Doing the rounds on WIX, filmed in 1990 at the Harvard 50th bash. I love flying but I think if this chap offered me a free flight……………….. Says volumes about the strength of DC4’s though.
By: MerlinPete - 5th February 2014 at 19:08
A good friend is a current C 54 pilot and a very experienced aircraft mechanic. He said on his C 54 you cannot simultaneously unfeather two props as shown in the SAAF video. He also noted that the gear retraction seemed much faster than can be accomplished in his plane. It made him even wonder if the video shows a giant scale RC model but I think its a real DC 4. He doesnt see how the rapid and simultaneous unfeathering of two props could be done without substantial mods to the hydraulic accumulator system.
Comments?
Interesting video, I hadn’t seen it before.
I don’t know anything specific about the C-54, but I know that the props are 23-E-50 Hydromatic types which use a simple electric feathering pump which utilises the engine oil system, so the aircraft hydraulic system and accumulator would not be involved in the feathering / un feathering operation unless the current aircraft are using a different propeller maybe?
Pete
By: boeing377 - 5th February 2014 at 18:49
SAAF DC 4 aerobatic display
I think Peter is referring to his own experiences in the RAF.
A good friend is a current C 54 pilot and a very experienced aircraft mechanic. He said on his C 54 you cannot simultaneously unfeather two props as shown in the SAAF video. He also noted that the gear retraction seemed much faster than can be accomplished in his plane. It made him even wonder if the video shows a giant scale RC model but I think its a real DC 4. He doesnt see how the rapid and simultaneous unfeathering of two props could be done without substantial mods to the hydraulic accumulator system.
Comments?
By: Mark Hazard - 18th September 2011 at 00:27
The trainer was a Beech Mentor. I was there too, heard the engine surge and turned round to look just as it flew into the ground – not a pleasant experience even as a spectator. We had some people with us who had never been to an airshow before and when the rescue crew didn’t attempt to extricate anybody from the wreckage ( having looked inside through the canopy) one of the women with us got very upset and pointed out that the pilots were someone’s sons.
May 1983, I was there too, watching the loop could see that he was going to have a problem pulling out – and yes, a very unpleasant thing to see right in front of you. As regards the rescue crew, never did understand why it took so long to arrive at the scene.
By: Sky High - 1st September 2011 at 10:23
And to fly in….sedately!:)
By: Sky High - 1st September 2011 at 10:23
And to fly in….sedately!:)
By: wilhelm - 1st September 2011 at 10:08
Looking at the two clips, I must say that Douglas certainly built an absolutely beautiful looking aeroplane. A joy to watch when in the air.
By: wilhelm - 1st September 2011 at 10:08
Looking at the two clips, I must say that Douglas certainly built an absolutely beautiful looking aeroplane. A joy to watch when in the air.
By: g-anyb - 1st September 2011 at 07:59
Twenty odd years later, a very skilful landing of a DC6 on a dirt runway, again in South Africa…
By: g-anyb - 1st September 2011 at 07:59
Twenty odd years later, a very skilful landing of a DC6 on a dirt runway, again in South Africa…
By: wilhelm - 31st August 2011 at 22:07
I would be tempted to do a very detailed pre – flight inspection if I was to take over the aircraft after a display like that!
Also of great interest is the share physical strength this man is displaying! Flying a DC-4/C-54 (what ever you want to call it) like that takes brute strength – and a VERY good flight engineer. Look at the restart on #3 and #4. That flight engineer certainly knows what he is doing.As for the pilot – does anyone know if he is still alive??
The display was in April 1990.
The DC-4 was piloted by Raymond Hobart Houghton and Sarel Ceronio, 2 very experienced South African Air Force pilots. Not sure who the flight engineer was.
Both are alive and well as far as I know, and still flying.
By: wilhelm - 31st August 2011 at 22:07
I would be tempted to do a very detailed pre – flight inspection if I was to take over the aircraft after a display like that!
Also of great interest is the share physical strength this man is displaying! Flying a DC-4/C-54 (what ever you want to call it) like that takes brute strength – and a VERY good flight engineer. Look at the restart on #3 and #4. That flight engineer certainly knows what he is doing.As for the pilot – does anyone know if he is still alive??
