Proctor VH-AHYare the instruments therein servicable?
Proctor VH-AHYHasn’t the thinking world renamed the USA to the USSA (ie to the United Socialist States of America) in view of the mamoth purchase of of equity by the USSA government into formally completely private banks. I think it used to be called nationalisation of banks.
The USSA has a system that has just snapped and we have yet to see the new model. I don’t think a system based on credit works any more.
Proctor VH-AHYHasn’t the thinking world renamed the USA to the USSA (ie to the United Socialist States of America) in view of the mamoth purchase of of equity by the USSA government into formally completely private banks. I think it used to be called nationalisation of banks.
The USSA has a system that has just snapped and we have yet to see the new model. I don’t think a system based on credit works any more.
Proctor VH-AHYHello All
Never really got on top of what is a warbird, I have a flying Tiger Moth formally A17-300 built in 1940 and am rebuilding a Percival Proctor. I always feel uncomfortable calling them warbirds. Yet compaired to some ex-military aeroplane (say a Spitfire) that was purely used during non-war times my two aeroplanes likely have more claim to being warbirds that the Spitfire example.
Maybe I have some cultural cringe?
cheers
Proctor VH-AHYIts good to remember what happened, all those brave men and women ,who for what ever reason, went off and fought and in some cases died.
It is equally valid to consider why they did it – what were the reasons.
I often look it from the other side, in WW1 were the german little people, the lowly ranked solders, sailors and airmen evil as was painted by the powers that be.
One of the rules in war is to paint the opposition forces and their supporters as demons. That way hate becomes the motivating force – the “Dreaded HUN”
I think we owe it to the memory of the little people to look at all sides of the arguement, we respect these little people for the positive thinks they did. We do not have to respect or honour leaders and those in power who did things for reasons that were less than honourable.
cheers
Proctor VH-AHYNo disrespect to the men who served in WW1, however I really wonder what they struggled for. Its easy to go along with “they did it for King and Country” but I can’t but wonder if its as simple as that.
With the benefit of hindsight it seems like a power struggle between Brittian and Germany. A power struggle not between the little men (The Diggers) but between the industralists and it seems to me that the little men paid a huge price.
Further it seems like the powers-that-were after WW1 laid the seeds to WW2.
I remember with pride the gallant efforts of the little men, I remember with distain the industralists in whose interests WW1 was fought.
For me, its not enough to know “what was done” I also want to know “Why it was done”
Interested to hear other peoples thoughts
cheers
Proctor VH-AHYFor those of you in the Brisbane, Australia. I heard on the weekend that Wok is in the crew of the Beech
cheers
Proctor VH-AHYcor i never knew what a tipsy belfair looked like, !!, just seen some pics on web ,it looks really something specail !!,
my favourite types are the,BA Swallow, Miles ,Hawks etc, even though its military the Magister too,
theres something about those pre war Monoplanes that is very appealing :D.
quite rare these days too I should imagine ! 😀
There is a BA Swallow in my hangar, VH-AAB owned by John Sinclair. Cirrus Minor II powered
cheers
Proctor VH-AHYMysticpuma
Yes hearing the engine noise is interesting to a point…… Startup, and taxing yes but at cruise its just constant. For example in a Tiger Moth, the power is set to 1950rpm and that is where it stays in the cruise.
During tight formation flying on a hot day it varies considerably, but I don’t think it sounds interesting – just loud. The engine noise is a lot different in the cockpit than on the ground.
I have a lot of hours (and 24 years experience) flying my Tiger Moth and cringe at what I hear some people say in docos. Our plan is to have experienced pilots on the type do the commmentry and then that person pilot the aeroplane.
We plan to have taxing sequences, takeoffs and landings, shot from both from the aeroplane and from the ground, air-to-air sequences, formation flights where possible.
cheers
Proctor VH-AHYMr Cresote :- your suggestions are very good, I have a video called “On a Wing and A Prayer” which covers a re-enactment flight of the first Royal Mail run by QANTAS in 1922. The re-enactment is done by a formation of 4 Tiger Moths and a Stampe who flew the 1000km route in formation. (Charlieville to Cloncurry).
The history of QANTAS is discussed in the video and fortunately QANTAS’s first engineer came along he was well in his 90’s at the time and he recounts what it was like for both the pilots and engineers.
A RAAF Dakota (VH-CIN) flew along doing what they do best, carrying the baggage and some of the support crew. We had a helicopter with a gyro-stablised camera mount doing some of the air-to-air shooting of the formation.
I know what it was like because I piloted the No. 4 plane in the formation. One of the best scenes for me is a 0430hrs briefing and met report for the days flying. We were in the air at first light and had some great flying – a tight formation flying at about 500 ft over the featureless plains of western Queensland (Australia) for a couple of hours and then the arrival at our next landing point. There were large crowds at each of the landing points and it was quite a thrill to land and taxi in and be welcomed
Interesting aside is that the old QANTAS engioneer told me that during WW1 he wanted to be a pilot and they told him that he had a heart problem and so he ended up as an engineer. Later he went on to become a pilot with QANTAS.
