back in the late 90s, flying Army helicopters had a guy that was practicing for an assessment so we went out one night (with NVGs) and did this, VFR with fight following from A to B (100 odd miles) with nav legs between. ATC: you look off course, B is blah, blah blah on the 123 radial. Us: yeah, roger, we’re negative navaid equiped. ATC: how are you navigating? Us: map, compass, a watch, and MK1 eyeballs. ATC: uh…. roger. call airfield in sight. Us: WILCO
My uncle has a Stearman and I fly it a lot. It is truly an amazing aircraft, sitting in it it’s hard not to think of the history that surrounds you in the cockpit. From the women that built and delivered it to the young men learning to fly going to fight in the toughest battles the world has seen. After cranking that big radial engine sometimes I sit there while it’s warming and feel very privileged to sit in the seat that many young men first experienced flight.
I watch a lot of your uploads but I have to say I am addicted to this particular one. Nice to see a pilot who appreciates Pilotage and dead reckoning skills. I got my PPL last month and your videos were a most valuable resource.
I haven't flown in years, and the last time I flew was before the portable device era (c. 1998), so dead reckoning and pilotage are all I know. Following roads and smelling cow poop was one of the most joyous parts for me. Someday I will get back into the air. Oh, and I have flown a Stearman. With a chart for a while, then a moment's inattention, then without a chart.
I was an Army aviator from 1978-1983. We flew on military reservations such as what is now called The National Training Center at Ft. Irwin CA, Ft. Carson CO and Ft. Hunter Liggett CA. All you had was a topographic (terrain) map, a flashlight (at night) and no co pilot. The Army was transitioning to the "We Fight At Night" doctrine and we trained with night vision goggles that were designed for ground vehicle drivers. What I would have given for a GPS.
Serious question for either of you. I'm currently training for my PPL and going towards my Multi-IFR. I'm starting circuits soon but my pilotage is still shit. Is there something I can do to practice it in between flights so next time I'm up I'm less likely to give my instructor a stroke?
Aside from practice, the biggest thing that helped me is to do a thorough chart recon ahead of time. Knowing what kind of things you are going to be looking for really allows you to keep your head outside more. This may sound weird, but you can also learn to calibrate your finger speed across the chart as you fly, that way a quick reference to the chart and then you're back outside looking!
Two things. First, I love your stick technique at 6:09. You're not death-gripping it like you're in a dogfight. Second, we rely too much on electronics. Fighter pilots refer to it as Situational Awareness. If you're so wrapped up in your instruments that you fail to see the mountain you're about to fly into, then you lose. Doesn't matter if you're in a dogfight or driving through an intersection. Hang the phone up and drive.
That was the standard mode of navigation when I learned to fly and I still use it with electronics as a backup. A trick on holding heading is the angle at which you cross the normal lines on the ground (most of the world (except west Texas) is laid out based on the standard directions, east/west and north/south)
Thats the essence of flying, no distractions, just you and the machine. It maybe primitive by modern standards, but this type of flying will make a real stick and rudder guy out of someone.
Nice! I went to one of the CAF's "Air Power History Tour" stops earlier this summer and while their B-29 "Fifi" was the star of the show quite a few people lined up to take a ride in the Stearman. It's definitely a unique aircraft.
You did great, as always. That's how we do club-flying in Italy. Just a paper and a clock. Unfortunately, many flying clubs here do not have modern airplanes with modern avionics. Actually, I think it's more fun!
your living the dream man, plan on building my own ultralight with carbon fiber here soon. but its still nothing compared to being able to fly everything you fly, living the dream!
A significant percentage of people have the curse of their brain freezing up when faced with bright strobing of a certain frequency, and that frequency matches pretty closely a prop's rotation on approach. You don't risk that when you can avoid it.
Great video. Loved watching you tackle the challenge of paper and your thoughts as you did it. Also thoroughly enjoyed the camera angles on the first landing showing off the perfect landing and the stick and jab rudder control. Dennis has to be proud.
I'm not a pilot, would love to be, can't justify the expense. Thank you for all the videos, I LOVE watching them and look forward to each and every one. The scenery is breathtaking .
John- Do yourself a favor. Find a local airport who offers introductory flights.... Go take a half hour intro. Do yourself that favor. We only have a few precious years on this planet.
Not even a magnetic compass. Phew, that's tough. I think even around here in North-west Germany there are more useful landmarks. Autobahnen, railway lines, rivers, lakes, potash slag heaps, towns with recognisable historic centres or high-rise buildings, ... So, very well done and thanks for another enjoyable video!
