Warbird Information Exchange

I flew the he!! out of that airplane today. Steep turns, S turns, and turns around a point were, in the words of my instructor, "Outstanding!" Did 8 landings. 7 of which I'm very proud of. I'm learning to transition my eyes down the runway at the right time so I'm not staring at that piece of runway, 20 feet ahead of the cowl, that's coming at me.
Had a somewhat nervous experience today. I had just turned downwind and another pilot comes on the radio and annouonces that he's 5 miles out on the 45. All of a sudden, like 10 seconds later, there he is about 1 o'clock about 1,000 feet from me. I was at pattern altitude (1700') and he was at, what appeared to be about 2,000'. I turned off to my right to get better separation and then went back to the downwind leg. My instructor said I was in the right because we were in the pattern. I hoped it wasn't anything I'd done wrong, but the guy did say he was 5 miles out. Obviously has no idea of what 5 miles looks like. That's the closest I've ever come to another plane.

Mudge the fearless

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Land of the free because of the brave

Hey Mudge,

that sounds like a scary experience, and indeed, you were in the right, but that doesn't mean you don't have to avoid collision. What you did was very smart. Good job.

As for the other plane, he should have been at circuit altitude at that point too, I'd assume. I'm not really used to situations like that becase they just aren't allowed up here in Canada. In our regulations we only allow for joining on downwind, base, or straight in; for controlled airports and at uncontrolled airfields they're supposed to be overflown first, then join the appropriate downwinds from midfield.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you did a very good job of listening to your radio, interpretting what was said, and being aware of the impending situation. Then when the situation occurred you took immediate corrective action. Good show.

Cheers,

David

Congrats on the flight. Sounds like you're doing really well.

You did the correct thing by turning to avoid the other plane. It doesn't matter who was "in the right" if you are all dead from a collision.

Keep it up. Sounds like you'll taking off sans instructor pretty soon!

Chris

Congrats, Mudge. Sounds like you're having fun up there.

That situation reminds me of something a driving instructor told me years ago, and it applies equally to flying. He said that "right-of-way" is something you're given, not something you take. It was a smart move to avoid the other aircraft, even if technically you had the right of way.

Walt

Bear...Yeah, my driving instructor (my father) said almost the same thing.
"The RIGHT OF WAY is not something you have, it's something you're GIVEN. If you don't get it, you ain't got it".

Mudge the careful

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Land of the free because of the brave

Sounds like a great day of learning...You gotta keep your eyes peeled!


So...Mudge...I hate to bring this up but...Have you soloed..yet?

Just curious...I don't remember a grand celebration of tearing of clothes and water torture...

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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Mudge, one of the advantages of something like a Skyraider is you find other planes give y0u a lot more room.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Tex...The day I solo, you'll definitely know it.

Mudge the semi-proficient

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Land of the free because of the brave

"Dead" right is never something to aspire to...

Glad you're safe Mugde!

I had a similar event arriving at the Indy Airshow. I was cleared to land by the tower, turning on base when an L-39 filled the windscreen.

I bounced that landing a bit.

May I suggest yer sig for this thread is 'Mudge the intact'...

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"Anyway, the throat feels a bit rough...the legs have gone...but I'm still able to chant, so let's get going."

Joe Strummer, 1999