September 25, 2004

September in Calgary is a bit cool. Most of us spend our flights with the cabin heat engaged and certainly not contemplating a flight in an open cockpit biplane. But when you're given the chance to actually fly a vintage warbird personal comfort sometimes takes a back seat.

For several years Sunwest Aviation has been offering biplane rides, usually as sight seeing trips around Calgary. But for licensed pilots, or those interested in truly experiencing a Stearman flight, they'll install the control stick in the front cockpit. That's what I did.

Before leaving Calgary International I bundled up in some heavy clothes, a full length flight suit and a jacket.

Once airborne and near the twin stacks I took control and proceeded into my usual performance of gentle, then steep turns. That's when Gary Radjo, Sunwest's pilot walked me through some fighter breaks, bank over to 60 degrees and yank. Wow, that was fun. Do it again then let's try a loop. Even though I knew I was well strapped in I tightened my harness just a little more then gave the okay. Dive for the ground, get 120 mph, then pull back. Despite all my mental preparation I caught myself hanging onto that control stick with all my might. Enough so that Gary jokingly told me not to hold it so tight. Knowing that I wasn't going to fall out once inverted, we tried it again.

All this time we'd been working our way north to a grass field near Crossfield for some circuits. Grass and running north-south the field was a pilot's dream and Gary told me he used to fly Harvards in there. So we set ourselves up for landing. I'd been told to use the valve covers on the cylinder heads as a guide for my three-point attitude and it worked great. A couple more circuits and I was really becoming comfortable with the Stearman's characteristics. Then a heavy thump. My perfect approach turned to an ungraceful touchdown. Thinking I was a couple inches too high I asked Gary about my altitude. "Oh, about three feet. Let's keep it lower next time." I fell from three feet? I guess those extra wings kept me from entering a full stall. The big tires and 12" oleo travel certainly helped.

Still thinking about the poor landing I took off and quickly found myself an extra 500 feet above the circuit. Thinking I'd need to overshoot Gary reminded me about side-slipping. With all the wings, wires, wheels and two heads sticking out of the fuselage making drag we came down faster than an elevator. A nice flare and smooth touchdown salvaged the day.

The shear enjoyment of open cockpit flying in a vintage warbird wiped the cold from my mind. Even today, two years after my flight, I still find myself looking back at that flight with a smile on my face.

Trevor McTavish

Trevor in the front

A smoky start

Vintage 1942

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