Seeing as it was nice and warm and sunny (-8) here in Ontario Canada today, I decided to take the Fleet out for a spin.( I had not flown her since Nov 11 and was experiencing some with-drawl symptoms)
Got the aircraft out and did a good half hour preheat so that the oil was nice and warm prior to start up. This is critical especially with a radial engine. If the oil is too thick (cold ) it will not flow and properly lubricate the engine.
Once all temps are pressures stabilized ( about 20 min) I took her up for a half hour and did some fly-bys for world re-known aviation photographer Eric Dumigan
Was a little concerned about having a slight X wind and smooth ( no tread) tires combined with a snow covered runway but ended up being no issue at all
Great flying day !!
Hope you enjoy the pics
Hooking up pre heater to warm the oil
She starts
Warming up the oil
Pre Flight Checks
Throttle open
Take off
Pass #2
Landing
Reincarnation of my Dad who also flew Fleet Finches but at #9 EFTS RCAF
By: Seafuryfan - 4th February 2011 at 20:22
What a pretty aircraft, and some great photos too. Thanks for posting 🙂
By: lotus72 - 4th February 2011 at 19:35
Great photos! Beautiful aircraft!
By: dogsbody - 4th February 2011 at 17:43
A real beauty. Great photograghy, too.
Would love to go up for a flight it that one.
Chris
By: Student Pilot - 2nd February 2011 at 03:51
Very nicely proportioned Aircraft, has a lot of appeal.
By: Fleet16b - 1st February 2011 at 23:15
The sliding canopy on the Fleet Finch 16R must help to keep you warm. Just like the Canadian Tiger Moths. Is it a permanent feature or can it be removed for Canadian Summer flying?
After an hour flying two weeks ago in wintry Scotland my hands were frozen rigid even with 2 sets of gloves.
Robert
The sliding canopy helps immensely to keep out the draft .
The Finches have cabin heat also but it is not really effective and mine is not hooked up.
In -10 weather I am good for no more than an hour and confess that on Sunday my feet were feeling numb after 1/2 hr . Even with 36 pattern RAF boots on.
The sliding canopies were a Canadian invention so that BCATP students could be trained all year round but still sitting motionless one still eventually gets cold.
The canopies can be removed in less that 5 min but we rarely take them off.
We just slide them full back instead
Both types had skis here also. We have them for all our aircraft but have never put them on the biplanes ( I have 100’s of ski hrs on J3’s)
The skis were same for each aircraft with the only the axel inserts at the ski pedestal being different
By: Robert Whitton - 1st February 2011 at 16:38
The sliding canopy on the Fleet Finch 16R must help to keep you warm. Just like the Canadian Tiger Moths. Is it a permanent feature or can it be removed for Canadian Summer flying?
After an hour flying two weeks ago in wintry Scotland my hands were frozen rigid even with 2 sets of gloves.
By: Wyvernfan - 1st February 2011 at 16:13
The brilliant white of the snow makes an excellent contrast to the bold trainer yellow :cool:.
By: Propstrike - 1st February 2011 at 09:08
A great report, and very atmospheric.
I have flown Tigers in December, but I don’t think it was quite as cold as that!
By: Peter - 1st February 2011 at 01:44
Nice pictures Cam, must have been great but I bet it was cold!
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February 1, 2011 at 1:18 am