Video of Airplane Defying Aeronautical logic, by Flying Upright in Place

Funny, Weird, & Educational Pictures or Videos ^ | 10/1/10 | Chuck Wolk

[OneVike]

Of all the great and amazing aerobatic tricks performed at the Chico Air Show I attended last weekend, there is probably none that I was more fascinated with then a stunt performed by a pilot who stood his plane on end in the air while holding it in place.  My only problem was I forgot to record it with my video camera.  I was so enthralled by the many performances that I also never interviewed any of the performers like I wanted to.  So I decided to return on Sunday morning and see if I could catch up with a few of the "White Collar Carnies ®" who's lives revolve around the Air Show circuit throughout America. 
  
One person I was able to interview was Bill Braack, owner and driver of the famous "Smoke-n-Thunder" jet car.  While I was waiting to talk to him I was pleasantly surprised to see pilot who stood his plane on end, practicing over near near the end of the runway. This time I was not going to forget to video tape it.  While the stunt did not last as long as it did when he performed it during the show, I was able to catch it on film.  I added it to music and that is what I offer you in the video below.
  
Now I will admit that I know very little about the full capabilities of airplanes, but when I saw the pilot do what he did with his airplane on Saturday, I was absolutely blown away.  I never would have thought it to be possible that an airplane could be made to do something I thought only helicopters could do. I do know about the V-22 Osprey which can fly like a helicopter or an airplane, but it was designed to do that. This is a small crop duster type of an airplane. 
  
I did do some research, but all I could find out was that maybe the pilot was doing something like reverse flying as he made his plane stand still in the air. I am sure that there are pilots who can tell me that this is quite normal, but this is a first for me. Even after I did a Google search, I couldn't find anything more than I already mentioned, nor could I find any videos that are similar to the one I am offering for you to watch. 
  
If there is anyone who could direct me to a site that I can read about this maneuver, or even see a similar video of an airplane of the same thing, then please give me the URL of them.

Follow the link below to watch the
Vidoe of Airplane Defying Aeronautical logic, by Flying Upright in Place

[Nik Naym]

"Could you post the pilot’s name so I can contact him? Besides I work in the industry and know most of them...."

Maybe you recognize him.

He looked like this:

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Exactly....and if full-size aerobatics at airshows has evolved to vertical hovers just above ground level alll us pilot types would read about it on the front page of the monthlies...

I've been flying full-size my entire life (50+ years) and models for the last 35 years.

Unlike the poster, I know the difference between a full-size and a model.

While a 40%-scale model can appear to the uninitiated like a full-size, the speed in which this one was reacting to the control and throttle input tells me this was a model. A large model, but a model, nonetheless.

He said he searched google, but couldn't find anything like this.

I typed in 'Hovering Airplane' into google and it returned 1,450,000 results

[OneVike]

I am not sure. I want to say either Bob Finer, or Kent Pietsch, but it could very well have been another pilot, I cannot say for sure.

[Niteflyr]

No I’ve never seen it close to gl. Couple hundred, minimum, or you can’t kick out of it.

Some of the full size competition airplanes have just about the power to weight of a giant scale R/C...which borders on ridiculous. But like I said you are not likely to ever see this done at ground level because of safety concerns...I remember a guy named Shawn Tucker use to do a really low and really slow knife-edge in his highly modified and over-powered Pitts and we use to question the wisdom of that...no room for error...in that condition all the lift is provide by thrust and not flying surfaces...engine burps...you are taken to the cemetery....and possibly someone in the crowd will be going with you....

[OneVike]

He said he searched google, but couldn't find anything like this. I typed in 'Hovering Airplane' into google and it returned 1,450,000 results

No, I said I could not find anything that had anything about real planes doing this.

Remember, I was trying to back up what I am thinking is real. You found searches for something I was not looking for.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

I’ve seen pilots perform this maneuver at air shows in Southern California during the 1980’s and 1990’s

Really? Name one full-size pilot who hovered on the prop (continuously, not a hammerhead or a harrier) in the 1980s or 1990s.

I went to every airshow in Southern California during the 1980s and 1990s and I never saw a full-size do this mainly because they didn't have the power.

Even giant-scale model airplanes (like this one) didn't have the power to do this until 2000 or so.

And most of the full-size got the idea to do this from the model flyers. The most notable recent example is the Pitts Python.

Now, Sean Tucker (no relation) was able to take his Pitts Challenger and fly at a very slow speed (55mph) and an extremely high AoA, but he still has not performed a stationary hover.

[Niteflyr]

I've been flying full-size my entire life (50+ years) and models for the last 35 years. Unlike the poster, I know the difference between a full-size and a model.

Same here...40 years plus A&P...R/C pilot too.... If you click on my username you'll be greeted with a shot of me and the business end of my beloved Cessna 195...:o)

[Gator113]

Loved it.... looks like fun.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

No, I said I could not find anything that had anything about real planes doing this.

Well, guess what?

Remember, I was trying to back up what I am thinking is real. You found searches for something I was not looking for.

What does that tell you?

[Artcore]

While a 40%-scale model can appear to the uninitiated like a full-size, the speed in which this one was reacting to the control and throttle input tells me this was a model. A large model, but a model, nonetheless.
___________________________________________________________

I’m not in the industry...just a casual observer, but I thought this plane responded much too quickly, and jerky to be a real plane. I’ve been to several air shows, and even the smalles planes didn’t react the way this one did.

Not trying to dis the person who posted this, but something just looks odd the way this plane manuevers.

If I’m wrong I’ll be the first to admit it.

[Niteflyr]

Now, Sean Tucker (no relation) was able to take his Pitts Challenger and fly at a very slow speed (55mph) and an extremely high AoA, but he still has not performed a stationary hover.

Hey what a coincidence!....first one I thought of was Shawn Tucker too...(read my post #44)...;o)

[Kirkwood]

This is an RC aircraft. They were flying demo flights in the morning.
http://www.chicoairshow.org/page1001.aspx

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

I am not sure. I want to say either Bob Finer, or Kent Pietsch, but it could very well have been another pilot, I cannot say for sure.

Bob Finer flies a Pitts S-1T and an RV-4. Kent Pietsch flies an Interstate Cadet and a clipped-wing T-craft.

[FlingWingFlyer]

[OneVike]

I would be willing to say I was mistaken, but I just talked to my wife and she told me she remembers the Air Boss telling everyone that the pilot flew his plane in reverse which gives it the impression of standing still.

I am still looking at the camera video clips but the sounds of the midway are too loud to here the airplane from the distance I was from the runway the plane was on.

I will keep checking to see if I have any other video with it, but as I said I totally spaced out filming it during the show and caught it the next morning when I was talking to the jet car guy, Bill Braack.

[Niteflyr]

Hey! The real pilot is not in the airplane...:o)

[OneVike]

Where do you see that in the schedule of events?

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

I’m not in the industry...just a casual observer, but I thought this plane responded much too quickly, and jerky to be a real plane. I’ve been to several air shows, and even the smallest planes didn’t react the way this one did.

Yep. You can scale an airplane, but you can't scale the air molecules they fly in.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Had me fooled for a while there. The changes in the attitude of the aircraft just happens too fast for me.

[Niteflyr]

This is an RC aircraft.

'fraid so...a reeeeeeeeally beeeeeg R/C airplane...but an R/C airplane none the less...:o)