Two Years Later and I Still Can’t Land This Airplane
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
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**Thanks For Watching, You’re Awesome**
Seriously this is getting ridiculous, who wants to see me land the Pitts?
Lol.
I do.
Haha. You’ll need to practice in MFS first, or go in blind and do the smoothest landing ever!
hey no hints! 😜
Full send, Daniel!
There is nothing in the FAR specifically prohibiting responding to ATC with “Alrighty thanks babe”
I agree 😜
I have been flying Pitts Special for 25 years. I have both an S1S and an S2A. From what I have seen these are all normal Pitts landings. They are safe, controlled and MOST importantly you are willing to go around. This is probably the one thing that will serve you the best. You are calm, focused, have a clear understanding of the critical basics and recognize early enough when it isn’t worth trying to save a landing. You can’t do better if you are not doing this full time, i.e. air show pilot or something similar. While always striving to improve is important, don’t forget to enjoy your abilities and your airplane. It is meant to be fun!
Carry on…
Note to Helpers---NEVER NEVER NEVER stand that close to a runway when a Pitts or other Tail Dragger Type planes land close by. You NEVER know when the pilot will lose control of the tail and ground loop or turn and hit you. Best of luck with the Pitts. Great Plane.
I sold my old Starduster II biplane to a Doctor from South Carolina. I stood on the runway behind him while he jumped in the airplane and took off. He refused any dual instruction from me. He just wanted to get going to fly home. He used every inch of that grass runway darting left and right before he had enough air speed to pull up nearly vertically. He stalled and then almost crashed in the ground. He then gained control although porpoising from over correcting and flew away. I'll never forget that morning. It still gives me chills.
@@pittss2c601 I started my flying career when I was 14 and my instructor was 17. LOL Oh what we could do back then. I got damn good at the J-3. Even learned to prop it over---no one else available. I flew out of Fla-Bob located in Riverside. Best small airport in the world in my opinion. Have lunch with the owner FLavio many times and learned how to wash planes working for Art Scholl. If you want to see the BEST pilot in the world, look him up. So many great people to learn from at that airport. I bought a set of plans for the LS version of the Pitts S2. Some day I'd like to build it. It's called the Copy-Cat. Be good and keep the dirty side DOWN.
@@Flapswgm I've visited flabob many times. It's the home of the Starduster biplane. Awesome sport flying airport. And I certainly know of Art Scholl. An outstanding Pitts pilot. It's cool that you actually knew the man.
@@pittss2c601 The funny thing about my first meeting with Art Scholl came about because I used to hang out at the airport and do stuff for hanger owners like cleaning and stuff. I had been there for about a year when someone told me the man at the end wanted me to clean his place and he'd pay me. I jumped on it to support my radio controlled fun and met with Art but I didn't know anything about him. All I saw was the Chipmunk and the Pitts in this pristine hanger with a Decathlon parked outside under the canopy. He told me he wanted the floor mopped and the planes washed and he'd teach me just what to do if I wanted the job. I started that day. I never put two and two together until my dad and I went to an airshow at Riverside and I saw the Chipmunk fly by with Art inside. I just then realized who he was. I will tell you he was a strict man when it came to perfection. I remember him really angry at Caroline Salsbery (not sure I have her names spelled right) when they came back from aero school practice over Lake Mathews and he yelled at her "When you enter a loop at 3000, you finish at 3000---NOT 3005. LOL He got on me too for not cleaning the panel well enough. I LEARNED. He was a great guy to talk to. I wish I had his class when I was in college. By the way---I bet you didn't know that Flay-Bob was built by Flavio Madriaga and Robert his war buddy --never knew his last name thus the name Flay-Bob ---out of Wooden Shipping Crates from WWII. Flavio contacted someone and all of a sudden thousands and thousands of wood ship crates were on the field. They built all the original hangers out of them. The place was home to Scorpion Helicopters, Aerotec, Stoll, several airshow guys including Sarcasian the wing walker, an aircraft paint company, and several furniture companies, and was the place they built the WWI biplanes for the movies. A few movies were also filmed there. Seems I lived there from the age of 10 when I started my flying bug.
@@Flapswgm That is an awesome story. You should speak at a forum at the Oshkosh airshow about the history of Flabob airport and your experiences. It would be packed with people. I volunteer there each year and I know you would be a hit. I had forgotten it was the home airport for Scorpion Helicopters. Of course, you always have perfect weather in Rubidoux, CA. Just lots of congestion with people & buildings everywhere around the airport. Not great for an emergency power off situation. I did not know the background for the name of the airport although it does mention that on its Wikipedia page. You were lucky to have lived there during an amazing time in sport aviation.
I still love watching Art fly on reruns of the old Chips TV shows. He flew his Pitts and Chipmunk on a few of the episodes. He flew his Pitts under Robby Knievel while he jumped his motorcycle. Very cool.
I've been missing this channel. God bless!!
Thanks a ton Nathaniel, you too!
Hi Nathaniel! Same feelings! since he's not too active on RUclips, I just found an alternative channel to watch content like this, check it yourself, it's James Asquith's channel and he's making fantastic aviation content! But I'll stay and wait for Ben's new vlog again as usual :)
This is super cool :) glad to see you posting again
No way mr chicken slapper!!! Dang Louis I watch you’re videos, not vice versa 😅 that’s just insane 🤯 say hi to Peter for me 😜
Hi louis big fan my brother had doubts about the meat slapper (I also like the ways to cut cheap wood, i learned how to make a house with a hammer, nails, and a curb!)
