CoolPix - Vintage Military: Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando Cockpit

(click pic for hi-res)

 Here’s a really neat picture of a Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando cockpit for another CoolPix entry in the 'Vintage Military' category.  Big versions of pictures like this are particularly good for spending some time studying how things are laid out.  I especially like how you can imagine how open this cockpit would feel since there are second row of windows at the knee and hip areas.    

 When I was a kid I learned quickly to tell a C-46 from a Douglas C-47 (DC-3) by looking for the crease that runs along the fuselage, the smoothly integrated cockpit windows, and by its chubbier overall look.  But back then I always thought the two airplanes were very similar in capability.  The truth is that the C-46 Commando is a bigger, more powerful aircraft with a significantly larger payload.

 Originally designed in the late 30’s as an airliner, the CW-20, as it was designated then, was meant to take what the DC-3 could do to a higher level, literally.  The CW-20 was pressurized.  That’s why the crease was there... it was part of a fuselage design to minimize pressurization stresses.  With the onset of WWII, the CW-20 quickly wound up as the unpressurized cargo aircraft we know as the C-46. 

 Ultimately ending up with two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines of about 2,000 hp each, the C-46 had a payload about twice that of the C-47, and it could take that load higher as well.  That led to the airplane being used extensively in the China/Burma/India regions in WWII flying over the Himalaya Mountains.

 Even tho over 3,000 of them were built, that’s a relatively small number compared to C-47/DC-3 production.  Plus, the much higher operating expenses of the larger engines made it difficult for the airplane to compete with the DC-3 after the war as a small airliner.  As it turns out, very few C-46’s remain airworthy today.

Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando

CoolPix- Racers: Strega (Italian For Witch) In The Pit At Reno 2009

(click pic for hi-res)

 Here's a CoolPix in the 'Racers' category... and it's another pic I took at Reno 2009.  I thought it was particularly interesting because of the witch that's hanging from the roof over the business end of the P-51 Strega, the 2009 Unlimited Gold Race Champion.

 I'm guessing many of you already knew that 'Strega' is the Italian word for 'witch'.  It was new to me, but I don't think I'll have any trouble remembering now after this pic!  And while I don't think Strega was tapping into any supernatural powers at Reno 2009, there's no doubt there was a lot of horsepower involved.  With 22 year old Steve Hinton Jr in the cockpit, Strega had both the strength and the endurance to come out on top.  It was pretty special too as Steve is the youngest winner ever of the Gold Unlimited Race.

 Another thing I like about this pic is that it shows the airplane in the pit area where the race prep work is done.  If you have the pit pass, you're able to walk around and watch as the airplanes are being extensively worked on.  It's a pretty amazing opportunity to see this kind of work being done right in front of you, and it's another reason why the Reno Air Races are so interesting.  This view is also a little different as I had the camera raised high on a monopod to give a little different perspective, and it made the witch easy to see : )

 The 2010 Reno Air Races will take place September 15-19.  

    Strega doing her thing!   photo: Curtis Fowles / MustangsMustangs

Taildragger Heaven In Houston Kicks Off AirPigz ‘CARS’

 The time has come to kick off the new AirPigz feature I call CARS.  You’ve probably figured out already that it’s not about ‘cars’, it’s about Cool Airplanes!  Big thanx to Ramp Spotter Curtis Lawson for sending in a great pic to get things started.

 This pic was taken recently with an iPhone as they were walking past the Texas Taildraggers hangar at KAXH (Houston Southwest Airport).  It was about 6pm and the low sun was shining in putting a beautiful glow and all those already golden taildraggers.  Stearman on the left, Cub in the middle and a Super Decathlon on the right… plus more goodies in the background : )

 Anyone can be a Cool Aircraft Ramp Spotter, and in fact your pix are needed to keep this ongoing feature moving forward.  Anytime I get pix that are good enuf, I’ll post ’em for everyone to enjoy. 

 You can get the scoop on what specifically I’m looking for in a pic by checking out the original CARS post.

This Is What The 1966 Cessna 150 Should Have Looked Like!

 The recent post with the cool retro ad for the 1966 Cessna 150 has stirred up a lot of thoughts for me concerning the direction general aviation aircraft have taken over the last 50 years.  I admit I’m extremely old-school when it comes to aircraft design, but that doesn't mean I’m old-fashioned.  It has a lot more to do with the idea that an airplane should be designed in such a way that it stirs you emotionally.  Great design means the airplane is certainly gonna perform as desired, that’s a must, but it should also do more than just move your body from point A to point B… it should move you on the inside too.

