my friend at work owns a Pitts, a high-performance aerobatic biplane. 260 hp, about 1100 lbs. after many months of bugging him I finally got a ride today. I had to get up at 5:30 but it was worth it.
the ride
note the placard
my fat head
that plane is insane. it climbs and accelerates like you wouldn't believe. the pilot flies from the rear seat but there are controls in front as well. you have to wear a parachute, it's crazy.
we flew to Van Nuys, CA to meet up with one of his wealthy friends who owns another Pitts. flying with him is a world-class aerobatics instructor, who is currently giving flight instruction to Tom Cruise, who also owns a Pitts and flies out of Santa Monica airport. from there we flew to Camarillo airport for lunch.
another shot
then we met a former marine F18 pilot who owns an Extra 300, another insane aerobatic aircraft.
we did a 3-plane formation takeoff and flew around for a while.
Camarillo formation takeoff
formation takeoff2
turning downwind
2 Pitts + 1 Extra 300
which way is up
we did a couple rolls but nothing too extreme, unfortunately
I got to fly a little on the way home. even though I have my instrument rating my friend didn't trust me too much with the controls he's very protective of his baby.
back at Hawthorne we saw this, piloted by 2 pretty cool cops.
cool helo gassing up
some short videos (thanks AaronB)--
inverted flight
roll
home base
all shots & video were taken with my Canon SD300.
the ride
note the placard
my fat head
that plane is insane. it climbs and accelerates like you wouldn't believe. the pilot flies from the rear seat but there are controls in front as well. you have to wear a parachute, it's crazy.
we flew to Van Nuys, CA to meet up with one of his wealthy friends who owns another Pitts. flying with him is a world-class aerobatics instructor, who is currently giving flight instruction to Tom Cruise, who also owns a Pitts and flies out of Santa Monica airport. from there we flew to Camarillo airport for lunch.
another shot
then we met a former marine F18 pilot who owns an Extra 300, another insane aerobatic aircraft.
we did a 3-plane formation takeoff and flew around for a while.
Camarillo formation takeoff
formation takeoff2
turning downwind
2 Pitts + 1 Extra 300
which way is up
we did a couple rolls but nothing too extreme, unfortunately
I got to fly a little on the way home. even though I have my instrument rating my friend didn't trust me too much with the controls
he's very protective of his baby.back at Hawthorne we saw this, piloted by 2 pretty cool cops.
cool helo gassing up
some short videos (thanks AaronB)--
inverted flight
roll
home base
all shots & video were taken with my Canon SD300.
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