Louis!
Rip lmfao
The best part about a pitts is you don't have to look for a place to land when the engine quits, because it's right below you
Ah, you've never flown an Agcat before. The Pitts is a competition glider by comparison. I hold cruise power in the pattern and keep it there until I get over the fence.
@@Skinflaps_Meatslapper Oh god I'm sure lol
A Pitts has the glide slope of a steel manhole cover.
@@jimarcher5255 And the cat has a glideslope of a drogue chute LOL
@@jimarcher5255 actually it glides better than you would think power off with the prop stopped. I ran out of fuel one time in my S1S while flying inverted at about 2500 ft AGL. I had plenty of time to glide to my grass field close by. I was surprised how well it glided engine off. However with that big fixed pitched prop you decelerate hard when it loses power that quickly. It forcefully pushes you into your shoulder straps. It glides so much better than ultralights, breezy, gyroplanes, helicopters etc. It's just very blind.
Wow! That’s really cool in flying this type of aircraft!
I’m the cadet of the fly academy located in KMHR!
Though I’m already go back to my country, I still extremely miss the sky in Sacramento!
Thank you for filming the videos that make me recall how it feels when flying in KMHR F72 and all the things around in Sacramento area!
Hey that’s awesome and thanks for the comment! Have fun and stay safe wherever you are 😎
“Thanks babe” ? Omg I didn’t know you had a girlfriend? Can you introduce her in the next video? Lol 😂
If she let's down her hair from the tower in which she resides, then maybe I'll let you have a look
Who doesn't have a girlfriend? I guess I don't.
LIZZZZZ!
@⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ rip
@⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ sorry about that man
Thanks for posting. As a new bi-plane pilot myself (acro sport 2) I feel for you. After I get my plane back up from winter maintenance in a couple of weeks I will be polishing the rust off myself. Fortunately I fly off a grass strip which really takes some of the excitement out of the touchdowns. At the end of the season I had my grass landings down but still need to work on the hard surface.
And I feel for you 😅 Thanks for watching David!
I noticed your first landing you FLEW the Pitts on to the runway. "sweet touch down" ........nice transition. After that the focus was LANDING the Pitts on the runway. It's a subtle difference but it seemed to change things a bit. Great video keep the fun factor going! I'll be watching. It's motivation to pick up the pace of building my S1C.
I think you’re exactly right Shawn... thanks for watching!
@@BenLomov you’re going too fast
Everyone thinks they want to fly with the pilot that greases the landing, I'd rather fly with the pilot that knows when to go around. Your most valuable asset as a pilot is being able to make good decisions, and you consistently did that. Well done.
haha thanks a bunch for that Brett!
While taking the test for my instrument license, I botched the approach by coming in too high, had to do a go around.........I passed though.
I wouldn´t say your landings are bad - hey this is a Pitts! Just remember this thing can bite any time!
thanks!
As Curtis Pitts always said, "There is no such thing as a squirrely airplane, just squirrely pilots".
And he was right, I was definitely the sloppy one, not the plane
@Roger Felton Yeah. I sometimes wonder if the pilots black out (the plane is tougher than the pilots) and lose orientation when they come around. These overpowered beasts with large control surfaces should be able to recover from any attitude. The lomcevak comes to mind re airshow crashes
@Roger Felton It's the low altitude of airshow aerobatics. I was taught "always fly 3 mistakes high". You can make at least 3 mistakes recovering from a bad maneuver before you reach the ground. Fly high always. I like 5,000 ft agl. I flew an Extra in Hawaii. The owner demanded a minimum of 3,000 agl over the water for acro. I also flew the 2 place One Design with the designer Dan Rihn. He required 5,000 agl over the water for acro just west of LAX.
@Roger Felton Wow, I'm very sorry to hear that. He was very young. It also meant he didn't have a lot of experience. The same thing happened to Jim Leroy who flew the Bulldog Pitts. He was an outstanding Pitts & helicopter pilot who simply got disoriented in the airshow smoke. He too however was too low to recover. Practice your aerobatics at 5,000 ft AGL or higher.
@Roger Felton Jim was 60 years old. He was way too low and slow for his small engine to pull him out of his dive. He was flying a Pitts S2A which is a dog. Heavy, large frame with low horsepower.
"Witnesses reported that the plane did not have sufficient airspeed at the start of the sequence to keep from crashing at the bottom of the dive"
YES!!! ANOTHER UPLOAD!! I found your channel about two weeks ago and watched every video! I was sad that there wasn't an upload for 4 months... and then I see this! My day just turned into an *awesome* Friday!
Haha thanks Jacob! You’re awesome 😎
Jacob is Cool!!!
Love your plane, love your videos.
I don't fly a Pitts myself, so I really can't tell for sure, however it looks as if you could do with a little less speed on landing. You're forcing her onto the ground at a speed where the wings obviously aren't done flying yet. Hence the bounces.
My landings used to be like this until I took the time to practice a lot of stalls, noting how much higher I had to pull the nose prior to stalling. And then use that confidence to lower my landing speeds. Made landings so much easier....
