Verna and Bob's Weblog

Aerospace

Bragging Rights

fraser.jpgBack in the early 1980s, I had the pleasure of serving as flight instructor to primary student Fraser Heston. A mutual friend and former student, Ralph, introduced Fraser to me and wanted to have Fraser take his primary instruction in Ralph’s Piper PA-18 Super Cub, a descendant of Piper’s Venerable J3 Cub. I was one of the few taildragger instructors at SMO then, so I got the job.

Clickable image: Fraser Heston posing by Ralph’s Super Cub (found during the big house cleaning)

One of the big events was when Fraser was to have his first solo flight. His Father, the immortal Charlton Heston brought the family to witness the event. After a few trips around the traffic pattern as dual instruction, Fraser was ready to make his three take-offs and landings to a full stop (touch and go landings don’t count for taildraggers). I got out of the airplane near the gas pit where there was an observation deck. I introduced myself to “Chuck” and his family as Fraser taxied out for take-off.

Fraser’s three trips around the pattern were flawless. His landings were smooth and uneventful – which is a good thing. We cheered from the observation deck as Fraser taxied back for each subsequent takeoff. after the last landing, Fraser taxied to the tie-down area next to the observation deck and we all met him there.

Chuck proposed a toast to the event. The family brought a bottle of champagne and several little plastic champagne glasses. Chuck had to pour the champagne into glasses on the horizontal stabilizer of an adjacent Cessna since Ralph’s airplane’s horizontal stabilizers aren’t horizontal on the ground. We toasted to Fraser’s perfect first solo flight. The family then adjourned to have brunch in Westwood Village.

Verna and I were honored to be invited to the screening of “Mother Lode” a few weeks later. We both met with Charlton Heston, the star of the film, and with Fraser, the writer and producer. On the way out, Verna (literally) bumped into Lou Ferigno, star of “The Incredible Hulk.” That was a fun night.

I am very proud to have these events in my pilot logbook. I still brag about having this experience from time to time. This is one of those times.

July 27, 2010 by Aerospace Nostalgia

Military Helicopter Flyovers

Twice today, these two large military helicopters – Blackhawks, I believe – flew over our house. One flight of two helicopters passed overhead (see inset) flying toward LAX. Later in the afternoon, they both flew over again going in the opposite direction. It’s unknown if they were transporting VIPs or it was a flight for some other purpose. As a former helicopter pilot and US Naval aircrew member, it always gives me a thrill to see these guys go overhead

Both and I salute our military and we support them via the USO and Wounded Warrior Project.

Click on the image to enlarge.

flight-of-2.jpg

July 23, 2010 by Aerospace Military

Barking at Banners

I like to bark at airplanes towing banners – not other airplanes, just the ones with banners. The daddy made another movie of me looking up at the banner, barking at it, and then a picture of the airplane. Click the > to see me.

May 30, 2010 by Aerospace Critters Holidays

Aeronca Champ

aeronca.jpgIt’s been a lot of years since I piloted one of these. It’s an Aeronca Champion or ‘Champ’ for short. These were built after the second world war and were in direct competition with the Piper J-3 Cub. I have flown and instructed in both types and, believe me, they are a lot of fun to fly.

Image: Aeronca Champion

We were shopping in a strip mall near Torrance Zamperini Field when this nicely painted Champ flew over us on a short approach to runway two-niner left. A wave of nostalgia went through me as it sent me back in time to the days of dead reckoning, seat-of-the-pants, needle, ball and airspeed flying.

April 17, 2010 by Aerospace

Spirit of America

blimp.jpgVerna and I were out and about today. We happened to pass the Carson Goodyear Airship Operations Facility and saw the airship “Spirit of America” moored on the landing pad. Sensing a photo opportunity, we stopped in the parking lot and went to the observation deck on the west side of the base. Verna took this photo of the “blimp” from the deck. Click the image to enlarge.

The Goodyear Blimp Website describes the operations at this site:

Four pilots direct operations of the California-based Goodyear airship — the Spirit of America — Jon Conrad -Pilot-in-Charge, Matthew St. John – Assistant Pilot-in-charge, Kristen Davis – Senior Pilot and Nathan Brooks – Senior Pilot.

In addition to the four pilots, the Spirit of America operation has a crew of 16 including aircraft mechanics, radio and television technicians, riggers, heavy-duty maintenance mechanics, ground handlers, and a public relations manager. Three support vehicles complement the Spirit of America’s operations, including an 18-wheel tractor-trailer mobile maintenance vehicle, a 22- person MCI bus, and a nine-passenger van.

March 11, 2010 by Aerospace Photography

Boeing-Stearman Model 75 in 3D

stearman.pngWe stopped at Torrance Zamperini Field today to visit the Western Museum of Flight. While we were there, a neighbor to the museum had his hangar door open and inside was this beautiful Boeing-Stearman vintage biplane. I paused to take a couple of images to merge into this 3D shot of the aircraft.

Click on the image to enlarge.

If you don’t have a pair of 3D glasses, you can see the 2D version here.

This is Wikipedia’s summary of the Boeing Stearman Model 75:

The Stearman (Boeing) Model 75 is a biplane, of which at least 9,783 were built in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s as a military trainer aircraft. Stearman became a subsidiary of Boeing in 1934. Widely known as the Stearman, Boeing Stearman or Kaydet, it served as a Primary trainer for the USAAF, as a basic trainer for the USN (as the NS & N2S), and with the RCAF as the Kaydet throughout World War II. After the conflict was over, thousands of surplus aircraft were sold on the civil market. In the immediate post-war years they became popular as crop dusters and as sports planes.

October 9, 2009 by Aerospace Bob's 3D Stuff Retirement

Avalon 1998

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