SE.5a in flight..great sound

Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:50 am

Is this what an original SE.5 would have sounded like, if so I like this aircraft even better !!

http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/projects ... ing-se5a-0

Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:58 am

It sounded like a Hispano-Suiza, and yes that's pretty much what they sound like!
Though the SE-5A also used a Woolsey-Viper engine also.
jerry

Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:25 am

I want one !!!! :prayer:

Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:56 am

Tell ya what, seeing all three of The Vintage Aviator's Se5a repros flying together was something special! And don't get me started on their dogfight with the three Fokker Dr.Is! Looking forward to it again at Omaka in two weeks' time *drools quietly*

Website · Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:11 pm

Zac - please tell me you have more pics!! :rock:

Love them Se-5A's!

Mike

Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:34 pm

Look at the details!

Outstanding workmanship here...I want one too!

http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/projects/se-5a-reproduction/se5a-walkaround

Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:13 am

My flight instructor Tom Murphy and Andy Stinnis first started skywriting with an SE-5A. They lengthened the exhaust so that it went all the way to the tail and had a cutout in the middle of the rudder in order to clear the exhaust pipes. That origional SE-5A is part of the Shuttleworth collection today! Tom had an air to air photograph in his kitchen, I used to look at it every time I went to his house.

Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:48 am

stumac wrote:My flight instructor Tom Murphy and Andy Stinnis first started skywriting with an SE-5A. They lengthened the exhaust so that it went all the way to the tail and had a cutout in the middle of the rudder in order to clear the exhaust pipes. That origional SE-5A is part of the Shuttleworth collection today! Tom had an air to air photograph in his kitchen, I used to look at it every time I went to his house.

There are three Savage Skywriter SE5as in existence today - G-EBIA, B and C, in the RAF Museum, Shuttleworth Collection (flying - the one you refer to!) and in the Science Museum. The Science Museum's example has been reconfigured as you say.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10076455@N04/1843734245

As to the VA SEs, the only thing that tells you they aren't original is that they're obviously 'new' - but great.

Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:08 am

IMHO the scarf is a bit "over the top" but hearing and seeing, ya' can't help but smile.

Mudge the

Fri Mar 27, 2009 2:26 pm

Mudge wrote:IMHO the scarf is a bit "over the top"

Perhaps a compensation for other "shortcomings" endured by the pilot? :evil:

It's been commonly explained that the silk scarves were wrapped round the neck to prevent or reduce chafing
of the skin against their coat collars. Speaking with a fellow a few years ago who flys some of the early rotary
engined stuff, he said they were handy to breath through on cold days as well as keeping the castor oil vapor out
of the lungs. If he didn't have it, after extended flying he would be hacking up castor oil for days afterward.

Nice website and great sights and sounds!

Fri Mar 27, 2009 2:57 pm

airnutz wrote:
Mudge wrote:IMHO the scarf is a bit "over the top"
Speaking with a fellow a few years ago who flys some of the early rotary engined stuff, he said they were handy to breath through on cold days as well as keeping the castor oil vapor out of the lungs. If he didn't have it, after extended flying he would be hacking up castor oil for days afterward.

Breathing in castor oil fumes can have the same result on the human body as having a spoonful to drink! During WW1 there were tales of Canadian airmen taking a hip flask of maple brandy aloft in the hope it would counteract the distressing effect of the fumes.

Fri Mar 27, 2009 6:11 pm

Oh, I may have a couple of quick snaps....

'

And here's some shots of the trio on the ground. I spent the entire time from engine startup to shutdown with my jaw on the ground. Simply magical.

Fri Mar 27, 2009 6:30 pm

Wow, nice music

Great looking Se5a, they did a great job on that one.

Fri Mar 27, 2009 6:56 pm

As mentioned before, beautiful workmanship! Thanks for all the photos!
Are the Lewis guns "gas guns", K5054NZ?

Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:42 pm

Glyn wrote:
airnutz wrote:
Mudge wrote:IMHO the scarf is a bit "over the top"
Speaking with a fellow a few years ago who flys some of the early rotary engined stuff, he said they were handy to breath through on cold days as well as keeping the castor oil vapor out of the lungs. If he didn't have it, after extended flying he would be hacking up castor oil for days afterward.

Breathing in castor oil fumes can have the same result on the human body as having a spoonful to drink! During WW1 there were tales of Canadian airmen taking a hip flask of maple brandy aloft in the hope it would counteract the distressing effect of the fumes.

Stories are legion. Nasty stuff to clean off a rotary powered aircraft, too.

However the SE is a fixed Vee engine powered aircraft!

Scarf - If you buy a Campbell Aero Helmet (very sensible in an open-cockpit vintage type - hard-shell, old look) you get a free (Merino wool - what's NZ famous for?) scarf. And pilots like to wear free stuff, as we all know.

http://www.campbellaeroclassics.com/