Two Years Later and I Still Can’t Land This Airplane

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  • Опубликовано: 25 мар 2021
  • Follow me on Instagram @BenLomov benlomov?h...
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Комментарии • 926

  • @daniellomov6523
    @daniellomov6523 3 года назад +322

    Seriously this is getting ridiculous, who wants to see me land the Pitts?

  • @cormacrohda319
    @cormacrohda319 3 года назад +62

    There is nothing in the FAR specifically prohibiting responding to ATC with “Alrighty thanks babe”

  • @garypaulson9035
    @garypaulson9035 2 года назад +31

    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…

  • @Flapswgm
    @Flapswgm 3 года назад +49

    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.

    • @pittss2c601
      @pittss2c601 3 года назад +7

      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.

    • @Flapswgm
      @Flapswgm 3 года назад +4

      @@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.

    • @pittss2c601
      @pittss2c601 3 года назад +1

      @@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.

    • @Flapswgm
      @Flapswgm 3 года назад +2

      @@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.

    • @pittss2c601
      @pittss2c601 3 года назад +2

      @@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.

  • @nathanieljordan6144
    @nathanieljordan6144 3 года назад +66

    I've been missing this channel. God bless!!

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +4

      Thanks a ton Nathaniel, you too!

    • @princessmaemagcalas6241
      @princessmaemagcalas6241 3 года назад

      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 :)

  • @Weisz
    @Weisz 3 года назад +59

    This is super cool :) glad to see you posting again

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +10

      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 😜

    • @grubblepidd2567
      @grubblepidd2567 3 года назад +1

      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!)

    • @bagel9367
      @bagel9367 3 года назад

      Louis!

    • @robertneilson2780
      @robertneilson2780 3 года назад

      Rip lmfao

  • @pittss2c601
    @pittss2c601 3 года назад +76

    As Curtis Pitts always said, "There is no such thing as a squirrely airplane, just squirrely pilots".

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +11

      And he was right, I was definitely the sloppy one, not the plane

    • @Coops777
      @Coops777 3 года назад

      @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

    • @pittss2c601
      @pittss2c601 3 года назад +3

      @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.

    • @pittss2c601
      @pittss2c601 3 года назад +1

      @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.

    • @pittss2c601
      @pittss2c601 3 года назад

      @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"

  • @skyrunner1818
    @skyrunner1818 3 года назад +22

    I wouldn´t say your landings are bad - hey this is a Pitts! Just remember this thing can bite any time!

  • @peterfigueroa8807
    @peterfigueroa8807 3 года назад +8

    Dude you and crew need to do more of these. I want to take a vote, who wants a video weekly!!!?

  • @beno.verbich9586
    @beno.verbich9586 3 года назад +21

    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

    • @Skinflaps_Meatslapper
      @Skinflaps_Meatslapper 3 года назад +1

      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.

    • @beno.verbich9586
      @beno.verbich9586 3 года назад

      @@Skinflaps_Meatslapper Oh god I'm sure lol

    • @jimarcher5255
      @jimarcher5255 3 года назад +2

      A Pitts has the glide slope of a steel manhole cover.

    • @Skinflaps_Meatslapper
      @Skinflaps_Meatslapper 3 года назад +1

      @@jimarcher5255 And the cat has a glideslope of a drogue chute LOL

    • @pittss2c601
      @pittss2c601 3 года назад

      @@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.

  • @HansTeijgeler
    @HansTeijgeler 3 года назад +4

    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!!

  • @elizabethlomova4154
    @elizabethlomova4154 3 года назад +45

    “Thanks babe” ? Omg I didn’t know you had a girlfriend? Can you introduce her in the next video? Lol 😂

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +33

      If she let's down her hair from the tower in which she resides, then maybe I'll let you have a look

    • @13_cmi
      @13_cmi 3 года назад +3

      Who doesn't have a girlfriend? I guess I don't.

    • @dangryder6050
      @dangryder6050 3 года назад +1

      LIZZZZZ!