I could've sworn a compass was required equipment on a plane. Can someone enlighten me on exemptions for historic birds (or maybe it's just different in Canada).
Well, (a) this is a Canadian aircraft, and (b) the airplane has one. It's just not visible from the front seat. I'm sure if a pilot qualified to fly the airplane is in a seat from which he can control the airplane and from which he can see the magnetic compass, that will be fine.
pinkdispatcher I must have missed the part where it did have one but the pilot couldn't see it. I must have assumed that it didn't have a working compass.
"...get back to more relatable flying experiences." Careful, I think I lot of us really enjoy the unique situations you're afforded by producing these exceptional videos. Keep 'em coming!
Great stuff and this is the way it used to be. Nice to have a compass in the aircraft. Stearmans are so cool. Look, sound, and fly really good. Thanks for sharing your flight.
I learned in the late 60s in an Aronca, Taylor Craft and Tri Pacer. Not a problem. My instructor was Charlie McAllister whose license was signed by Orville Wright!
Excellent job as always steve! I've been working on aircraft for 7 years but your channel is what rekindled my love for flight. Thank you for what you do!
Beautiful video, once more. Great work, Steve. Had to laugh when Dennis turned off the mags to hear the radio. Those are the weird things I love about some aircraft. Thanks!
great camera and video quality. Congratulations! beautiful landscapes under the fuselage; beautiful shots; thank you very much for this event. super appareil et la qualité des vidéos . félicitations! très beaux paysages sous le fuselage; belles prises de vues; merci beaucoup pour cette sortie.
Its really a blessing to live in Finland in terms of navigation without GPS. There are over 100 000 lakes in here and 95%of the time you can just navigate using them no matter where you go.
Very cool. I am a Luddlite at heart and enjoy flying old school (but having the modern tools available). I think it would be entertaining and educational, to see you and Dan, or Josh F. do some old school (simulated) IFR flights, VOR and an ADF type stuff. Keeping the chops sharp here, keep up the great work!!
did not the early airmail have big cement markers around to follow? Found it on You tube " Giant concrete arrows once guided airmail pilots ". and, "Airmail : The quest for speed".
The only way I fly, pilotage and dead reckoning. I do refer to a compass, but really stick your head out and enjoy the view. Map and an E6B flight computer. I used Navy pilot manuals from WWII to learn the old way to navigate.
The problem with computers is that they allow people who don't understand the actual process to use them. It's a double edged sword. On the one hand, it makes things more accessible, which in itself isn't a bad thing; the real issues is that since you rely on the computer itself rather than understanding the process it uses (so to speak) to navigate, so if for whatever reason it stops functioning correctly or you lose access to it, you don't have a backup plan as you don't know how to navigate on your own; you're up the river, you lost your paddle and you didn't think to be prepared with another, so to speak. Even if you don't fully understand how to navigate with precision, understanding the basics of navigation and a keen sense of awareness will get you farther than you can imagine certain situations; that being said, one or the other usually doesn't. Keep in mind, by computer, I am referring to the "glass" as they put it; not an eb6. If you're using an eb6, you are at the very least likely to have a basic understanding of navigation with minimal automation. If not, it wouldn't help you so you probably wouldn't have one anyway. I do feel slightly differently about basic instrumentation; however even with those I would suggest learning the old way of doing things.
Steve nice video. nailed that Brantford landing. although I had a compass & HI while flight training, there were no gps or iPad back then. we only had the map and planning as Denis was explaining. best way to learn, and mine was in winter so the ground looked very little like the map that looks like summer. cheers 2bikemike your st thomas airshow POC.
Haha love the last bit with Brock! Also interesting that I was just thinking about the recent videos vs the earlier ones and the piloting skills content. Look forward to all the future videos from you and the crew Steve!
This, once again... was wonderful. Kudos to you and to Brock for some excellent footage. This hits home for me, especially since transitioning from CA to MI. I was spoiled in CA... excellent visibility and mountain ranges make it easy to keep your situational awareness. But in MI just like ON, everything on the ground looks the same, and you have no horizon cues. I'm still struggling on decisions about my RV-8 panel; electronic wizardry or simple. I want to have BOTH skill sets, so I'm prepared. I'm grateful for the throwback-reality-check this video provides. I bet you were glad for the good visibility, instead of the usual Midwest haze. BEAUTIFUL landings at Branford. And thrilled that Brock closed out the video. I suspect you'll make an aviator of him yet!
