping along this last 3 weeks with the geezer laptop gasping for air running Vista and overheating most of the time. Anyway, GoPro to the rescue with a fun South American crop dusting video.
I'm usually not a fan of music backgrounds with aircraft videos, but I like this one. A lot. Seems to go very well with the pilot wearing the filtration mask : )
Video screenshot: GoPro takes you crop dusting in South America
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Friday, August 22, 2014 at 08:23AM
Of course it's not real, but it sure is funny! If you're under 40 you might never have seen the late Foster Brooks do his many different 'drunk man' routines on TV (back when there were only 3 networks!) - but then again, because of youtube you might be very familiar with him. It's crazy funny comedy, partly because he does it sooo well. Imagine trying to keep a straight face during this routine.
I also find it fascinating that while Foster drew from his earlier years of drinking for the character, during his period of fame with it he rarely drank at all. As a pretty much non-drinker myself, I can relate to that.
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Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at 11:01PM 
(click pic for hi-res) The 'big thrust' Back Yard Flyer with VW engine and belt reduction
I've been intrigued with the Back Yard Flyer from Valley Engineering (the Culver prop people) for several years now. They sell it as a ready-to-fly package for $19,500 with the big twin 4-stroke engine that makes 40hp and it comes with a BRS safety parachute. It's a remarkable ultralight with a 275 pound max pilot weight and strong climb performance. It's quite a bit different looking than everything else out there and it packs a variety of unique features... like the swing wing that pivots as all one piece to orient the wing in line with the fuselage. Far more simple than regular folding wings, the swing wing allows for very slim hangar storage or even large enclosed trailer storage.
This year the Valley folks showed up with their 'super' Back Yard Flyer that has a large displacement VW engine with a belt-drive speed reduction unit. This combo, swinging a big 86" Culver prop, makes thrust like crazy! Even better, the exhaust stacks they have on the VW come as close as I've heard to having a flat 4 sound almost as good as a radial. The amazing STOL performance, the incredible rate of climb, and the nostalgic sound all come together to make one very desirable light aircraft. It's obviously not an ultralight with that much bigger and heavier engine. I watched this overpowered (100+hp) Back Yard Flyer for quite a while Friday morning and 'want' is the word that keep running thru my mind.
The only downside (unless you don't like its look) is that the welded aluminum fuselage and wing structure makes it very difficult to build from scratch (since few people can effectively weld thin wall aluminum)... or even from a kit since a pre-welded wing and fuselage would leave very little left for the builder to do. The pesky 51% rules gets in the way there. Their $19,500 ready-to-fly price for the ultralight is quite reasonable for what you get, it's just still a chunk of change compared to how much lower the cost would be if built from plans. They don't actually market the big VW engine version, tho it sounds like they'd build one for you, but the price jumps significantly.
I talked to them about my desire to see the big engine/big prop version being redesigned with a simple steel tube fuselage and then maybe an aluminum wing that didn't need welding. If this design was made available in plans-only, I think they'd have a serious winner. Imagine a retro sounding beast that climbs like crazy, uses nearly no runway, and could be built for $15,000, or even less if you're a good scrounger. You can be sure I'd buy a set of those plans!
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Monday, August 4, 2014 at 09:13PM 
(click pic for hi-res) This is the good life... this is Oshkosh!
Well, I ran out of gas for keeping up with the 'same-day' posts at OSH14, and in fact between doing the Thursday bacon party, the general walk-your-butt-off-everyday fatigue, and a little detailed research on some airplane designs for my own personal purposes, I didn't get anything posted after late Wednesday night. So now that I'm back home, I'm playing catch up - (it's not helping that the hard drive on my laptop is currently freaking out, I'm posting with the ole beater laptop from two generations back)
It was a fantastic Oshkosh 2014. More airplanes than I remember seeing in many years, more people than I remember seeing in many years, and as always it was just perfect hanging out with avgeek friends in the campground. That goes double for the friends at #CampBacon. There were 30 to 35 people staying in CampBacon this year, and the Wednesday Bacon Party was clearly the largest ever with at least 60 people chewing the fat.
Since I'm dealing with ongoing fatigue and and a failing hard drive on the primary computer, I'm keeping it simple with this CoolPix post. Just one nice big pic to share showing off a very diverse sea of Oshkosh airplanes in the Vintage camping area. There's just nothing like Oshkosh!
In case you haven't figured this out yet, I don't post this stuff so you can see what you missed... I post it so you'll get serious about making plans to get to the next OSH. I mean it. If you're a genuine avgeek (and you don't have overshadowing political reasons to be anti-EAA) then please start working on a way to carve out the time and a little pile of cash to make OSH15 the highlight of next summer. I promise to give you some free bacon if you do!
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Tuesday, July 29, 2014 at 11:44PM 
(click pic for hi-res) The very tall (and very awesome) Just Aircraft Super STOL
Tuesday at OSH14 was a lot like this big and bold Super STOL from Just Aircraft... but then everyday at Oshkosh is like that. So much to see and do, it's not even close to possible to take it all in. You simply have to pick the things you want to learn, or see, or experience hands-on and then chase the day.
With it being difficult to keep up with everything I have decided to only post a CoolPix triple play here, and not a lot of words. I strongly suggest you check out what the Super STOL has to offer and then please enjoy these really wide angle hi-res pix by clicking on them.
I like unusual airplanes. I like extreme airplanes. I like taildraggers. I really like the Super STOL!
(more tomorrow from the world's greatest aviation event!)
(click pic for hi-res)
(click pic for hi-res)
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Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at 07:34AM 
AirPigz OSH14 Bacon Parties:
Wednesday (7-30) and Thursday (7-31) from 6pm to 8pm
Oshkosh 2014 is almost here! That means the widest variety of airplanes, the coolest collection of aviators, and of course... a side order of bacon! The Bacon Parties are on different days this year so take note that you can swing by CampBacon between 6pm and 8pm on either Wednesday or Thursday this year (link to location map above) to chew some free crunch pig AND talk airplanes. And hey, you can definitely talk with your mouth full at CampBacon : )
B-25 Lady Luck at OSH11
I'm bringing a full size household oven this year to cook the bacon, and I'm expecting this will increase my output significantly, so please spread the word about free bacon from AirPigz at CampBacon. Attendance has been growing the last few years, and I'd love to see 75 or 100 people at each party, so be sure to tell your friends.
Beautiful Wittman Tailwind from OSH13
Download the CampBacon location map and then mark your schedule for either Wednesday evening or Thursday evening (or both) from 6pm until 8pm for great airplane chat and free bacon. And thanx for being part of the crazy AirPigz world!
North American FJ-4B at OSH13
