Warbird Information Exchange

Well, I did some spin training yesterday and really got a new perspective on things! Did some slow flight, stalls, and several spins in the Decathlon below and boy did I get my eyes opened! I actually think that if I have some money to blow in the future I may go back and do some more just to where I feel more proficient in recovery techniques.



That may have been one of the best hours of training I've paid for. Oh, and the first two scared the daylights out of me. The last two were nothing to sneeze at. I'll have a LOT more respect for any stalls from now on. Not like I didn't already!

My instructor was a guy named Ed Gunter who flew with the military for a number of years, as a chief instructor at a flight school, and has flown some warbirds as well. Really knowledgeable fellow and very good instructor from my perspective. He made what could've been a scary ride (for me) into a very informative, useful, and profitable experience.

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Ryan, as I started reading and seeing the picture........I wondered if you had done it with Ed. You picked a good one !!!!!

He was a career AF pilot/instructor and a Raven FAC; currently the President of the Raven Assn. Civilian instructor for long time. Hope you get to do it again.....and get to know him better; he has wonderful stories to tell and good instruction to give.

Glad to hear that Karen. I figured he'd be good because of the flight instructor who recommended him, but didn't know much else. I want to talk to him some more because of finding out that he had a lot of time in combat flying L-19s... I didn't really let him know how interesting that sounded to me. He was quite good and about the coolest (ie. levelheaded - not the Californian or Floridian slang sense) pilot I think I've flown with yet.

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Your description of Ed is very appropriate. Not sure if you have time in the L-19/O-1 but if not and your are thinking about transitioning, he is probably the best in the area to help with some good pointers and/or a bit of time aloft familiarizing yourself with that type.

Next you see him; tell him the "girl he won't fly with" says hello..... (fyi....it's a joke between us)

Ryan, congrats on your spin training. You picked a great plane to do it in. By all means if you can, do a bit of aerobatic training as it will help you in a unusual attitude situation and its fun. I did a 10hr course out of Addison and had blast. My ride was a brand new 8K-CAB with 10hrs on it....

Fly Safe,

Lynn