Good luck taming that little red rocket and have fun!!
Dude you and crew need to do more of these. I want to take a vote, who wants a video weekly!!!?
Dude you're basically living my dream! I'm 22 and my first flying lesson is in a few weeks. Have always loved aerobatics, airshows, and Pitts biplanes, but have only recently found the time to start working towards my PPL. I really wanna do what you do some day!
Keep up the awesome videos man!
Thanks man and good luck! You got this!
Good luck
This truck is pretty close to the runway.... You never know what can happen Bud. Beautiful plane and great practice. Go Flying!
Kudos to you for putting this out there. If more pilots would be as humble as you, we would have less accidents.
Thank you!
Hi Ben. I have around 650 hours in taildraggers and I used to pursue ideal landings like you. For a Pitts, these were mostly entirely acceptable. Your last one was demonstrated a point I'd like to make - keep holding off as long as you can until the plane won't fly any more. At this point, you're 6-12 inches off the runway and it will settle and stay there. It doesn't stall on from that height - it's in ground effect. It's also not a problem if - like your last landing - you touch the tailwheel first. This then brings the nose down, simultaneously lowering the angle of the attack of the wings so they stop flying and, again, it will stay put on the ground. I hope this helps. Your absence of complacency is a great strength.
Really enjoyed this video, appreciate the frank and honest self-appraisal too. Amazed at the rate of descent before touch-down! Amateur ex-PA-140 and current Rans S6 stick-waggler here.
Love that ATC voiceover, and the go pro slowly hanging its head down in shame, hahahahaha your sense of humor is amazing
lol glad you liked it man!!!
It's not funny at all but it's so funny. Smile is on my face
@@13_cmi haha 😛
I owned an S2A some years back. Got about 400 hrs in the seat. Learning to land ... so many bounces with 3 point.
The best way I found was wheel landing. From base to final, altitude 700 to 800 ft. Slip it down at about a 75 degree angle at 1200 RPM. It just drops out of the sky.
About 10 ft above runway, bring the wings level., nose / tail. on a flat plain. Gives full view forward. Let mains touch, tail still in the air.
With mains solid on the ground, pull power back to idle, The tail automatically touches the ground.
Wheel landings with a tail wheel, easy. Additional ... fly more!
Thanks for sharing!
I once gave a guy a BFR in a two place Pitts. After one of the landings he said, "It doesn't get any better, you just get used to it." I've seen a lot of Pitts flying and you're doing pretty well. Don't sweat the greasers.
Those are not bad landings. Even the best pilots don't grease it every time. I would continue making good landings like you are, and enjoy the greasers when they happen.
Great video ! Don’t be too hard on yourself. I’ve got a Aviat Pitts S 2 c and I’ve found tire pressure can make a difference.
Thanks for the tips!
Hey that and stiffness of landing gear make big difference in my RC planes.. the shock from a piece of gravel can bounce plane as skimming grass down length of runway, on "light runway pass"
Hard to keep equilibrium after reacting!
Watching this made me want to fly again. I felt at the controls for every single thing you were doing! What fun that was for a 67 year old fat pilot. 99% of my hours were in taildraggers. I owned 11 of them over the years back in the 1970s and 1980s. I see people comparing Citabria landings to the Pitts. A Citabria lands very easily, nothing like a Pitts, especially equipped with flaps like the 7GCBC. My 90HP IFR Luscombe 8F is the only airplane that ever bit me. I ground looped it doing a full stall three point landing the first day I had it. Broke a landing gear into the fuselage skipping sideways and dented the belly (no prop strike fortunately) but also got a wing tip and an aluminum wheels pant. Cost $8,000 in repairs back in 1982. This accident stunned me since my first landing was a perfect 2 point "wheel landing". My friend had a Pitts like yours and he refused to fly my Luscombe after my incident. But he never let me fly his Pitts. I think I could do it after watching your video.
I agree with you. I learned tail wheel in a Citabria, basic aerobatics in a S2A, and owned a third of a Luscombe a few years ago. You are right, you can't compare a Citabria to a Pitts. The Pitts has big control surfaces to help put it in position, but it lands fast and the short distance front to back makes it a real handful. Like Gary said above, those all looked like normal landings in a Pitts. Budd Davisson has flown a Pitts for decades, teaches in them, and wrote a good book about them. Budd said in his book, "The landing is always in doubt."
I’m transitioning into a fast tailwheel and this video has been very helpful for me ‘chair flying’ in between flights. Perfect camera mounting. It feels like the same sight picture as it does in real life. Thanks!
Thanks a bunch and good luck with your training!
This was a completely different video than what is usually seen. Excellent commentary and frankly of a skeptical at the start. I own and fly a Tailwind W8 and the only landings you make that are really good are the ones that nobody's watching you do. You nailed it when you said too much practice can be detrimental. Planning any airplane is fatiguing but when you're in a short couple airplane that may not be difficult to fly but is sensitive it adds to it. The pitch is always an airplane I gravitate to when I see them. It's on my bucket list to fly one if not own one. Although I probably go for the S2 in some form. I'm not an aerobatic pilot but more of a sporty flyer. I've been at it for 36 plus years well 37 actually and just feel like a kid every time I get into an airplane. Great job on this all of you.
