WACO Classic: Hand-Crafted Perfection (Check Out The Virtual 360 Cockpit!)

The YMF-5 from WACO Classic Aircraft Corporation  photo: WACO Classic

Click the pic to open up an awesome 360 virtual cockpit

(5 pix )

 Back in March of 1986 something really cool happened: the first ‘brand new’ WACO YMF Classic was completed as a fully certified aircraft under the original WACO type certificate.  Just like the one pictured above, the WACO Classics look exactly like the original YMF of the 1930’s except that they've been modernized where it makes sense and are available with fully updated instrumentation. 

 Click the panel pic above to go to an awesome 360 degree hi-res picture that puts you right in the pilot’s seat so you can check out that instrumentation. (mouse around for a full 360 view)

 You might not know that the YMF is one of the WACO designs from the golden age of aviation that has a front cockpit big enough for two.  That helps makes these biplanes a good choice for scenic ride takers.  It’s a lot more likely you’ll be profitable when you’ve got two paying passengers on board!  Plus, two seats up front makes the ride more fun for those a little unsure about riding in an open cockpit.  As for me, I don’t think it gets any better than a round engine, an open cockpit and two wings!  That’s some pure avgeek perfection : )

  These gorgeous airplanes are built by the WACO Classic Aircraft Corporation in Battle Creek, Michigan.  Company president Peter Bowers says they’ve been able to stay busy during the tough economic times, tho the backlog isn’t very deep.  The fact that they haven’t had layoffs and shutdowns actually makes them unique in the world of general aviation manufacturing these days.  And, increased demand from European customers keeps things looking promising.  Typically, they build 4 to 8 airplanes a year with the 26 employees on staff. 

 My dad took this picture of a WACO Classic in the Southwest a few years back.  He'd go for a scenic ride each year while he was staying out of the cold Midwestern winters.

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CoolPix - NASA: STS-130 Endeavour Night Landing At KSC On 2-21-10

(click pic for hi-res)

 Another new CoolPix category… this time it’s NASA, and the pic isn’t even 48 hours old!  It’s the beautiful landing of the Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-130) on runway 15 at the Shuttle Landing Facility - Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  It has a bit of a ’computer generated’ look to it given that it was a low light image, but it’s the real thing to be sure… and an awesome sight!  (lots more STS-130 NASA pix) 

 It’s also a fitting image given that there are only 4 launches left before the Space Shuttle program is scheduled to retire.  The image here speaks to that with the dark sky and overwhelming stillness in the air.  Yet, this image also shows the Shuttle looking proud, strong, and very American.  It was an excellent landing that once again demonstrated the rather amazing accomplishment of ’re-usable’ spacecraft.

 The Shuttle Program has certainly had it’s difficulties, setbacks and tragedies.  But ALL endeavors of mankind that stretch us to the limit carry great risk… and without question, the risk of death.  That IS the human experience. 

 The ’explorer’ in all of us is the most alive when these risks are faced head on.

 FYI: the small puffs of fire seen on the left side of the leading edge of the vertical fin are from one of the auxiliary power units as it does a controlled burn-off of the highly toxic and dangerously unstable hydrazine fuel that powers them.  It's completely normal, just not usually noticeable on daytime landings.  If you look close at the CoolPix image, you'll see a small puff is visible there as well.

Video: Flying Japanese Zero With Original Sakae Radial Engine

 YouTube user octane130 has a fab channel of WWII aircraft videos that really showcase the sight and sound of the engines on these aircraft.  This video of the only flying Japanese Zero to have an original Nakajima Sakae 14 cylinder radial engine is a great example.  The sound is just awesome.

 The airplane is owned by the Planes of Fame Museum in California, which rebuilt the airplane back in 1978, including having the original engine fully restored.  Apparently the few other flying examples of the Zero have had their engines replaced with more common U.S. radials.  It's quite an experience to see this beautifully restored historic aircraft fully functioning.   

Caption Contest #31: All Aboard! Ends Wednesday 2-24-10 At 9PM EST

 It’s been quite a while since we’ve done a caption contest of an airplane with people all over it… and this one takes the cake for the mega-mostest people so far!  It should be pretty easy to get some funny thoughts to fall out of your head on this one. 

 So here we go... you've got til Wednesday evening at 9pm EST to submit captions, then I’ll pick the best 5 and put ’em in a poll for everyone to vote on.  The most popular caption will put the winner in line for $20 in AirPigz funny money. 

 The Rules:

1) Max of 3 submissions per person

2) Submissions go in the 'comments' area 

3) Game ends Wednesday at 9pm EST 

4) Keep it clean!

