Warbird Information Exchange

My tailwheel instructor for the SuperCub and the Stearman was a guy named Andy Reid. He went to Air Force flight training in 1950 when, for about6 months, the Air Force decided to skip initial in a Stearman and just start guys off and solo them in the T-6G. I think he trained at Luke AFB and this lasted only about a year before the Air Force rushed in the T-34A. The washout rate and accident rate was very high. He gave me a memory checklist(USAF 1950) to use in case the written checklist blows out the window or there isn't one in the airplane. "C.I.G., F.T.P., R.S.S."
CIGFTPRSS stands for Controls, Instruments, Gas, Flaps, Trim, Prop, Run-UP, Shoulder harness-locked, SAFETY-Seatbelts, Windsock, etc. He used it in the T-6G, TF-51D, T-33 and in combat flying the P-80, and F-84. It covers everything that will tear up an airplane or get you hurt.
"GUMPS" is great and I use even on the J-3. Something I learned when doing my commercial seaplane ratings in the 1980's is to verbally say "Final Gear Check- Gear Up for Water/ down for land." When teaching land students, I have them say verbally "Crossing the airport fence, gear checks down" . I tell them, after I sign you off, you better keep saying that! In the Falcon jet we still say "Final Gear Check" when crossing the airport fence.
It's these "mickey mouse" habits built into your flying that keeps us from having more human error accidents."

Amen. In my years as an Army officer, competitive shooter and generally a firearms enthusiast, the one thing I have always noticed is that people who think they're above that mentality are the ones who are likely shoot themselves (or others) with an "unloaded" firearm. One of my SGTs was like that he blew the top of his noggin off long after he left our unit, on a range looking at a weapon without going through the proper clearing procedure. I was told his last words were in response to someone of lower rank reminding him of how to clear the weapon before trying to fix the malfunction. He reportedly said, "Don't tell me what to do Specialist, I've been handling weapons longer than you've been -" Bang.
Familiarity breeds not only contempt, but laziness, as well.
How many pilot's last words have been, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing"?
I refuse to shoot anywhere near someone who think he is above those Mickey Mouse checks. I wouldn't fly with anyone like that, either.
I'm not suggesting the pilot of this P-51 was like that, just saying we all know there are plenty out there who are, though.

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

I thought "GUMP" was:
Gear
Undercarriage
Make sure the gear is down
Put down the gear

G= GAS..............on fullest tank
U= Undercarriage....check down and locked
M= Mixture..........to full rich
P= Prop.............to take off pitch

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Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Warbird maint and restorations
Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!!
We tried voting with the Ballot box, When do we start voting from the Ammo box, and am I allowed only one vote ?
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I always did GUMPFT..................................adding Flaps and Trim to the acronym.

Gear down and welded sir!