    • @XtraordinaryShots
      @XtraordinaryShots 3 года назад +2

      @⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ rip

    • @aviationhour_
      @aviationhour_ 3 года назад +1

      @⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ sorry about that man

  • @kuankuan7290
    @kuankuan7290 2 года назад +5

    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!

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  2 года назад +1

      Hey that’s awesome and thanks for the comment! Have fun and stay safe wherever you are 😎

  • @KevinBN27
    @KevinBN27 3 года назад +47

    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.

    • @TheGulang
      @TheGulang 3 года назад +2

      I agree 1000% lol!

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +4

      Lol make it two million while you’re at it 😛

  • @jacobb8723
    @jacobb8723 3 года назад +9

    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!

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      Haha thanks Jacob! You’re awesome 😎

    • @Cameron-bp5dl
      @Cameron-bp5dl 3 года назад

      Jacob is Cool!!!

  • @bensmith7536
    @bensmith7536 3 года назад +3

    I cant land this airplane. Then lands the airplane. What did i miss?

  • @shawnmarcoux4158
    @shawnmarcoux4158 3 года назад +10

    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.

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      I think you’re exactly right Shawn... thanks for watching!

    • @treystewart544
      @treystewart544 2 года назад

      @@BenLomov you’re going too fast

  • @redfire122
    @redfire122 3 года назад +5

    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.

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      And I feel for you 😅 Thanks for watching David!

  • @fredericpinan3670
    @fredericpinan3670 3 года назад +5

    This truck is pretty close to the runway.... You never know what can happen Bud. Beautiful plane and great practice. Go Flying!

  • @main199
    @main199 3 года назад +6

    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.

  • @Kraals
    @Kraals 3 года назад +4

    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.

  • @MartyG144
    @MartyG144 2 года назад +4

    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!

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  2 года назад

      Thanks a bunch and good luck with your training!

  • @briangreenwood3064
    @briangreenwood3064 2 года назад +2

    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.

  • @PlatonianSpermWhale
    @PlatonianSpermWhale 3 года назад +5

    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!

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      Thanks man and good luck! You got this!

    • @Skiddadlin_
      @Skiddadlin_ 2 года назад

      Good luck

  • @AverageAviator
    @AverageAviator 3 года назад +5

    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!

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      Thanks man! Ya I saw that on your Instagram and totally get the struggle 😅

  • @charlesfoster141
    @charlesfoster141 3 года назад +4

    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.

    • @cadmanchannel
      @cadmanchannel 6 месяцев назад

      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."

  • @StanShimkus
    @StanShimkus 3 года назад +2

    Excellent video Ben! An S1 is no joke & you did a splendid job .. keep it up.

  • @doranjaffas7351
    @doranjaffas7351 3 года назад +1

    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.

  • @haydenandrosky5649
    @haydenandrosky5649 3 года назад +3

    Dude get a hold of Patty Wagstaff she probably could help you out with greasing it

  • @cpy
    @cpy 3 года назад +8

    Your rate of descent is alarming, all that speed is why a slight movement of the yoke is floating so much

    • @agustincian6300
      @agustincian6300 3 года назад +1

      Here comes some shitcoment from maybe the best CFI in the world, go fly planes in GTA V

    • @doc777ga
      @doc777ga 3 года назад

      @@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.

    • @francisconti9085
      @francisconti9085 3 года назад

      Bid may have been sped up for content in shorter time

    • @cpy
      @cpy 3 года назад

      @@agustincian6300 Genuinely curious what a "shitcoment" is. Is that like a large pile of feces in space that we can see in a telescope?

  • @TheStainlessangel
    @TheStainlessangel 2 года назад +1

    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.

  • @ssairshows
    @ssairshows 3 года назад +3

    When are you going to try wheel landings? LOL

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      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 😜

  • @brettmacneil3173
    @brettmacneil3173 3 года назад +13

    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.

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +2

      haha thanks a bunch for that Brett!