Loved this video! I had 7 go arounds in a row on my first flight in the Skybolt after my solo because I moved to a shorter narrower runway and, just like your 8th? landing/go around, I was coming in way too fast. The next couple flights where I only practiced patterns like you did in the video I felt the same way, 1 hr of patterns is exhausting! Keep up the great work!
Thanks man! Ya I saw that on your Instagram and totally get the struggle 😅
Watching this actually makes my heart hurt, I miss flying so much! I soloed in a Piper Cub with 4 hours of duel in 1963. Hartlee Field in Denton Texas. Turf runway. I was 18. Practicing T&L's was my favorite thing to do. Slips and crabbing... loved it. I flew all the Cessna single engine planes and the Piper Cherokee. I now fly RC planes...Pitts Specials of which I have five different sizes. I fly aerobatics, including the occasional Lommy, if I get lucky! Absolutely loved this video. Pardon me... I'm getting verklimpt. Michael
Haha that’s bittersweet but I’m glad you enjoyed it! Hopefully I’ll have more out soon
I really enjoyed the first take off. I love the fact you can see below your feet
Thanks man! And ya it’s a pretty neat feature
Hi Ben, Thanks for sharing your knocking-the-rust-off flight. I agree with you that Pitts pilots need to fly 'em at least once a week; wish I could. I thought your landings were fine. Hard-surface landings in a Pitts amplify every little wobble. Glad to see the go-arounds - IMO they are an indicator of a pilot with his head screwed on straight. From my experience in training and flying with others, the best Pitts pilots don't get slow on final, don't try to land short, and always go around if it doesn't feel right. Thanks again, -Jeff
Most Pitts pilots make the mistake of flying too fast on final. That's the #1 mistake. A Pitts S1S lands beautifully although you must control the speed perfectly on every landing. It is not hard. It takes practice and lots of concentration on every landing. I always landed as short as possible with my old Pitts. I had too on my short and super narrow grass strip. It makes you an excellent pilot over time. Long paved runways are easy.
Thanks for watching Jeff!
He risked his life in one video and he doesn’t have a million subs. I’m gonna make sure you reach 1 million subscribers.
I agree 1000% lol!
Lol make it two million while you’re at it 😛
Fun to watch! I had a Pitts S-1C so know how it goes. It looks like you are dropping it in on approach and carrying too much speed. Also when you are focusing on the flare you have a tendency to drift to the right so you're not concentrating on keeping it straight when you touchdown and that always makes for some excitement. For practice try starting a takeoff roll at 70% power and focus on keeping the plane exactly on the centerline (no deviations). As the tail comes up slowly reduce to idle and and let the tail settle back to the ground. When the tail touches smoothly bring the stick full back and hold it there all the while keeping the plane exactly on the centerline. When you can consistently do this without leaving the centerline go back to landing practice. Carry about 10mph/8knots slower than you have been with a lower approach and a touch of power. That will eliminate the rapid arresting flare that you're doing. I taught my wife (I know I'm an idiot) and my son these techniques and they worked out well. Good luck and keep working at it.
I know your frustration. With more than 4k hour just in taildraggers, most of which is in a Maule M4, short coupled, high hp and light weight I think I can identify with your position. I transitioned out of a gentle taildragger with about 300 hours in it. When I first flew the M4 I thought I knew how to take off and land a taildragger. That was a massive delusion. I found a real taildragger instructor. To this day I can hear him: “fly the airplane, fly the numbers fly it until it stops”. We practiced from the best to worst conditions, gentle direct down the runway breeze to massive strong gusty crosswinds that were almost 90 degrees from heading. I graduated when I could repeatedly plant one main wheel on the center line and highspeed taxi on that one wheel the runways entire length and lift off in the last 200 to 300 feet in crosswind conditions. I remember being quite discouraged at times. Here is what I learned: be way ahead of the aircraft, sense and see the slightest deviation from controlled flight. Use small gentle inputs before they are necessary. I always remember that if I fail to pay proper, full time fidelity to it, it will eat me. It does not like to share. It is very jealous of my attention. I love your Pitts. Always wanted to fly the heck out of one.
Thanks for sharing Fred!
Nothing more humbling than a Pitts. Most of those landings weren't terrible. You can see the ordinary landings were a result of high sink rate on late final. I fly a Mustang II; I feel your pain.
This is another great video, Ben. I'm working on my tailwheel endorsement in a Citabria right now and my progress isn't great and the Citabria is supposed to be pretty easy by tailwheel standards: good visibility and pretty effective rudder all the way through. Kinda wish this video had more Liz, though.
🤣🤣🤣 we all do but she didn't want to be in it 😐 and you'll get it eventually, I remember my training in a Citabria and if was difficult to get used to even though it's supposed to be "easy". Nothing is easy when it's new to you
Only 42k subs? How? You're amazing my friend, been been watching some of your videos. The Pitts has a two seater i think and i was literally talking to the wife about getting one. You are awesome too watch and I really hope your channel gets out there a little more, the production quality and you are on point. Keep it up man.
Just remember a stable landing begins with a stable approach. P factor, torque etc are "easier" the slower you put in/pull the power or change the attitude (e.g. swapping ends to flare). Just be as smooth as you can with it and it'll come. Dont try too hard.
