±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: HighestAce
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6648

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 378
Total: 378
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Statistics
02: Home
03: Community Forums
04: Community Forums
05: Community Forums
06: Community Forums
07: Community Forums
08: Home
09: Community Forums
10: Member Screenshots
11: Community Forums
12: Member Screenshots
13: Downloads
14: Member Screenshots
15: Your Account
16: Home
17: Photo Gallery
18: Photo Gallery
19: Photo Gallery
20: Community Forums
21: Statistics
22: Photo Gallery
23: Photo Gallery
24: Photo Gallery
25: Statistics
26: Community Forums
27: Home
28: Search
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: Community Forums
33: Statistics
34: Photo Gallery
35: Community Forums
36: Community Forums
37: Home
38: Home
39: Community Forums
40: Community Forums
41: Home
42: Home
43: Home
44: Home
45: Community Forums
46: Home
47: Home
48: Downloads
49: Community Forums
50: News Archive
51: Photo Gallery
52: Community Forums
53: Photo Gallery
54: Statistics
55: Downloads
56: Community Forums
57: Photo Gallery
58: Community Forums
59: Home
60: Home
61: Home
62: Home
63: Home
64: Home
65: Downloads
66: Home
67: Community Forums
68: Community Forums
69: Home
70: Photo Gallery
71: Community Forums
72: Photo Gallery
73: Community Forums
74: Member Screenshots
75: Home
76: Community Forums
77: Home
78: Community Forums
79: Home
80: Downloads
81: Downloads
82: Community Forums
83: Statistics
84: Community Forums
85: Community Forums
86: Community Forums
87: Statistics
88: Community Forums
89: Community Forums
90: Photo Gallery
91: Member Screenshots
92: Statistics
93: Photo Gallery
94: Photo Gallery
95: Member Screenshots
96: Community Forums
97: Community Forums
98: Downloads
99: Photo Gallery
100: Community Forums
101: Statistics
102: Community Forums
103: Home
104: Home
105: Home
106: Home
107: Home
108: Community Forums
109: Community Forums
110: Statistics
111: Community Forums
112: Community Forums
113: Photo Gallery
114: Member Screenshots
115: Community Forums
116: Community Forums
117: Community Forums
118: Member Screenshots
119: Community Forums
120: Community Forums
121: Photo Gallery
122: Photo Gallery
123: Community Forums
124: Community Forums
125: Community Forums
126: Photo Gallery
127: Community Forums
128: Photo Gallery
129: Photo Gallery
130: Community Forums
131: Member Screenshots
132: News Archive
133: Community Forums
134: Community Forums
135: Statistics
136: Home
137: Photo Gallery
138: Community Forums
139: Photo Gallery
140: Community Forums
141: Home
142: Home
143: Home
144: Photo Gallery
145: Community Forums
146: Home
147: Member Screenshots
148: Community Forums
149: Photo Gallery
150: Community Forums
151: Community Forums
152: LinkToUs
153: Member Screenshots
154: Home
155: Downloads
156: Community Forums
157: Statistics
158: Photo Gallery
159: Photo Gallery
160: Home
161: Photo Gallery
162: Photo Gallery
163: News
164: Community Forums
165: Community Forums
166: Community Forums
167: Community Forums
168: Home
169: Downloads
170: Photo Gallery
171: Community Forums
172: Home
173: Community Forums
174: Community Forums
175: Photo Gallery
176: Community Forums
177: Community Forums
178: Photo Gallery
179: Home
180: Home
181: Home
182: Community Forums
183: News Archive
184: Photo Gallery
185: Community Forums
186: Community Forums
187: Community Forums
188: Community Forums
189: Community Forums
190: Photo Gallery
191: Community Forums
192: Community Forums
193: Home
194: Community Forums
195: Community Forums
196: Community Forums
197: Statistics
198: Community Forums
199: Statistics
200: Community Forums
201: Community Forums
202: Community Forums
203: Community Forums
204: Community Forums
205: Downloads
206: Community Forums
207: Downloads
208: Community Forums
209: Statistics
210: Community Forums
211: Photo Gallery
212: Community Forums
213: Community Forums
214: Community Forums
215: Photo Gallery
216: Home
217: Community Forums
218: Community Forums
219: Photo Gallery
220: Photo Gallery
221: Home
222: Photo Gallery
223: Member Screenshots
224: Photo Gallery
225: Community Forums
226: Community Forums
227: Home
228: Home
229: Photo Gallery
230: Home
231: Statistics
232: Photo Gallery
233: Community Forums
234: Community Forums
235: Photo Gallery
236: Community Forums
237: Photo Gallery
238: Community Forums
239: Downloads
240: Photo Gallery
241: Community Forums
242: Home
243: Community Forums
244: Community Forums
245: Home
246: Home
247: Photo Gallery
248: Photo Gallery
249: Statistics
250: Community Forums
251: Community Forums
252: Photo Gallery
253: Community Forums
254: Home
255: Supporters
256: Home
257: Community Forums
258: Community Forums
259: Community Forums
260: Your Account
261: Community Forums
262: Home
263: Downloads
264: Downloads
265: Statistics
266: Community Forums
267: Community Forums
268: Community Forums
269: Community Forums
270: Community Forums
271: Home
272: News Archive
273: Community Forums
274: Community Forums
275: Community Forums
276: Community Forums
277: Home
278: Downloads
279: News Archive
280: Community Forums
281: Community Forums
282: News Archive
283: Member Screenshots
284: Community Forums
285: Home
286: Member Screenshots
287: Home
288: Photo Gallery
289: Home
290: Photo Gallery
291: Community Forums
292: Photo Gallery
293: Community Forums
294: Statistics
295: Community Forums
296: Community Forums
297: Community Forums
298: Home
299: Member Screenshots
300: Statistics
301: Statistics
302: Photo Gallery
303: Community Forums
304: Home
305: Community Forums
306: Home
307: Community Forums
308: Photo Gallery
309: Community Forums
310: Community Forums
311: Member Screenshots
312: Statistics
313: Photo Gallery
314: Community Forums
315: Home
316: Home
317: Community Forums
318: Community Forums
319: Home
320: Community Forums
321: Community Forums
322: Photo Gallery
323: Community Forums
324: Photo Gallery
325: Community Forums
326: Statistics
327: Community Forums
328: Community Forums
329: News Archive
330: Community Forums
331: Community Forums
332: Home
333: Home
334: Home
335: Community Forums
336: Photo Gallery
337: Photo Gallery
338: Community Forums
339: Downloads
340: Photo Gallery
341: Home
342: Downloads
343: Home
344: Community Forums
345: Member Screenshots
346: Home
347: Community Forums
348: Community Forums
349: Community Forums
350: Photo Gallery
351: Community Forums
352: Photo Gallery
353: Downloads
354: Community Forums
355: Member Screenshots
356: Home
357: Home
358: Community Forums
359: Home
360: Home
361: Home
362: Community Forums
363: Photo Gallery
364: Community Forums
365: Photo Gallery
366: Photo Gallery
367: Downloads
368: Home
369: Community Forums
370: Home
371: Home
372: Community Forums
373: Home
374: Community Forums
375: Home
376: Community Forums
377: Community Forums
378: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
My Day With a PT-13 Stearman :: Archived
A general meeting place for all pilots!
Post new topic    Revive this topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  Officer's Club