    • @fudogwhisperer3590
      @fudogwhisperer3590 3 года назад +1

      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.

  • @freespiritaviation6221
    @freespiritaviation6221 3 года назад +7

    Love that ATC voiceover, and the go pro slowly hanging its head down in shame, hahahahaha your sense of humor is amazing

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      lol glad you liked it man!!!

    • @13_cmi
      @13_cmi 3 года назад +1

      It's not funny at all but it's so funny. Smile is on my face

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      @@13_cmi haha 😛

  • @cubie3835
    @cubie3835 3 года назад +10

    Thats the deal, what aerobatic aircraft gain in maneuverability, they lose in landing capabilities

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      A-firm

    • @pittss2c601
      @pittss2c601 3 года назад

      Not true. Aerobatic airplanes land beautifully. As Curtis Pitts once said, "There is no such thing as a squirrely airplane, just squirrely pilots".

    • @franciscoserra3616
      @franciscoserra3616 3 года назад

      @@pittss2c601 why are you such a dick?

    • @pittss2c601
      @pittss2c601 3 года назад

      @@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.

  • @skydiver3456
    @skydiver3456 3 года назад +1

    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:-)

  • @lapoissonnerie3891
    @lapoissonnerie3891 3 года назад +4

    I really enjoyed the first take off. I love the fact you can see below your feet

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +2

      Thanks man! And ya it’s a pretty neat feature

  • @castletonclan668
    @castletonclan668 3 года назад +9

    I flew this plane in flight simulator. Couldn’t land it if my life depended on it 😂 love the channel. Keep making videos!!

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      😂🤣 thanks for watching!

  • @seangetsinger5881
    @seangetsinger5881 2 года назад +1

    Love these videos! Plus I think it’s really cool that your family/friends come out and help and support you. Keep up the great work!

  • @davelydon1982
    @davelydon1982 3 года назад +1

    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 🇮🇪.

  • @freegw1
    @freegw1 3 года назад +6

    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.

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      Thanks for the tips!

    • @francisconti9085
      @francisconti9085 3 года назад

      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!

  • @ukaviationofficial
    @ukaviationofficial 3 года назад +6

    I’ve been looking forward to more videos from you! Thanks so much!! 😄

  • @jeffboatright
    @jeffboatright 3 года назад +2

    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

    • @pittss2c601
      @pittss2c601 3 года назад

      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.

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      Thanks for watching Jeff!

  • @louisfaure2955
    @louisfaure2955 3 года назад +2

    Wow this is amazing. You should do another long trip. Maybe up the west coast.

  • @moose7472
    @moose7472 3 года назад +8

    My “touch and go’s” look more like “hit and run’s” 🤠
    Working on proficiency is humbling, but makes great content!

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      🤣😂🤣 thanks man, and I agree!!! It's not aerobatics, but I think it's still very interesting/entertaining

  • @trevorloveday114
    @trevorloveday114 2 года назад +3

    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.

  • @QuentinCarter1975
    @QuentinCarter1975 3 года назад +1

    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.

  • @wu3705
    @wu3705 3 года назад +1

    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!!!

  • @ashsmitty2244
    @ashsmitty2244 3 года назад +4

    From from Pitts pilot to another, great work.

  • @interrestrial9815
    @interrestrial9815 3 года назад +5

    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.

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      Thanks for sharing Fred!

  • @scotabot7826
    @scotabot7826 3 года назад +1

    Hey Man, Anytime you can land a S-1 without putting a scratch on it, or yourself, is a perfect landing, Seriously!!!!!

  • @mountainmarauder2575
    @mountainmarauder2575 3 года назад +1

    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.

  • @jimmyoverly3512
    @jimmyoverly3512 3 года назад +5

    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.

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      🤣🤣🤣 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

  • @briand4000
    @briand4000 3 года назад +7

    It's not failure if you can still use the airplane when you're done! Hang in there...short coupled taildraggers are beasts.

