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This issue of Warbirds hits the streets just as EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2001 is getting underway. Hopefully you’re in Oshkosh, enjoying the aircraft and the friendship of your fellow members. Whether you are able to attend or not, some of our “new” activities and news are as follows: The Tuesday Warbird air show will be a P-51 Mustang-only show. Wednesday morning, from 10:00 a.m. until noon will be “Cockpit Day” for Warbird volunteers. Some of our warbird owners will make their aircraft available for volunteers to sit in the cockpit of their birds (examples at press time include a T-34, T-6, T-28, and Skyraider) and have their photo taken. A sign with the available aircraft and their location will be posted at the registration building. At 5:30 p.m., Wednesday evening, Warbirds will be hosting a Wine and Cheese Party for our guests from VA-195 at the Fond du Lac Holiday Inn. I would encourage everyone to attend this gathering.
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This time should provide enough time for those of us who have signed up for the Wednesday night dinner cruise aboard the Pioneer Princess to return to Oshkosh before we “cast off.” A severe storm in June “flattened” our Squadron Buildings at Oshkosh, but if all works out, the local Army National Guard unit will come to our assistance and will put up a tent for our squadron use during the convention.
Flying Safety
Many of us will be flying T-6s to Kenosha, or T-34s to Sturgeon Bay, practicing our formation flying skills and “tuning” up before flying on to Oshkosh. Others will be flying directly to Oshkosh. Some have already performed in air shows this year, and others have practiced with friends and with check pilots. Oshkosh brings together many pilots with different levels of training experience and skill. Even though the flying may be tough, the ground-holds long and the cockpits hot, most of us look forward to flying in the show at Oshkosh; it is one of the high point of the convention. In spite of the fun and excitement of flying the air show, there is an increased risk in bringing together the large number of different types of aircraft that we put up in our warbird show, so safety is a high priority for us. There were three warbird accidents in early June in Europe. Howard Pardue sent me a copy of a letter to the British warbird air show pilots, in which Rod Dean, the head of the General Aviation Department in Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority (the equivalent of our FAA), responds to the loss of life and the destruction of a Vampire, a Spitfire and a Kingcobra. The letter eloquently makes a number of points which I feel are of value for all of us who will fly warbirds at Oshkosh or in other air shows. I will quote a part of that letter:
“There are a number of questions that we should all consider before we undertake any further display flying. Amongst these are:
PERSONAL ABILITY - is the planned display within my capabilities? Over and above any limitations imposed by your Display Authorization, assess your own limitations and capabilities and make a sensible decision about what you can and cannot do.
PERSONAL CURRENCY – am I adequately current in both the aircraft and the type of display I intend to fly? The requirements of CAP 403 (Editor’s Note: Civil Air Publication 403 "Flying Displays and Special Events: A Guide to Safety and Administrative Arrangements") are a minimum and should be treated as such. Further training must be undertaken if there is any doubt.
AIRCRAFT SERVICEABILITY – is the aircraft adequately prepared and serviceable for the planned sortie?
AIRCRAFT LIMITATIONS – is the proposed flight within the limitations of the aircraft?
AIRCRAFT EMERGENCIES – have I adequately practiced the aircraft emergency drills, forced landing drills etc?
DISPLAY MANOEUVRES – are the planned manoeuvres appropriate to the aircraft type? Clearly modern aerobatic aircraft are specifically designed for the advanced aerobatics but what manoeuvres are appropriate for a Spitfire?
DISPLAY CRITERIA – am I fully confident that I know my display requirements, manoeuvre entry speeds, gate heights and emergency contingency planning?
“If the answer to any of these questions is “no” then do not undertake any display flying until confident through further training that the answer is ‘yes.’
“Finally, we need to review our motivation towards display flying. The aim of the exercise is to allow the public to see these aircraft in their natural element. There is no requirement, particularly with these ex-military types, to operate on or close to the limits or to display outstanding feats of piloting ability. We are there to entertain the public, not to make them fear for their, or our, lives.
“Please make time to take stock and fly safely within your and the aircraft’s limits and capabilities.”
“Keep 'em flying”
Mike Schloss
President
Warbirdpres@aol.com
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