PropstrikeA good Gipsy Major with reasonable hours left is worth £12 k upwards, so all may not be lost.
Perhaps another airframe can be resurrected.
PropstrikeI seem to recall if you include ‘flew in last ten years or so’ it was nearer 60.
Perhaps examples such as the Indian and Israeli historic flights have now slipped too far down the scale to make even the loosest qualification.
PropstrikeI seem to recall if you include ‘flew in last ten years or so’ it was nearer 60.
Perhaps examples such as the Indian and Israeli historic flights have now slipped too far down the scale to make even the loosest qualification.
PropstrikeA spot of revision.
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/dft_avsafety_pdf_028728.pdf
History of flight
The aircraft had been taken for a local test flight for the purpose of obtaining a Permit to Fly. Having completed, successfully, all the flight test requirements, the pilot made a approach to land on Runway
29. The pilot made his approach with the intention of making a touchdown on the main wheels in a nose-up attitude.
The aircraft bounced four times and on the fifth touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft sank onto its right wingtip and the underside of the right engine nacelle before sliding in a tightening arc to the right, coming to rest having turned through about 150° from its
landing heading. The pilot stated that he had attempted to damp the bouncing of the aircraft by lowering the nose.
The aircraft was recovered by raising the right wing onto a dolly and towing it to a hangar. An inspection of the grass runway showed that the surface was slightly undulatory but free from significant depressions. Examination of the wheel marks at each bounce position suggested that the DH88 Comet, G-ACSS had contacted the ground slightly more firmly on each successive touchdown.
At the fifth touchdown point the aircraft appeared to have landed on its right mainwheel fractionally earlier than on the left and there was slight evidence of sliding of the tyre on the ground.
PropstrikeA spot of revision.
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/dft_avsafety_pdf_028728.pdf
History of flight
The aircraft had been taken for a local test flight for the purpose of obtaining a Permit to Fly. Having completed, successfully, all the flight test requirements, the pilot made a approach to land on Runway
29. The pilot made his approach with the intention of making a touchdown on the main wheels in a nose-up attitude.
The aircraft bounced four times and on the fifth touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft sank onto its right wingtip and the underside of the right engine nacelle before sliding in a tightening arc to the right, coming to rest having turned through about 150° from its
landing heading. The pilot stated that he had attempted to damp the bouncing of the aircraft by lowering the nose.
The aircraft was recovered by raising the right wing onto a dolly and towing it to a hangar. An inspection of the grass runway showed that the surface was slightly undulatory but free from significant depressions. Examination of the wheel marks at each bounce position suggested that the DH88 Comet, G-ACSS had contacted the ground slightly more firmly on each successive touchdown.
At the fifth touchdown point the aircraft appeared to have landed on its right mainwheel fractionally earlier than on the left and there was slight evidence of sliding of the tyre on the ground.
PropstrikeIf it were to provide the DNA for a flying rebuild, there would be the thorny issue of what to actually do with the 95 % of components too wonky to go into the flyer.
Unlikey to be scrapped, but its existence creates something of a problem.
MK 12 observed as follows a few years ago
”Part of the problem is that if you do not scrap some/most of the discarded parts of a deep restoration to flight, with the percentages involved, the residue can come back and bite you on the ‘provenance’ so to speak.
There is one interesting Spitfire where all the fuselage skins were discarded – normal practise. An enterprising party acquired them or was donated them and duly clad a very built ‘Spitfire frame’ with them. It was probably made from wood. There stood an apparently complete Spitfire fuselage with every thing you could see original and off one aircraft.
Do you see where I am coming from? ”
It is worth revisiting the thread here.
PropstrikeIf it were to provide the DNA for a flying rebuild, there would be the thorny issue of what to actually do with the 95 % of components too wonky to go into the flyer.
Unlikey to be scrapped, but its existence creates something of a problem.
MK 12 observed as follows a few years ago
”Part of the problem is that if you do not scrap some/most of the discarded parts of a deep restoration to flight, with the percentages involved, the residue can come back and bite you on the ‘provenance’ so to speak.
There is one interesting Spitfire where all the fuselage skins were discarded – normal practise. An enterprising party acquired them or was donated them and duly clad a very built ‘Spitfire frame’ with them. It was probably made from wood. There stood an apparently complete Spitfire fuselage with every thing you could see original and off one aircraft.
Do you see where I am coming from? ”
It is worth revisiting the thread here.
PropstrikeMrs Banupa seems to have very sound judgement !
”Pilot and Two Passengers Swim Away Unscathed After Ditching Near FL Keys
For reasons yet unknown, a 1989 Waco Classic biplane ended the year with a splash as it was ditched off Sombrero Beach, FL, near the Marathon airport in the FL Keys.
The Jacobs powered bipe reportedly suffered some manner of power interruption, while the pilot called for a Mayday on the local unicom frequency and managed what appears to be a pretty well-controlled ditching into the Atlantic.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office confirms that there were three people on board the Conch Air Waco flight-seeing aircraft (three men, according to local media reports), the pilot and two passengers. All three occupants refused medical attention (but probably did ask for a towel…) and the aircraft appeared to suffer very little damage in the unplanned arrival away from Terra Firma. Unfortunately; while the aircraft was pulled from the ocean fairly quickly, ANY immersion in salt water probably makes the bird a write-off.
