I visited this plane about 3 times back in the late 70s in Walter Soplata's back yard, including seeing inside the gunbays, etc., courtesy of Walter himself. 50 feet away sat a Twin Mustang, and another 50, a Vought F7U Cutlass.
I guess people may criticize for the changes and the circumstances but, Mr. Odegaard had an unquenchable passion and sometimes you knowingly take risks and pay the ultimate price. Blue skies Sir.
+Spitfirepilot19 In time after the pain of Bob's loss has faded, I would not be surprised to see an effort to take the wreck and reconstruct Race 74 either for static or flying again. It's pretty smashed but experts can fabricate what is needed. The plane has too much of a story to tell to end with an accident.
@@FiveCentsPlease There is no wreck. What was left of the plane was literally itty bitty pieces of metal and a couple of cylinders. Any "reconstruction" would be a scratch-built new-build. A nearly impossible task.
I believe that too many, in some cases ANY mods make for a far more dangerous airplane. The extra height on the vertical fin, the particular wing span, the wing flaps and the auto lock on the rudder for take off were there for a reason.
You are correct that certain design elements were incorporated into production models for a reason. The production models were designed for low-time pilots fresh off 80 hours of t-6 training to step into. A pilot with 150 hours total time is not strapping on a Corsair today. The race pilots that flew these with no flaps, no aux rudder, clipped wings, and all the other mods were all highly skilled and well equipped to handle these speed machines. Were they suited for low level aerobatics? No. No, they weren't.
I had the privilege to see and hear this. Thank you for what you doi
I visited this plane about 3 times back in the late 70s in Walter Soplata's back yard, including seeing inside the gunbays, etc., courtesy of Walter himself. 50 feet away sat a Twin Mustang, and another 50, a Vought F7U Cutlass.
I watched in Valley City the day it crashed. Looking back I still see it in slow motion
Me too. Worst thing I had ever seen.
I guess people may criticize for the changes and the circumstances but, Mr. Odegaard had an unquenchable passion and sometimes you knowingly take risks and pay the ultimate price. Blue skies Sir.
Bob was a bad ass... Corsairs are hard to habdle on take of and landings and what he does? Chops the ruddes and lock the flaps... Hats off !
I don’t think these aircraft should be doing any aerobatics...just fly the damn plane in a safe manner....
+ paul ciprus I would like to see #74 rebuilt one day and only for easy flying or permanent display. No aerobatics for this one.
What can be said about the 4360 Corsair ? America's best and most powerful flying machine. Friggin awesome ! 😎
RIP Bob; another legend flies west
If walter still had it would still be around
Walter only sold it to the crawford museum because it was supposed to be a static display and never fly again.
He told me he would never sell his planes for the exact reason that became reality.
is the plane still around or damaged beyond repair
It was Totalled
+Spitfirepilot19 In time after the pain of Bob's loss has faded, I would not be surprised to see an effort to take the wreck and reconstruct Race 74 either for static or flying again. It's pretty smashed but experts can fabricate what is needed. The plane has too much of a story to tell to end with an accident.
I'd like to see it back at the Crawford museum as a static display in tribute to Bob and Cook Cleland.
@@FiveCentsPlease There is no wreck. What was left of the plane was literally itty bitty pieces of metal and a couple of cylinders. Any "reconstruction" would be a scratch-built new-build. A nearly impossible task.
@@joeschmoe7978 I would not say impossible, but there would be a lot of new-build in the repair. And it would take a lot of money to do it.
Totally destroyed.
I believe that too many, in some cases ANY mods make for a far more dangerous airplane. The extra height on the vertical fin, the particular wing span, the wing flaps and the auto lock on the rudder for take off were there for a reason.
You are correct that certain design elements were incorporated into production models for a reason. The production models were designed for low-time pilots fresh off 80 hours of t-6 training to step into. A pilot with 150 hours total time is not strapping on a Corsair today. The race pilots that flew these with no flaps, no aux rudder, clipped wings, and all the other mods were all highly skilled and well equipped to handle these speed machines. Were they suited for low level aerobatics? No. No, they weren't.