The display was in April 1990.
The DC-4 was piloted by Raymond Hobart Houghton and Sarel Ceronio, 2 very experienced South African Air Force pilots. Not sure who the flight engineer was.
Both are alive and well as far as I know, and still flying.
By: Eddie - 31st August 2011 at 21:35
By the way if the Mosquito you refer to was RR299…
I think Peter is referring to his own experiences in the RAF.
By: Eddie - 31st August 2011 at 21:35
By the way if the Mosquito you refer to was RR299…
I think Peter is referring to his own experiences in the RAF.
By: Flying_Pencil - 31st August 2011 at 20:53
Ridiculous display – not sure what he was trying to prove. The aircraft would have close to the g limits often during that display.
Arthur
I do not know what the G limits are for a DC4 but from what you can see in the clip it all looks very smooth and gentle, no sharp pull ups, so probably no more that 1.5 or at most 1.8.Richard
Inclined to agree.
If it only had 50 min of fuel for 20 min flight, and empty of anything (even seats for passengers), one can get a light airframe with 4 powerful engines doing <2 G maneuvers.
Bob Hoover did hundreds of power-off maneuvers in his Aero Commander.
By: Flying_Pencil - 31st August 2011 at 20:53
Ridiculous display – not sure what he was trying to prove. The aircraft would have close to the g limits often during that display.
Arthur
I do not know what the G limits are for a DC4 but from what you can see in the clip it all looks very smooth and gentle, no sharp pull ups, so probably no more that 1.5 or at most 1.8.Richard
Inclined to agree.
If it only had 50 min of fuel for 20 min flight, and empty of anything (even seats for passengers), one can get a light airframe with 4 powerful engines doing <2 G maneuvers.
Bob Hoover did hundreds of power-off maneuvers in his Aero Commander.
By: Hurn - 31st August 2011 at 20:35
I can see the CAA endorsing that display no problem! :p
By: Hurn - 31st August 2011 at 20:35
I can see the CAA endorsing that display no problem! :p
By: WJ244 - 31st August 2011 at 20:09
The trainer was a Beech Mentor. I was there too, heard the engine surge and turned round to look just as it flew into the ground – not a pleasant experience even as a spectator. We had some people with us who had never been to an airshow before and when the rescue crew didn’t attempt to extricate anybody from the wreckage ( having looked inside through the canopy) one of the women with us got very upset and pointed out that the pilots were someone’s sons.
By the way if the Mosquito you refer to was RR299 my understanding was that the accident was caused by a problem with the carburettors because the manual used by a contractor when overhauling them was missing a vital update which resulted in them being set up wrongly causing one engine to cut or lose revs meaning that the other engine pulled the aircraft into a spin with the pilot having no hope of recovery. Perhaps someone with more knowledge can confirm this.
By: WJ244 - 31st August 2011 at 20:09
The trainer was a Beech Mentor. I was there too, heard the engine surge and turned round to look just as it flew into the ground – not a pleasant experience even as a spectator. We had some people with us who had never been to an airshow before and when the rescue crew didn’t attempt to extricate anybody from the wreckage ( having looked inside through the canopy) one of the women with us got very upset and pointed out that the pilots were someone’s sons.
By the way if the Mosquito you refer to was RR299 my understanding was that the accident was caused by a problem with the carburettors because the manual used by a contractor when overhauling them was missing a vital update which resulted in them being set up wrongly causing one engine to cut or lose revs meaning that the other engine pulled the aircraft into a spin with the pilot having no hope of recovery. Perhaps someone with more knowledge can confirm this.
By: PeterVerney - 31st August 2011 at 19:39
I hate watching that type of display. I was at Mildenhall when an American trainer (forget what type) failed to pull out of a loop, entered at too low a level :(.
Having endured over enthusiastic pilots trying out their aeros resulting in inverted spins in both the Mosquito and the Meteor, I realise how narrow the margin between success and failure can be :eek::o. Luckily for this coward sufficient height was available. :D:D
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August 28, 2011 at 7:40 pm