Having built and flown a large scale R/C model of a Stearman, I never could do a three point landing. Later I managed to obtain a copy of the pilot's notes and it said, "Do not three point this airplane". Now I see you doing nice wheelies...
Cool, as always. :-) Here in B.C. VFR cross-country flights are more pilotage than navigation. Yes, you have a heading in mind, but in practice you're following a valley, or a road, or a shoreline, watching for landmarks to confirm your position.
Using the angle you cross roads works great in North America where you have a grid system of roads from when your country was colonised. Here in Europe, the shapes on the ground are irregular and not aligned north-south / east-west :)
+Andy Hardy - right, but in that case don't you have more easily identifiable specifics? Like you can find the irregular shapes and patterns on the chart and match them to land marks? Also note, the grids system around here is not always aligned north and south... But it does often look super generic and the same for miles. I think I'd rather have the irregular patterns to look for :)
Yeah that's fair - but a sea of irregularly shaped (but beautiful!) fields over e.g. Devon, Cornwall can all look the same too! :) If you're ever over here in the UK, let me take you out flying over here in my (world's most beautiful) Cherokee (same one I flew from here to Sydney, Australia :) )... you'll be amazed how much is different once you get out of your own region in North America ..! ... would be fun to show you :)
This is clearly flying over the midwest. There's a definite break when you cross into east coast states; property lines and roads suddenly follow terrain features and aren't straight nor are parallel.
I find it unbelievable that flying without an iPad has become such an oddity in some of today’s aviation culture . This is a great video and I’m glad to see that there is an effort by the new generation to learn how to fly an airplane and not just follow a smart device.
Another great one. Beautifully shot and edited as always! Nice to hear about some of the old school methods. I'm a bit nostalgic for dead recokoning and steam gauges to be honest. :)
Technology has made us pilots weak at flying with paper charts. You have inspired me to get the paper out and go for a cross country. Thanks great video
Hey Steve, love your videos, taking my PPL flight test tomorrow at Harvs Air here in Manitoba, your videos have made me love aviation even more, and I didn't think that was possible. Could you tell me the song used at the 0:34 second mark? Your link for the music producer doesn't seem to be working. Thanks!!
Thanks! I'll have to tell Chris his link is down! As for that track - it likely came from "premiumbeat dot com" where I buy many licenses from - I can dig up the info and send you the details - please email me to follow up at flightchops at gmail dot com
Great video. I try to watch as many of your videos as possible. I fail to comment or even give thumbs up sometimes. I'll do better but just know that I do enjoy your flights.
this channel is just awesome, searched Extra 300C videos, watched your advanced aerobatic vid, i think part 2 of that series. then the barfing pax. now subbed! keep it up man! 💯✔✈
Iv'e been binge watching this channel now for the past week. And I have to say, this is my favorite aviation channel! Love this journey with the tail draggers. I hope you get to fly a spitfire :) It's my favorite aircraft! Btw have you ever gotten the chance to fly a tiger moth? Also love those planes. Fly safe! Much love all the way from South Africa :)
Haha - you were first, but didn't feel the need to say "first!" - good one on ya! :) I am also goin' to bed it is after midnight here - Been a long day editing, but I'm happy with how this one came together.
There's an article if the November 2016 Air and Space magazine about an African American's journey to becoming a 767 Captain. He recently flew a Stearman for the first time, which is what his father learned on in the Army. Thought you might find it interesting.
It's tough flying without even a magnetic compass. I don't know what Canadian regulations are, but in the US, a magnetic compass is required for VFR flight. I guess the stearman would pass that requirement, except it's only visible in the rear seat.
@@FlightChops hey man absolutely! you still have good taste (and definitely a better call to spend $10k on flying instead of a watch)! My grandad was a B24 pilot and flew DC-3s after the war for Eastern. Have my discovery flight tomorrow thanks to his inspiration and your channel! If you ever come back to Aurora, Oregon let me know I'll buy you a beer!
Been a while since I caught the video before 1000 views. I enjoyed this one and it's great to hear you're going to do some more "back to basics" content!
Glad to hear it buddy! I was thinking of you watching it during your morning routine... when I was debating staying up past midnight to get the dang thing published before bed. Glad you got to enjoy it so soon!
Just discovered your channel and I'm loving it so far. I'm not a pilot (though I'm interested in becoming an Ag Pilot) I was just wondering, do you have to get certified or something for every aircraft you fly? Or can you just fly it as long as you know all the systems and everything?
