Old school navigating in a vintage WWII aircraft!

This was challenging and rewarding!

See the Flight Chops main channel for MUCH more tail wheel flying as well as all sorts of flying content from aerobatics to IFR training!

There are over a dozen TailWheel Flying videos already published,
but these ones are key to understand why landing the Stearman on pavement is scary:

Understanding the “Ground Loop”
https://youtu.be/U0YUxsntZWE

Wheel Landing VS 3 Pointers:
https://youtu.be/ob75R0y-obc

Big thanks to Dennis for sharing is beautiful 1942 Stearman to get this series really going:

Stearman intro flight part 1:
https://youtu.be/OM99aiK5Zls

Stearman intro flight part 2:
https://youtu.be/_Auz20sHZ6Q

Stearman STALL recognition – SHORT field LANDING:
https://youtu.be/fYPWKGmlXA4

Stearman energy management / power off approaches:
https://youtu.be/2GTf-DXK414

Stearman Back Seat check out!
https://youtu.be/vg7FCgcyWAI

_____

For more info about the “Great Lakes International Air Show” visit:

http://www.greatlakesinternationalair

_

The post Pilotage Skill Test – NO modern Navigation tools – Stearman – cross country Flying to AirShow appeared first on Flight Chops.

I recently had the privilege of flying my first cross-country in the Stearman. We flew it to “the Great Lakes International Airshow”

For those of you who don’t know, Dennis is my mentor and instructor.

His personal airplane is a 1942 Boeing Stearman that he restored himself over a period of 3 years.

Dennis made it extra challenging for me by requiring me to do the outbound trip with nothing but paper charts (remember this is an open cockpit plane :).

And he put me in the front cockpit which has zero navigation instruments.  The back cockpit at least has a compass – but he wanted to see me do it with nothing but good old pilotage.  It went well and I earned the right to use my iPad with ForeFlight for the return trip.

——-

While we were hanging out at the show I asked Dennis some questions which made for an interesting interview, so we were inspired to share:

When did you decide to get into instructing?

I pursued instructing first because my dreams of airline flying were crushed, then because I honestly wanted to help people enjoy this amazing activity. This was further cemented by the tragic death of two friends of mine that I believed was caused by inadequate instruction.

Who has been a mentor to you and why?

Everyone I meet in aviation that has more experience and /or insight into flying is a mentor.

What was a pivotal moment for you in your career?

I haven’t really had one big one yet. But often, I am given the keys and the trust to fly other people’s treasures which I am very honoured and grateful for. The most exciting day was the first flight of the Stearman.

What is a goal that you’re working toward now?

My next goal is a checkout in the TBM 900 as an acquaintance just bought one and wants me to join him on training.

Looking back, what do you wish you knew early on?

I don’t look back – there’s nothing to see.

What’s one piece of advice that has served you well?

Always ask yourself, What’s the worst that can happen?…

Can you tell the FlightChops Community about a time you screwed up so that others can learn from your mistake?

In thirty years, 8000 hours in fifty different types?…You screw up a lot and I’ve learned from every one. Making mistakes is human nature but at least don’t make the same mistake twice. And learn from others, it’s a lot cheaper and safer.

The post My First Cross-Country in the Stearman; Q&A with Dennis appeared first on Flight Chops.

A big step toward a HUGE goal of mine as a Pilot!
Proud to be associated with ForeFlight: http://www.foreflight.com/flightchops/

Flight Chops CONTESTS!

A new contest EVERY month; shared prizes from all our sponsors totalling over $1000!
AND this month thanks to iCloth Avionics, we’re including an iPad mini!

I am SUPER stoked to add a prize from my aviation hero Bob Hoover: “Flying the Feathered Edge” SIGNED collectible prize pack!

Please visit http://www.FlightChops.com for details!

See the Flight Chops main channel for MUCH more tail wheel flying as well as all sorts of flying content from aerobatics to IFR training!