 Having said all that, this beautiful airplane pictured here is what I wish Cessna would have done for the 1966 150.  In my little fantasy world, this would have all happened after they had finally come to the realization that ‘progress’ was killing their little 2 seat airplane.  What is pictured here is really a 1959 150 that was converted to a taildragger and then given a gorgeous paint job reminiscent of a classic Cessna 180 scheme.  The work was done by the good people at TaildraggerAviation, and it’s pretty obvious to me that these people think like I do.

 The transformation from a rather dumpy tri-gear putt putt to a lean looking and proud taildragger worthy of the coolest aviators is pretty amazing.  I look at this picture and I think: I’d love to have one of those!  And I can tell ya, I have never ever ‘wanted’ a Cessna 150 before, but they way this one looks changes all my thinking.

 I would have been so pleased if Cessna had realized that the ’66 150 really needed to be a taildragger, for the good of aviation.  I’m not suggesting that ALL airplanes drag their tail, but I would suggest that ALL students should learn from day one in a taildragger.  It forces you to be a better pilot, and better pilots make the whole world of aviation a better place. 

 Lastly, I wish in 2006, 40 years after the 1966 150 introduced the swept tail and electric flaps, that Cessna would have jumped the tracks that lead to the Skycatcher and instead would have taken the bold step to re-introduce the 150 as it looks here.  Resurrecting the old type certificate could have saved loads of money over starting from scratch, and since they wound up using the O-200 engine in the Skycatcher anyway, they could have skipped the LSA idea and made an airplane with real utility and buckets full of curb appeal.  Oh, and maybe then they could have seen fit to build it in the U.S. too instead of China.

 If you really wanna see what I think the modern 2 seater ought to look like, check out my DreamBird.  I originally drew it with the 110hp Rotec radial in mind, but it would be even more fun with the 150hp : )

WACO Classic: Hand-Crafted Perfection (Check Out The Virtual 360 Cockpit!)

The YMF-5 from WACO Classic Aircraft Corporation  photo: WACO Classic

Click the pic to open up an awesome 360 virtual cockpit

(5 pix )

 Back in March of 1986 something really cool happened: the first ‘brand new’ WACO YMF Classic was completed as a fully certified aircraft under the original WACO type certificate.  Just like the one pictured above, the WACO Classics look exactly like the original YMF of the 1930’s except that they've been modernized where it makes sense and are available with fully updated instrumentation. 

 Click the panel pic above to go to an awesome 360 degree hi-res picture that puts you right in the pilot’s seat so you can check out that instrumentation. (mouse around for a full 360 view)

 You might not know that the YMF is one of the WACO designs from the golden age of aviation that has a front cockpit big enough for two.  That helps makes these biplanes a good choice for scenic ride takers.  It’s a lot more likely you’ll be profitable when you’ve got two paying passengers on board!  Plus, two seats up front makes the ride more fun for those a little unsure about riding in an open cockpit.  As for me, I don’t think it gets any better than a round engine, an open cockpit and two wings!  That’s some pure avgeek perfection : )

  These gorgeous airplanes are built by the WACO Classic Aircraft Corporation in Battle Creek, Michigan.  Company president Peter Bowers says they’ve been able to stay busy during the tough economic times, tho the backlog isn’t very deep.  The fact that they haven’t had layoffs and shutdowns actually makes them unique in the world of general aviation manufacturing these days.  And, increased demand from European customers keeps things looking promising.  Typically, they build 4 to 8 airplanes a year with the 26 employees on staff. 

 My dad took this picture of a WACO Classic in the Southwest a few years back.  He'd go for a scenic ride each year while he was staying out of the cold Midwestern winters.

Click to read more ...

Video: Flying Japanese Zero With Original Sakae Radial Engine

 YouTube user octane130 has a fab channel of WWII aircraft videos that really showcase the sight and sound of the engines on these aircraft.  This video of the only flying Japanese Zero to have an original Nakajima Sakae 14 cylinder radial engine is a great example.  The sound is just awesome.

 The airplane is owned by the Planes of Fame Museum in California, which rebuilt the airplane back in 1978, including having the original engine fully restored.  Apparently the few other flying examples of the Zero have had their engines replaced with more common U.S. radials.  It's quite an experience to see this beautifully restored historic aircraft fully functioning.   