Topic Archived View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
JG300-1Bullet
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 1117
Location: Odessa, Texas
PostPosted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 6:59 pm
Post subject: My Day With a PT-13 Stearman

Well for the second Saturday morning out at the Desert Squadrons Hanger (C.A.F.) I was spraying Mesquite bushes trying to kill the darn things. It isn't as bad as it sounds because there was quite a bit of air traffic at Schleymeyer field (KODO). This morning including the squadrons PT-26 and Pt-13 flying doing currency training. About 12:30PM I had Sprayed as many as I could. The temp was already into the mid 90s and my neck was already sunburned. Yep I'm a redneck. Anyway there was a couple of the guys there (pilots) and one asked me what I was doing tomorrow. My reply was go to church and then mow the grass.
He said that one of the pilots , a fellow named Kermit, Was taking the Stearman over to Pecos to the flyin Breakfast and he had an open hole in the plane, Which means a cockpit not being used, and he wanted to know if I would be interested. Well heck no why would I want to do something stupid like that..........NOT Really. I tried to be calm and cool but I said yes almost before the question was finished. After signing the paper that says flying old airplanes can be dangerous and you could die and your family will not sue thingy I was good to go.
Nowhow to explain to the wifey....... Just say it. and she said OK, because she knew I would go anyway.
So this morning a 7am sharp we briefed ( Hi Bobby have you ever flown before? Yes. Good. You know how to buckle a 5 point harness? Yes. Do you have a jacket? Yes. OK lets go), pulled the Stearman out of the hanger. loaded up Strapped in. Bobby better turn your hat around.. If the wind gets under the bill I will blow away. Thumbs up
"Prop Clear?" OH Yeah the sound of a Radial comming to life. Starter turning Pumping the throttle, A Big Burst of smoke and noise Vibrating the whole plane then settling down into the unmistakable sound that I have only heard from a distance, never from inside an open cockpit Bi-Plane. Ok we taxi down to the other end of the airport to runway 16. There is a Luscomb in front of us going to Pecos too. After a short conversation between the two planes they line up and takeoff. We did our Mag check and lined up for takeoff... Throttle forward.....the radial roared to life coughed once (as they usually do) and before you knew it there was air between me and the ground again............Yep it is a good feeling......
We clinbed out over Odessa headed to I-20 to follow it to Pecos. We climbed up to about 4000' MSL. Once we got there we turned west and were on our way. The air was smooth and the noise was great. Engine sounds, propwash noise, wind blowing across the struts and wires.....Looking out acroos those two yellow wings.... Beautiful! I tell ya people BEAUTIFUL!! Pretty soon a tap on the shoulder....Look up in the mirror. Ok I see Kermit back there and he motions me to take her....OK I did this last night on my flight simulator. Just maintain altitude and course
Wow This plane is so light on the controls that it really suprised me. Very little movement of the stick to keep it level and a little rudder every so often. I'm Dreaming........I flew over the Rattlesnake Bomber Base in Pyote, TX. It was a WW 2 B-17 Training Base. The Ramp is still there and the walls of an old hanger. You can see that from the highway, but from the air the runways are still there too! They are overgrown with weeds but you can still make them out. How cool! I got to fly about 30 minutes total
Ok here are some pics. Now they aren't the greatest because I couldn't get the camera out into the slipstream. I could have lost it. Wouldn't be good. Enjoy!