My friend Aaron recently answer this question under my latest video ("Night Airshow Behind the Scenes...") Here is hiss answer copy / pasted: Usually when you want to fly a different make/model of aircraft than you've already flown, you'll do what's called a check-out (or check-out on type COT). Often it's with an instructor, but it could just be with someone who has experience with the aircraft. The check-out process might include a written test along with one or more dual flights. A "self-check-out" is when someone basically teaches themself how to fly a new type. Technically it's legal as long as the aircraft is within the same category and doesn't require a type rating. For instance, if you did all your training in a C152, legally you could just hop in a C172 and fly it. You'd be responsible to teach yourself the differences between the two. Of course what's legal doesn't mean recommended, and insurance companies have a lot of say.
Love these old plane videos, that chipmunk is a trip. I always wonder though why people cross over the runway to join the pattern in the downwind. Why not just scoot over a bit and join in the crosswind leg? That way you can actually be in the pattern when you're near the airport and when you call crosswind at a UNICOM other pilots will know exactly where you are.
Because that's how we do it in Canada. When you report mid-field people know where you are. We stay away from the approach and departure ends of the runways unless we are actually taking off or landing.
Have you ever seen a Lear or a Falcon depart from an uncontrolled 6000 foot airstrip? By the time they get to the far end of the runway, they are punching through 1000 feet+, and already switched over to "centre"... and if you cross over head anywhere other than midfield, you will be in danger of scraping the paint. Plus, it's the law in Canada, look it up in CARs if you don't believe me. And.... if that's not enough, it has to do with spotting traffic already on the downwind (you come together at same height, 90 degrees off, gives you both the best chance of spotting each other). Cheers.
back in the late 90s, flying Army helicopters had a guy that was practicing for an assessment so we went out one night (with NVGs) and did this, VFR with fight following from A to B (100 odd miles) with nav legs between.
ATC: you look off course, B is blah, blah blah on the 123 radial.
Us: yeah, roger, we’re negative navaid equiped.
ATC: how are you navigating?
Us: map, compass, a watch, and MK1 eyeballs.
ATC: uh…. roger. call airfield in sight.
Us: WILCO
My uncle has a Stearman and I fly it a lot. It is truly an amazing aircraft, sitting in it it’s hard not to think of the history that surrounds you in the cockpit. From the women that built and delivered it to the young men learning to fly going to fight in the toughest battles the world has seen. After cranking that big radial engine sometimes I sit there while it’s warming and feel very privileged to sit in the seat that many young men first experienced flight.
I watch a lot of your uploads but I have to say I am addicted to this particular one. Nice to see a pilot who appreciates Pilotage and dead reckoning skills. I got my PPL last month and your videos were a most valuable resource.
I haven't flown in years, and the last time I flew was before the portable device era (c. 1998), so dead reckoning and pilotage are all I know. Following roads and smelling cow poop was one of the most joyous parts for me. Someday I will get back into the air.
Oh, and I have flown a Stearman. With a chart for a while, then a moment's inattention, then without a chart.
Hell yeah I flew across the dustbowl sniffin' nothing but cow booty!
I was an Army aviator from 1978-1983. We flew on military reservations such as what is now called The National Training Center at Ft. Irwin CA, Ft. Carson CO and Ft. Hunter Liggett CA. All you had was a topographic (terrain) map, a flashlight (at night) and no co pilot. The Army was transitioning to the "We Fight At Night" doctrine and we trained with night vision goggles that were designed for ground vehicle drivers. What I would have given for a GPS.
+David Pursley - I can't imagine how you guys did that!
Serious question for either of you. I'm currently training for my PPL and going towards my Multi-IFR. I'm starting circuits soon but my pilotage is still shit. Is there something I can do to practice it in between flights so next time I'm up I'm less likely to give my instructor a stroke?
Aside from practice, the biggest thing that helped me is to do a thorough chart recon ahead of time. Knowing what kind of things you are going to be looking for really allows you to keep your head outside more. This may sound weird, but you can also learn to calibrate your finger speed across the chart as you fly, that way a quick reference to the chart and then you're back outside looking!
David Pursley yeah, I remember doing navs with just a topo. Seemed perfectly natural, at the time. NOE at night was always exciting, in the 80's
Dennis is a legend, concise and totally chilled at all times.
Yes, yes he is :)
you're doing it all wrong, just need to fly low enough to read the road signs. nice job, cheers!
Lol.
I've done that before. IFR= I Fly Roads.
