My ultimate aerobatic aeroplane. For Adam the Akrodude.

[RHB785]

I wish I could put up screen shots Adam. If you have a look at the AZ Models site under the Admiral heading there is a 1/72 Russian conversion 2 seat Spitfire from the DOSAAF aeroclub at Tallin Estonia in the mid 50s in a stunning paint scheme. It's the first kit listed under the Admiral listing. I must have me one of those. You could convert a 1/32 scale Tamiya or whatever else Mk IX into this one and perhaps damo could design some decals for you and all the other large scale enthusiasts out there. That would be a really stunning model in 1/32. Let's try a link. Here.
www.azmodel.cz/product_info.php?cPath=3 ... cts_id=756

Regrads,
RHB.

[Adam the Akrodude]

I've seriously considered flying over to NZ for a ride in the two seater Spitty over there. Man, to see a Spitfire listed in my log book would be the ultimate.

Saying that though, from my very limited experience warbirds are very different to fly when compared to small, light super agile aerobatic aeroplanes. The Laser had a roll rate somewhere like 250-270 degree/second. Very few WW2 fighters could exceed 90deg/sec - very laid back ol' chap! It's the same with pitch rate. I've only had the chance to fly one warbird (T-28D). The Trojan was an absolute truck say compared to a Decathalon. Honestly, having a fly of the Trojan was not as much fun as I expected it to be. It is nice to be clipping along at a higher speed, but it's all relative I guess. It's the overall experience - the rumble and sound of the engine, the fast climb rate (Laser though can climb at about the same rate as a baby Spit @ 3000fpm).

I am highly tempted to do a civvie Spitfire, as they just look so beautiful in civvie schemes. Ross, you just inspired me to pull out my ol' 1/48 Spitty from the back of the cabinet. Poor ol' girl is in need of some TLC. She's on the bench and getting a fresh oil job and possibly some filtering to spruce her up. I'll post some pic's shortly over at the Airbase.

Here's what I think is the ultimate. If it meant trading my left arm to own one, I'd do it!

[RHB785]

G'day Adam. What type of aeroplane is that? I know that a Spitty couldn't match the roll rate of say a Laser but 90 degrees/second would be quite enough for me. If I had managed to go for that Mirage ride I know my helmet would have been banging against the sides of the canopy in rapid rolls. 360+ degrees/second rolls were normal for the Mirage, even at low altitude. That blue and white DOSAAF Spitty with the red cheatline is stunning in my eyes and the blue is pretty much the same as that on my Biele Albatrosy L39. Besides that, I've always liked the lines of the Spitfire, this one is in a simple but beautiful scheme. I intend to get another set of those decals and do this one again as my paint job on this one isn't the best so I'd like to do it again and make a better job of it next time around.

Regards,
RHB.

[Adam the Akrodude]

Hey Ross

It's a Extra 330SC, one of the best aerobatic aeroplanes in the world. It belongs to a friend of a friend. I had a big blub to this guy about having to sell my share in the Laser, whilst drooling like Homer Simpson thinking about donuts looking that that 330SC . He cheered me up greatly by saying how he had to stop flying for 17 years whilst he educated his kids. This aeroplane was flown by the great Mark Jefferies at Avalon, a past British aerobatic national champion, who has had many flying adventures including once being intercepted by two Su-27's and forced to land at a Russian Airbase when ferrying a L-29 jet trainer from the Russia!

At this years Expo, Capt Eric invited a one time work mate of his to the show, a past captain of his. This gentleman once flew the Mirage and 111's in the RAAF. Eric's incredible Mirage model represents this guys ride when he was flying them. Anyhoo, I asked him about the French Lady's insanely high roll rate and whether it was possible to stop this rapid rate of roll accurately - i.e, full stick deflection and accurately do one or multiple rolls. His answer is that they were always limited to half stick deflection so as not to induce "Dutch Roll" (where the nose displaces away from the desired direction of travel - adverse yaw). Someone he knew attempted a low altitude rapid roll over his house with his wife watching from below. Due to this Dutch Roll coming on from the rapid roll rate, he ended up flying into the ground. Dutch Roll was pretty common with 50's & 60's fighters - I guess a "feature" of delta wing aircraft from that time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_roll

[tor lives]

Dutch Roll was pretty common with 50's & 60's fighters - I guess a "feature" of delta wing aircraft from that time.

Not just the fighters, the 707, (and to a lesser extent the DC-8), was renouned for it. It was the one flight characteristic of the 707 that could really bite the unsuspecting on the arse if they were not ready for it, (well....that and attempting double asymmetric VMCA demos with rudder boost off )
TOR

[RHB785]

Hi Adam. I heard about that Mirage incident in the press at the time and more details when I joined the RAAF. This happened about 4 years before I joined up. You're right about the dutch roll. From what I've always understood they would also start to dutch roll if too many consecutive rolls were attempted. From memory the limit was 8 rolls before they started the dutch roll thing. I've also seen film from a movie camera set up in the back seat of a dual and the pilots helmet was hitting the canopy sides during rapid rolls. That would have been fun in my 20s but now in my 60s I think it would be a bit too much for the old system. That's why a nice smooth 90 degrees/second in a 2 seater Spitfire would be just right these days. Sorry for the lack of photos in the last 4 or 5 days. My landline has gone down so no ADSL connection and my laptop is also playing up at the moment. I'm typing this on my tablet.

Regards,
RHB.

[tor lives]

Hi Ross,
Because of my crazy, chaotic existence at the moment, I am basically running the site, on the hop, from my IPad these days. Where would we be without our tablets????
TOR