There are over a dozen TailWheel Flying videos already published,
but these ones are key to understand why landing the Stearman on pavement is scary:

Understanding the “Ground Loop”:
https://youtu.be/U0YUxsntZWE

Wheel Landing VS 3 Pointers:
https://youtu.be/ob75R0y-obc

Big thanks to Dennis for sharing is beautiful 1942 Stearman to get this series really going:

Stearman intro flight part 1:
https://youtu.be/OM99aiK5Zls

Stearman intro flight part 2:
https://youtu.be/_Auz20sHZ6Q

Stearman STALL recognition – SHORT field LANDING:
https://youtu.be/fYPWKGmlXA4

Stearman energy management / power off approaches:
https://youtu.be/2GTf-DXK414

_____

And here are JP’s links:
www.youtube.com/thecandourist
www.instagram.com/the_candourist
_____

The post Pilot Bucket List: Stearman Backseat Checkout – Warbird Training appeared first on Flight Chops.

Prep for Stearman back seat sign off means I need to do a complete flight with out help.
Proud to be associated with ForeFlight: http://www.foreflight.com/flightchops/

If you’d like to (politely) harass Destin from “Smarter Every Day” to make a more scientific video about peripheral vision as related to perfecting landings, hit him up at one of the links below (tell him “Flight Chops” sent you!

https://www.youtube.com/user/destinws2
https://twitter.com/smartereveryday
https://www.facebook.com/SmarterEvery…

_____

Flight Chops CONTESTS!

A new contest EVERY month; shared prizes from all our sponsors totalling over $750!
AND this season we’ll have a GRAND PRIZE Bose A20 Aviation headset worth over $1000
Please visit http://www.FlightChops.com for details!

See the Flight Chops main channel for MUCH more tail wheel flying as well as all sorts of flying content from aerobatics to IFR training!

There are over a dozen TailWheel Flying videos already published,
but these ones are key to understand why landing the Stearman on pavement is scary:

Understanding the “Ground Loop”:
https://youtu.be/U0YUxsntZWE

Wheel Landing VS 3 Pointers:
https://youtu.be/ob75R0y-obc

Big thanks to Dennis for sharing is beautiful 1942 Stearman to get this series really going:

Stearman intro flight part 1:
https://youtu.be/OM99aiK5Zls

Stearman intro flight part 2:
https://youtu.be/_Auz20sHZ6Q

The post Flying Power Off – Energy Management101 All The Way Down – STEARMAN – ATC Audio appeared first on Flight Chops.

Training WWII style, to honour my Grandfather; he was a Spitfire Fighter Pilot.
Proud to be associated with ForeFlight: http://www.foreflight.com/flightchops/

Warbird training will be an ongoing series, hopefully culminating in my training to fly a Spitfire as my grandfather did.
I look forward to producing and sharing quality content documenting the training!

Flight Chops CONTESTS!

A new contest EVERY month; shared prizes from all our sponsors totalling over $750!
AND this season we’ll have a GRAND PRIZE Bose A20 Aviation headset worth over $1000
Please visit http://www.FlightChops.com for details!

See the Flight Chops main channel for MUCH more tail wheel flying as well as all sorts of flying content from aerobatics to IFR training!

Previous Warbird related episode LINKS:

Big thanks to Dennis for sharing is beautiful 1942 Stearman to get this series really going:

Stearman intro flight part 1:
https://youtu.be/OM99aiK5Zls

Stearman intro flight part 2:
https://youtu.be/_Auz20sHZ6Q

_____

Training with the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association coming soon – more info about this amazing flying museum here:
http://www.ch2a.ca

My Grampa’s info:

Leonard  Russell  Thorne  F/LT
421 Red  Indian  Squadron  (Spitfire)
11  Group,  127 Wing  —– 129 Sorties
Sworn  in  August 12th, 1940
Discharged  August 16th, 1945