Two things. First, I love your stick technique at 6:09. You're not death-gripping it like you're in a dogfight. Second, we rely too much on electronics. Fighter pilots refer to it as Situational Awareness. If you're so wrapped up in your instruments that you fail to see the mountain you're about to fly into, then you lose. Doesn't matter if you're in a dogfight or driving through an intersection. Hang the phone up and drive.
Says the man who has never flown a stearman. Yawn.
That was the standard mode of navigation when I learned to fly and I still use it with electronics as a backup. A trick on holding heading is the angle at which you cross the normal lines on the ground (most of the world (except west Texas) is laid out based on the standard directions, east/west and north/south)
Most of the US. In the UK (and Europe) this wouldn't work unless you're flying over a city which was laid down recently, like Milton Keynes.
"Dennis may or may not go upside-down"
Gonna have to start using that with my passengers :D
3:27 Those are some interesting colors on the ground!
Thats the essence of flying, no distractions, just you and the machine. It maybe primitive by modern standards, but this type of flying will make a real stick and rudder guy out of someone.
Nice! I went to one of the CAF's "Air Power History Tour" stops earlier this summer and while their B-29 "Fifi" was the star of the show quite a few people lined up to take a ride in the Stearman. It's definitely a unique aircraft.
You did great, as always.
That's how we do club-flying in Italy. Just a paper and a clock. Unfortunately, many flying clubs here do not have modern airplanes with modern avionics.
Actually, I think it's more fun!
Add a Nav-Aid Rule to you bag. www.sifeba.com
Real (old school) flying! Well done.
your living the dream man, plan on building my own ultralight with carbon fiber here soon. but its still nothing compared to being able to fly everything you fly, living the dream!
That's a really good tip. "If wind isn't a factor, always land with the sun behind you in a low sun environment" I've never thought of that.
A significant percentage of people have the curse of their brain freezing up when faced with bright strobing of a certain frequency, and that frequency matches pretty closely a prop's rotation on approach. You don't risk that when you can avoid it.
VOR must have been the most amazing thing It still boggles my mind that someone thought of VOR as long ago as it was
Great video. Loved watching you tackle the challenge of paper and your thoughts as you did it. Also thoroughly enjoyed the camera angles on the first landing showing off the perfect landing and the stick and jab rudder control. Dennis has to be proud.
I'm not a pilot, would love to be, can't justify the expense. Thank you for all the videos, I LOVE watching them and look forward to each and every one. The scenery is breathtaking .
John- Do yourself a favor. Find a local airport who offers introductory flights.... Go take a half hour intro. Do yourself that favor. We only have a few precious years on this planet.
I agree. Do that. :)
Try gliding! It can be an order of magnitude cheaper!
Not even a magnetic compass. Phew, that's tough. I think even around here in North-west Germany there are more useful landmarks. Autobahnen, railway lines, rivers, lakes, potash slag heaps, towns with recognisable historic centres or high-rise buildings, ...
So, very well done and thanks for another enjoyable video!
I could've sworn a compass was required equipment on a plane. Can someone enlighten me on exemptions for historic birds (or maybe it's just different in Canada).
I had to go look it up (I know, anal). FAR Part § 91.205 covers minimum equipment. Magnetic direction indicator is in there.
Well, (a) this is a Canadian aircraft, and (b) the airplane has one. It's just not visible from the front seat. I'm sure if a pilot qualified to fly the airplane is in a seat from which he can control the airplane and from which he can see the magnetic compass, that will be fine.
pinkdispatcher I must have missed the part where it did have one but the pilot couldn't see it. I must have assumed that it didn't have a working compass.
It's at 1:30: Dennis: "I have a compass in the back, but of course ...", Steve: "No compass in the front?" - "ern." (shakes head).
I declare this my favorite video on RUclips!! VFR flying at it's purest👍
"...get back to more relatable flying experiences." Careful, I think I lot of us really enjoy the unique situations you're afforded by producing these exceptional videos. Keep 'em coming!
Great stuff and this is the way it used to be. Nice to have a compass in the aircraft. Stearmans are so cool. Look, sound, and fly really good. Thanks for sharing your flight.
I learned in the late 60s in an Aronca, Taylor Craft and Tri Pacer. Not a problem. My instructor was Charlie McAllister whose license was signed by Orville Wright!
I think I need more practice flying in the low lands. In Utah and Idaho, you can't get too lost between the valleys. You did a great job!
Excellent job as always steve! I've been working on aircraft for 7 years but your channel is what rekindled my love for flight. Thank you for what you do!
