Gee Bee Z, ready to fly?

[lotus49]

You pass over that "one scraped wingtip" incident pretty quickly.......

Good point, I did do so,
I was summarizing the items Delmar experienced with the aircraft, but you are correct, the aileron reversal was a big deal, and Delmar dealt with it very effectively with excellent reflexes and response.

Same the damaged LH wheelpant, which was also pretty close to losing the aircraft. again excellent reactions saved the day and the aircraft.

The big radial 30`s racers were and are obviously very demanding aircraft to fly, for the characteristics described, but I still think that with the proper background, experience and above all respect they can be safely flown.
I hope so, as I am currently building one, and fully intend to fly it when its done.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

If you can drive a Lotus 49, you're right up there with Graham and Jimmy, and you won't have any trouble flying a Gee Bee.

[lotus49]

funny parallel between the vintage F1 cars and the racers of the 30`s,
in each case at the time money was not such a factor, but to be invited to drive/fly either it was based 100% on skill.

These days all that is required for either are deep pockets to give it a go, how successful one might be is far from guaranteed though!

(I would love to drive a Lotus 49, but to do so, I would have to build that as well)

[DH82EH]

History has shown that high performance aircraft can't be safely operated by just having the money to do so. This almost always ends badly.
The skills need to be there, and for something like a Gee Bee they need to be razor sharp.

Fly safe all.

Andy Scott