Sunderland Flying Boat - Flights?

**CookMySock** · 18th January 2010, 05:55

Originally Posted by Usarka

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.

Originally Posted by Usarka

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** · 18th January 2010, 09:05

Originally Posted by 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.

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:Me** · 18th January 2010, 14:25

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** · 18th January 2010, 17:01

Originally Posted by 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

It would take a while to get that far up!

**caseye** · 18th January 2010, 17:05

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:Me** · 18th January 2010, 17:07

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

**SPman** · 18th January 2010, 17:12

Originally Posted by FROSTY

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

5280 feet!

**Chooky** · 18th January 2010, 17:51

Nautical mile.. 6280ft....

**marty** · 19th January 2010, 06:47

Originally Posted by cave weta

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** · 19th January 2010, 06:48

Originally Posted by Chooky

Nautical mile.. 6280ft....

it certainly makes time/distance calcs easy at 90/120/150/180kts

**Pussy** · 19th January 2010, 07:14

Originally Posted by Chooky

Nautical mile.. 6280ft....

6076 ft.... close!

**cave weta** · 19th January 2010, 07:53

Originally Posted by marty

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** · 19th January 2010, 09:13

Originally Posted by 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!

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