Sunderland Flying Boat - Flights?

[Usarka]

I bought my old man a go in an Extra 300 for some aerobatics but he's wused out.

I remember someone saying on here a while a go that you could get flights in a Sunderland so was thinking that might be a good alternative. He's in Auckland.

Any one know any details? Or something similarly cool but tame(ish).

Chur.

[Pussy]

It's a Catalina.... and it's AWESOME!
I went for a flight in it in November

[R6_kid]

The only Sunderland I know of in NZ is at "Motat 2" and it's in a pretty sorry state. As Pussy mentioned, you can go for scenic flights in the Catalina and also the DC3. Not sure if the Catalina still does water landings but you might be lucky!

[Usarka]

Ah thanks, that must be why my search failed. Catalina just as good :) Any one have any details? (while i go off and google......)


It's a Catalina.... and it's AWESOME!
I went for a flight in it in November


Do they do public filights or were you dusting some fish farms?

[White trash]

Just go to Catalina.org.nz, it's all right there. No sea landings any more. Best 85 bucks I've ever spent in my life. Fucking fantastic.

On another note, if Pussy's ever in Papakura again and doesn't come see us, I'll clock him in the nose.

[CookMySock]

Any putt-putt vintage plane will be awesome. An Aeros session in an Extra 300 will be confusing and violent for a non-pilot. Aeros are not fun at all for people who don't know what's going to happen next - they might as well go for a rollercoaster ride and shut their eyes.

[caseye]

Heres the link to the Catalina association.
http://www.catalina.org.nz/
Phone or email, they do., do flights , I know, I've flown in her, I was lucky enough to get aboard her in Taupo a few years ago.
Imagine my surprise and excitment as the crew prepared her for a water landing! Which we did. My mate and i took up station on each side of the fuselage/hull in the huge big blisters, as we landed we experienced total blue,then green out as we went that far under watrer on landing.Take off was exceptional too as the lake was so calm that we taxied for nearly 10 minutes and made at least two attempts at take off. That we had to abort as the surface cohesion was too strong.Finally we got airborne after crossing the wake of a 12 ft tinny Right out in the Middle of the lake.
Was an awesome experience and one I'd reccomend to anyone.Especially if theres any chance at all of a water landing.
Since she was flown here Jumbo, thats her name is only allowed to land on Fresh water lakes.Salt water starts the corrosionprocess all over again.

[Usarka]

85 squids! Awesome, email sent. Thanks guys.

I'll take the Extra 300 myself, damn shame. My PPL instructor tried to make me sick on my introductory flight in an pusy aerobat (I dared him) and he was flumoxed at the huge grin on my face at the end.

:wari:

Dad - if you're reading this get a fucking bike you mid-lifed lazy bastard.

PS - do the mangere pooh ponds count as a fresh water landing, or is there a chance of log damage.....?

[Pussy]

Just go to Catalina.org.nz, it's all right there. No sea landings any more. Best 85 bucks I've ever spent in my life. Fucking fantastic.

On another note, if Pussy's ever in Papakura again and doesn't come see us, I'll clock him in the nose.
Am I off the hook seeing as how I went for the flight in New Plymouth? :)

[White trash]

Am I off the hook seeing as how I went for the flight in New Plymouth? :)

Fuck you're lucky big fella. This time.

[marty]

Any putt-putt vintage plane will be awesome. An Aeros session in an Extra 300 will be confusing and violent for a non-pilot. Aeros are not fun at all for people who don't know what's going to happen next - they might as well go for a rollercoaster ride and shut their eyes.

Fuck you're full of shit.

[R6_kid]

Fuck you're full of shit.

Pilots, they never do really know when to not tell the truth.

[Usarka]

Any putt-putt vintage plane will be awesome. An Aeros session in an Extra 300 will be confusing and violent for a non-pilot. Aeros are not fun at all for people who don't know what's going to happen next - they might as well go for a rollercoaster ride and shut their eyes.


Fuck you're full of shit.

Come on, it's like roller coasters. No one but the engineers can *really* handle those things if we're really honest with ourselves. Too scary!



Fuck you're full of shit.

I know you're biased, but what's better ride for a pillion a pitt or an extra? Both look o-some.

[nudemetalz]

When I read "Sunderland", I thought WHAAAAAAATTT?
Has Kermit Weeks (http://www.fantasyofflight.com/aircraftpages/sunderland.htm) finally got his flying again and out here in NZ??
If that was the case, I would sell the missus to get a ticket to fly in her....

Seriously, I have also been up in the Cat, and yes it is a truly awesome experience, especially sitting, in the gun blisters. Be prepared for a bit of noise from the R-1830 radials as there's no sound proofing....but to us that like aircraft it is pure music !!!
Do it !!!!!!!!!!

[marty]

I have flown both. I reckon the Pitts is a little more intimidating - it's loud, it shakes and rolls and has really deep seating so you are really part of the plane. It's not as aggressive in aeros (it can be though) as the Extra. The Extra is super smooth and does beautiful aeros, although you can easily go out to +8-9g/-3 (the Pitts had a syndicate 6g limit) which can be disconcerting for a non-flyer. I have never had anyone throw up when doing aeros in the Pitts.

[CookMySock]

Come on, it's like roller coasters. No one but the engineers can *really* handle those things if we're really honest with ourselves. Too scary!It's not so much scary, its that non-pilots don't know to look back during a loop and wait for green, or look off the wingtip in a steep turn, and its just an expensive, pointless, and puzzling high-g ride for nothing, somewhat like a first parachute jump.



