The Aviators Thread

Posts
1,053
Likes
5,764
Talking about good judgement and pilot dexterity: Knowing how to exit a " vintage "glider and land with your parachute
Or how a US $ 1800.00 parachute can save Your life.
Modern day high-tech gliders have the option for an underseat airbag which pushes the pilot out of the cockpit!
.
On my mates ULM we have a BRS parachute fitted. He has never used it but a club member go caught in the wake turbulence of a fully loaded 747 in a Rans ULM and things went south very quickly to the point he had to pull the chute. It worked perfectly adequately and all he suffered was a broken leg and a very bent aircraft.

The rocket needs to be replaced every 10 years and the chute repacked every 7 or 8 years if I remember correctly. It's squeaky bum time fitting and arming the rocket as they are serious projectiles that can do a lot of damage. If you accidentally pulled one in the hangar it will easily pierce the roof and continue going.
 
Posts
4,639
Likes
17,589

I am re-reading a book about the Vulcan. There were various checks and balances and radars for low level flying. One rule was co-pilot visual back up. So a Vulcan co-pilot was using night vision glasses to help in that regard. They were supposed to be running in at 200 feet. The pilot was pissed as his No2 who kept saying wow, amazing, crazy etc. He told him to shut up and the guy apologised saying he had just never seen the sheep’s eyes reflecting back like that….. you can see them at 200 feet the pilot asked? Turned out they were nearer 20 feet. The pilot had forgotten to turn the terrain radar on and was actually just flying off the altimeter. His No2 was just enjoying the ride and thankfully no hills, bridges or pylons in sight :0)
 
Posts
1,053
Likes
5,764
It's not great there at the moment. We were about to deliver a 737 to a local airline on lease but thats off the table now.

It's been a long time since I was there but I do remember our hotel was full of Chineese people of all professions working on a big project. I asked one of them at breakfast how they were coming home drunk at night when the place was dry. That evening they brought me for dinner to an industrial restaurant that looked like they brought it with them from China and got me drunk. I ate there every night after that.

I was also contained for taking a photo of the parliament building. It's funny now but being stopped in the middle of the road with three rifles pointed at me was scary while the captain made sure I deleted the photos I had taken. He became very friendly when he saw the photos of my horses on the camera and he escorted me back to my hotel with flashing blues lights, I felt like royalty. They joined me and my new Chineese friends for dinner and drinks that evening.
 
Posts
4,639
Likes
17,589
At a birthday party today… they had been sent a folding biplane birthday card….
.
 
Posts
4,639
Likes
17,589
On my meander today I saw what looked like 5 or 6 F35’s in formation which is very unusual. Only had the phone unfortunately and was slow off the mark ( or they were faster :0) another practice run or moving bases for the coronation of King Charles on Saturday maybe? Nothing showed up on Flightradar24 so they are indeed super stealthy :0)
.
 
Posts
1,441
Likes
2,746
This takes balls of steel. Note the feathered props 😲

Image courtesy of Plane Historia via Facebook
 
Posts
4,639
Likes
17,589
This takes balls of steel. Note the feathered props 😲

Image courtesy of Plane Historia via Facebook

I got buzzed today leaving a base … the UK BBMF Lancaster is doing a few tours… I don’t know what the rules are for this unique aircraft but given the age and rarity the pilots still give it a damn good go …
.
 
Posts
4,639
Likes
17,589
I have been very lucky with access to a few sites the last couple of years…. Today was exceptional and May has a few more….
. I will make time to post them up soon…
.
 
Posts
5,116
Likes
46,133
I have been very lucky with access to a few sites the last couple of years…. Today was exceptional and May has a few more….
. I will make time to post them up soon…
.

Looks like a scene right out of Bomber Command and Target For Tonight.

 
Posts
6,177
Likes
11,452
Belgian song writer/singer turned actor Jacques Brel had two Omega Speedmaster chronographs (1965 - 105.003 and 1967 - 145.012).
He was also a keen pilot and owned two aircraft during his life time, one a twin engined Beech Bonanza F-ODBU
.