Must See ‘Gray Eagles’ Video: P-51 Passion

(kinda long at 28:46 - but worth every single second)

 There’s a ‘line’ in this life that sadly most people never cross.  It’s kinda hard to define, but it’s a line of passion - and when it’s crossed, it puts you on the side of really being ‘alive’ on this earth.  There are many things that can take you over that line, and interestingly, flying is one of the most effective.

 This video has the power to help those who never knew that line was out there to possibly see it for the first time.  It also can take those who’ve been there before to once again feel alive.  And if you’re already living everyday on the good side of that line, this film is more fuel on the fire.

 It’s world-class cinematography used to tell the story of a World War II pilot, his family, a P-51, and how they all grew much closer together.  It’s about one of the greatest airplanes ever designed and built, and the generation of pilots that used it to fight for freedom.

 Many have already seen it, but you might be like me and are just finding out about it.  A friend sent me the link about an hour ago, and I figured I’d check it out.  I could see right away that it was beautifully done, but I was just gonna watch a few minutes of it… you know, stuff to do.  I couldn’t peel myself away until all 28:46 had run its course.  Powerful, beautiful, and I’m not ashamed to say it brought tears to my eyes.

 You can learn more about the film at GrayEagles.org.  You can also buy the Gray Eagles DVD thru Amazon.  For every DVD purchased, the Gray Eagles Foundation will be donating an additional DVD to an educational institution. 

 I highly recommend you put your life on hold for 30 minutes and watch this film… see if you can experience the crossing of that miraculous line where a human being goes from just living, to being 'alive’.

Low Level Aerobatics - 1986 Video Of The Late Great Bob Herendeen

(video includes a Lomcevak & Inverted Flat Spin.  Also, cool low passes start at 4:00) 

 I’m finally getting around to converting several old VHS tapes into digital video so I can share some cool things from back in the day.  This video of Bob Herendeen is the first one that I've run thru a new method of conversion (my Concorde ride at Oshkosh 88 was the first I converted, but I did it a totally different way).

 Bob Herendeen (1926-1994) was one of the nicest people I ever knew.  He was kind and considerate… a true gentleman.  But put him in a Pitts Special and he could really tear up the sky!  In fact, Bob had been one of the people that really made the Pitts Special so popular.  He had the first one used in aerobatic competition to have 4 ailerons back in the early 60’s, and went on to be the U.S. National Aerobatic Champion in 1966 and 1969.  That’s a pretty big deal.

 Bob’s style of aerobatics was somehow a little more pleasing than most others.  He knew how to push the airplane hard, but it was always something beautiful to watch… not like he was trying to conquer the airplane, but rather like the two were working together to make something truly captivating.  This was all matched by his kind and gentle way as a person. 

 I was fortunate to get to know him in the 80’s at the Mentone Airport in Indiana.  My dad owned that little country airport and I had skipped out on my college career, that was supposed to start in the fall of 79, to become essentially an airport bum.  Life was good.  Real good : )

 Bob was born in Mentone, and his dad had owned that same airport many years earlier, up til the late 70’s.  Bob would stop by for a week or so most summers and visit friends and family, and he’d be out several times to practice aerobatics while giving the locals some fab free airshow.  Airshows at a fly-in are great.  Airshows in your backyard with Bob Herendeen and no rules are awesome!  This video is of Bob practicing, and showing off for the camera some too.  It definitely shows enough of his flying to see that he really was something special.

 I feel very fortunate to have known Bob, and I’m thankful for the chance to share some of his fantastic flying with the world thru this video.

Bob Herendeen in the cockpit of his beautiful Pitts Special at the Mentone Airport in Indiana.  The video above is from 1986, but this picture might be from another year from that era.

This was by far the most exhilarating picture I've ever taken.  It's not from the video sequence, but it might be from the same year.  Bob was going about 200 mph and literally just a few feet off the deck and headed almost right at me.  I had a long zoom lens on the camera so it's just by chance that I had it both framed and pretty well focused with him approaching so fast (no auto focus back then).   I took the pic and lowered the camera to watch him go by... OMGosh - he was only about 20 feet in front of me as he screamed on by with the lower wingtip about waist height!  It was the coolest thing I've ever seen, and then my knees got kinda weak.  Wow : )

CoolPix - Homebuilt: Ray Hegy's El Chuparosa At Oshkosh 1970!

