Pitts S-2B and the Schweizer 2-33

[Diana]

It was another great day in sunny California, starting with breakfast with Michael. Hope you got home OK Michael and thanks again for all the flying.

Had another great lesson with the wonderful instructor in the 7KCAB. Did some inverted flight, competition slow rolls (not a fun maneuver in the Citabria!), and worked on spins again. We had the option of working longer in the Citabria or playing in his Pitts S-2B. We both voted to “run, not walk” back to the airport, and get out his Pitts.

What a pretty little red Pitts; wish I had a picture of it. He flew it like a dream.

He did hammerheads, slow rolls, Cubans, reverse Cubans, and more that I can’t remember now. I did lots of different rolls and generally flew it around and around. Then with immense regret (just like I feel in the Extra when it’s time to go back to the airport) we had to head back to the airport because we both had to be somewhere else.

Well, I can look forward to flying in the Pitts with Mike again next time I’m in California. And now have some Pitts time in my logbook.

On to a slower, quieter pace. Much quieter with no engine and no prop. The glider port at Tehachapi is a comfy, homey, timeless airport with friendly people and a slow easy way of enjoying the beauty of flight.

Jim, the same laid-back, smiling gentleman instructor took me flying again and let me fly most of the time. That poor tow pilot had lots of jolts as I went up-down-left-right tugging on his rope and letting it swing all over the place. I guess he’s used to that since they train there, but felt he earned his pay and more today.

Since it was so windy we looked for “shear” off the mountains before we hunted for thermals. It was so peaceful up there searching for the ever-changing invisible airflow that would serve our need to keep going up.

Jim finally started eating his lunch in the backseat while I circled and played with the thermals turning this way and that, admiring the beautiful scenery all around.

His landing was so impressive in the crosswind; he planted the glider just where he wanted on the 6-foot wide asphalt strip and then stopped at exactly the right spot on the white line for the next lucky passenger/student. Reminded me of a Bob Hoover landing.

Another great day in California. All kinds of flying and aviation people; I can’t help but love them all.

 

[gibbons]

Diana,

Glad you're having so much fun. Hope the family is a-ok (both out there and back home).

Isn't the Pitts a fun airplane? You know, a good S1 can be had for the price of a Citabria

 

[Ken Ibold]

You know, a good S1 can be had for the price of a Citabria

Or even an S-2A

 

[Diana]

Glad you're having so much fun. Hope the family is a-ok (both out there and back home).

We're all doing great, thanks.

The glider port at Tehachapi is a perfect place for a family outing (we even took the dogs.) We spent all afternoon there flying (Anna had a glider ride too) and visiting with other people and their families who were flying and hanging out enjoying the atmosphere. Lots of friendly “airport bums” too.

The little café has yummy homemade food in a cozy environment where you can watch the flying as you eat, inside or out.

The young “line boys” help with the glider activities in exchange for glider training. You don’t see that as much anymore at airports; it was quite refreshing. They even helped teach me things about the whole process and followed along with my preflight and answered some of my questions.

This airport is a fine example of how an airport should feel; very, very positive.

http://www.tehachapi.com/glider/skylark_north.htm

 

[Rudy]

Hey Diana,
That looks like a blast, I have a certain part of me that has wanted to fly a glider since i started and ever since i saw a Pitts hug the runway at Pittsburg and then pull straight up at the end i have alway wanted to fly in one of those too. Sound like you are having a blast!!

 

[Richard]

Diana, is that your g'baby?

 

[Toby]

Great writeup, Diana. Isn't it nice to go from fast and powerful to slow and dreamy in one afternoon of flying?

Your grandson is so cute! Starting him off on the right foot, I see.

 

[Diana]

I have a certain part of me that has wanted to fly a glider since i started and ever since i saw a Pitts hug the runway at Pittsburg and then pull straight up at the end i have alway wanted to fly in one of those too

Rudy, we still haven't heard about your ride in the CJ-6A. Has Terry done aerobatics with you yet?

 

[gibbons]

Had another great lesson with the wonderful instructor in the 7KCAB. Did some inverted flight, competition slow rolls (not a fun maneuver in the Citabria!), and worked on spins again.

Can you describe how he taught slow rolls? Were you working on competition spins? Start a new thread in aerobatics if you need to, but I'm anxious to hear about your flights.

 

[Diana]

Can you describe how he taught slow rolls? Were you working on competition spins? Start a new thread in aerobatics if you need to, but I'm anxious to hear about your flights.

OK.

 

[Rudy]

Rudy, we still haven't heard about your ride in the CJ-6A. Has Terry done aerobatics with you yet?

Alright, well I haven't done aerobatics in it yet, did some steep turns and kept my altitude pretty good. I flew in the back and besides taking off and landing I flew the whole time. It has an awesome sound to it. It was pretty hard to get used to all the instruments but once i did i was fine. I can't imagine how hard it would be to land that thing from the back. You have hardly any forward vis. at all. It was a fun flight though, besides your Citabria Diana it was the only time I have ever flown a stick.
Overall i enjoyed it a lot and can't wait to flip around a little in it.

Here is a picture of Terry's plane i found on the internet.

 

[gismo]

Alright, well I haven't done aerobatics iound to it. It was pretty hard to get used to all the instruments... I can't imagine how hard it would be to land that thing from the back. You have hardly any forward vis. at all.

The instrument markings have bothered me too, with the typical CJ-6 mix of crylic and english markings in metric and English units. I found it especially distracting that the gauges in one cockpit are often a completely different mix than the other on the same airplane. Apparently this is something your brain can overcome as there are lots of CJ pilots who have no trouble flying three different airplanes with varied gauge setups on the same day (and Terry's one of them)!

Landing the CJ from the back isn't that bad, as you can see pretty well off to either side. OTOH it always reminded me so much of landing a tailwheel airplane that I had to fight the instinctive desire to set the tail down. The somewhat similar Yak-52 I've flown has a lot less visibility from the back seat.

 

[Diana]

The instrument markings have bothered me too, with the typical CJ-6 mix of crylic and english markings in metric and English units. I found it especially distracting that the gauges in one cockpit are often a completely different mix than the other on the same airplane.

Here's a picture of the cockpit. One of the hard things for me was trying to figure out airspeed.

 

[Diana]

OTOH it always reminded me so much of landing a tailwheel airplane that I had to fight the instinctive desire to set the tail down.

Terry couldn't understand why I kept pulling the stick back for start up and taxi. Stick in hand...stick goes back. It took awhile to break that habit. After he flew with another taildragger pilot who did the same thing in the CJ he finally understood.

 

[gibbons]

Terry couldn't understand why I kept pulling the stick back for start up and taxi. Stick in hand...stick goes back. It took awhile to break that habit. After he flew with another taildragger pilot who did the same thing in the CJ he finally understood.

A good practice in any airplane, even one with the wheel on the wrong end.

 

[Rudy]

Here's a picture of the cockpit. One of the hard things for me was trying to figure out airspeed.

That picture is of the front i think. In the back cockpit the altimeter is different, and i had trouble with airspeed at first too, but finally got it figured out.