Aircraft I haven't flown but would like to!

[Pontius Navigator]

For a period of time we had one of these based locally...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_ ... in_Pioneer

If I recall correctly you were a member of the order of the Iron Ring if you were endorsed on it,....and then it disappeared, I knew people who would have loved to have flown it...

Why did it need such a wide runway?

[Boac]

For engine failure.

[Pontius Navigator]

According to Wiki there were 88 RAF accidents out of 337 built including Saudi.

[larsssnowpharter]

Over the years, I have been lucky enough to fly quite a few what would be called 'classics' today. But aircraft not flown that I would like to fly?

De Havilland Hornet. There's a photo on the photo page of me sitting in one as a nipper at RAF Tengah. None in airworthy condition but there were rumours of one being reconstructed in NZ. One could blow a Euromillions lottery win on the chance to fly what Eric Brown described as the best aircraft he had ever flown.

Stemme S12: If all goes well, I will fly one later this year.

Grumman Bearcat: Back in pre history I so nearly got to fly this beast. Taxied out and oil pressure warning light! 'Spose I could log out if I did chock to chock.

Never had any desire to fly anything commercial. The idea of responsibility for 100s of pax filled me with fear.

One thing I have noted is that each aircraft has its own unique smell. Anyone else think that is true?

[Rossian]

.....I took my 12yr old lad on a Nimrod trip with me back in the '80s. He was airsick! In the noughties with him now a pater familias I took him and his twins to visit the first RAF a/c I flew in , the Varsity that sits(sat?) in the middle of the hangar at Newark Air Museum. The first question he asked was "Do ALL RAF a/c have the same smell and what is it?"
My explanation of the unique blend of fuel,vomit, sweat, Elsan fluid,stale coffee out of one of those big old flasks and above all the smell of fear (am I going to pass this trip) didn't do anything to enhance his day I'm afraid. Oh and on older a/c leather seats (well worn).

The Ancient Mariner

[Opsboi]

One thing I have noted is that each aircraft has its own unique smell. Anyone else think that is true?

When I wandered round the old Viscount at Brooklands a couple of years back, the smell took me back to the 7 or 8 years I spent commuting GCI-LHR as a boarding schoolboy

I genuinely felt transported back

[Pontius Navigator]

.....I took my 12yr old lad on a Nimrod trip with me back in the '80s. He was airsick! In the noughties with him now a pater familias I took him and his twins to visit the first RAF a/c I flew in , the Varsity that sits(sat?) in the middle of the hangar at Newark Air Museum. The first question he asked was "Do ALL RAF a/c have the same smell and what is it?"
My explanation of the unique blend of fuel,vomit, sweat, Elsan fluid,stale coffee out of one of those big old flasks and above all the smell of fear (am I going to pass this trip) didn't do anything to enhance his day I'm afraid. Oh and on older a/c leather seats (well worn).

The Ancient Mariner

An old boy came up to our Lanc, closed his eyes and took a big sniff. Hasn't changed he said

[fin]

Short list:

Lockheed P-38 lightning
SR-71 Blackbird

Been able to fly or fly in pretty much all the rest I wanted to.

[Pinky the pilot]

You must be joking.

From 1961 onwards, Germany acquired 916 Lockheed F-104 Starfighters, of which 292 aircraft crashed and 116 pilots lost their lives.

Negative on the joking, Ex-Ascot. The high attrition rate on the Luftwaffe F104G model was attributed to the Luftwaffe's insistance of turning what was originally designed as a daytime Interceptor into an all-weather Fighter.

It just didn't work!

The Japanese Air Self Defence Force flew F104's for quite some time without anywhere near the loss rate.
I know a former JASDF F104 Pilot who now flies Gliders at the Gliding Club in Hokkaido where I have previously worked (and hope to return later this year ) and he has nothing but praise for the Aircraft.

I once asked him what was it like to fly. His one-word answer; 'Easy!"
He had logged over 1,000 hours on it though, so I guess he would say that now, wouldn't he?

Oh, and he had ejected twice, and legend has it that he once belly landed one!

[Boac]

A large part of the Luftwaffe's problem was the pilot training which took place initially, as part of the contract, in the US and often in Texas where the skies are mainly blue and the aircraft was operated in Europe where the skies are not.

I had 2 trips in 104s, one with the RCAF and one with the Dutch, both immensely enjoyable. A very 'sensitive' aircraft with amazing performance. I also watched a German one at Gutersloh land with total flap failure, and take the barrier at an enormous rate of knots.

A further 104 story - in the early 60s I was working in Holland and got friendly with a bunch of Dutch Airforce pilots going through initial training at Woensdrecht. One of them went onto 104s and had an engine fire on his first night solo takeoff, punching off his tanks and going into the barrier (alongside the tanks) and on fire.

He quit at that point and went on to sell garage doors

[Undried Plum]

It's gotta be this one:



Else: the Mark IX.

[TheGreenGoblin]

All the that talk of the F-104 got me to thinking of this rather brave, and skillful, if not insane Belgian officer. I bet some of the gaggle of pilots watching that were thinking "in my dreams pal!"




Clearly the F-104 didn't dissolve in the rain!

[TheGreenGoblin]

I want to fly one of these...

[G~Man]

I want to fly one of these...

Low skid Jet Ranger with what looks like Van Horn TR blades..... Nah.....aim higher..... I don't have any Jet Rangers anymore, but can manage this for you:

[TheGreenGoblin]

I want to fly one of these...

Low skid Jet Ranger with what looks like Van Horn TR blades..... Nah.....aim higher..... I don't have any Jet Rangers anymore, but can manage this for you:

Huey 1.jpg

I would be proud to have the honour of flying same with you Sir! I have much to learn, but I am attentive and know, in a strange way, that this is where my life is going. In a positive sense!

PS - I take it the other is Long Ranger or Huey?


I know it is insane, but in SA you can still fly WOF until you are 70... tis my aim...

[Opsboi]

I want to fly one of these...


Bell (2).JPG

A fencepost?

I'll be there to watch when you do

[TheGreenGoblin]

I want to fly one of these...


Bell (2).JPG

A fencepost?

I'll be there to watch when you do

I'll set myself on fire, I promise...

[Pontius Navigator]

We had the mad Belgian at the Cottesmore airshow, 65 or 66, and as amusing was OC Ops racing to the Tower concerned for the safety of the 3 nuclear armed bombers near the 23 end. It made no difference, he carried on regardless.

[G~Man]

Tis a Huey.... I have a 212, 205, Huey, 4 Bell 407's and 2 Long Rangers. That is all in Redding, I am also Chief Pilot of IEX Helicopters where we have 3 S-76's and 3 Astars.

[Undried Plum]

It's got to be the Spitfire.

I know it might before be I die and I know that I will cry when that I might not see those roundels on the upper wingfaces of when I see those wings when I fly a rolling loop in one of those things, some day.


Nevertheess:



Salty tears, I know, but they will happen.