Totally unbelievable....

[nudemetalz]

Now, I know this isn't motorcycle-related but I'm sure you all here will understand just how skillfull and dangerous this is...

These are of the South African Harvard display team takern recently...and no they are not photoshopped !!!

[limbimtimwim]

These are of the South African Harvard display team takern recently...and no they are not photoshopped !!!'Cor!

They better be careful with the brakes, they might lock up a wheel.

;-)

[Fishy]

Forget the brakes wheres the standup game gear? I'm sure I could hook me a nice Wahoo or Yellowfin at that speed!.

[nudemetalz]

Forgot to add ,...they're obviously far more skillful at flying than playing rugby.......:rofl:

[Hailwood]

Thats impressive.....could you imagine it here with Uncle Helen and OSH, LTSA(what would Andy Knackerwacker make of it?), ACC...they would be having heart attacks at the mere thought that people might be doing something fun and oooooooooooooooo a bit risky.......nice pics

[Motu]

Awwwe,luverly things those Harvards.When I lived on Waiheke Island,about 100 metres back from the Onetangi Beach cliff top,some of the old WWII pilots held a reunion or some such down at a lodge on the beach and the War Birds put a demo on for them.The Harvards were staffing the lodge and doing loops - they were coming right over our house to turn....on a wing tip at what seemed stall speed.There was also a Mustang,and the difference was amaising...the Mustang was very fast and it's loop was huge,and was taking at least a one km radius to turn,the Harvards turned on 100 metres.One of the best days entertainment I've ever had...at my house....for free.

[Lou Girardin]

There was also a Mustang,and the difference was amaising...the Mustang was very fast and it's loop was huge,and was taking at least a one km radius to turn,the Harvards turned on 100 metres.One of the best days entertainment I've ever had...at my house....for free.

I love the sound of Packard Merlins, any Merlin for that matter. Sex on wings.

[kiwifruit]

awesome pics

[Motu]

Nah,I like radials....but then I prefer singles too.A radial is just like....18 aircooled singles joined to one crankpin.

[Sniper]

Damn, we are good.

[ManDownUnder]

I find it hard to believe they're not photoshopped... wheels touching the water but no disaster?

I'm not a pilot - I'm happy to be proven wrong... but I'm a tad suspicious on this one.

As for the Harvards themselves... I'm going to Warbirds over Wanaka this year. I love 'em all (some more than others of course... )

[nudemetalz]

Damn, we are good.

Of course, an SA in disguise resident....:yeah:

[ManDownUnder]

Of course, an SA in disguise resident....:yeah:

He looks, sounds and types like someone from SA (as much as someone can...)... Snipe - you hiding something from us?

... didn't think so...

[Sniper]

I am from SA....... ask me mum

[ManDownUnder]

I am from SA....... ask me mum

too cool... where's she from? :whistle:

[nudemetalz]

I find it hard to believe they're not photoshopped... wheels touching the water but no disaster?

I'm not a pilot - I'm happy to be proven wrong... but I'm a tad suspicious on this one.

As for the Harvards themselves... I'm going to Warbirds over Wanaka this year. I love 'em all (some more than others of course... )

This is definitely not photoshopped...apparently in the States is a popular trick to do in Piper Cubs...much like those Icelandic V8 powered water-skimmers, as long as you keep your speed up the water becomes like concrete,...however, you really would not want an engine failure while doing it.. !!!

Yes I'll be a Wanaka as well. Wifey and I are riding down on the ZX-10 and VTR.

[Sniper]

too cool... where's she from? :whistle:

Her mum ::shake:

[smokeyging]

Now, I know this isn't motorcycle-related but I'm sure you all here will understand just how skillfull and dangerous this is...

These are of the South African Harvard display team takern recently...and no they are not photoshopped !!!

Bloody hell, and i thought kiwis were nuts.......