Thanks for the tips! I agree 100%
Thank you so much for your honesty. I flew my Eagle today after a 6 month hiatus..... I recalled your video...
lol ya it can be a bit nerve-racking... thanks for watching!
@@BenLomov you’re Wlc! Yes in deed.... the s1 is even a bit more exciting than the Eagle....imho
Hey man! Couldn’t help but notice this. It may just be from the airplane sitting, but on almost every takeoff when you go full power, the engine sputters slightly and a cloud of blue smoke comes from the exhaust. Might be the rings reseating or a bad scraper ring. Might be worth keeping an eye on it.
Love the content man. Keep it up!
Saw and heard that too. My initial impression is that he's taxiing full rich.
Hey guys thanks for looking out, I really do appreciate it. And I noticed that too and really do think that it’s from the airplane sitting a while. But then to be honest I’ve never seen my landings from the side so I wouldn’t know about the smoke beforehand. I had to clear the mags in the run up before the flight so that might explain the sputter, but I almost feel like the airplane always sputtered slightly when I would advance the throttle. However I always taxi leaned out, though I’m full rich even when at altitude when doing acro. So that might play a part. Either way I’ll keep an eye out and talk to my mechanic just to be safe, thanks for the tips!
@@BenLomov sounds like it might have been a little oil fouled from sitting. If it persists, run mineral oil in it for 25hrs to re-seat the rings. I won’t send you a bill, just buy me a beer at Sun N Fun haha!
lol Joseph that's pretty funny and thanks again for the tips... remind me of this conversation if you ever see me in person, I'll make something happen! 😜
She's just rich. Jamming the throttle in a go-around from idle adds a ton of excess fuel via the enrichment jet, it's expected if you give it throttle too quickly.
Cool. Pet the dog, hug the pretty lady, fist bump your bro, and you better not even scuff that awesome airplane! On another note, damn that thing has some serious get up and go! Pitts have always been one of my favorites to watch fly. I've only ever landed helicopters, so I can't say much, but it always seemed to me to just keep it right and let it happen. I hope that makes sense, but it probably don't. I think all of your go-arounds were good calls though. Thanks for sharing and fly safe!!!
Hi Ben, love your content and I actually started taking lessons January of this year (I'm 13 btw) but while scrolling through RUclips I stumbled across one of your videos and I was amazed by you so I will try my best to beat you at an aerobatic competition when I get my pilots license. Keep up the great work. 👍
Go for it, but let's be honest here... you won't beat me 😜
@@BenLomov I'll remember that when I beat you
Can't See a bad landing. All good. My respect for you. I am only a model aeroplane pilot but i own a RC Pitts in 30% Scale size and i know how difficult these planes are to land. So really good Job:-)
Your rate of descent is alarming, all that speed is why a slight movement of the yoke is floating so much
Here comes some shitcoment from maybe the best CFI in the world, go fly planes in GTA V
@@agustincian6300 nope man! He just nailed it, probably that excess of energy, force him to pull a lot more on the stick and translates in floating in ground effect on the runway.
Bid may have been sped up for content in shorter time
@@agustincian6300 Genuinely curious what a "shitcoment" is. Is that like a large pile of feces in space that we can see in a telescope?
Excellent video Ben! An S1 is no joke & you did a splendid job .. keep it up.
Thanks a ton!
Thats the deal, what aerobatic aircraft gain in maneuverability, they lose in landing capabilities
A-firm
Not true. Aerobatic airplanes land beautifully. As Curtis Pitts once said, "There is no such thing as a squirrely airplane, just squirrely pilots".
@@pittss2c601 why are you such a dick?
@@franciscoserra3616 I'm not. I just have a lot of time flying and landing Aerobatic airplanes such as the Pitts Special, Extra and One Design airplanes.
May the Lord continue to Bless this Unique Young Man, and keep him, and his family, Safe!
"YVerrkikha Adoni V'yshmerkha, Ya'er Adoni Pnav Alekha V'Huneckha, Yisa Adoni Pnav Alekha Visim Lekha Shalom."
P.S. I'd bet your Pitts would be easier to land with the original length wings!
Haha thanks and I’d bet you’re right!
I’ve been looking forward to more videos from you! Thanks so much!! 😄
Thank you!
Ive just came across this youtube channel lately and im so glad i did as its a brill channel im a fan now.
👍👍 up from Rep Ireland 🇮🇪.
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!!
You are too hard on yourself! The Pitts is a absolutely fantastic airplane, although extremely difficult to control when the aerodynamics of the aircraft transition from flying to an ancillary role as a ground vehicle.
Flight, to this day, remains a balance of thurst/lift/airspeed (not to be confused with ground speed). Most conventional general aviation aircraft have a wide envelope in regards to what I call the 'Holy Trinity of Flight' where the aircraft/vehicle transforms itself from flying machine to ground machine, where the geometry of a taildragger is less than optimal, and this remains an understatement! It's why 'ground-looping' is nearly impossible in today's tri-geared aeroplanes, but remains one of Curtis Pitt's legacy, that of short-coupled taildraggers. Thanks again for the video, and IMO, 9 out of 10 of your landings in the short-coupled Pitts were absolutely acceptable, if not actually 'spot-on'!
haha thank you!
