Inverted roll in J Model

[N9201A]

The ink was not dry on my type certificate when I was asked to right-seat a Westwind that needed to go a short distance away.  The captain, a very, very experienced and senior guy with literally more than two dozen type ratings (I'm not kidding, I've never before or since seen a certificate like that) was flying while I handled checklists and comms.  My usual nervousness on flying with this icon was eased somewhat by his congratulations on my new rating;  in between commands he shared some tips I'd find useful (in his unique, grizzled way).  

 

I'd just acknowledged our descent clearance as he began to ease the nose down.  Just after I called "10,000 feet" he smoothly pitched the nose up about 30 degrees and began rolling -- and didn't stop until we had completed 360 degrees, at which point he eased the nose back down and set us up for our long visual final.  I was dumbstruck and mute the whole time, and we followed the usual sterile cockpit routine the whole way down through landing and taxi.

 

It was a beautiful maneuver, positive Gs the whole way around and if I'd had my eyes closed I would never have known we weren't straight and level.  He never uttered a word or otherwise acknowledged what he had done.  At about 90 degrees into the roll, the guys in the cabin realized what he was doing and began whooping it up as they realized what Ol' Grumpy was doing.  One of them told me later that he had half a cup of FBO coffee in a foam cup and had lost not a drop of it;  we both thought of the Hoover video.  To my knowledge no one ever asked him about it;  for my part, I just assumed it was his "victory roll" salute to my successful check-ride and half-felt like I had imagined it. 

 

My takeaways:  (1) Yes, maybe most anything CAN be rolled, but (2) not by ME!  All three of the other pilots aboard recognized the skill, precision and experience that enabled him to make that maneuver look so easy.  The rest of us would do well to save the aerobatics for the Citabria or Pitts - and wear a chute!  Oh yes, and I guess (3) you can be old AND bold, but your odds are better if you're bold only on occasion and when the situation favors you!

[RJBrown]

While getting my Instrument rating I spent a lot of late night time in a AST-300 simulator. Doing "normal" approaches got boring. I got in the habit of doing inverted ILS approaches. After landing inverted the plane would magically appear on the runway ready for takeoff. That and r/c flying is the extent of my aerobatics. As the old saw goes any landing you can walk away from was a good landing.

I like each flight of my Mooney to be shiny side up and each landing un eventful.

I admit I did try to roll the the DC8 full motion simulator at United's training center at the old Stapleton airport. Hit the stops and just stopped rolling. It would fly through the dome structure at LAX though.

[M016576]

You wouldn't take an '83 F-250 to race at Daytona and a NASCAR can't haul your couch.

Aerobatics are best left to aircraft designed for those flight profiles.

As an afterthought of the cirrus video- doing Aileron rolls at 200' is not smart (unless you are trained for it and have a plan of execution ie- an airshow) I didn't do Aileron rolls that low in the F-18, don't do it in the F-15, and sure wouldn't do it in a mooney... Our mooneys roll SOOO slow.... Long wing, limited travel on aileron. F-18E would roll at over 240 degrees per second. F-16's and extra 540's roll even faster!!!!

[Marauder]

You wouldn't take an '83 F-250 to race at Daytona and a NASCAR can't haul your couch. Aerobatics are best left to aircraft designed for those flight profiles. As an afterthought of the cirrus video- doing Aileron rolls at 200' is not smart (unless you are trained for it and have a plan of execution ie- an airshow) I didn't do Aileron rolls that low in the F-18, don't do it in the F-15, and sure wouldn't do it in a mooney... Our mooneys roll SOOO slow.... Long wing, limited travel on aileron. F-18E would roll at over 240 degrees per second. F-16's and extra 540's roll even faster!!!!

But it won't stop people from trying

[M016576]

But it won't stop people from trying ImageUploadedByTapatalk1373733950.127018.jpg

Hah!!! Exactly!!!

[fantom]

Dave Martin is working on getting the caravan to look this this:

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1460057690885507

 

49-Plane Record-Setting Formation Attempt

 

 

 

Forty-nine pilots (and planes) participated in a world-record-breaking attempt, flying a filled Vee formation in Van's RV aircraft t Arrowhead Stadium prior to an NFL football game Oct. 13. Officially, there were 49 airplanes flown by pilots from 19 different states as part of the KC Flight Formation Team. That may set a record recognized by Guinness for civilian aircraft flown together in formation. A thorough review of witness statements and video that may lead to an official record could take up to eight weeks. The performance was part of pre-game ceremonies for the Kansas City versus Oakland NFL football game. And the pilots used the flight to raise money for charity. Permission for the flight was denied before it was approved.  

Fundraising efforts began about a month prior to the flight because permission was denied until the team supplied training and safety information to officials. Within that time frame, the pilots were able to raise $25,000 in smaller donations from individuals with a final anonymous $5,000 donation arriving late to reach the team's goal. As a result, KC Flight will deliver the money to the University of Kansas Hospital's cancer center. KC Flight arranges annual fundraisers for breast cancer awareness. This year's effort included the flight as well as a silent auction and raffle that featured events with the Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders, the team mascot and others. Lee's Summit Municipal Airport served as the team's training hub prior to the flight.