And here’s the story about that awesome WWII Flight Training Manual:
(As shared by r/flying user: boredatofficeman)

“I was introduced to Augie (pronounced Aww-gee) by my grandmother, she passed this year I stay in contact with him. When Augie learned I was a pilot, I learned he was a legend. Augie was a flight instructor on the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. He trained on the Stearman PT-19 and flew a slew of aircraft in between. When we connected he immediately pulled out this patter and told me to take it home and study. I tried to politely decline as this was one of his memories, but he insisted. He said he spent enough time memorizing it under a blanket with his flashlight in flight school; they had two weeks to master it cover to cover. Things like this are golden, I’m glad I could share it with you Steve and all the Flight Chop fans.”

Full thread here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/comme…

The post Warbird primary training – STALL recognition – SHORT field LANDING – STEARMAN Flying appeared first on Flight Chops.

It’s a whole new experience landing when your forward view is totally obstructed!
Proud to be associated with ForeFlight: http://www.foreflight.com/flightchops/

Big thanks to Dennis for the awesome training, and for consulting on the technical stuff regarding this edit.
To learn more about how you can fly the Stearman – please contact us!

Link to Part 1 of the Stearman series:
http://youtu.be/OM99aiK5Zls

See the Flight Chops main channel for all sorts of flying content from aerobatics to IFR training, and much more Tail Wheel Flying!

NOTE: this flight was EDITED down from over an hour to under 15 minutes; Thus, there are missing details and possible lost context.
Also, I am NOT an instructor, so PLEASE do not look at this as instruction but rather the start to a conversation that you can have with your instructor.

Here are the direct links to some other Tail Wheel Flying videos that I’ve done,
but please also check my channel in case I forget to update the links here in this description:

1st solo in the Super Cub
(Great illustration of trim usage, and my WORST landing is also in this video)

http://youtu.be/ZVhtOMeiZ4M

Wheel Landing on pavement

http://youtu.be/ob75R0y-obc

Ski Flying:

http://youtu.be/Ruo-MAtyToY

Upset Recovery and Spin Training – Bellanca Citabria

http://youtu.be/KnBridDnp7c

Flying a Tail Dragger – Tip #3 – Taxi + Run-up + Take-Off – Shoes Matter!

http://youtu.be/hRQJuSbcwSA

Super Cub – Finding Zen – Grass Strip – Tail Wheel Flying – Short Field Landing practice
http://youtu.be/TppcWdsrqQA

The post Learning to land when you can’t see ahead! – WarBird Training – Boeing Stearman appeared first on Flight Chops.

First time flying a WarBird and it was more awesome than I could have imagined!
Proud to be associated with ForeFlight: http://www.foreflight.com/flightchops/

Word’s can’t describe this experience! Enjoy the video!
Big thanks to Dennis for the awesome training, and for consulting on the technical stuff regarding this edit.
To learn more about how you can fly the Stearman – please contact us!

Here are the direct links to some other Tail Wheel Flying videos that I’ve done,
but please also check my channel in case I forget to update the links here in this description:

1st solo in the Super Cub
(Great illustration of trim usage, and my WORST landing is also in this video)

http://youtu.be/ZVhtOMeiZ4M

Wheel Landing on pavement

http://youtu.be/ob75R0y-obc

Ski Flying:

http://youtu.be/Ruo-MAtyToY

Upset Recovery and Spin Training – Bellanca Citabria

http://youtu.be/KnBridDnp7c

Flying a Tail Dragger – Tip #3 – Taxi + Run-up + Take-Off – Shoes Matter!

http://youtu.be/hRQJuSbcwSA

Super Cub – Finding Zen – Grass Strip – Tail Wheel Flying – Short Field Landing practice
http://youtu.be/TppcWdsrqQA

The post Boeing Stearman – WarBird Training – Tail Wheel Flying – Grass strip appeared first on Flight Chops.