[Ixion]

How do they know their wheels are touching (I'm not questioning them, just curious). Obviously the pilot cannot see his own wheels, and I presume altimeters would not be accurate enough at such low heights?

[Buster]

Great pics. Good skills shown by the pilots. Im sure they would "feel" when the wheels touched. It makes me think of those dirt bikers who ride over small lakes at high speed.

[onearmedbandit]

Very impressive. Now to put it in the correct forum.

[terbang]

How do they know their wheels are touching (I'm not questioning them, just curious). Obviously the pilot cannot see his own wheels, and I presume altimeters would not be accurate enough at such low heights?
Same way you know where the wheels are on yer bike. We land on them all the time..!

[Ixion]

well, yeah, but not normally on water, unless you're Fred Ladd. And the wheels on my bike don't usually leave the ground.

I just mean that I assume that a touch down on water would not be able to be felt, water being softish. So do they just do by eye, estimate how high they are ?

[onearmedbandit]

I would've thought they would notice the drag, using that as an indicator.

[Shadows]

Aquaplaning gives me the shits.

[Madness]

A lack of aquaplaning gave this guy the shits...

[Insanity_rules]

Now, I know this isn't motorcycle-related but I'm sure you all here will understand just how skillfull and dangerous this is...

These are of the South African Harvard display team takern recently...and no they are not photoshopped !!!

Holy shit! Nice

[ZorsT]

well, yeah, but not normally on water, unless you're Fred Ladd. And the wheels on my bike don't usually leave the ground.

I just mean that I assume that a touch down on water would not be able to be felt, water being softish. So do they just do by eye, estimate how high they are ?
looking to the horizon lets you make an accurate judgement on how far off the deck you are...

Its something you get to know after a few landings in the particular aircraft.

Distance can be judged to a matter of inches this way. Looking at the ground below you will let you know to a matter of feet.

flying close to the ground in any aircraft greatly reduces drag. A phenomenon known as ground effect. Looking to the horizon is vital to the effective use of ground effect.

I imagine the increased drag would be very noticeable. The drag required to make a wake like that would be huge.

[Timber020]

Its actually pretty easy to do, if you can land a plane you can probably pull this off. I worked on big irragation systems in aus that had huge irrigation ditches and ponds. spray planes used to do this all the time along the ditches for shits and giggles. Some actually hadnt that much flying time under their belt. Saying that one did try to land a twin prop with his wheels up. Lets just say he didnt get to keep his job!
Because of the speed you would have to put the nose into the water or bounce the tail to screw up as the still water at speed is a perfect surface for this. The planes used to do this and the water would jet up and create 2 tunnels of mist as they followed the air turbulence of the plane. Looked very cool. as they create a tunnel of spray behind them.
The planes also had a habit of straffing us to. Bastards.

[Brett]

Damn, we are good.

I find myself agreeing with you...even if our rugby aint on top at the moment.

[speedpro]

I was at Wigram when the Harvards were retired. The instructors took them up for a final fling. Of course they had to practice the routine - awesome. The bottom of one practice loop was below the roof of the hangers.

[Blairos]

Hmm - practising this would be interesting, especially if you allowed for the occasional fuck-up... maybe the SA has a plentiful supply of Harvards?

[nodrog]

Hmm - practising this would be interesting, especially if you allowed for the occasional fuck-up... maybe the SA has a plentiful supply of Harvards?

i bet ya they have more planes than our air force.

[nudemetalz]

Here's the waterski-ing movie to prove it ain't no photoshoppe !!!!!
http://www.dumpalink.com/media/1145434732/AT-6_Harvards_on_Water

[GNR]

yer its real,
as for, "if u can land an aircraft, u could pull it off", i doubt it, ive got 110hrs, and i don't recon i could, you would have to very slowely ease it onto the water,

[Edbear]

Awesum!! From what I've heard the Harvards are a sweet plane to fly and ideal for this sort of fun. To think they get paid to have fun!:yes: