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My first air display


flyerme

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Barossa Airshow 2015 12 April

 

A few weeks ago I recieved a ph call from the event organiser (whom had been desperately tracking me after seeing pics of my ww-1 beast on social media)asking if I would bring my 1916 replica to the show and perform a handling display ? Without second thought I agreed and was soon returning paper work for CASA approval...after an anxious wait I finally recieved the approval the day before fly out.. Phew.

 

Saturday the 11 th I was up at the crack of dawn ( ok that's a lie. I was up all night waiting ) I was ready to go by first light but old Murphy showed his ugly head! Total fog over..

 

By 9am fog lifted and I was soon on my way for the shortish 65 nm flight.

 

First 48nm was a breeze but after that it was all mountains ,.. I arrived at the rowland flat airfield safe and sound... 1 hr 19 mins and 14 secs.

 

Sunday day of show.

 

I arrived early and prepared my war horse for a practice run. Conditions were overcast slight crosswind and 8-10 knts gusty. Circuits went well but I found the noted ( pilot notes) wind shear on 08... I was thrown around , Sucked down and given a nice airframe thump but she held her ground but after touch down she was very ferocious ... With a skid or 2 I kept her on track ... At 10:30 we had the display pilot brief, at the end ,a prize was awarded to the first display pilot to submit their paper work and be approved by CASA .

 

Yay I won! Bottle of Shiraz

 

I was programmed for a 10 minute handling display at 2:05.

 

Winds were not favourable with a couple tail draggers making ... Interesting landings..

 

Wind shear was duly noted and I was really feeling nervous ..

 

There was around 5000 people watching!!! Lol

 

I had 2 awesome in costume ground crew and at 1:30 we headed over to my nieuport to start preparing her... We just made our way to the nieuport when the event organiser comes speeding up in his golf buggy yelling " Tim Tim, can you go up? NOW,!"

 

The extra300 had done a fuel pump so I was required to keep thing flowing....

 

My crew true to the era performed an authentic ww-1 aircraft scramble and I was soon back tracking 08.

 

On take off I new landing would be interesting when the wind was weather cocking me on the ground and drift on take off.

 

I performed 3 circuits with smoke display before the inevitable landing...

 

The strip is 600 mtrs and my home strip is 300 so I decided on the ol high , idle slip. From 500 on final near threshold I just killed power, side slipped, avoided wind shear, and greased her with 500 meters spare.... What a relief.......

 

I had non stop photos and back pats And I was fearing my head would not fit back in my helmet?

 

I departed early during the show as conditions were showing a head wind home, I was advised about rotor winds over the mountains but found nil wind again at 3500 ft...

 

Made it home safe ( but bloody cold) in 1 hr 19 mins and 43 secs....

 

Had the best time ever and ground crew were out standing

 

Oh and for those wondering? No ramp checks.

 

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Outstanding Jack - er - Tim! wish i could have been there to see that. anyone get video?

I'm wondering the same because I'm told plenty cheers and clapping and commentry mentioned how nice my landing was :). I will ask around for vid

 

 

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Hi Tim,

 

Really enjoyed your display... yes was a very nice landing with plenty of room to spare. Didn't get video though

 

Sorry I didn't catch up with you on the day.. one minute you were nearby next minute you'd vanished lol

 

I departed straight after you, nice touch with the smoke on

 

The Nieuport looks great air to air too.

 

 

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Hi Tim,Really enjoyed your display... yes was a very nice landing with plenty of room to spare. Didn't get video though

 

Sorry I didn't catch up with you on the day.. one minute you were nearby next minute you'd vanished lol

 

I departed straight after you, nice touch with the smoke on

 

The Nieuport looks great air to air too.

Thanks a bunch,, yeh running between my book store and nieuport lol. And I'm pretty much go go go :)

 

 

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Guest ozzie
YoYou can actually see how much left rudder is needed to counter the torque roll

I think they now call it "P factor" Tim

 

 

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I was at the air-show and so were a good many spectators, a great turn out. The weather was kind to us. I watched your plane, especially the landings and one could see there was some work involved. Bit disappointed you didn't shoot up something with the gun!

 

 

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Looking through some Facebook photos of the airshow.. I noted an uncanny resemblance

 

[GALLERY=media, 3447]DIstant Cousins? by aj_richo posted Apr 14, 2015 at 1:30 PM[/GALLERY]

 

 

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