  Anyone who wants to cast their vote will be able to after the poll goes up around an hour after the 9pm Wednesday submission deadline.

 We'll vote for 24 hours, til 9pm EST on Thursday.  The winner will be posted  Friday morning 2-26-10.  Have fun, and can ya scoot over a little to make more room : )

AirPigz Podcast #8 - Matt Younkin & Kyle Franklin: Sons Of Legends

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Matt Younkin - Amanda Younkin Franklin - Kyle Franklin

(5 pix + 1 video)

Interviews with Matt Younkin and Kyle Franklin - 54:38

 Matt Younkin’s father Bobby Younkin, and Kyle Franklin’s father Jimmy Franklin were two of the best airshow pilots ever, with years and years of impressive experience in a very wide range of aircraft.  Known for both unique creativity and tremendous flying skill, they set the standard for excellent airshow performances again and again.  Sadly, they both lost their lives in an airshow accident while performing together in 2005.

 The great heritage of those years of airshow excellence is being carried on by Matt Younkin and Kyle Franklin as the Sons of Legends.  Matt is well known for flying the Twin Beech aerobatically with both day and night shows… and Kyle keeps the Waco Mystery Ship and wing walker act at the forefront of airshow performances.

 The Sons of Legends story is even more interesting in that Matt’s sister Amanda is married to Kyle, bringing these two great aviation families even closer together.  Amanda is not only a pilot, but she manages both Younkin Airshows and Franklin Airshows, and she's Kyle’s wing walker too!

 These three unique people are working hard to bring honor to the great airshow work done by their fathers, and this podcast includes in-depth interviews with both Matt and Kyle.  They both talk about what it’s like to fly their signature aircraft as well as some of the other airplanes in their shows.  It’s especially interesting to hear Matt talk of flying the Twin Beech at night, and to hear Kyle’s details of his 8 years of wing walking experience followed by him now flying the Waco as Amanda is out on the wing.  Listen now to learn more about the Sons of Legends.

 all photos: Scott Slocum 
Matt Younkin in his beautiful looking (and sounding!) Twin Beech

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Must See ‘Gray Eagles’ Video: P-51 Passion

(kinda long at 28:46 - but worth every single second)

 There’s a ‘line’ in this life that sadly most people never cross.  It’s kinda hard to define, but it’s a line of passion - and when it’s crossed, it puts you on the side of really being ‘alive’ on this earth.  There are many things that can take you over that line, and interestingly, flying is one of the most effective.

 This video has the power to help those who never knew that line was out there to possibly see it for the first time.  It also can take those who’ve been there before to once again feel alive.  And if you’re already living everyday on the good side of that line, this film is more fuel on the fire.

 It’s world-class cinematography used to tell the story of a World War II pilot, his family, a P-51, and how they all grew much closer together.  It’s about one of the greatest airplanes ever designed and built, and the generation of pilots that used it to fight for freedom.

 Many have already seen it, but you might be like me and are just finding out about it.  A friend sent me the link about an hour ago, and I figured I’d check it out.  I could see right away that it was beautifully done, but I was just gonna watch a few minutes of it… you know, stuff to do.  I couldn’t peel myself away until all 28:46 had run its course.  Powerful, beautiful, and I’m not ashamed to say it brought tears to my eyes.

 You can learn more about the film at GrayEagles.org.  You can also buy the Gray Eagles DVD thru Amazon.  For every DVD purchased, the Gray Eagles Foundation will be donating an additional DVD to an educational institution. 

 I highly recommend you put your life on hold for 30 minutes and watch this film… see if you can experience the crossing of that miraculous line where a human being goes from just living, to being 'alive’.

Caption Contest #30 Buzzes In A New Winner!

 Captioner 'John' has bumped 'Tony' off the throne folding chair reserved for the winners of this prestigious contest - great job!  I'm getting ever closer to having all the AirPigz funny money prizes pulled together, so trading those hard fought winnings should pay off before long.

 In an odd turn of events, traffic at AirPigz is up noticeably over a month ago, but interest in the Caption Contest seems to have been on about a 300fpm rate of sink.  If we don't get back to a positive rate of climb soon, I may have to put this little pup back in the hangar. So if you like the CC, please consider whipping up a little frenzy : )

 That said, we'll try this all over again, at least one more time, starting next Monday morning 2-22-10. 

