Another new restoration

WacoFan

WacoFan

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Now....I'm a Waco guy....love them. That doesn't mean it is exclusive though...Travel Airs, Staggerwings, and many others...for me airplanes are like pretty girls - I like most kinds. Now, there are Stearmans and then there are Stearmans. Lloyd Stearman sold his company to the United Aircraft conglomerate and then went to become President of Lockheed. His company was folded into Boeing which produced the Kaydet which most people associate with the name Stearman. These are not my favorites, but his creations prior to selling are incredibly cool - the C3 series, the Speedmails, etc. So, I present a new restoration of a Stearman Stearman (as opposed to a Boeing Stearman). This video features some cool things - the first flight, starting the Wright J-5 with an inertia started, and take note of the individual exhaust on the J5 producing a unique exhaust note. Enjoy.

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There is a stearman at the airport I work at that flys once in a while. It's blue with yellow wings with U.S. Army on the side. I dont know what year it is but it is beautiful. I'll try to snap some pictures next time it's out
 
fox2102 said:
There is a stearman at the airport I work at that flys once in a while. It's blue with yellow wings with U.S. Army on the side. I dont know what year it is but it is beautiful. I'll try to snap some pictures next time it's out
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Awesome!
 
Very cool, Waco!

I'm hoping to get my tail wheel endorsement done in a Stearman later this summer.
 
Started right up!

I can't imagine that thing has a radio, right? Can the pilot talk to anyone while in the air? Maybe through telegraph? *beep beep beeeep beep beep* ;)
 
Contrail the Kid said:
Started right up!

I can't imagine that thing has a radio, right? Can the pilot talk to anyone while in the air? Maybe through telegraph? *beep beep beeeep beep beep* ;)
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Some open cockpit airplanes are remarkable calm in the cockpit. My Grandpa's YPF-7 Waco was so calm in the rear cockpit you could lay a sectional on your lap and not hold it. As for radios - newer Waco's and restorations have them - and I would imagine with noise cancelling headsets it would work - but I've never experienced it. The front cockpit of a C3B or C3R is not bad as far as wind turbulence - but I'm not sure about the rear cockpit as I've never flown one from there - only from the front.
 
Erik1010 said:
Very cool, Waco!

I'm hoping to get my tail wheel endorsement done in a Stearman later this summer.
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I've been wanting to get a tailwheel as well. There is a place north of Philly where you can do it in a Kaydet (Stearman). I keep debating doing it in the PA12 where I teach, or waiting until I get home and do it in the Kaydet. They also have a Great Lakes and other awesome things of that sort.
 
ScoutFlyer said:
I've been wanting to get a tailwheel as well. There is a place north of Philly where you can do it in a Kaydet (Stearman). I keep debating doing it in the PA12 where I teach, or waiting until I get home and do it in the Kaydet. They also have a Great Lakes and other awesome things of that sort.
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Van Zant?
 
I wish i could hear the real airplane running, and maybe smell some of that exhaust. What a gorgeous aircraft.
 
contactground.9 said:
That was a pretty cool video, but I did notice that he didnt cancel until he was back to the gate...
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And even more dangerously...there are no flaps...meaning he can't change the configuration while on take-off or landing roll.

Actually on the Waco club forum there is an active debate right now regarding the operation of 125/145 hp Warners as well as Continental W670's LOP. The Wrights, Pratt's and Jacobs create no controversy but the discussion is getting quite energized regarding the little Warners and Continentals.
 
WacoFan said:
As for radios - newer Waco's and restorations have them - and I would imagine with noise cancelling headsets it would work - but I've never experienced it.
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I take it you're not a fan of the glass panel Waco's then? Its cool, but kind of dumb, I think. But hey, when you spend that kind of money, do with it what you want.
 
KSCessnaDriver said:
I take it you're not a fan of the glass panel Waco's then? Its cool, but kind of dumb, I think. But hey, when you spend that kind of money, do with it what you want.
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I think shooting an approach to minimums in a Waco would be really cool - probably once (not sure I want to do a lot of hard IFR in a Jacobs powered machine - they are great engines, but I'd probably pass). I am also ok with the Glass-panel Waco because it isn't like they are cutting up an original copy to do it - they are new airplanes. Anyone spending $400k is entitled to what they want. My issue with the new Waco's isn't the glass, but has more to do with the changes in the landing gear (mains and tailwheel) but most importantly - weight. I know a guy whose flown an original YMF-5 (very rare) as well as the new Classic Waco. He says the new one is a complete dog in comparison and the original one will fly circles around it. Weight is the enemy of good flying characteristics/performance in my opinion. If I were ordering one new from the factory I would do everything possible to hold down the weight - if the new glass panels were lighter, that's what I'd go with.
 
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