  • @douglastisdale1582
    @douglastisdale1582 6 месяцев назад +1

    Kudos to you for putting this out there. If more pilots would be as humble as you, we would have less accidents.

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  6 месяцев назад

      Thank you!

  • @pubggamerdude2264
    @pubggamerdude2264 3 года назад +2

    Bra are u crazy those landings are perfect bro

  • @platypus1348
    @platypus1348 3 года назад +3

    Nice, new video from my favorite channel 👍

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      Glad you enjoy it!

  • @martinlaubner
    @martinlaubner 3 года назад +3

    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!

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      Thanks for that Martin! And definitely will do acro videos soon!

  • @erikledet6224
    @erikledet6224 3 года назад +1

    Ben, still holding my breath for part 2! Let’s see it 😁!

  • @dimitri_tsm
    @dimitri_tsm 3 года назад +2

    21 minutes of aviation goodness

  • @flybybaby8008
    @flybybaby8008 3 года назад +3

    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'!

  • @LHistheGOAT
    @LHistheGOAT 3 года назад +4

    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!

  • @jimsandoval7633
    @jimsandoval7633 3 года назад +1

    It has been a long wait for another of your videos. So much fun to watch. I understand that they take a long time and effort to make so thank you. I am glad you are getting some extra help here for production, you guys are dong a great job.

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      Thanks Jim, ya we put in a bit of effort so a quick turnaround time isn't really my thing, but I'm glad you enjoyed it and I'll try to keep posting, slowly but surely!

  • @andriusdiksaitis2462
    @andriusdiksaitis2462 3 года назад +2

    Thank you so much for your honesty. I flew my Eagle today after a 6 month hiatus..... I recalled your video...

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      lol ya it can be a bit nerve-racking... thanks for watching!

    • @andriusdiksaitis2462
      @andriusdiksaitis2462 3 года назад

      @@BenLomov you’re Wlc! Yes in deed.... the s1 is even a bit more exciting than the Eagle....imho

  • @johnritter2480
    @johnritter2480 3 года назад +5

    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.

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      Thanks for the tips! I agree 100%

  • @skare8827
    @skare8827 3 года назад +6

    The correct term is “butter”

  • @GunganWorks
    @GunganWorks 2 года назад +1

    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!

  • @nicolasciurleo7442
    @nicolasciurleo7442 3 года назад +2

    Ben lomov: Pitts-pilot doing non-pitts stuff with a pitts ^^ Your videos are always a pleasure to watch, greetings from France !

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      haha that's me!! lol aerobatics are coming soon too! 😜

  • @garlic34
    @garlic34 3 года назад +5

    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. 👍

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      Go for it, but let's be honest here... you won't beat me 😜

    • @garlic34
      @garlic34 3 года назад +2

      @@BenLomov I'll remember that when I beat you

  • @AverageAviator
    @AverageAviator 3 года назад +3

    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!

    • @pittss2c601
      @pittss2c601 3 года назад

      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.

  • @didierneeferc
    @didierneeferc 3 года назад +2

    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......

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @martiantexan7632
    @martiantexan7632 3 года назад +1

    Awesome! Hope ya'll get it friggured out without too much trouble :P. Nice bird, man.

  • @lazukk3735
    @lazukk3735 3 года назад +4

    He is back!

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      Thats right!

    • @lazukk3735
      @lazukk3735 3 года назад +1

      @@BenLomov oh yeah i forgot you respond to all your comments, that's really nice of you

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      Lol not all, only to the one's I love dearly... and then a few more 😜

  • @esmithga
    @esmithga 3 года назад +4

    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.

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      thanks for the tip!

  • @MrBigChris620
    @MrBigChris620 3 года назад +2

    Great 🪰🪁🦟💸🕊🐛🪰🪁 flying! What a wonderful plane!

