John J
Line Up and Wait
My son has always encouraged me to do something with my old scrap books and early flying notes. I use to let him read all of the stuff when he could read and he still to this day at the age of 25 likes to read them again.
The one story he likes is one where I got my very first first chance to fly a twin engine planewhich I have shorted here. It was owned by one of my mentors who was an A&P and ran a one plane charter business. I had just earned my commercial rating and Bob who owned the plane really encouraged me to fly.Bob was just over 50 at the time which was in 1962 I was very wet behind the ears at 18 but full of energy and wanting to learn so much.
Bob owned a Twin Cessna T50 Bob Cat or as we affectionately called it; 'The Bamboo Bomber" It was to me was a beautiful plane. It looked like a small version of the DC-3. Bob one day told me he needed to check out a new radio so he asked me if I wanted to go. Well after quickly asking my boss if I could go I was about to spend one of the most enjoyable 30 minutes ever. I had a great boss for he had been an airport kid himself.
Bob introduced me to the T50. Much time is spent on the ground to prep the plane. Checking switches to make sure everything is off. Then pulling the props through by hand to get the oil out of the bottom cylinders, also while doing this looking for excessive oil leaks. Draining tanks, climbing up to check the oil levels which was 20 quarts a side. Look for leaks and then finally get into the plane. I had a blast going through all the procedures. I felt like an early aviator climbing and checking the plane.
As we entered the cabin, Bob said take the left seat and I could not believe it he was going to let me fly this plane. We went through the start procedures and I still will never forget the sounds and smells of firing up the plane. The plane had the Jacob 300hp engines. Once started it was just music to my ears. Taxing at first I was intimidated but with Bob' gentle voice just talking me through ways and hows of differential power and lots of rudder movement we got to the end of the runway. Bob warned me about the brakes for they were expansion brakes which can lock up if they get too hot; so feet off the brakes as much as possible. Runup and finally checks were done and we are ready.
Taking the active I felt like Sky King. Bob really is going to let me do the take off. He just kept talking to me in a calm voice; "Tail Wheel locked, bring power up slowly and keep it straight' I just listened and did exactly as Bob said. The takeoff was great. The plane just lifted off without so much of a bump.
We flew out about 10 miles from the field to some power off and on stalls some easy turns, slow flight, gear and flap work. It was time to land and again Bob using his nice calm voice talked me through the landing. It was a picture perfect one not a hit of a bounce. The T 50 Bob Cat had a fairly long travel gear which was forgiving. Taxing back to the ramp I just listen to the engines lumping along. It was hard to end the flight for I felt on top of the world.
Bob later had me fly some runs with him in the plane. Every flight was filled with wonderful lessons and I will never forget his calm voice making my first twin engine flight work out so well. I still get goose bumps when I think about that day. It was almost as good as my first solo flight.
Thank you for reading.
John
The one story he likes is one where I got my very first first chance to fly a twin engine planewhich I have shorted here. It was owned by one of my mentors who was an A&P and ran a one plane charter business. I had just earned my commercial rating and Bob who owned the plane really encouraged me to fly.Bob was just over 50 at the time which was in 1962 I was very wet behind the ears at 18 but full of energy and wanting to learn so much.
Bob owned a Twin Cessna T50 Bob Cat or as we affectionately called it; 'The Bamboo Bomber" It was to me was a beautiful plane. It looked like a small version of the DC-3. Bob one day told me he needed to check out a new radio so he asked me if I wanted to go. Well after quickly asking my boss if I could go I was about to spend one of the most enjoyable 30 minutes ever. I had a great boss for he had been an airport kid himself.
Bob introduced me to the T50. Much time is spent on the ground to prep the plane. Checking switches to make sure everything is off. Then pulling the props through by hand to get the oil out of the bottom cylinders, also while doing this looking for excessive oil leaks. Draining tanks, climbing up to check the oil levels which was 20 quarts a side. Look for leaks and then finally get into the plane. I had a blast going through all the procedures. I felt like an early aviator climbing and checking the plane.
As we entered the cabin, Bob said take the left seat and I could not believe it he was going to let me fly this plane. We went through the start procedures and I still will never forget the sounds and smells of firing up the plane. The plane had the Jacob 300hp engines. Once started it was just music to my ears. Taxing at first I was intimidated but with Bob' gentle voice just talking me through ways and hows of differential power and lots of rudder movement we got to the end of the runway. Bob warned me about the brakes for they were expansion brakes which can lock up if they get too hot; so feet off the brakes as much as possible. Runup and finally checks were done and we are ready.
Taking the active I felt like Sky King. Bob really is going to let me do the take off. He just kept talking to me in a calm voice; "Tail Wheel locked, bring power up slowly and keep it straight' I just listened and did exactly as Bob said. The takeoff was great. The plane just lifted off without so much of a bump.
We flew out about 10 miles from the field to some power off and on stalls some easy turns, slow flight, gear and flap work. It was time to land and again Bob using his nice calm voice talked me through the landing. It was a picture perfect one not a hit of a bounce. The T 50 Bob Cat had a fairly long travel gear which was forgiving. Taxing back to the ramp I just listen to the engines lumping along. It was hard to end the flight for I felt on top of the world.
Bob later had me fly some runs with him in the plane. Every flight was filled with wonderful lessons and I will never forget his calm voice making my first twin engine flight work out so well. I still get goose bumps when I think about that day. It was almost as good as my first solo flight.
Thank you for reading.
John