ANN Reader Glen Gates was in the pattern at the time of the accident and reported that he heard the Mayday calls and told ANN that he heard… “a very calm voice says, ‘MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, Waco going down.’ This chilling message on the common frequency is about as rare as hens teeth… I heard the pilot say it again when he added ‘position one mile south of Marathon.'”
The airplane, N64JE, is owned and operated by Conch Air, of Marathon, FL. Conch Air offers air tours, sightseeing rides, aerobatic rides and has a special offer of a “Free Ride To Anyone Over 100 Years of Age.” Reader Gates reports that he flew with Conch Air’s pilot, Paul, about a year ago and found him to be a “pretty good aviator” and based on the success of the ditching, we have a reason to suspect that Glen’s judgement is right on the money.
N64JE is a red/yellow 1989 Waco Classic, powered by a Jacobs R755B radial engine producing some 275 HP. With a stall speed in the neighborhood of 51 kts, the bird obviously offered the safety of being able to flare at a slow speed prior to water impact (indeed, our experience flying this breed of aircraft revealed exceptional handling in the low-speed regime right up to and through the stall). The accident occurred about 1435, and within minutes, over a half dozen watercraft were close to the aircraft and assisted in extricating the pilot and passengers and assisting them back to solid ground. The aircraft reportedly took several minutes to sink, offering more than sufficient time for the occupants to clear the aircraft and get to the boats.
(ANN thanks reader Glen Gates and the Monroe Co. Sheriff for the pix).”
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=316885e5-5ce2-46b7-9f93-16c276d23e12
PropstrikeMrs Banupa seems to have very sound judgement !
”Pilot and Two Passengers Swim Away Unscathed After Ditching Near FL Keys
For reasons yet unknown, a 1989 Waco Classic biplane ended the year with a splash as it was ditched off Sombrero Beach, FL, near the Marathon airport in the FL Keys.
The Jacobs powered bipe reportedly suffered some manner of power interruption, while the pilot called for a Mayday on the local unicom frequency and managed what appears to be a pretty well-controlled ditching into the Atlantic.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office confirms that there were three people on board the Conch Air Waco flight-seeing aircraft (three men, according to local media reports), the pilot and two passengers. All three occupants refused medical attention (but probably did ask for a towel…) and the aircraft appeared to suffer very little damage in the unplanned arrival away from Terra Firma. Unfortunately; while the aircraft was pulled from the ocean fairly quickly, ANY immersion in salt water probably makes the bird a write-off.
ANN Reader Glen Gates was in the pattern at the time of the accident and reported that he heard the Mayday calls and told ANN that he heard… “a very calm voice says, ‘MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, Waco going down.’ This chilling message on the common frequency is about as rare as hens teeth… I heard the pilot say it again when he added ‘position one mile south of Marathon.'”
The airplane, N64JE, is owned and operated by Conch Air, of Marathon, FL. Conch Air offers air tours, sightseeing rides, aerobatic rides and has a special offer of a “Free Ride To Anyone Over 100 Years of Age.” Reader Gates reports that he flew with Conch Air’s pilot, Paul, about a year ago and found him to be a “pretty good aviator” and based on the success of the ditching, we have a reason to suspect that Glen’s judgement is right on the money.
N64JE is a red/yellow 1989 Waco Classic, powered by a Jacobs R755B radial engine producing some 275 HP. With a stall speed in the neighborhood of 51 kts, the bird obviously offered the safety of being able to flare at a slow speed prior to water impact (indeed, our experience flying this breed of aircraft revealed exceptional handling in the low-speed regime right up to and through the stall). The accident occurred about 1435, and within minutes, over a half dozen watercraft were close to the aircraft and assisted in extricating the pilot and passengers and assisting them back to solid ground. The aircraft reportedly took several minutes to sink, offering more than sufficient time for the occupants to clear the aircraft and get to the boats.
(ANN thanks reader Glen Gates and the Monroe Co. Sheriff for the pix).”
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=316885e5-5ce2-46b7-9f93-16c276d23e12
PropstrikeSorry, too much Egg Nog 🙂
PropstrikeA nice bunch of photos here.
PropstrikeAny more movement on this ?
PropstrikePropstrikeSuch intrigue !
I do believe I can just make out a hidden photographer on the grassy knowl ! Unless its some grass…
Seems odd to put a sticker on the aeroplane, zoom off for a photo-session, and then tear the sticker off again in case someone sees it. :confused:
PropstrikeWell after reading this thread, I think the guys trying to build a Stirling cockpit, a Whitley or Hornet, an Albermarle cockpit, a Hampden or a Hurricane from wreckage, & a Whirlwind from nothing, etc etc, should pack up their tools & give up,
Bob T.
That is a rather spurious and mischeivous suggestion. To varying degrees, these projects ARE progressing, and producing incredible results. The point is, that though ambitious, they have moved forward, and the vision has been matched by a practical ability to produce results.
The ‘Peoples Mosquito’ may well be conceived on a euphoric wave of enthusiasm and goodwill, but that alone will not bring about a single wood shaving on the floor. For that you require expertise and funding, and (at the moment ) there is none. It is just an idea, or maybe a fantasy.
On a discussion forum, it is quite appropriate for people who know of what they speak, to offer their guidance and express their reservations. This particular forum contributes more expertise and experience within the arena of aircraft preservation than you will find almost anywhere else, and if the ‘mood music’ is a bit discouraging, it is for a good reason.
Mind you , they have initiated a very animated discussion to help while away these dark days, and for that alone, they deserve credit. 😉
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