this is west out of Odessa over I-10


This is looking South West towards the Davis Mountians.


A Rainbow over Barstow.


Base for 14 at Pecos Mun.


Final 14


The Flight Line at Pecos


Breakfast is served. The truck with a trailer is loaded with Pecos Cantalopes. Yep I got some Yummy. They also had a Contest....Cantalope Bombing. We didn't get to do it but several pilots did. You fly over the field and try to drop a cantalope in a wading pool. You can really tell when they hit it LOL



Leaving Pecos headed home



Over the Pecos River



Turning final for 16 Schleymeyer. If you look down in the culdesac our good friends live where the black car is in the street with the round pool in the backyard
Also in about the middle of the picture there is a large hanger. I worked my first job there. Odessa Soaring ran by Roy Schleymeyer. I ran wings and cleaned planes for flight time from him (sailplane) Mr Schleymeyer was about 80 then and his flying license was # 5000 something. He flew Fokker Tri Motors for the Airlines. He had some wonderful stories. We towed saillanes off just in front of the hanger there beside the paved runway. It has grown over a lot since then (1973-74)


Life is good boys and girls!

_________________

You've never been lost until you've been lost at Mach 3
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Uhu_Fledermaus
Aircraft Demolition Expert

Offline Offline
Joined: Nov 28, 2004
Posts: 4369
Location: Blaricum, The Netherlands ~GMT+1
PostPosted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 7:20 pm
Post subject: Re: My Day With a PT-13 Stearman

AWESOME !!

beeing a lil green of envi here Laughing

Thank you for the pic's and the story !!


fled
Back to top
View user's profile ICQ Number MSN Messenger Photo Gallery
JG300-Hoppa
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 10, 2005
Posts: 583
Location: vernon BC
PostPosted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 8:04 pm
Post subject: Re: My Day With a PT-13 Stearman

awesome Bullet,,,,,,,just awesome,,,,I'll leave this short and sweet cause I dunno what to say...........AWSOME...

_________________
_

______________________________________



-----------------------------------------------------
Many thing's in life are dirt cheap.........
"Dirt"
is not one of them.....
Back to top
View user's profile
Hangman
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Nov 19, 2004
Posts: 449

PostPosted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 8:09 pm
Post subject: Re: My Day With a PT-13 Stearman

you lucky SoB..man that is so cool dude..thx for the pics and excellent story man!
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Shadow_Bshwackr
Janitor

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 2005
Posts: 7020
Location: Central Illinois, USA
PostPosted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 8:15 pm
Post subject: Re: My Day With a PT-13 Stearman

I'm droolin' now...lol

Great stuff Bullet!!!
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-fr8ycat
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 13, 2005
Posts: 1530
Location: Los Angeles
PostPosted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 10:08 pm
Post subject: Re: My Day With a PT-13 Stearman

Awesome pics Bullet, thanks for sharing.

_________________
Back to top
View user's profile MSN Messenger Photo Gallery
JG300-Dan736
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 26, 2005
Posts: 484
Location: Burlinton Ont
PostPosted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 7:41 pm
Post subject: Re: My Day With a PT-13 Stearman

Great story Bullet,I had a big smile on while reading it,next time try to bring a few cantaloups with you that way you will have a real mission

_________________

eagles may soar but a weasel won't get sucked into a jet engine
Back to top
View user's profile
jedster1
Resident Scooter Tramp

Offline Offline
Joined: May 21, 2006
Posts: 67
Location: West of KEWB
PostPosted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:08 pm
Post subject: Re: My Day With a PT-13 Stearman

Awesome pics, Bullet!!

_________________


We're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world.
Back to top
View user's profile
JG300-1Bullet
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 1117
Location: Odessa, Texas
PostPosted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:37 pm
Post subject: Re: My Day With a PT-13 Stearman

Thanks everyone for your comments. Hopefully there will be some more flights in the future.
Dan They actually provide the cantalopes for you. In Pecos,TX thats the main crop. Don't tell me you've never heard of the World Famous Pecos Cantalopes?

_________________

You've never been lost until you've been lost at Mach 3
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Revive this topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  Officer's Club
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT - 6 Hours

Archive Revive
Username:
This is an archived topic - your reply will not be appended here.
Instead, a new topic will be generated in the active forum.
The new topic will provide a reference link to this archived topic.