Ben lomov: Pitts-pilot doing non-pitts stuff with a pitts ^^ Your videos are always a pleasure to watch, greetings from France !
haha that's me!! lol aerobatics are coming soon too! 😜
I flew this plane in flight simulator. Couldn’t land it if my life depended on it 😂 love the channel. Keep making videos!!
😂🤣 thanks for watching!
YES DUDE THANKS FOR THAT FLY BY AT THE END!!!! GOOSE BUMPS ALL OVER! i was a airplane mechanic for some years and i have been a rc pilot since i was 7 and really wanna get my pilot license one day! sadly its all really expansive here in the Netherlands to get you lisence, buy and own a plane etc......
Glad you enjoyed it!
Beautiful plane, don't beat yourself up on the landings honestly they are quite good i was just at the airport for some flying and not many people had a landing as good as yours. Yes they were a little bumpy but a lot better than some of the people i saw landing. Love your videos, hope your having and continue to have a great day :D. You are one of the people that inspired me to become a pilot!
Thank you!
Wow this is amazing. You should do another long trip. Maybe up the west coast.
“I wonder if my bad landings lie awake nights thinking about me as much as I lie awake thinking about them?” But seriously, you need to be careful about over-training. When I do landing practice, I limit it to 5 full stop landings, no matter how well or how poorly I do them. You are 100% right about how fatiguing this is. A fatigued pilot is at risk of making a catastrophic error. Also, touch-and-go landings do not give me enough time to do a true critique of each landing, which is mostly why I do a full stop and taxi back to the runway threshold before taking off for the next cycle. I can then put my thoughts in order as to what I want to change on the next cycle without simultaneously having to manage my takeoff and flying the pattern. YMMV, but it’s what works for me.
I wouldn't worry about it too much, ag pilots fly all day long and land several dozen times a day. It's far more important to recognize fatigue than it is to put a number to it, because that number can change from day to day.
I started out instructing in a S2-A and Citabria. Firstly, you’re not over correcting on the rudder which is the biggest problem most folks have. A couple of suggestions. Get out on a taxiway or closed runway and just sit there and absorb the attitude and where the horizon comes through the fuselage. Note the reference points that count, not the ones close in . Looking too close in reduces the attitude fidelity you are seeking. You can’t see through the nose to judge the attitude so you have to use the ones at the same range, just off the sides. Second, just do full stop landings for practice. A little more brake wear but it lets you concentrate on the landing without mentally loading up with the takeoff portion. Taxing back let’s you do step one above again. Positive reinforcement. Tire pressure can help a little but under inflation won’t do you any favors and increases tire wear. Fourth, get the vehicle the heck away from the runway edge. If you or another pilot messes up, they don’t need an obstruction in the operating area. Fifth, end your video with some light acro. It’s a unique perspective most of your viewers never get to see. Just the world rotating around is real eye candy. Your judgment is great and ego is well under control. Those are the downfall of more than a few pilots. “Adjust your responses to that of the aircraft and you will find it conventional in all respects.” Curtiss Pitts. P.S. Don’t get hung up trying to wheel land it. Any wind you think you need a wheel landing for you can do three point. PPS, if you aren’t a pilot experienced in type, you probably have little constructive to contribute.
Guys - Just a suggestion. For the camera. Turn off Autofocus and set it to infinity. It will work perfectly. Anything over 20 or more feet you don't need autofocus anyway so setting it to infinity will surely help just remember to set it back to auto when you are doing the closer shots.
thanks for the tip!
From from Pitts pilot to another, great work.
He finally uploaded!! I enjoy you’re content so much ☺️
Lol thanks for watching!
Thanks for hearting it 😁. Yes I love you’re content and you make me want to become a pilot now! I just love you’re content so much, keep up the great work
☺️☺️☺️
@@BenLomov you’re the best 😁
I knew an old boy who loved the Pitts.
He told me you had to come down final with enough Airspeed to rotate level. But at that instant there is to much ENERGY ! - the ground effect needs to be bleed off by roll'in the roll and yaw around maintaining heading and attitude. You can choose a wheel or a three point touch down without bounce or scooting along in ground effect.
...easy to say, the execution is pure finesse.....happy touch-downs !!!
It's not failure if you can still use the airplane when you're done! Hang in there...short coupled taildraggers are beasts.
Having been checked out in a Pitts with Budd Davisson, I know exactly how it feels to hit the fatigue wall. But at the same time, I have NEVER flown an airplane that handles as well as a Pitts. I want one!
Don't worry. Short coupled airplanes are always a little more of a challenge to land. After 4 years you will be surprised at how good you are! All joking aside, you are doing great!! Every landing is different. Just the vagaries of the landing environment are never the same. If you can get it down and back to the tie down you are ahead of the game.
Thanks you!
HES BACK! I love your videos keep up the good work.
Thanks! Will do!
