Topic: I hear radial engines

[Don R]

 A minute ago at least four Stearman biplanes flew over, we have a fly in for them every year but it's still a treat to see a group of them. They apparently kept on going so I'd guess they flew over our airport and went to Monmouth il. there is a motel and food within walking distance from the airport.

[newday777]

Nice Don.
My 1st time off the ground was in a biplane, I don't remember which brand it was but it was a blast. Ever since then my eyes go to them when they fly by.

[rocket johnny]

my friend randay has a 42 stearman  painted in navy trainer colors .  helped him restore it 15 yrs ago .  so i get to go up a few times every year .   it is a very expensive hobby with av gas at 8 bucks a gal .

[newday777]

my friend randay has a 42 stearman  painted in navy trainer colors .  helped him restore it 15 yrs ago .  so i get to go up a few times every year .   it is a very expensive hobby with av gas at 8 bucks a gal .

Exactly why I don't have a pilot's license Ora plane.
I did play with the slow lane for about 15 years in hot air balloons

[Don R]

 A few years ago we would get an occasional visit from a pair of P51's. They knew the airport crew appreciated it and would do a low pass or two when they came through here. Often, I would hear the V12's in time to get a good look and try for a pic.

[Kelly E]

I used to have all types of warbirds fly over on a regular basis. Paul Allen had his collection stored in Arlington about 10 miles east of me. I could always tell when a radial engine fighter was approaching, my dog still runs out barking trying to herd planes. I even painted a 16' diameter Army Air Corp logo on the shop roof for them to look at. It's gone since I got a new roof.
I don't see the planes anymore because after Paul Allen died his sister moved the collection to Everett and they hardly ever fly them anymore. It's sad because the collection was supposed to be preserved and maintained in flying condition. His wishes were tossed in the trash, his sister just wanted more money.

[Terry in Australia]

My older sister was briefly married to a crop duster/fire bomber who flew a Dromedary plane with a 9 cylinder radial engine. Magnificent sound (once you drain the lower cylinders during pre-flight) and super manoeuvrable.

[Kelly E]

My older sister was briefly married to a crop duster/fire bomber who flew a Dromedary plane with a 9 cylinder radial engine. Magnificent sound (once you drain the lower cylinders during pre-flight) and super manoeuvrable.

Over here we call them Ag Cat's, cool planes. The early ones were biplanes. Last summer my buddy and I sat in a bar in eastern Washington watching Ag Cat's fight wildfires set up with pontoons and a scoop system to fill up the tank with water while skimming the river. We could see them pulling up full and circle around to do a drop on the fire up on the ridge across the river.
Up at the north end of town they were clearing the bridge by 50' to 100' and quickly dropping to the river. They have to get full and still clear the bridge at the south end of town. They were also using Super Scooper's.
It was an impressive sight to see the Super Scooper's clear the bridge, make the scooping run and clear the southern bridge.

[grcamna2]

My older sister was briefly married to a crop duster/fire bomber who flew a Dromedary plane with a 9 cylinder radial engine. Magnificent sound (once you drain the lower cylinders during pre-flight) and super manoeuvrable.

Over here we call them Ag Cat's, cool planes. The early ones were biplanes. Last summer my buddy and I sat in a bar in eastern Washington watching Ag Cat's fight wildfires set up with pontoons and a scoop system to fill up the tank with water while skimming the river. We could see them pulling up full and circle around to do a drop on the fire up on the ridge across the river.
Up at the north end of town they were clearing the bridge by 50' to 100' and quickly dropping to the river. They have to get full and still clear the bridge at the south end of town. They were also using Super Scooper's.
It was an impressive sight to see the Super Scooper's clear the bridge, make the scooping run and clear the southern bridge.

Eastern Washington,was that not far from Spokane ?

[Don R]

 I was told they designed the liquid carrying tank and then built an airplane around it. They are amazing to watch.
 

[Kelly E]

My older sister was briefly married to a crop duster/fire bomber who flew a Dromedary plane with a 9 cylinder radial engine. Magnificent sound (once you drain the lower cylinders during pre-flight) and super manoeuvrable.

