National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

Mike:The Stearman was very easy except in strong cross winds, then very hairy, (for me!) It burned about 11-12 gallons per hour (Amoco high test by standing in the front seat and pouring it in via jerry cans. It held 40 gallons.) In the 80's this wasn't too bad as car gas was much cheaper. Oil was ABOUT a quart per hour, maybe a little less. I was in SAC when in the service, on a B47 base that also flew KC97's. We had a flying club that had an 85 Champ, A t-6 and a Navion. I flew some then too. Lots of fun. The B-47 was a really good looking airplane but had alot of accidents, some fatal. The KC was a dog with 4300's, we lost three when prop blades came off at altitude and came thru, depressurizing the crew compartment, flat spin, gone. JP

1. At what age did you get the desire to fly? Born to fly!
2. At what age did you solo? *16*
3. Type of plane you soloed in? 7AC N2120E
4. Hours to solo? 3.2 in the log book, but more like 150 of flying with dad.
5. Favorite flying movie? Waldo Pepper, Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, Always, Les chevaliers du cie (French Topgun)
6. Favorite flying book? Fate is the Hunter, True North, Wager with the Wind, Roll around a Point, To a Pilot, Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War.......... the list could go on and on....
7. If you were able to fly any plane, what would it be? F-86 or a Corsair. Honestly though... anything I could get my hands on.

nkh

1. Age - about 12 or so. Joined CAP Cadets at age 14 - knew for sure then.

2. Solo age - 18

3. 7AC Champ

4. Hours to solo - about 7 1/2

5. Favorite movie - Among many, Strategic Air Command, 12 o'Clock High, Dam Busters, Battle of Britain and the one with John Wayne and Robt. Stack about the DC-4 going from Hawaii to San Fran that almost ran out of gas - story by Ernest Gann - for the life of me, I can't remember the title.

6. Favorite book - Fate Is The Hunter is the best.

7. Dream plane to fly - B-17.

Jerry Eichenberger wrote:John Wayne and Robert Stack about the DC-4 going from Hawaii to San Fran that almost ran out of gas - story by Ernest Gann.

"The High and the Mighty"
Great movie!

nkh

I should add to my favorite books: "Tale of a Tiger" by RT Smith (Flying Tigers) and "Dear Mom: So We Have a War" by Carl Bong. Basically letters written home by Richard Bong, top ace during WW2. He was from Poplar. Wisconsin and for years there was a P-38 sitting along the highway near his home. I have a picture of myself, my dad and brother sitting on it from about 1951. Eventually it was moved and put on pylons near the school in his memory and a few years ago restored and put in a museum in Superior, Wisconsin. Carl was his younger brother and taught school near where I live.

MikeB

I should add to my favorite books: "Tale of a Tiger" by RT Smith (Flying Tigers) and "Dear Mom: So We Have a War" by Carl Bong. Basically letters written home by Richard Bong, top ace during WW2. He was from Poplar. Wisconsin and for years there was a P-38 sitting along the highway near his home. I have a picture of myself, my dad and brother sitting on it from about 1951. Eventually it was moved and put on pylons near the school in his memory and a few years ago restored and put in a museum in Superior, Wisconsin. Carl was his younger brother and taught school near where I live.

MikeB