Fredricksburg's little "fly-in"

[steve dickey]

Just a few samples to start off:

[steve dickey]

For Ryan, and sis:











Apoligize for them being out of order, but if you right click and save you can put them in order

[steve dickey]

Oh I got a question for you Ryan or any L-5 drivers, do you always takeoff with a notch of flap or wuz U just doin that to get off quicker cuz of the wind? Thanks. I like the aileron deflection in the last pic due to the wind

[wacoykc]

SOP is a notch of flaps..at least the ones I flew

[steve dickey]

SOP is a notch of flaps..at least the ones I flew

Thanks

[RyanShort1]

Steve,

Thanks! Those shots are fantastic! Is there any chance that you have them in higher resolution and/or that I could use them for the ALS or Lbirds website with due credit?

On the flaps. First, I'm no authority. I'd say Forgotten Fields (John), Jim Gray, or one of the other guys with lots more experience would be the one's to really give an answer. What I can say is that the heavier you are, the more you appreciate the extra lift. I've taken off without them before, and it uses a LOT more runway.
Most of the time when I fly the L-5 I have a passenger and am using as much fuel as I can legally carry, and just feel a bit more comfortable using what's available. Oh, our checklist also recommends it - like wacokyc said, it's considered SOP.

I was actually a bit nervous about the takeoff - it being a much more public setting than the grass field at Cannon, and the wind shifting around a bit. I've been in a few tight spots with the L-5 before in a crosswind and it can get a little tricky with all that slab-sided fuselage area. As we took off, it actually looked to me like we had a quartering tailwind. I had a brief contemplation of taxiing all the way down to the other end, but decided that it was within reason.

Ryan

[Taylor Stevenson]

Yep according to AN 01-50DB-1 :
"b. NORMAL.- The best take-off is obtained with the flaps set in the intermediate position."

According to AAF Manual No. 50-18
"BEFORE TAKEOFF
1. Set Flaps at 30 degrees"

When using flaps the L-5 hops right in the air, and when using on landing, comes down like a brick! Its a fun airplane.

[Obergrafeter]

Fredericksburg is where you go to be assured you have a crosswind 24/7/364

[RyanShort1]

Another point on the flaps. I probably shouldn't tell on myself like this, but I once accidentally forgot to lower the flaps with a passenger on board. I'd just flown with a (very) little friend of mine, and got asked by a friend to take up another guy, who was a LOT heavier. We were within CG, but the plane does handle a bit differently with a significantly heavier guy in the back. We started the takeoff run and I was about to panic (like 1/2 a second, but it felt like 10) as the takeoff run got longer and longer, and probably 3 seconds before it would've been too late, I figured out why, cranked in the notch of flaps (like yanking on a big huge lever on a tractor), and the Sentinel nearly jumped into the air. Whew! That was one of those NEVER AGAIN moments. Checklists are there for a reason, even if you've flown several times in the day and think you're on top of things. Also, those flaps can be a real chore if you don't have a decent amount of arm strength.

Ryan

[RyanShort1]

Fredericksburg is where you go to be assured you have a crosswind 24/7/364

Which day is the one that I should go on then if I want to catch the 365th?

Ryan

[steve dickey]

Hi Ryan, thanks for the kind coments on the photos, here are a few more until tomorrow if anybody wants more?, probably tired of looking at a thread with so many pictures to download












The only shot of Ober I have .(behind the 6)



Bear getting reaquanted with an old friend.




Ryan I shall send to your mail higher rez, but probably tomorrow.

[Taylor Stevenson]

It's good to see Bear up on the P-40 again!

[Obergrafeter]

Steve : Did you get any good pics from downtown? What was the crowds feedback to the fly overs? Just wonder if it was worth all the trouble and what the survivors thought of them.

[steve dickey]

Wayne I didn't get off airport till the C-47 took off(shoulda went earlier but wanted to get some takeoff shots) I went into town and only made as far as intersection of 16 and main, went running to the corner and just missed the first pass by Navy(they didn't come strait down main) Air Force flight also came overhead at an angle to main so couldn't get real good shots until they passed. For the second trip around Navy came through at angle so where I was I couldn't see them coming, Air Force came strait down main for the missing man and that was beautiful!!
I think those that were around me were generally surprised at the armada and not expecting it at least thats what I overheard a couple times.

[bdk]

So where exactly ARE the guns?