This needs further research. I recall an ex military pilot telling me that
they didn't get an instrument rating for some mainly sensible reason, but I
can't remember it, due to advancing age.
-----Original Message-----
From: ChrisB
Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2015 12:51 AM
To: Olympus Camera Discussion
Subject: Re: [OM] IMG: A Few from the Beech Party
“Not many of the ex-military pilots had instrument ratings. . .”? That seems
wrong. It would be unnecessarily restrictive on any military force for its
pilots to be unable to fly in bad weather.
Chris
On 16 Oct 15, at 21:09, Jim Nichols <jhnichols@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Bill,
I did a little more searching, and found this article, which has some
interesting numbers and a few more details on structural problems. I can
recall when the tail chord was increased, and the front of the stabilizer
was anchored more securely.
http://airfactsjournal.com/2012/06/tail-tale-what-was-wrong-with-v-tail-bonanza-pilots/
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
On 10/16/2015 2:54 PM, Bill Pearce wrote:
While ego was a large part of the problem, there were structural
problems, when an egotistical pilot flew into weather he shouldn't. I
believe, but memory is unclear, that the tailcone came loose due to
torsion. Beech applied structural fixes in the late years of the V.
-----Original Message----- From: Jim Nichols
Sent: Friday, October 16, 2015 8:26 AM
To: Olympus Camera Discussion
Subject: Re: [OM] IMG: A Few from the Beech Party
Bill,
Thanks for your comments. I agree that the Bonanza was a slippery
airplane when cleaned up, but no more so than the Mooney, Comanche, or
the Cessna 210, for that matter. I knew pilots who were killed in a
Mooney, and in a Twin Comanche. And even Scott Crossfield, with all of
his experience, was killed in a Cessna 210. My only RG experience was
with the Comanche 250. I have ridden in a Bonanza, but never flew one.
But, even the Bonanza had a safety outlet. If one found himself in a
situation where caution was required, the gear could be lowered, and
then it was rock solid.
The problem, in my humble opinion, was a matter of ego, not airplane.
For low-time pilots with deep pockets, the Bonanza was a nice, shiny toy
that they just couldn't resist.
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
On 10/15/2015 11:45 PM, Bill Pearce wrote:
Jim,
Glad you enjoyed yourself, I would like to have been there. It does,
though make me sad that the museum and event isn't in Wichita, where
most of these things were born.
The V tail Bonanza was a handful to fly unless you were an experienced
pilot. It was once said here that, "If it weren't for the Beech Bonanza,
we would be up to our a** in doctors and lawyers." That's because more
than a few were lost because the Bonanza was a handful for a low time
pilot with a big ego and wallet to match. With the conventional tail,
most of the problems were solved.
-----Original Message----- From: Jim Nichols
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2015 5:18 PM
To: LUG@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; Olympus Camera Discussion
Subject: [OM] IMG: A Few from the Beech Party
Each year at about this time the Beech airplane enthusiasts throw a
Beech Party in Tullahoma, where they enjoy each others company and all
things Beech. The airplanes have been arriving for several days.
Today, I snapped a few examples of the airplanes that brought it all
about.
The pride and joy of the Beech enthusiasts is the BE-17 Staggerwing,
built in the 1930s and 1940s. This photo was too far away to show the
details of craftsmanship, but it was the best I could do today.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Red+Staggerwing.tif.html
The follow-on to the Staggerwing was the Twin Beech, built for the Army
and Navy in a number of configurations during WWII, and produced for the
civilian market in the 40s and 50s. The Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 hp
radial powered most of the Staggerwings and the Twin Beech, though some
were converted to turboprops later.
This one was caught on a low pass down the runway.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Twin+Beech+in+Flight.TIFF.html
After WWII, Beech developed the Bonanza for the civilian market. The
original had the butterfly tail shown here, while the later models
featured a conventional tail.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Red+Bonanza.TIFF.html
And when pilots get together, frequently they want to do things that are
not a part of their daily routine, such as formation flying and low
passes down the runway. This formation contained the military trainer
version of the Bonanza, the T-34, along with a Bonanza.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/T-34+and+Bonanza.tif.html
All shot from a distance with the E-1 and Takumar 135/3.5.
Comments and critiques welcomed.
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