±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: 452
Total: 452
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: News
02: Home
03: Community Forums
04: Home
05: Photo Gallery
06: Community Forums
07: Community Forums
08: Community Forums
09: Community Forums
10: Photo Gallery
11: Community Forums
12: Community Forums
13: Community Forums
14: Community Forums
15: Your Account
16: Community Forums
17: Community Forums
18: Community Forums
19: Home
20: Home
21: Community Forums
22: Tell a Friend
23: Community Forums
24: News Archive
25: Community Forums
26: News Archive
27: Home
28: Home
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: Community Forums
33: Photo Gallery
34: Community Forums
35: Community Forums
36: Community Forums
37: Home
38: Community Forums
39: Photo Gallery
40: Home
41: Home
42: Community Forums
43: Community Forums
44: Community Forums
45: Community Forums
46: Community Forums
47: Community Forums
48: Home
49: Home
50: Community Forums
51: Home
52: Home
53: Community Forums
54: Community Forums
55: Downloads
56: Community Forums
57: Community Forums
58: Community Forums
59: Community Forums
60: Home
61: Home
62: Home
63: Home
64: Home
65: Home
66: Community Forums
67: Home
68: Home
69: Home
70: Community Forums
71: Community Forums
72: Community Forums
73: Community Forums
74: Your Account
75: Community Forums
76: Photo Gallery
77: Home
78: Home
79: Home
80: Home
81: Community Forums
82: Your Account
83: Home
84: Community Forums
85: Community Forums
86: News Archive
87: Member Screenshots
88: Community Forums
89: Photo Gallery
90: Community Forums
91: Community Forums
92: Community Forums
93: Community Forums
94: Community Forums
95: News Archive
96: Community Forums
97: Home
98: Community Forums
99: Community Forums
100: Home
101: Community Forums
102: Community Forums
103: Home
104: Your Account
105: Community Forums
106: Community Forums
107: News Archive
108: Community Forums
109: Community Forums
110: News Archive
111: Community Forums
112: Home
113: Home
114: Home
115: Home
116: Community Forums
117: Community Forums
118: Community Forums
119: Community Forums
120: Community Forums
121: Community Forums
122: Community Forums
123: Home
124: Your Account
125: Community Forums
126: Community Forums
127: Home
128: Community Forums
129: Community Forums
130: News Archive
131: Downloads
132: Community Forums
133: Community Forums
134: Community Forums
135: Community Forums
136: Home
137: Home
138: Photo Gallery
139: Community Forums
140: Photo Gallery
141: Community Forums
142: Home
143: Home
144: Home
145: Home
146: Community Forums
147: Community Forums
148: Community Forums
149: Community Forums
150: Photo Gallery
151: Community Forums
152: Home
153: Community Forums
154: Community Forums
155: Community Forums
156: Community Forums
157: Member Screenshots
158: Community Forums
159: Home
160: Community Forums
161: Community Forums
162: Community Forums
163: Community Forums
164: Home
165: Home
166: Community Forums
167: Community Forums
168: Community Forums
169: Community Forums
170: Community Forums
171: Community Forums
172: Home
173: Community Forums
174: Home
175: Home
176: Member Screenshots
177: Community Forums
178: Community Forums
179: Home
180: Community Forums
181: Community Forums
182: Photo Gallery
183: Community Forums
184: Home
185: Community Forums
186: Community Forums
187: Community Forums
188: Photo Gallery
189: Community Forums
190: Community Forums
191: Community Forums
192: Community Forums
193: Community Forums
194: Community Forums
195: Home
196: Home
197: Home
198: Community Forums
199: Your Account
200: Home
201: Tell a Friend
202: Community Forums
203: Community Forums
204: Community Forums
205: Community Forums
206: Community Forums
207: Community Forums
208: Community Forums
209: Community Forums
210: Photo Gallery
211: Community Forums
212: Member Screenshots
213: Statistics
214: Photo Gallery
215: Photo Gallery
216: Community Forums
217: Photo Gallery
218: Photo Gallery
219: Photo Gallery
220: Community Forums
221: Photo Gallery
222: Member Screenshots
223: Community Forums
224: Search
225: Community Forums
226: Member Screenshots