Ben - very interesting video, thanks for sharing. Honestly, your landings are good - I don't remember many absolute greaser landings in over 450 hours in an S1-T, S2-A/B and Christen Eagle 2. The Pitts gear are stiffer and don't feel like they absorb much, while the spring gear on the Eagle is softer, but bouncier. Anything that you can keep straight and not lose pieces off the aircraft isn't terrible. The type of tailwheel can also make a big difference - it can change your touchdown 3-point attitude and also it can help a bit to have a few extra inches of length for directional control, I thought. Since it's hard to see much during landing, I ended up relying on sight mostly to try and stay centered on the runway and feel for the right 3-point attitude and touchdown airspeed. You should be able to tell how firm/mushy the stick feels to have a pretty good idea about airspeed. I checked airspeed over the numbers, then it's all looking outside to try and sense drift, sink rate and "feeling" for the ground. Your seat should tell you a lot about if you are set up well for a good touchdown and roll-out. Watch others at the IAC contests - there are some very skilled pilots flying similar aircraft and you can both learn from their approaches and convince yourself that you aren't as bad as you think. Crosswinds are a whole different level of fun - not a lot of wingtip to ground clearance. Enjoy and fly safely!!
Thanks for watching Ed! I appreciate the tips
Hey Ben, I've got a few landings in that airplane. Approaching at 100 is pretty hot and leaves you with quite a bit of energy to dissipate above the runway without ballooning or touching prematurely. I'd suggest working on incrementally dialing back the approach speed. Slowly start pulling speed off in 5mph increments. I only flew it a few times, but 85mph indicated was plenty in this airplane power off, just like most S-1 Pitts'. And like any other airplane, IMO it's easier with minimal rather than excessive speed to dissipate. As S-1's go, this thing is super friendly with that locking tailwheel!
Thanks for watching and commenting Eric! I think that's great advice. I have watched your videos before and was always impressed with your low approach speed, especially with the amount of side slip you're feeding in. I'd almost be worried about accidentally stalling, snapping or spinning it from getting that slow 😅😅 I always come in a little hot to be safe, but if 85 is still "safe" them I'm definitely excessive. I guess I'd be worried about getting that nose up, I've heard of guys hitting hard from coming in too slow to pitch back up, but I don't know too much about that
And now that I got used to the tailwheel/sight-picture I agree with you that the directional control is much better with the locking tailwheel. However I don't think that was my main issue this time, my problem seems to be and always has been height/altitude judgment. But from my own experience that only comes back with practice
@@BenLomov Try it gradually and methodically and don't overextend your comfort zone. You've got good judgment, just use it and you will be fine. There's no proper speed to fly, everyone has their own style and you'll just need to find what works best for you. No two Pitts pilots approach/land exactly alike. Just seems you could benefit from flying a little slower. And burn up the pattern with landings - just as much fun as acro. I always did! Great videos, keep it up!
I totally agree! Thanks again man, and that'll be the plan going forward!
I totally agree! Thanks again man, and that'll be the plan going forward!
Maybe some “mushy" slow flight at high altitude will get you used to the higher than normal pitch at low altitudes?
It’s inspiring to see you hit this sport with humble courage!
Proud of you! Great job Team Lomov!
Watching your channel is like stepping into a time machine, my family and I went to the Oshkosh airshow 5 times between 1977 and 1984 and I got to see a stunt team perform in the Pitts as well as the Christen Eagle and I am taken back to those years when I was all of 7-14 years old.
My “touch and go’s” look more like “hit and run’s” 🤠
Working on proficiency is humbling, but makes great content!
🤣😂🤣 thanks man, and I agree!!! It's not aerobatics, but I think it's still very interesting/entertaining
Don't know if this helps, but when I fly my RC pitts, I keep the speed well above stall and just before the wheels touch I slowly release elevator up pressure. This makes the mains touch before the tail and you're actually tail level then relax the throttle slowly to let the tail wheel come down. The same with all my tail draggers. When you let the tail come up just before touch down, the mains go down at the same time and if it's a gentle touch down, the tail won't fall causing a bounce. Not sure if this transfers to full scale, but I don't see why it wouldn't? Just a thought. My hang gliding instructor says speed is your friend especially on approach in case you meet wind sheer or a gusty or whatever else you can imagine, you have the speed to push through it easier. Maybe try it and see? I'm no pilot other than RC and hang gliding so take this with a tablespoon FULL of salt. LOL good luck man. You'll get it.
lol thanks for the tips, but I think full scale are a bit different in terms of wheel landings.. just because they want to spin around a bit more and you actually have more control to weight in an RC, but we'll see... either way I really appreciate the tips and thank you for watching !!!
Dude get a hold of Patty Wagstaff she probably could help you out with greasing it
Don’t know if this helps you on a single place Pitts but on my Model 12 it is critical to gradually pull the stick back while bleeding out power all the way. Bleed all power and aim for touching down right at full elevator deflection. And KEEP the stick all the way back until ALL THREE wheels are on the ground and you’ve bled all the lift from your wings and tail surfaces. I’m noticing many of your landings are actually very good, but where it goes bad is actually after you touch. I was doing this too early on, subliminally without realizing it I was prematurely relaxing back pressure, and so the Pitts say, “Oh ok I guess we’re going flying again!”. You don’t want that of course. What helped me was to envision my Pitts as a horse (a flying horse) and the stick as a lasso. If you’ve ever tried to “land a horse” you gently ease back by tugging in the lasso, which raises the horses head and so the horse has to stop. Same thing goes for the Pitts, gently and firmly easing the stick ALL the way back will help you maintain your angle of attack and three point at the same time. From there the airplane Lands itself. AWESOME video!
