Hello All,
On Friday April 4th while on vacation in Orlando with the family I paid a visit to Warbird Adventures. For the occasion of my 40th B-Day this year my wife treated me, and I finally got the opportunity to fly a T-6. It was a pleasure and a privledge to fly with Chuck Gardner. I didn't want just a ride. I have a Commercial ticket, 2600+ hours, an active part time CFI, and I always wanted to know if I had what it takes to fly a warbird.
Everyone who comes to Warbird Adventures gets the front seat and stick time, but I appreciated that Chuck bumped it up a notch and made it more like the first flight in a checkout series for me. He gave me an insight into the finese and fine handling that is required to handle the T-6 properly and some things I learned I will be taking back with me to the kind of flying I do.
The T-6 is the dream to fly that I thought it would be. Compared to what I am used to lately; the horizontally opposed 4 bangers, the radial in the T-6 was so SMOOTH with no vibration throughout the airframe. The controls are so fluid and responsive it took me a few minutes, and some coaching to get the right touch on them to get the most out of the airplane. You need to barely move it, just think what you want to do for best results. Initially I was 'hunting' with the stick for the right pitch or bank angle but learned to move it to where I wanted the airplane to be and then hold it.
The Lazy 8's (I've done 'em plenty of times with commercial students) initially gave me sweaty palms because they were not like what I was used to. I was a bit timid initially til I got used to what it felt like. Pulling up in the vertical and then starting the turn...there was so much more power and airspeed than I was used to that it felt like at the top of the wing over it was going to stall and just roll inverted. But no...it was just the sensation as even though we were about at stall speed we held the back pressure just enough that the nose was allowed to drop in the bank. Also the other surprise was that at the point the nose passes through the horizon (middle of the eight) we were at almost 90 deg of bank (at least it looked like that to me and again on my video of the flight) and then a bottom out and recovery taking my time...then one in the other direction! Barrel and Aileron rolls are a pleasure as well.
It was an enjoyable and humbling immersion experience for me. I felt like it was the first time I took a flying lesson. I can't wait to do it again! Now...if only....how can I get taildragger time?
Ah to have the opportunity to get checked out in one....I am so there!
Chuck and the crew at WA are highly recommended. Feel free to ask me any questions and don't pass up the op if your in the Orlando area!
Cheers,
Pete
"...AND I DID SO WELL, CHUCK LET ME GO SOLO IT!"
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