And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Not entirely useless. If the engine grenades and you get a major fire that can't be extinguished, you convert that airspeed into altitude so you can "safely" bail out. That sort of speed can easily gain a warbird several thousand feet agl just from coasting nearly straight up. Saw that maneuver from the pits at Reno back in the early 80's, although it wasn't a fire. I forget which big radial engine aircraft, but the pilot felt/heard something wrong in the engine area, chopped the throttle and went vertical. I think he was approaching the #1 pylon (near the spectator area) when this occurred.
About a thousand feet up, the engine area of the fuselage appeared to explode, raining parts everywhere. One of the bits seemed to be more reflective than the others, so we guessed that was the canopy in preparation to bail. The aircraft arced back toward the western section of the race area (essentially reversing the track direction) and turned his climb into a huge loop that brought him to the end of the main runway where the plane landed. When he taxied into the pits, all the sheet metal forward of the cockpit was missing. Never heard the details of that problem. I think it was expected to be the race leader that year. Looked really nasty as we watched it develop. Thought for sure it was going to end with a smoking hole in the ground! We didn't see a parachute, but it was a while before it became obvious there was still a pilot in control.
There was a custom built plane with a detuned dragstrip engine, that was expected to flirt with mach one, intended for the Reno races. IIRC, it was a pusher prop, and each blade was going to be supersonic at race speed. I think they ran out of development money before they got it airborne. I imagine the spectators would have HATED that aircraft!
At that air speed and low altitude, a pilot's parachute is frivolous.
ReplyDeleteBayouwulf
The guy definitely has some big nuts!
DeleteNot entirely useless. If the engine grenades and you get a major fire that can't be extinguished, you convert that airspeed into altitude so you can "safely" bail out. That sort of speed can easily gain a warbird several thousand feet agl just from coasting nearly straight up. Saw that maneuver from the pits at Reno back in the early 80's, although it wasn't a fire. I forget which big radial engine aircraft, but the pilot felt/heard something wrong in the engine area, chopped the throttle and went vertical. I think he was approaching the #1 pylon (near the spectator area) when this occurred.
DeleteAbout a thousand feet up, the engine area of the fuselage appeared to explode, raining parts everywhere. One of the bits seemed to be more reflective than the others, so we guessed that was the canopy in preparation to bail. The aircraft arced back toward the western section of the race area (essentially reversing the track direction) and turned his climb into a huge loop that brought him to the end of the main runway where the plane landed. When he taxied into the pits, all the sheet metal forward of the cockpit was missing. Never heard the details of that problem. I think it was expected to be the race leader that year. Looked really nasty as we watched it develop. Thought for sure it was going to end with a smoking hole in the ground! We didn't see a parachute, but it was a while before it became obvious there was still a pilot in control.
You hear it coming long before you see it, sounds like angry bees.
ReplyDeleteMechanical music
ReplyDeleteThat sound gives me goosebumps. Love it.
ReplyDeleteterrifying
ReplyDeleteAwesome!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's as fast as some jets fly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThere was a custom built plane with a detuned dragstrip engine, that was expected to flirt with mach one, intended for the Reno races. IIRC, it was a pusher prop, and each blade was going to be supersonic at race speed. I think they ran out of development money before they got it airborne. I imagine the spectators would have HATED that aircraft!
Delete