Random Shot Of The The Day

[Desertdawg]

Re: Random Shot Of The The Day

And we have lift off.

[Lockheed Bob]

Re: Random Shot Of The The Day

We all know that even today's top unlimited planes are a handful to fly. It takes above & beyond pilots to fly them as the planes all have there little secrets to overcome. As one of the sayings go "Fly the Plane Don't Let It Fly You".

[Leo]

Re: Random Shot Of The The Day

I think most accidents are, even now. A lot of it depends on ability, training, etc. Any aircraft will kill you if not flown correctly, and the higher the performance the more likely that a minor mistake (or series of them) will cause something bad to happen. Just look at the B-26 and many of the fighters of that time. They didn't fail, the pilots did.
I just always felt that the GeeBee series were heading into unknown territory at that time. Like many racers at that time they had "habits" that were a bit beyond the common skill set available to all but the best pilots.
Just my .02 and probably not worth even that.

[supercub]

Re: Random Shot Of The The Day

Weren't most of the Gee Bee's accidents contributed to pilot errors?

[Leo]

Re: Random Shot Of The The Day

Was Delmar's built as per the original? I thought he had made some minor tweaks to the airfoil section, incidence, or some such. I'm not sure and could just be brain farting.
I know that Doolittle in his autobio said he didn't enjoy it much but if you kept the speeds correct and flew it within it's abilities it was fine.
A different time with different skill sets and experience.

[TarDevil]

Re: Random Shot Of The The Day

I don't think any of the racing GB's had a happy life. A lot of crashes and pilots lost over the various models histories.

Shows how far ahead of the "curve" the Granville brothers were. Delmar Benjamin wonderfully demonstrated that if pilots and runways had been equal to the task, the R1/R2 performed exactly as designed.
The original QED seemed fine in handling. Sadly, it's pilot met his fate from a misplaced rag near the engine intake. The airframe was minimally damaged and currently on display in Mexico.

Even the much more docile sport planes were reported to be a handful.

Model Y won more races than the other GB's combined, IIRC. It crashed from fabric failure.

Delmar told me the Z was a "pussycat" to fly, one of his favorites.

[Race5]

Re: Random Shot Of The The Day

Jim Moss did. Interesting story with a sad ending though.

I wonder where the aircraft ended up. I believe his widow sold it. A beast of an airplane with the R-1820 up front.

GP

The last I heard, it hadn't found a buyer yet. That was as of a couple months ago.

[Desertdawg]

Re: Random Shot Of The The Day

Oh Miss Fay

Short skirt piston.

[Desertdawg]

Re: Random Shot Of The The Day

September 2014

Not that long ago and quite a few planes that fall into "raced at Reno in years past" category.

[Leo]

Re: Random Shot Of The The Day

I don't think any of the racing GB's had a happy life. A lot of crashes and pilots lost over the various models histories. Even the much more docile sport planes were reported to be a handful.
"Mr. Awesome" always reminded me of one, a huge engine attached to a cockpit with just enough structure to keep them pointed in more or less the right direction.

[gp70442]

Re: Random Shot Of The The Day

Awesome aircraft. But you have to ask...who the hell thought THAT was a good idea!

Jim Moss did. Interesting story with a sad ending though.

I wonder where the aircraft ended up. I believe his widow sold it. A beast of an airplane with the R-1820 up front.

GP

Re: Random Shot Of The The Day

Nothing special here but couple cellphone shots...

Re: Random Shot Of The The Day

Gee Bee QED = Cool Plane



[ATTACH=CONFIG]24017[/ATTACH]

Awesome aircraft. But you have to ask...who the hell thought THAT was a good idea!

[Desertdawg]

Re: Random Shot Of The The Day

Gee Bee QED = Cool Plane

[Desertdawg]

Re: Random Shot Of The The Day

Collings Foundation came to town.