All those landing were good, actually very good considering your professed lack of experience in the Pitts. You had two that needed to be rejected but all the rest were fine in my opinion. Never try to salvage a botched touch down in a Pitts so you have good judgement. Next time lower your tire pressure a bit and that will help. Hard tires in a Pitts just makes you work more then you need to. When you feel ready start mixing in wheel landings too. And remember, all great landings start with a great approach, and that goes for all aircraft types. 👍
Really appreciate it, thanks for the tips!
Don't feel bad. I've been flying over 45 years and can't land one either. Oddly, I can land a Christian Eagle well enough but the Pitts is a different challenge. Keep trying, you'll get it.
haha thanks
Nice, new video from my favorite channel 👍
Glad you enjoy it!
Very good honest video,observations from this end,these are aerial shopping trolleys that have a will of their own ! entering ground effect seems to make things worse on a Pitts unlike other airplanes,noticed how you were feeling for the ground you were certainly working hard,short coupled narrow track undercarriage and very firm suspension too touchdown on those tiny wheels is critical to say the least,boy does't she bounce ! your brain is working so hard to get height/speed/attitude all in one place little wonder this is shattering mentally,to be honest you will never get consistency with a Pitts landing too many variables all working against each other and little wonder the pilot for the replica Gee Bee racer practised on a Pitts,you are doing fine and you are helping us out here learn about things we would never be able to experience,thank you for your time and quality video's.
Thank you! Really appreciate that and thanks for watching!
Nice video! Your landings look pretty solid, at least your rudder work is excellent. As for the bounces - well they do happen... I fly a Vans RV 4 and RV 7 (both tailwheel) and even though they are much much easier to land than a pitts, I can easily bounce landings :) Hope you plan to do more aerobatics videos in the future!
Thanks for that Martin! And definitely will do acro videos soon!
Hey Man, Anytime you can land a S-1 without putting a scratch on it, or yourself, is a perfect landing, Seriously!!!!!
I can totally relate to this video! I just got the Skybolt and at 10 hrs of tailwheel and 5 hrs in the airplane, I had to practice A TON to get into my home airport, and none of the landings were good. Now with 20hrs tailwheel and 15hrs in the Bolt, any landing (regardless of how "bad") that gets me stopped in the 2400X35ft is a good landing for me! Keep up the videos, I intend to upload more in the future myself!
I flew my Pitts S1S out of a same size grass strip as yours. The tight runway will make you a great pilot. Every landing has to be perfect. My CFI's were shocked each time I did a biannual. I could easily out fly any of them them. Long & wide runways make for a sloppy pilot.
Just stumbled across your video. Good to see you enjoying your beautiful aircraft and blowing away some cobwebs. Time away from the stick always shows up, especially in a Pitts.....
If I might offer something, perhaps just advance your throttle a little less briskly on your touch & goes, take-offs, and go-arounds. A steady count to three as you advance ought to do it. The lycoming will thank you......and a lean cut in a tight touch & go can spell a bad outcome.
For three months away you did a good job......and knowing when to take a break displays good awareness of your capacity.
Appreciate you watching and thanks for the tips!
Man, I've been binging on your coast-to-coast and 'know-me' videos. Idk why it gives me a shot of inspiration towards my goal🔥😎
haha I appreciate that Tap, thanks for sticking around!
Glad your back to flying after 2 months great video
Me too! Thanks for watching, glad you liked it!
It looks to me like you are doing pretty good to me Ben, but I have never flown a Pitts. I did get about seven hours in a Citabria when I got my tail wheel endorsement, and that was a humbling experience.
thank you!
Great 🪰🪁🦟💸🕊🐛🪰🪁 flying! What a wonderful plane!
Haha thanks!
Who is bullying Liz?! She can put the spice on my cake any time! I admire your pursuit of perfection, Ben but I think you were too hard on yourself! Looking forward to the next video when you go 7 for 7 greasers!
🤣 that's funny. I'm pretty hard on myself just generally speaking, but in this case I agree that it can always be worse, but I should be better than that 😅 always room to grow
Found this randomly in my recommended and I'm glad, never thought I would enjoy this stuff but ur really wholesome and entertaining. Definitely earned a sub from me .
Wow, thank you!
Keep up the landing practice and videos!
Thanks, will do!
Glad your back. Stay on it!
Thank you sir!
When are you going to try wheel landings? LOL
Aha hey Spencer crazy to me that you saw this 😆 but at this rate come back in two more years and we might witness a miracle together 😜
Ben, still holding my breath for part 2! Let’s see it 😁!
I cant land this airplane. Then lands the airplane. What did i miss?
😎
Awesome! Hope ya'll get it friggured out without too much trouble :P. Nice bird, man.
I would really pay for a coast to coast part 2 with voice and povs
haha maybe sometime far into the future 😎
Hey Dan. I am an old Pitts fan and former aerobatic pilot who lives near Mather. Would love to stop by and see your Pitts sometime and chat. Beautiful little Pitts there!
He is back!
Thats right!
@@BenLomov oh yeah i forgot you respond to all your comments, that's really nice of you
Lol not all, only to the one's I love dearly... and then a few more 😜
dude Pitts Specials are amazing aircraft! but indeed a pain in the but to land! I would love to own a aerobatic airplane one day!!! Dude you are doing great on the landings!!!
i don't blame it on you that you couldnt get greasers on a pitts bcz they are hard af to land without any bounce! i think you really did nice! cool airplane! little bit jalous on that :P