Flying a T-28

Okay, so it only has a 14in wingspan.

Morning fog, and one of the 172’s offline for an upgrade, has made scheduling difficult. Fortunately, ceiling and visibility requirements are considerably less for RC models, and availability means only charged batteries and a mile drive to the park.

With Matti home for holiday break, we made a trip over to Coyote Hobby to browse around a little. Before leaving, I got the go ahead to pick something up for myself.

I’d been thinking of upgrading transmitters for a while, allowing me take advantage of the new Bind-n-Fly parkflyers now available. A Bind-n-Fly means everything is included (minus the transmitter), assembled, and ready to fly. All that is required is binding the transmitter with the receiver installed in the airplane, charging the batteries, and heading to the park. I do really enjoy the process of a complete kit build, but these very small airplanes are great for quick new airplane fix, and something easy to transport and flown in a small space.

This little T-28 caught my eye. All ready with full axis control (throttle, aileron, elevator, and rudder), steerable nose wheel, and all complete. A recommendation from another customer, and the owners of Coyote Hobby whose opinion I trust, sealed the deal on transmitter and miniature T-28.

A stop by home to unbox my purchases and charge some batteries, and we were off to the park with a few planes.

A first flight with a new model airplane always brings up the nerves, even if it’s a little foam parkflyer, you don’t want to turn it into packing peanuts on it first foray into the sky.

Fortunately with a little trim once airborne, I knew this would be a fun little airplane, and Matti and I spent the next hour or so talking and each flying our own imaginary missions around the park grounds. Unfortunately our cameraman (Audrey) forgot her equipment, so we had no photos. Doesn’t really matter.

I sure was a nice way to spend a grey December day.

Next time I’ll need to remember to bring one of the small beginner airplanes for Audrey. She’s beginning to show some interest in learning to fly RC, and has been spending a little time with the RC flight sim.   

Tillamook Warbirds

I'd been promising Josh a flight for some time, and finally our schedules and the fall weather provided the opportunity we needed for a lunchtime flight over to Tillamook.

As we were descending out of the coast range I could see another aircraft performing barrel rolls and loops about our level opposite the airport. Neat to see from level.

As we turned final for 13 I heard a Lockheed P38 announce that it was holding short of 31. I wasn't sure at first if I'd heard correctly, but after clearing the runway, we watched the P38 thunder past and into the air and make a sweeping right turn.

We taxied over to the museum and found several other WWII era aircraft parked on the ramp,including an FM-4 Wildcat, Stearman PT-17, and J2F-6 Duck. Our little C172 looked a bit out of place in this company.

As we walked towards the museum cafe, we watched the P-38 make a few low flybys.

After lunch, we we were able to get a close up look at the P-38 now parked on the ramp, as well as watch a P-51D make a few low flybys.

A fantastic noise made by Allison and Packard engines of 70 years ago.

We taxied out in our little Cessna, past these warbirds from another era, which still hold so much atraction to aviator and non-aviator alike.

As we departed and I could see the P51 making the base to final turn, then landing and roll out as we turned west to overfly the ocean beaches.

  

That was pretty cool.