Won't this weekend ever end??

[marine air]

That's funny! Dad probably made him a baloney sandwich and offered him a sip of his moonshine. We always carried the moonshine in the gun bays in case he got ramp checked!

[Speedy]

A bit time-late on this topic, but I just got the feedback I was waiting for.

Back in the late 60's and early '70's, my buddy Chuck Lyford did some pretty amazing displays in a borrowed Bearcat. So given the hammerhead controversy a couple weeks ago, I asked him his thoughts on it. He was out of the country, but just got back to me with his response, which I thought was 'typical' Chuck:

Bearcat will do a great hammerhead, as will almost any airplane.... All depends on how high it's performed... The Bearcat will sail up to 10,000 + with speed and a very lazy one can be performed...It's the altitude that determines the amount of recovery needed. . Best to do it to the left with the torque and with hard left rudder and to get tricky, a quick hit of angle (pull the stick back) of attack and a slight shot of power until around the corner. A little added help from P effect.

[Dudley Henriques]

A bit time-late on this topic, but I just got the feedback I was waiting for.

Back in the late 60's and early '70's, my buddy Chuck Lyford did some pretty amazing displays in a borrowed Bearcat. So given the hammerhead controversy a couple weeks ago, I asked him his thoughts on it. He was out of the country, but just got back to me with his response, which I thought was 'typical' Chuck:

Bearcat will do a great hammerhead, as will almost any airplane.... All depends on how high it's performed... The Bearcat will sail up to 10,000 + with speed and a very lazy one can be performed...It's the altitude that determines the amount of recovery needed. . Best to do it to the left with the torque and with hard left rudder and to get tricky, a quick hit of angle (pull the stick back) of attack and a slight shot of power until around the corner. A little added help from P effect.

Lyford is correct. It's the altitude or more correctly the lack of same that kills you. It's always the initiation altitude coupled with the technique used as that relates to the physics that determines the outcome of any display maneuver.
Hammer Heads per's are safe enough in any aircraft given the altitude to correct for any "mistakes".
The combination of the Bearcat, the potential for error coming off the apex, and an initiation off the deck is simply taking a risk unnecessary for a display profile in this particular type of airplane.
Doing a Hammer Head off the deck in a Beacat is simply asking for trouble and I would never recommend it. Doing a Hammer Head at altitude in a Bearcat shouldn't be an issue for any competent pilot familiar with the Cat's behavior through the apex.
Bottom line is that a HH in a Bearcat is a HH in a Bearcat. If you do it right it's no big deal. If you screw it up coming off the deck however, you better have some air between you and the ground!
Dudley Henriques

Last edited by Dudley Henriques on Mon Aug 29, 2011 3:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[bluehawk15]

One question I have is what is the CAF policy regarding use of their aircraft in solo aerobatic demonstrations? Is there a list of maneuvers that aren't allowed? If there is a list does it vary depending on the type and rarity? Just wondering on this.

The CAF does have in policy limits on manuvers which an aircraft may perform. The only one that comes to mind is the P-39 is limited to rolls. That limit was set by the General Staff many, many years ago based upon the reputation the Airacobra had during it's service life as a "tumbler". (I might add that Chuck Yeager, and many WWII Airacobra pilots I've talked with, said that was just a myth. One WWII pilot who visited the Cobra Den said he even went out and tried and tried to make one tumble, but never could.)

[RickH]

Ray Lancaster of LSFM Galveston GAl fame said the same thing. He said his greatest fear was that if the "great bloody driveshaft between his legs ever came loose it would turn the pilot into hamburger !". Not sure anything like that ever happened, but the possibility sure got Ray's attention ! He got out of them as soon as he could !

[Speedy]

A bit time-late on this topic, but I just got the feedback I was waiting for.

Back in the late 60's and early '70's, my buddy Chuck Lyford did some pretty amazing displays in a borrowed Bearcat. So given the hammerhead controversy a couple weeks ago, I asked him his thoughts on it. He was out of the country, but just got back to me with his response, which I thought was 'typical' Chuck:

Bearcat will do a great hammerhead, as will almost any airplane.... All depends on how high it's performed... The Bearcat will sail up to 10,000 + with speed and a very lazy one can be performed...It's the altitude that determines the amount of recovery needed. . Best to do it to the left with the torque and with hard left rudder and to get tricky, a quick hit of angle (pull the stick back) of attack and a slight shot of power until around the corner. A little added help from P effect.

So as the follow-on conversation with Chuck continued, we were discussing other aircraft he had done aerobatics in over the years, including Larry Blumer's "Bardahl Lightning". He said the tried to incorporate a hammerhead into the P-38 routine. He took it up to altitude to practice, and between the small rudders and trying to use the outboard engine to punt the plane over the top he said "I about turned the thing into a pinwheel....."

Ahhhh....so this is why we never saw Lefty try that either.

[Speedy]

Dupe....sorry.

[Anthony Svihlik]

An update on the Todd Green accident - AVWeb is reporting that Green attempted to make the transfer from the Stearman to the helicopter before the helicopter was in position and before being given the cue to begin the move:

Wing Walker Missed Transfer Cue

The National Transportation Safety Board report may be viewed here.

Anthony