  • @marciacunningham5877
    @marciacunningham5877 5 месяцев назад +1

    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

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  5 месяцев назад

      Haha that’s bittersweet but I’m glad you enjoyed it! Hopefully I’ll have more out soon

  • @JorgeTorres-uy1ym
    @JorgeTorres-uy1ym 3 года назад +9

    I would really pay for a coast to coast part 2 with voice and povs

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      haha maybe sometime far into the future 😎

  • @superduper1917
    @superduper1917 3 года назад +3

    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!

  • @UltraMagaFan
    @UltraMagaFan 3 года назад +2

    HES BACK! I love your videos keep up the good work.

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      Thanks! Will do!

  • @jeffkelley4055
    @jeffkelley4055 3 года назад +2

    This is such excellent aviation content. Have been waiting for a new one for a long time

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      thanks for sticking around!

  • @JamesWilliams-en3os
    @JamesWilliams-en3os 3 года назад +3

    “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.

    • @Skinflaps_Meatslapper
      @Skinflaps_Meatslapper 3 года назад

      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.

  • @davidhald1857
    @davidhald1857 3 года назад +4

    The king is back

  • @didierneeferc
    @didierneeferc 3 года назад +1

    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!!!

    • @didierneeferc
      @didierneeferc 3 года назад

      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

  • @quadguy1470
    @quadguy1470 3 года назад +2

    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.

  • @charliethompson6836
    @charliethompson6836 3 года назад +5

    He finally uploaded!! I enjoy you’re content so much ☺️

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      Lol thanks for watching!

    • @charliethompson6836
      @charliethompson6836 3 года назад +3

      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
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      ☺️☺️☺️

    • @charliethompson6836
      @charliethompson6836 3 года назад +1

      @@BenLomov you’re the best 😁

  • @tapan9637
    @tapan9637 3 года назад +3

    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🔥😎

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      haha I appreciate that Tap, thanks for sticking around!

  • @Cubonaut875
    @Cubonaut875 3 года назад +1

    Great video - keep it up - awesome story!!

  • @minianimejesus8792
    @minianimejesus8792 3 года назад +2

    Glad your back to flying after 2 months great video

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      Me too! Thanks for watching, glad you liked it!

  • @user-sz8tp4zu3n
    @user-sz8tp4zu3n 3 года назад +3

    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.

  • @wilsonbrown519
    @wilsonbrown519 3 года назад +3

    Yay thank you for posting it been a while!

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      Thanks for sticking around man!

  • @thefoolishhiker3103
    @thefoolishhiker3103 3 года назад +2

    Awesome stuff! Glad to see more content with one of my favorite planes!

  • @knownpenguin7573
    @knownpenguin7573 3 года назад +1

    "Alrighty thanks babe" made me DIE

  • @josephm4634
    @josephm4634 3 года назад +5

    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!

    • @keepyourbilsteins
      @keepyourbilsteins 3 года назад +2

      Saw and heard that too. My initial impression is that he's taxiing full rich.

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +5

      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!

    • @josephm4634
      @josephm4634 3 года назад +1

      @@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!

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад +1

      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! 😜

    • @Skinflaps_Meatslapper
      @Skinflaps_Meatslapper 3 года назад

      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.

  • @ricksavage3122
    @ricksavage3122 3 года назад +3

    Great video Ben!

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      Thanks Rick, you’re a legend!

  • @angelreading5098
    @angelreading5098 3 года назад +2

    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.

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      Thank you! Really appreciate that and thanks for watching!

  • @dkanev38
    @dkanev38 3 года назад +2

    Good to see you are back! 🛩️

  • @edschreyer5552
    @edschreyer5552 3 года назад +3

    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!!

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      Thanks for watching Ed! I appreciate the tips

  • @danielt6939
    @danielt6939 3 года назад +4

    Keep up the landing practice and videos!

    • @BenLomov
      @BenLomov  3 года назад

      Thanks, will do!

  • @HabuBeemer
    @HabuBeemer 3 года назад +2

    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.

  • @antonschueler4262
    @antonschueler4262 3 года назад +2

    I love your little plain