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« on: September 18, 2016, 08:12:54 PM »
I recently was approved as a pilot sponsor in the CAF Wisconsin Wing's Fairchild PT-26, a 1943 primary trainer.
My first training sortie is in the books! My concerns were:
1. Don't screw up in front of Vic, a super pilot (flew KC-135's in Vietnam, flew 767s for a major airline, and owns his own Harvard) and
2. Don't bend this beautiful 1943 aircraft.
I pretty much accomplished both objectives, except when I spoke to Tower I kept saying "Cutlass niner...er, correction, Fairchild niner four seven four Hotel..." I'm such a moron.
We did some air work, steep turns, stalls (Note to self: this is NOT a Cessna, it's a Warbird, and will bite you if you aren't careful. If (when) the wing drops in a stall, use sufficient rudder, NOT ailerons, to lift the wing), and then headed back to the airport for landings.
This aircraft is a beautiful flyer, and does exactly what you ask of it. Pattern work was very good, it was easy to nail 80 mph (not knots) on downwind, base and final, maintaining that speed until the flair.
My landings were pretty good. Runway alignment was not too tough with the massive rudder, wide landing gear, and heavy weight. This is a 2,800 lb. aircraft, and gave no indication of wanting to fly again when the angle of attack increased when the tail fell. We basically did full stall three point landings, but avoided having the tail touch first given her age.
Take offs are very smooth, without much desire to depart the centerline if you maintain adequate right rudder. The tail raises by itself, and she tells you when she she's ready to fly. It takes a lot of right rudder on climb out, and doesn't go anywhere very fast, so your right leg will be tired once you hit your cruise altitude.
Overall, I was very happy with the flight, and I think Vic was as well.
As I was lying on my back wiping the oil from the belly, I thought about the number of 18-22 year old young men who flew this aircraft in 1943-1945 enroute to flying fighters, bombers, and anything else to help in the war effort. I am humbled to have the opportunity to even touch this aircraft, let alone fly it.
Thank you, Commemorative Air Force, for making today possible for me.