Low Level Aerobatics - 1986 Video Of The Late Great Bob Herendeen

(video includes a Lomcevak & Inverted Flat Spin.  Also, cool low passes start at 4:00) 

 I’m finally getting around to converting several old VHS tapes into digital video so I can share some cool things from back in the day.  This video of Bob Herendeen is the first one that I've run thru a new method of conversion (my Concorde ride at Oshkosh 88 was the first I converted, but I did it a totally different way).

 Bob Herendeen (1926-1994) was one of the nicest people I ever knew.  He was kind and considerate… a true gentleman.  But put him in a Pitts Special and he could really tear up the sky!  In fact, Bob had been one of the people that really made the Pitts Special so popular.  He had the first one used in aerobatic competition to have 4 ailerons back in the early 60’s, and went on to be the U.S. National Aerobatic Champion in 1966 and 1969.  That’s a pretty big deal.

 Bob’s style of aerobatics was somehow a little more pleasing than most others.  He knew how to push the airplane hard, but it was always something beautiful to watch… not like he was trying to conquer the airplane, but rather like the two were working together to make something truly captivating.  This was all matched by his kind and gentle way as a person. 

 I was fortunate to get to know him in the 80’s at the Mentone Airport in Indiana.  My dad owned that little country airport and I had skipped out on my college career, that was supposed to start in the fall of 79, to become essentially an airport bum.  Life was good.  Real good : )

 Bob was born in Mentone, and his dad had owned that same airport many years earlier, up til the late 70’s.  Bob would stop by for a week or so most summers and visit friends and family, and he’d be out several times to practice aerobatics while giving the locals some fab free airshow.  Airshows at a fly-in are great.  Airshows in your backyard with Bob Herendeen and no rules are awesome!  This video is of Bob practicing, and showing off for the camera some too.  It definitely shows enough of his flying to see that he really was something special.

 I feel very fortunate to have known Bob, and I’m thankful for the chance to share some of his fantastic flying with the world thru this video.

Bob Herendeen in the cockpit of his beautiful Pitts Special at the Mentone Airport in Indiana.  The video above is from 1986, but this picture might be from another year from that era.

This was by far the most exhilarating picture I've ever taken.  It's not from the video sequence, but it might be from the same year.  Bob was going about 200 mph and literally just a few feet off the deck and headed almost right at me.  I had a long zoom lens on the camera so it's just by chance that I had it both framed and pretty well focused with him approaching so fast (no auto focus back then).   I took the pic and lowered the camera to watch him go by... OMGosh - he was only about 20 feet in front of me as he screamed on by with the lower wingtip about waist height!  It was the coolest thing I've ever seen, and then my knees got kinda weak.  Wow : )

Fliegen Fantastic HexaKopter Video - Der Meister Of The Sky!

 You only have to watch a minute of this video to be blown away by how cool the HexaKopter is, but I highly recommend you watch the whole the 11:27.  This video has exploded on the internet the last few days, and I admit I don't know much about the HexaKopter, but my searching around showed several of the multi-motor all thruster machines being flown by people.  What makes this one from German Holger Buss so special is the software and hardware mix on the machine that allows for a variety of awesome capabilities (watch the vid).   

 It's simultaneously one of the coolest and scariest things I've ever seen!  Cool cuz it flies incredibly well, with loads of useful applications quickly coming to mind.  Scary cuz it's the first flying machine I've seen that makes so much of the bots-taking-over-the-world stuff we've seen in the movies seem like it's right around the corner.  It's flat out amazing and exciting... a great piece of work.

 Here's a link to the Vimeo video page for Holger Buss so you can go check out several of his other vids on the HexaKopter.  Let's enjoy getting to know these buzzy little flying machines, you know, before they decide to take over the world : )

Caption Contest #30: Top Gun Edition - Ends Wednesday 2-17-10 At 9PM EST

 Not sure if this is real or not, but it’s quite a sight either way.  I’m thinking it’s pretty much perfect Caption Contest material : )

 So here we go... you’ve got til Wednesday evening at 9pm EST to submit captions, then I’ll pick the best 5 and put ’em in a poll for everyone to vote on.  The most popular caption will put the winner in line for $20 in AirPigz funny money. 

 The Rules:

1) Max of 3 submissions per person

2) Submissions go in the 'comments' area 

3) Game ends Wednesday at 9pm EST 

4) Keep it clean!

 Anyone who wants to cast their vote will be able to after the poll goes up around an hour after the 9pm Wednesday submission deadline.

 We'll vote for 24 hours, til 9pm EST on Thursday.  The winner will be posted  Friday morning 2-19-10.  Have fun, and remember: a little top rudder can save the day!