RE: Aussie Mustang build,,, at last!!! - 4/26/2007 2:36:20 AM
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Brad330l
Posts: 555
Joined: 7/19/2004
From: Port HedlandWA, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline
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Hi Guys,
Yeah, bummer about the flaps on the Mustang Peter. You wont go wrong with a couple of extra servos Mate. The weight will probibly be the same as the bid whoooer you have in it now.
Yes Crazy Horse is a TF51, with full complement of instruments and controls, enough for an instructor to take over if student is not up to scratch in the front. I was of course in the back for my flight but it is still a great seat with a great view.
My flight experience started off with a briefing where Eric my pilot/instructor for the day disscussed some points about the Mustang and we talked about what I wanted to do during the flight. You can do 'light', 'medium', and 'heavy duty' type flights where the 'Gs' just get more and more. I wanted a fully aerobatic flight but not be too over whelmed as too not be able to enjoy it. I told Eric I was a 800 hour private pilot and had done aeros in gliders, Tiger Moth, RV6 (a couple of rolls), Christian Eagle and T6 Texan all as passanger but had controls some of the time. He said id be ok so lets go.
We got suited up in flight suits (I had brought my own but they had one hanging on the locker for me) and went down to the hanger where we looked over the AC and disscussed some more features of this magnificent horse.
Climbing aboard I had all sorts of thoughts racing through my mind, I had my new Bride standing there watching taking photos, would I see her again? We had just talked about engine failures and inflight fires and now I was about to sit in this snug little cockpit and strap on a parachute. I was lucky I suppose, its not the first time I have put on a chute for 'just in case'. I own my own emergency chute and have done about 600 skydiving sorties in C182s. Never had to use it though!!! I also thought of all the young and not so young men who had climbed aboard Mustangs over the years to fly much more dangerous missions than what I was about to undertake. I was going up to enjoy myself right? No worries!!!!
After strapping in Eric asked if I recognised every thing and said "I'll be doing the power unless I tell you to have a go and do not touch the mixture control at any stage of the flight" OK, no worries i'm not here to burn out a beautiful Merlin. Ear plugs and helmet fitted I was set. Eric handed me a cold water bottle wrapped in a small towel to stow in the side of my cockpit saying "you might get a bit of dry mouth up there" and climbed in to his front office assissted by Tom his young (and very lucky) Crew Chief. We were still in the hanger at this stage but was soon getting towed out on to the apron out side the Stallion 51 Corp hanger (one of three in their facilities at Kissemmee) by Tom in the company Jeep.
Out side, Tom disconnects and Eric arcs up the radio/intercom and starts runing through check lists and asking me to confirm some things, hey I really have got things to do!!!!
Soon enough its "clear prop" with thumbs up from Tom and the big prop starts rotating and my heart starts beating faster. A couple of pops and puffs of smoke soon become a crackling rumble with vibrations and exhaust fumes that sting the nostrals.
"Looks like a good start" Said Eric. Yep my instruments all look good. Every thing on the aeroplane works!!!!
After a minute or so and more check lists, Eric radios "Mustang 3 taxiing for runway 34 (cant remember exactly) one final check with Tom the crew chief we are moving forward.
Salute from Tom, I wave to my wife and think "I'll see you soon".
Oh Man this is great already!!!!!!
Guys this it taking longer than what I thought to tell you how my flight was but I might as well tell it right. This is the first time | |
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