Mustang Heaven

 I know I mention fairly often having "once-in-a-lifetime" experiences--but I guess in many respects, I've been blessed that way.  Learning to fly in an accelerated program in beautiful Colorado then flying cross-country to and from Las Vegas with my wife and great friends; then the next year flying out to Yellowstone and back...Okay, there have been a few magical moments connected with my flying....

Today was yet another...today I got to log time in a P-51C Mustang.  Given that there are only 157 airworthy Mustangs still flying, how often is that going to show up as a line in someone's logbook?!

A week ago, I saw an ad in the local Sunday paper showing that the Collings Foundation's Wing of Freedom Tour (http://www.collingsfoundation.org/cf_information.htm) was making a stop for three days at Bridgeport (KBDR).  The Foundation seeks to preserve "living history" and the Tour includes bringing a B-17, a B-24, and a P-51 Mustang called Betty Jane around the country.  They offer walk-throughs of the bombers and flights as well--the fees help support the Foundation in its restoration and history demonstrations.  Michiko agreed that it was just such a unique opportunity that I couldn't pass it up...so I booked a ride for the P-51.

I will admit to being nervous.  This is a Mustang, for crying out loud!  This is an airplane I drooled over at every airshow since I was a child.  This is an airplane I've seen Chuck Yeager fly! This is the airplane that, on an early date with Michiko at an airshow in PA, when we heard the Mustang's engine start, I turned to her and told her there were only two possible mistresses she would ever have to worry about with me--a P-51 Mustang or a Supermarine Spitfire. (She reminded me of that conversation today.)

My instructor/pilot was Patrick McGarry, an airline pilot with a number of hours in Mustangs (and apparently an air racer in a Pitts S-1S in Reno in 2007).  He was very laid back and quickly put me at ease as we talked through some of the things we would do on our flight.  We ended up delaying our flight few minutes so that we could allow the B-24 to take off on a media tour out over Long Island Sound.

As I climbed up on the port wing (left foot on strut support, right foot on top of the tire, left foot on different strut support and right foot on wing top) and sidled down the wing root, Pat explained how to finagle my way into the back seat.  It was actually roomier than I had expected, though crammed with all of the flight instruments and levers (including knobs for rudder trim, aileron trim and elevator trim, as well as throttle and prop settings, etc.)  Then Pat walked me through strapping in--first is the parachute (yep, that's right) and then the seat harness.   He showed me how to get out in a hurry if needed, including the straps (leave the parachute on though!) and the canopy releases.

Once he had me closed in, it was a bit toasty.  But he settled into his seat and started through the checklists--pretty soon, he had the huge air conditioner up front spinning (with the appropriate belch of smoke and level of noise and rattle).  As he ran through the checks, I used the time to note the instrument panel configuration, where the various handles and levers work, and noted the pretty Garmin GPS/Comm/Nav unit in the back seat...probably not quite what they had while seeking out German fighter planes over the Rhine, but....

We taxied out to Runway 11, weaving a bit as one must do with a taildragger (you can't see over the nose of the airplane) to see in front.  A quick runup, then we positioned on the runway.  Pat asked if I was ready to do (silly question, really!), and the power came up to 30" of manifold pressure (on the Bonanza, max power is about 26" of MP). He released the brakes and then went to 50" of manifold pressure--WOW--that's power.  (And that's just to treat the engine kindly--it will go another 15" or so!). 

Needless to say, we leapt into the air and climbed quickly.  Pat adjusted the power and the prop, and stayed wide out over the water so as not to annoy the folks in Lordship (a largeish peninsula neighborhood along the water just southeast of the airport--a number of noise complaints come from there (as do a number of folks who love and support the airport)).  Soon Pat was talking to the B-24 pilot so that we could rendevous out over the CT shoreline.  As I watched in awe, Bridgeport, Fairfield, Westport, Norwalk flashed by 1600' below--much faster than I've ever done in a dinky Warrior or Cessna 172, or even the Comanche or the Bonanza.  Then Pat spotted the B-24, now eastbound.  He took it down our port side and then put us into a nice steep turn to starboard (that was cool!) and we eased up behind the B-24, just off the port wing in a perfect photo op for the various media/dignitaries.  I snapped a couple photos of the B-24 and the cameras taking pictures of us.

We wandered southwest over the Sound with the B-24 for a good 10-15 minutes and then made our break to the north to go do some FLYING.  As soon as we made our turn, Pat turned the controls over to me and had me start a climb from 1600' to 7,500'.  You pull back the stick slightly and you're climbing at 170 kts, 2000 feet per minute...YIKES!  We headed north of Oxford (KOXC) to the practice area and then the fun began.

Ironically, whereas it took me some 20-30 minutes to get Gigi trimmed out yesterday on our trip to Cherry Ridge (see Dan's post from earlier), it took me only a couple of minutes to get Betty Jane trimmed.  Don't ask me how or why!

After I did a couple of clearing turns, Pat demonstrated an aileron roll (nose down to pick up some speed (about 220-230 kts) then nose up (pressing into the seat) and then stick hard over to the left, and you're rolling, with just a hint of weightlessness once inverted.  Then he did a barrel roll (similar but different to an aileron roll--you maintain positive gravity throughout the maneuver).  Then, since I was still grinning like a Cheshire Cat in the back seat, he did a loop.  Talk about being pressed into your seat--I started to get just a hint of tunnel vision as we approached vertical and the top of the loop, then we were through the top, pointing at the ground and rounding out, again pressed into the seat.  Oh dear Lord, I've died and gone to Mustang heaven!

Then Pat let me do aileron rolls--the first one I did to the left and the second to the right.  What absolutely awesome FUN!!!! 

All too soon, it was time to head back to KBDR.  I (reluctantly) pointed the nose south and followed Pat's instructions on power management--a simple reduction in power and we had a nice 1000 feet per minute descent from 10,000 feet.  We stayed at 4,000 over the top of KOXC's airpace and then descended into KBDR where Pat took over the controls again for the landing.

We did a pass down Runway 11 at 2,000 feet and then broke hard left (maybe 60 degrees?) midfield to lose some speed and some altitude.  Swinging back around, Pat called out the checklists as he dropped the gear and the flaps and lined us up on the approach.  Touchdown was smooth on those big tires and then the tailwheel eased back and we rolled out.

Taxiing in to the Three Wing ramp, the B-24 was back and people were standing around watching (maybe drooling) as our Mustang came in, cameras snapping.  Pat thanked me for coming out to do this ride--that it really helped support the Foundation's operations.  I told him it was worth every single penny and then some--this had been such an amazing experience that if there was any way I could do it annually, I would!

It was all too quick and a blur. (Unfortunately, the onboard camera system was inop, so I don't have a video of the ride itself--but Michiko did a pretty nice job with a borrowed video camera).  Clambering out onto the wing, my adrenaline was still pumped.  Pat said I had done a really nice job and signed off my logbook--"P-51 Mustang Intro Flight" it says in the remarks/endorsements section.

 

Comments

[Len Schindler]

OK, I'm officially jealous, but now that you're a big shot... "dinky" Warrior or 172???? Hmmm, that's hitting below the belt :)

[PeteT]

The New Haven Register ran an article about the Tour, including a great photo capturing the tail of the B-24 and our Mustang alongside!
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/09/09/news/metro/doc4aa78044d8eda710678289.txt

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