It is Super rewarding to hear that Jason!
Beautiful video, once more.
Great work, Steve.
Had to laugh when Dennis turned off the mags to hear the radio.
Those are the weird things I love about some aircraft.
Thanks!
I hope someday to get to ride and even fly a Stearman. Love the video. I could watch these all day.
great camera and video quality.
Congratulations!
beautiful landscapes under the fuselage;
beautiful shots;
thank you very much for this event.
super appareil et la qualité des vidéos .
félicitations!
très beaux paysages sous le fuselage;
belles prises de vues;
merci beaucoup pour cette sortie.
LOL! A dead reckonings episode sponsored by Foreflight. Keep making amazing content Steve!
It is nice to know you can do it the old fashion way because you have done it the old fashion way....
Its really a blessing to live in Finland in terms of navigation without GPS. There are over 100 000 lakes in here and 95%of the time you can just navigate using them no matter where you go.
Very cool. I am a Luddlite at heart and enjoy flying old school (but having the modern tools available). I think it would be entertaining and educational, to see you and Dan, or Josh F. do some old school (simulated) IFR flights, VOR and an ADF type stuff. Keeping the chops sharp here, keep up the great work!!
Great video, must have been a thrill to fly into and out of an Airshow in a Stearman.
I can confirm that :)
great video. that part with the radio noise and the magnetos was so interesting ! greetings from austria. keep up the great work, fly safe!
did not the early airmail have big cement markers around to follow?
Found it on You tube " Giant concrete arrows once guided airmail pilots ". and, "Airmail : The quest for speed".
Great production Steve-o!
I used to ferry PA-25's from Maryland to the Florida Border and back. All I had was a chart and a compass. Great fun.
The only way I fly, pilotage and dead reckoning. I do refer to a compass, but really stick your head out and enjoy the view. Map and an E6B flight computer. I used Navy pilot manuals from WWII to learn the old way to navigate.
The problem with computers is that they allow people who don't understand the actual process to use them. It's a double edged sword. On the one hand, it makes things more accessible, which in itself isn't a bad thing; the real issues is that since you rely on the computer itself rather than understanding the process it uses (so to speak) to navigate, so if for whatever reason it stops functioning correctly or you lose access to it, you don't have a backup plan as you don't know how to navigate on your own; you're up the river, you lost your paddle and you didn't think to be prepared with another, so to speak.
Even if you don't fully understand how to navigate with precision, understanding the basics of navigation and a keen sense of awareness will get you farther than you can imagine certain situations; that being said, one or the other usually doesn't.
Keep in mind, by computer, I am referring to the "glass" as they put it; not an eb6. If you're using an eb6, you are at the very least likely to have a basic understanding of navigation with minimal automation. If not, it wouldn't help you so you probably wouldn't have one anyway.
I do feel slightly differently about basic instrumentation; however even with those I would suggest learning the old way of doing things.
Add a Nav-Aid Rule for comfort!!
As a rusty pilot getting back into flying your videos have helped me tremendously. I watch them over and over. Thanks so much. #BoseA20
When Dennis said you can't shock cool a radial engine. is that because it's always in the cool slipstream? I'd like to hear more on this.
I had an awesome day flying and it was nice to conclude it with this great video! Good job :)
Flight Chops videos never let me down.
:)
only discovering this vid now, what an awesome day you had there :)
Steve nice video. nailed that Brantford landing. although I had a compass & HI while flight training, there were no gps or iPad back then. we only had the map and planning as Denis was explaining. best way to learn, and mine was in winter so the ground looked very little like the map that looks like summer.
cheers
2bikemike your st thomas airshow POC.
Glad you liked it and thanks for being an awesome POC!
Haha love the last bit with Brock! Also interesting that I was just thinking about the recent videos vs the earlier ones and the piloting skills content. Look forward to all the future videos from you and the crew Steve!
Thanks buddy! But it is partially your fault that things have been swinging more in the "epic" direction lately :)
Navigating the old school way...find a farmhouse, land and ask for directions.
E Richert volcanoes
Just don't buy the farm
"You can't get there from here!"
Nice landing chops! Old school charts, good deal!
This, once again... was wonderful. Kudos to you and to Brock for some excellent footage. This hits home for me, especially since transitioning from CA to MI. I was spoiled in CA... excellent visibility and mountain ranges make it easy to keep your situational awareness. But in MI just like ON, everything on the ground looks the same, and you have no horizon cues. I'm still struggling on decisions about my RV-8 panel; electronic wizardry or simple. I want to have BOTH skill sets, so I'm prepared. I'm grateful for the throwback-reality-check this video provides. I bet you were glad for the good visibility, instead of the usual Midwest haze. BEAUTIFUL landings at Branford. And thrilled that Brock closed out the video. I suspect you'll make an aviator of him yet!