(click pic for hi-res)

 I took this picture as a 9 year old at the first Oshkosh ever in 1970.  It’s not the best image as it was taken with a cheap Kodak Instamatic camera… and it’s 40 years old now too!  But, it’s definitely worthy of being the first CoolPix in the ‘Homebuilt’ category. 

 The airplane is called El Chuparosa (a Spanish way to say hummingbird) and was built by the late Ray Hegy over 9 years, with the first flight in 1959.  Thru the 60’s and early 70’s, Ray would fly the one-of-a-kind airplane of his own design from his home in Marfa, Texas to the EAA fly-in.  Back in those days at the fly-in, it was common practice to have the homebuilts flying around the pattern, running laps, for much of the day.  It was a great way for anyone to put their work on display in the sky for all to see.  Ray was always the first one up early in the morning and screaming around the pattern in the A-65 powered Chuparosa.  She’d make some pretty big noise and it was an awesome way to wake up in the campground!  I can still remember hearing him : ) 

 This is a pretty historical pic for several reasons.  One, simply because it’s of the El Chuparosa, which just happens to be on display in the EAA museum.  But also because in 1970, the EAA fly-in and convention had just moved from Rockford, Illinois to Oshkosh.  This was a pretty big deal to be sure, and it’s really neat to see a pic of the grounds from that first year. 

 Speaking of the grounds, did you look at that grass?  Check out how trampled it is from a week of people walking around the airplane!  That’s not a shadow under the airplane, that’s the green alfalfa still standing.  I don’t remember if the event had already ended, but things do seem pretty well cleared out in the pic.  But that trampled greenery sure tells the story of thousands and thousands of people taking a close look at Ray’s little hummingbird.

 It’s also really neat to see the tower in the background.  It was just last year when it was torn down.  Also interesting to see the early version of the fence, on beyond the airplane, that separated the flight line from the rest of the event for so many years.

 Lastly, it’s cool to see some of the details that made El Chuparosa unique.  The pretty racy overall shape for the day, the plexi windows and windshield that enclose the area under and forward of the top wing, and the little hinged and blue tinted plexi cap that’s in the open position here.  Ray was a little kooky too, as can be seen by the ’Beware of Blast’ placard just above his cool augmented and flush exhaust port. 

 The airplane is a lot smaller than you’d think looking at the pic too.  Ray was a pretty small guy.  The top wingspan is only 12ft 10in and the overall length just 14ft 1in.  That helps to explain part of why I was so taken with it… it was just my size as a 9 year old!  Ray and El Chuparosa were an important part of the 60’s and 70’s in the EAA, and I’m so thankful to have memories of him over so many years.  Ray Hegy is a true icon of the spirit of aviation.

DreamBird Flies Out Of My Head!

 

 DreamBird didn’t exist until a couple weeks ago, and it’s really just an exercise in aeronautical fantasy.  I have these kinds of thoughts.  A lot.  And sometimes, a thought aches so bad that it has to crawl out of my head and be seen. 

 I think great aircraft design is really about stimulating the senses.  If all we really want is an airborne conveyance to quickly and/or cheaply move our body from point A to point B, then I think we’ve missed the wonder of machines that can fly.  Great airplanes get in your head and they don’t let go.  Truly great airplanes demand a response from you.  And they get it.

 So, DreamBird is meant to be a mix of the past with the present.  As I envision it, it’s a roomy two-seat side by side with a large baggage area.  I have specifically designed it with the pilot’s eyes forward of the leading edge of the wing for greater visibility.  There are challenges and trade-offs for sure to accomplish this, but the ultimate goal is not the maximum in efficiency, but rather the well-rounded, highly satisfying experience for the people inside.

 And speaking of well rounded… a radial engine is a must.  The Rotec 9 cylinder R3600 radial that makes 150hp would likely be well suited to the airframe.  Flat engines are dandy, but I have never ever heard a flat engine sound soul-stirringly beautiful.  Every round engine I’ve ever heard does sound that beautiful.  Again, it’s about exciting the senses.  Creating a machine and experience that you can’t take your mind off of. 

 I felt compelled to put this design out for others to see, largely cuz I’m interested to hear your response.  I don’t have any serious plans to bring DreamBird to life, but if I happen to get rich anytime soon, well then maybe!  So please, leave me a comment, tell me if it moves you like it moves me.  And keep in mind that this is really just a napkin drawing that was thrown together quickly, it’s not meant to represent a lot of deep thinking thus far : )