I think the videos I have in mind will have a heavy emphasis in the direction that Mr Cresote suggests with some exception – music will be present and for a very good reason. When you fly a open cockpit biplane the noise is deafing and just minutes of engine noise becomes very boring. When you put on the flying cap and headset (with 40db sound attenuation) the noise is much reduced and you tend to block it out. Music becomes very appropiate to suggest the feelings of exalluration.
For the Australian readers Barry Hempel piloted another Tiger and Shane Winter was co-pilot in my Tiger (VH-JRS). Unfortunately both of these gentleman were killed a couple of months back, Barry on a Sunday and Shane the following day.
cheers
Proctor VH-AHYThanks for all the comments. Our focus is not in preserving the WW2 history (see http://www.ozatwar.com/ if you are interested in the war around Australia and the Pacific – this is the most comprehensive site on WW2 – bar none). Don’t look at that site unless you have days you want to waste!
We are more interested on preserving contempory history – the current vintage and warbird aeroplanes and their owners. How they are operated, good air-to-air shots and on the ground shots, interviews with their owners and pilots on the history of that particular aeroplane and its ground and flight handling characteristics..
We want to promote the restoration and flying of these aeroplanes.
It’s sobering when you go to UTUBE and see the calibre of some of the videos on there, lots of pretty ordinary stuff, however some really top class productions as well.
So bearing that in mind more comments please.
Proctor VH-AHYWe are doing our first shoot this coming weekend with air-to-air footage of a Gipsy Moth and maybe a Tiger Moth and maybe a Fleet Biplane. Using a C175 with the door off as the camera ship, although in future we may also be using a C195.
Just practicing at this stage. This is a big learning curve for the team hence the practice days.
I have received emails from a lot of QVAG (Queensland Vintage Aeroplane Group) members offering their interest, support and aeroplanes so we should have a very varied collection of aeroplanes to choose from.
I watched a a video called ‘A Tigers Tail’ the other day, produced in England and featuring Christopher Reeves. Its OK but dated and some of what is said is a bit suspect!
One of the smaller projects is to produce a video that can be put on UTUBE to promote interest in restoring and flying vintage aeroplanes. When we look around most of the people flying are over 40 and in many cases (like me) well over 40. We need to attract the younger generations using the technology that will reach them.
cheers
Proctor VH-AHYId like to see something following the rebuild from the start.
Great idea, the problem with that is that it would need to be shot over a number of years. I have one that someone produced of the Avro Cadet at Mothcair, with Nick Chalinor being quizzed at different stages of the rebuild.
I am looking for something that can be produced in 3-6 months.
thanks for the suggestion and its one that I think should be done by someone.
I did visit utube as suggested and looked at the Comper Swift – great video. Imaging that same event shot on high defination by a professional cameraman and including air-to-air footage and a detailed walk-around the aeroplane with commentary by the pilot.
I have a couple of videos from http://www.classiccockpits.com one on the Catalina amphibian and one on the DJ Vampire -they look great and are closer to what I am thinking of producing.
Proctor VH-AHYWe are looking at making a video on De Havilland aeroplanes maybe a focus on the moth series. Not an historical account rather showing thinks from an operational aspect, short bit of history of the aeroplanes, walkarounds, startups and shutdowns, take offs and landings, air-to-air shots. Discussions with restorers, maybe a short bit on how restoration projects get started.
All just ideas at this stage – but I need more ideas and themes.
Other possible themes include “ex-military trainers downunder” meaning similar things to the first para but on ex-military aeroplanes in NZ and Australia ie Tiger Moth Moth Minor, Winjeel, Stearman, T28, CT4, Chipmunk, vampire and others
All new and in HD maybe in blueray.
Is there a market for this, there is a lot of expense in making it.
cheers
Proctor VH-AHYMuseum’s tend to provide research access to aircraft and archives for free, other than costs incurred in photocopying etc, it would be reasonable for Hendon to fully recover their paid staff costs if they did choose to open up their wing for your requirements.
Equally if Hendon wanted you to open up your wing for them you might as easily ask whats in it for you to incurr that same 20 hours of work? I dont really see the relevence to that point?
The relevance is easy, my time equally is not free and not unlimited. Someone suggested that information in the hands of restorers ends up being lost. Whilst that may be true in some cases, it is equally true in the case of museums. However, generally I find the level of technical knowledge is usually extremely high in the case of restorers especially about the current project.
Couple that with flying the aeroplane and you need to have the operational knowledge to do before and after flight inspections, and the skill to actually fly the beast.
That’s a lot of knowledge and in the circles of restorers that knowledge is maintained and passed on. Sure its not the general public, its a select group.
To join that group its a case of having a purpose of being a member and then establishing ones credibility. Having done that a wealth of knowledge is available. Tire kickers soon get short shift!
Its not just a case of a glitsy paint job and a bit of corrosion control, systems actually need to function, engines and electrical circuits need to be working (safely), things like windscreens need not only be intact, but actually serviceable
cheers
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