227: Your Account
228: Community Forums
229: Your Account
230: Photo Gallery
231: Community Forums
232: Photo Gallery
233: Community Forums
234: Community Forums
235: Community Forums
236: Photo Gallery
237: Photo Gallery
238: Photo Gallery
239: Photo Gallery
240: Photo Gallery
241: Community Forums
242: Photo Gallery
243: Community Forums
244: Home
245: Photo Gallery
246: Community Forums
247: Home
248: Home
249: Community Forums
250: Community Forums
251: Community Forums
252: Community Forums
253: News Archive
254: Photo Gallery
255: Community Forums
256: Your Account
257: Community Forums
258: Home
259: Photo Gallery
260: Home
261: Photo Gallery
262: Photo Gallery
263: Photo Gallery
264: Home
265: Your Account
266: Photo Gallery
267: Photo Gallery
268: Community Forums
269: Home
270: Photo Gallery
271: Community Forums
272: Home
273: Community Forums
274: Photo Gallery
275: Community Forums
276: Community Forums
277: Photo Gallery
278: Home
279: Community Forums
280: Downloads
281: Home
282: Community Forums
283: Community Forums
284: Community Forums
285: Community Forums
286: Community Forums
287: Community Forums
288: Photo Gallery
289: Community Forums
290: Community Forums
291: Community Forums
292: Community Forums
293: Downloads
294: Home
295: Community Forums
296: Community Forums
297: Community Forums
298: Community Forums
299: Community Forums
300: Community Forums
301: Home
302: Photo Gallery
303: Community Forums
304: News Archive
305: Photo Gallery
306: Photo Gallery
307: Member Screenshots
308: Community Forums
309: Community Forums
310: Photo Gallery
311: Home
312: Photo Gallery
313: Home
314: Community Forums
315: Community Forums
316: Downloads
317: Community Forums
318: Community Forums
319: Downloads
320: Home
321: Community Forums
322: Community Forums
323: Photo Gallery
324: Home
325: Home
326: Photo Gallery
327: News Archive
328: Community Forums
329: Community Forums
330: Community Forums
331: Community Forums
332: Photo Gallery
333: Community Forums
334: Photo Gallery
335: Community Forums
336: Community Forums
337: Community Forums
338: Home
339: Photo Gallery
340: Home
341: Home
342: Community Forums
343: Community Forums
344: Community Forums
345: Photo Gallery
346: Community Forums
347: Home
348: Downloads
349: Community Forums
350: Photo Gallery
351: Home
352: Home
353: Home
354: Community Forums
355: Community Forums
356: Community Forums
357: Photo Gallery
358: Community Forums
359: Community Forums
360: Contact
361: Home
362: Community Forums
363: Community Forums
364: Photo Gallery
365: Community Forums
366: Community Forums
367: Home
368: Member Screenshots
369: Your Account
370: Photo Gallery
371: Home
372: Photo Gallery
373: News Archive
374: Community Forums
375: Home
376: Home
377: Home
378: Home
379: Home
380: Community Forums
381: Photo Gallery
382: Community Forums
383: Community Forums
384: Community Forums
385: Community Forums
386: Community Forums
387: Community Forums
388: Home
389: Home
390: Home
391: Downloads
392: Home
393: News Archive
394: Community Forums
395: Community Forums
396: Photo Gallery
397: Home
398: Home
399: Photo Gallery
400: Home
401: Community Forums
402: Community Forums
403: Photo Gallery
404: Community Forums
405: Community Forums
406: Home
407: Community Forums
408: Photo Gallery
409: Community Forums
410: Community Forums
411: Community Forums
412: Community Forums
413: Community Forums
414: Member Screenshots
415: News Archive
416: Community Forums
417: Home
418: Photo Gallery
419: Community Forums
420: Photo Gallery
421: Home
422: News Archive
423: Community Forums
424: Community Forums
425: Community Forums
426: Community Forums
427: Community Forums
428: Home
429: Your Account
430: Community Forums
431: Community Forums
432: Community Forums
433: Community Forums
434: Community Forums
435: Community Forums
436: Home
437: Member Screenshots
438: Home
439: Home
440: Home
441: Home
442: Community Forums
443: Community Forums
444: Member Screenshots
445: Community Forums
446: Your Account
447: Community Forums
448: Community Forums
449: Home
450: Home
451: Home
452: 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.