Right on thanks Buddy! I can't wait to see your RV-8! That is totally in my top 5 aircraft I'd want to own!
Love the sound of a Stearman!
Having built and flown a large scale R/C model of a Stearman, I never could do a three point landing. Later I managed to obtain a copy of the pilot's notes and it said, "Do not three point this airplane". Now I see you doing nice wheelies...
Always nice to see a new stearman video! thx a lot!
Great job flying pilotage! And of course, great video :-)
Old school = best school. Great video!
I love flying just by paper map. Makes navigating so much more fun! :)
Nice! Love it flying to an airshow. I jump at some airshows and love that community.
I need to do a proficiency flight with just paper. It's pretty easy to get spoiled with my iPad and fore flight. Cool vid as always Steve!!!
Thanks for more Friday morning fun!!
Cool, as always. :-)
Here in B.C. VFR cross-country flights are more pilotage than navigation. Yes, you have a heading in mind, but in practice you're following a valley, or a road, or a shoreline, watching for landmarks to confirm your position.
Couple of caps in his ignition system would fix that noise. Old Fords used to have one on their ignition coil for the exact same reason.
Using the angle you cross roads works great in North America where you have a grid system of roads from when your country was colonised. Here in Europe, the shapes on the ground are irregular and not aligned north-south / east-west :)
+Andy Hardy - right, but in that case don't you have more easily identifiable specifics? Like you can find the irregular shapes and patterns on the chart and match them to land marks? Also note, the grids system around here is not always aligned north and south... But it does often look super generic and the same for miles. I think I'd rather have the irregular patterns to look for :)
Yeah that's fair - but a sea of irregularly shaped (but beautiful!) fields over e.g. Devon, Cornwall can all look the same too! :)
If you're ever over here in the UK, let me take you out flying over here in my (world's most beautiful) Cherokee (same one I flew from here to Sydney, Australia :) )... you'll be amazed how much is different once you get out of your own region in North America ..! ... would be fun to show you :)
This is clearly flying over the midwest. There's a definite break when you cross into east coast states; property lines and roads suddenly follow terrain features and aren't straight nor are parallel.
Flight Chops is out of Canada.
I find it unbelievable that flying without an iPad has become such an oddity in some of today’s aviation culture . This is a great video and I’m glad to see that there is an effort by the new generation to learn how to fly an airplane and not just follow a smart device.
I had a chance to get a ride in a Stearman at Greenwood lake airport N.Y it was a blast.
Another great video. Thanks.
Another great one. Beautifully shot and edited as always! Nice to hear about some of the old school methods. I'm a bit nostalgic for dead recokoning and steam gauges to be honest. :)
Thanks!
Extremely smooth touch down bud!
Technology has made us pilots weak at flying with paper charts. You have inspired me to get the paper out and go for a cross country. Thanks great video
Take a Nav-Aid-Rule with you. www.sifeba.com
I like your silver wrist watch with the rotaing bezel. Am looking for one like that, any suggestions?
Hey Steve, love your videos, taking my PPL flight test tomorrow at Harvs Air here in Manitoba, your videos have made me love aviation even more, and I didn't think that was possible. Could you tell me the song used at the 0:34 second mark? Your link for the music producer doesn't seem to be working. Thanks!!
Thanks! I'll have to tell Chris his link is down! As for that track - it likely came from "premiumbeat dot com" where I buy many licenses from - I can dig up the info and send you the details - please email me to follow up at flightchops at gmail dot com
Great video. I try to watch as many of your videos as possible. I fail to comment or even give thumbs up sometimes. I'll do better but just know that I do enjoy your flights.
i actually saw my neighborhood when they were on final for Bratford
this channel is just awesome, searched Extra 300C videos, watched your advanced aerobatic vid, i think part 2 of that series. then the barfing pax. now subbed! keep it up man! 💯✔✈
Awesome! welcome! enjoy the back catalog! nearly 100 episodes now
Iv'e been binge watching this channel now for the past week. And I have to say, this is my favorite aviation channel! Love this journey with the tail draggers. I hope you get to fly a spitfire :) It's my favorite aircraft! Btw have you ever gotten the chance to fly a tiger moth? Also love those planes. Fly safe! Much love all the way from South Africa :)
Thanks and welcome to the channel! I definitely have plans to fly a tigermoth soon, and the long term goal is to achieve the Spitfire check out!
