It looks nice, w8ye, and thanks for your input. I would like to see some stories, where a beginner brings something to the field that's not a trainer at all. Something beyond the Mustang PTS in full garb. I would like to see if anybody experienced someone with, say, a bipe with high wing-loading. It's a little short, but I do have a story to tell.....

Back in 1987, I was a student at the University of New Mexico, having just finished for the Summer. I remember frequenting a hobby shop, saving up some money to buy a kit. Hanging from the ceiling was a .60 sized Pitts Special, done in the customary red and white theme with blue and white checkers under the wings. The plane looked good, but was starting to show its age. I'm not sure who made the kit, all I know is that the price was right for a complete build.

One day, I was out to the field watching the pilots do their routine. That's when I saw a pickup truck pull up, with about three construction workers with more money than sense. And what did I see in the bed??? Keep in mind, that none of these guys have ever flown before, let alone seen a radio. And they were hoping to get one of the instructors to show them how to operate that thing. Lucky for them, they never got the engine started. Back in those days, biplanes like the Pitts were heavy for their size, flew fast, had short glide ratios, and the reliability of the engine made the difference between splinters and an intact plane. Unless, of course, the pilot was highly skilled in keeping it close and landing on a short field should the uneventful take place. I would have really liked seeing what would transpire had they been successful at getting the engine to run! For all I know, it's probably been converted into chandelier long ago. Has anybody ever attempted to teach on an outfit like this? Has anybody had a similar experience?

NorfolkSouthern