I know you're biased, but what's better ride for a pillion a pitt or an extra? Both look o-some.Pilots who have some aeros experience, or at least ten hours flight time, or rollercoster hardcore types, take the Extra. They should get a briefing from the pilot on where to look and what he is about to do next to get the full value from the experience.

Non pilots - take the pitts or a tiger moth or similar, for a nice docile roll around the sky.

I got a rating in a CT4 and had a wee crank of it during a BFR, but never went further and formally did aero instruction. Hehe the CT4 is a ball of fun.

Steve

[cave weta]

I have flown both. I reckon the Pitts is a little more intimidating - it's loud, it shakes and rolls and has really deep seating so you are really part of the plane. It's not as aggressive in aeros (it can be though) as the Extra. The Extra is super smooth and does beautiful aeros, although you can easily go out to +8-9g/-3 (the Pitts had a syndicate 6g limit) which can be disconcerting for a non-flyer. I have never had anyone throw up when doing aeros in the Pitts.

Marty- yesterday you blast DB for saying that Aeros can be confusing and a waste of money for a first timer.
Then you say a softened off version of the same thing today:( - too many Gs perhaps!?

Why cant pilots wank in private like everyone else?

[FROSTY]

a few years back there used to be night flights in a DC3.couples were given private cabins.For me it made membership to the mile high club just too easy

[nadroj]

a few years back there used to be night flights in a DC3.couples were given private cabins.For me it made membership to the mile high club just too easy

It would take a while to get that far up!

[caseye]

Ina DC3 perhaps! But the mind boggles at what else might've been up??????????? sorry Frosty, great picture inn te head mate, nice post. Been on the Warbirds dak three times once with the wife and once with the whole tribe but no private cabin, damn.

[FROSTY]

I must be brain dead--I thought 1mile was about 4500 feet

[SPman]

I must be brain dead--I thought 1mile was about 4500 feet
5280 feet!

[Chooky]

Nautical mile.. 6280ft....

[marty]

Marty- yesterday you blast DB for saying that Aeros can be confusing and a waste of money for a first timer.
Then you say a softened off version of the same thing today:( - too many Gs perhaps!?

Why cant pilots wank in private like everyone else?

Db's comment An Aeros session in an Extra 300 will be confusing and violent for a non-pilot. Aeros are not fun at all for people who don't know what's going to happen next - they might as well go for a rollercoaster ride and shut their eyes. more than 'suggests' that aeros for a non pilot are a waste of time. In the wrong hands a non-pilot WILL find aeros confusing and aggressive, however all the aeros pilots I know - when they have non-flyers in the plane with them - are as gentle as possible. Short bursts of 6g will not hurt too much, but sustained 6g will black out someone not used to it. A 20 minute low-g session is plenty for a non-flyer.

Quite simply, if you want to do fantastic aeros, from gentleman ones to competition, the Extra is amazing. The Pitts is more of an emotional experience. :)

And have you ever looked to the sky when someone is doing aeros? There's your answer.

[marty]

Nautical mile.. 6280ft.... it certainly makes time/distance calcs easy at 90/120/150/180kts :)

[Pussy]

Nautical mile.. 6280ft....

6076 ft.... close!

[cave weta]

Db's comment An Aeros session in an Extra 300 will be confusing and violent for a non-pilot. Aeros are not fun at all for people who don't know what's going to happen next - they might as well go for a rollercoaster ride and shut their eyes. more than 'suggests' that aeros for a non pilot are a waste of time. In the wrong hands a non-pilot WILL be confusing and aggressive, however all the aeros pilots I know - when they have non-flyers in the plane with them - are as gentle as possible. Short bursts of 6g will not hurt too much, but sustained 6g will black out someone not used to it. A 20 minute low-g session is plenty for a non-flyer.

Quite simply, if you want to do fantastic aeros, from gentleman ones to competition, the Extra is amazing. The Pitts is more of an emotional experience. :)

And have you ever looked to the sky when someone is doing aeros? There's your answer.

Ahhh too true!- many a time ive had a stiff neck because of someone elses wank!

[ghost]

The only Sunderland I know of in NZ is at "Motat 2" and it's in a pretty sorry state. As Pussy mentioned, you can go for scenic flights in the Catalina and also the DC3. Not sure if the Catalina still does water landings but you might be lucky!

hope not, they sunk the last one the landed on the water...

[nudemetalz]

Was a forced hand..oops, I mean HARD landing in rough seas with engine trouble if I remember correctly.

[R6_kid]

Was a forced hand landing

I'm assuming you mean HARD not HAND?

[nudemetalz]

Forced hand landings can be exciting too...:gob:

[SPman]

Was a forced hand..oops, I mean HARD landing in rough seas with engine trouble if I remember correctly....in the dark....with no pictures........

[Swoop]

Quite simply, if you want to do fantastic aeros, from gentleman ones to competition, the Extra is amazing.
Having completed aeros in the Extra... yes. Quite amazing. +7g - -4g on the flight.

Really felt quite ill afterwards. And wasn't too proud to hide it!

[Usarka]

The flight in the cat wasn't too bad.

Ooops sorry last time i used kiwi understatment i got a twattish comment about how I shouldn't have bothered.

It was bloody awesome. Amazing plane, awesome flight, awesome crew. A real piece of history.

Thanks for the help y'all :D

[nudemetalz]

The flight in the cat wasn't too bad.

Ooops sorry last time i used kiwi understandment i got a twattish comment about how I shouldn't have bothered.

It was bloody awesome. Amazing plane, awesome flight, awesome crew. A real piece of history.

Thanks for the help y'all :D

:niceone: :clap:

Awesome stuff, Dude !! So glad you enjoyed it !!
Makes me want to go up in it again.

[Chooky]

6076 ft.... close!

Yer... I knew it started with a 6.................