Great content as usual. You have great images and editing skills...
+canuckleaf - friendly feedback appreciated :)
That looks so fun!
What a great video thank you for sharing these great moments
And I was just about to go to bed... :3
Haha - you were first, but didn't feel the need to say "first!" - good one on ya! :) I am also goin' to bed it is after midnight here - Been a long day editing, but I'm happy with how this one came together.
***** Yeah, so far (about 6 minutes in), it turned out really well as they all do. Have a good night, see ya!
Awesome!
Im looking fwd to finishing and flying something similar
Thank u again!
Another nice video, Steve. Good job.
Great flight!
There's an article if the November 2016 Air and Space magazine about an African American's journey to becoming a 767 Captain. He recently flew a Stearman for the first time, which is what his father learned on in the Army. Thought you might find it interesting.
Some nice landings there!
It's tough flying without even a magnetic compass. I don't know what Canadian regulations are, but in the US, a magnetic compass is required for VFR flight. I guess the stearman would pass that requirement, except it's only visible in the rear seat.
love the submariner man! just noticed it. didn't think i could possibly like this channel any more....but i do!
Haha - awesome...
But, will you still respect me if I admit that it is a fake Rolex? 😬
@@FlightChops hey man absolutely! you still have good taste (and definitely a better call to spend $10k on flying instead of a watch)! My grandad was a B24 pilot and flew DC-3s after the war for Eastern. Have my discovery flight tomorrow thanks to his inspiration and your channel! If you ever come back to Aurora, Oregon let me know I'll buy you a beer!
Wanna live this way! Thank you guys!!!
Again, another awesome video!!!!
Nice Landings! Cool.
Phew, you're in the Stearman. I thought you were going to leave us for the dark side and never return from helicopters.
Flying old school you learn a lot about terrain #BoseA20#
Been a while since I caught the video before 1000 views. I enjoyed this one and it's great to hear you're going to do some more "back to basics" content!
Glad to hear it buddy! I was thinking of you watching it during your morning routine... when I was debating staying up past midnight to get the dang thing published before bed. Glad you got to enjoy it so soon!
What kind of kneeboard is that? and how do you like it? Could you do a video about your flight gear?
aaahhh beauty! I am truly jealous!
Great video in a beautiful plane.
Just discovered your channel and I'm loving it so far. I'm not a pilot (though I'm interested in becoming an Ag Pilot) I was just wondering, do you have to get certified or something for every aircraft you fly? Or can you just fly it as long as you know all the systems and everything?
My friend Aaron recently answer this question under my latest video ("Night Airshow Behind the Scenes...")
Here is hiss answer copy / pasted:
Usually when you want to fly a different make/model of aircraft than you've already flown, you'll do what's called a check-out (or check-out on type COT).
Often it's with an instructor, but it could just be with someone who has experience with the aircraft.
The check-out process might include a written test along with one or more dual flights. A "self-check-out" is when someone basically teaches themself how to fly a new type.
Technically it's legal as long as the aircraft is within the same category and doesn't require a type rating. For instance, if you did all your training in a C152, legally you could just hop in a C172 and fly it.
You'd be responsible to teach yourself the differences between the two.
Of course what's legal doesn't mean recommended, and
insurance companies have a lot of say.
Now, I'd imagine this would be the one good time you'd want a topographic quadrangle map so you can match more features
Another great video!
Love these old plane videos, that chipmunk is a trip. I always wonder though why people cross over the runway to join the pattern in the downwind. Why not just scoot over a bit and join in the crosswind leg? That way you can actually be in the pattern when you're near the airport and when you call crosswind at a UNICOM other pilots will know exactly where you are.
Because that's how we do it in Canada. When you report mid-field people know where you are. We stay away from the approach and departure ends of the runways unless we are actually taking off or landing.
Have you ever seen a Lear or a Falcon depart from an uncontrolled 6000 foot airstrip? By the time they get to the far end of the runway, they are punching through 1000 feet+, and already switched over to "centre"... and if you cross over head anywhere other than midfield, you will be in danger of scraping the paint. Plus, it's the law in Canada, look it up in CARs if you don't believe me. And.... if that's not enough, it has to do with spotting traffic already on the downwind (you come together at same height, 90 degrees off, gives you both the best chance of spotting each other). Cheers.
Pretty cool!
That was really great!