Over here we call them Ag Cat's, cool planes. The early ones were biplanes. Last summer my buddy and I sat in a bar in eastern Washington watching Ag Cat's fight wildfires set up with pontoons and a scoop system to fill up the tank with water while skimming the river. We could see them pulling up full and circle around to do a drop on the fire up on the ridge across the river.
Up at the north end of town they were clearing the bridge by 50' to 100' and quickly dropping to the river. They have to get full and still clear the bridge at the south end of town. They were also using Super Scooper's.
It was an impressive sight to see the Super Scooper's clear the bridge, make the scooping run and clear the southern bridge.

Eastern Washington,was that not far from Spokane ?

Spokane is on the eastern border of Washington. We were in Wenatchee on the Columbia River in the middle of the state on the east side of the Cascade Mountains. On Monday we're leaving on a 5 day ride to Lewiston Idaho and back but because of fire the North Cascades Hwy is closed in both directions for a 10 mile stretch. It's our usual route to eastern Washington. It is very remote and scenic with hardly any traffic on the weekdays when we ride.

I had to completely reroute our trip due to wildfire and construction. One of our favorite sections has a 54 mile section of chip sealing happening. We have been caught up in that before and have ridden long stretches of hwy at 20mph in the tar before they spread the rock chips. It's like riding on ice except it's hot and stinky. When you get stopped your feet are constantly sliding out from under you.

[carnivorous chicken]

I used to have all types of warbirds fly over on a regular basis. Paul Allen had his collection stored in Arlington about 10 miles east of me. I could always tell when a radial engine fighter was approaching, my dog still runs out barking trying to herd planes. I even painted a 16' diameter Army Air Corp logo on the shop roof for them to look at. It's gone since I got a new roof.
I don't see the planes anymore because after Paul Allen died his sister moved the collection to Everett and they hardly ever fly them anymore. It's sad because the collection was supposed to be preserved and maintained in flying condition. His wishes were tossed in the trash, his sister just wanted more money.

I thought they all still fly once a year, but maybe I'm wrong.  They sell tickets to engine run ups, but dunno if they still take off. It's a great museum, and it's amazing that keeping them all in flying condition is part of the deal.
 
When I was in AZ, they used to have fly-ins in Mesa and Casa Grande, including the Commemorative Air Force and it's B-24, B-17 and B-25. My uncle flew the B-25 -- he was ground crew in Vietnam for the AF then flew commercially for years, retired, and flew for APS in Arizona. He had a Bücher biplane trainer (two seats) and a clip wing monocoupe. Never got to fly in 'em unfortunately, I moved away, and then when I came back he had moved across country -- but he flew the Bücher the whole way. He had a '59 Corvette that he bought new that was in amazing shape. Passed away a couple years back. His monocoupe took firsts at the Casa grande fly in one year and they made a mug to commemorate it, still have one. But the Warbird fly-in was amazing -- P-51s and all kinds of other WWII fighters, and before they landed they'd do a fly by. What a sound.

[Don R]

 Here is a pic from my Stearman ride. I don't know how close we got to the water but as we passed the beach, I looked up into the 2nd floor windows of the pavilion. My house is in the center of the pic. you can see the white race car trailer in the driveway.

[grcamna2]

I see it Don.

[Don R]

 A friend has two cylinders off of a stearman, he intends to build a V twin bike engine. given that he already cut down a 241 iron hemi and made a V twin bike engine out of that I have no doubt that he can do it.
 Past projects were the grand sport corvette chassis replica and tooling, 392 Hemi Model A coupe, 53  ford diesel dually ramp truck that matched the model A, made a rare coupe body from a sedan, lots of pro-street cars with corvette rear suspension, diesel 25 dodge truck, hemi dune buggy, a Crosley 2 door with a 928 porsche engine and rear mount transaxle. pit bike with a B29 bomber APU engine in it,
 You get the idea.

[Kelly E]

A friend has two cylinders off of a stearman, he intends to build a V twin bike engine. given that he already cut down a 241 iron hemi and made a V twin bike engine out of that I have no doubt that he can do it.
 Past projects were the grand sport corvette chassis replica and tooling, 392 Hemi Model A coupe, 53  ford diesel dually ramp truck that matched the model A, made a rare coupe body from a sedan, lots of pro-street cars with corvette rear suspension, diesel 25 dodge truck, hemi dune buggy, a Crosley 2 door with a 928 porsche engine and rear mount transaxle. pit bike with a B29 bomber APU engine in it,
 You get the idea.

Okay, all that is just cool.