Here's my little mashup from Llano. Hope you enjoy.



Music: Mark Doubleday, "Sunrise"

Holy hard landing!!! That skywagon at 6:09 just gave me a whole new respect for Cessna spring gear!!!!

Nice one RP and great music.

Nicely done!

Alaskabound wrote:Holy hard landing!!! That skywagon at 6:09 just gave me a whole new respect for Cessna spring gear!!!!

I was thinking the same thing...I bet that was a wild ride inside the cockpit. I have one my worst landings on camera and from the outside it looked normal...yehaw.

Definitely a "Feel Good" video. Loved it! Ranch Pilot, you never let me down.

Nice, Darin! That was great.

Thanks all. Zane kind of blew the curve with his Llano masterpiece from last year, but I enjoyed getting to share some of the fun we had. Great group of people down there!

RanchPilot wrote:Thanks all. Zane kind of blew the curve with his Llano masterpiece from last year, but I enjoyed getting to share some of the fun we had. Great group of people down there!

That's a great video and you bring up a topic I've thought about several times recently. Those out there taking video who don't have the production skills and eye for directing like Zane or ranchpilot, please continue posting. Although I'm impressed with the tremendous video quality on here, I'm an aviation junky who doesn't need the polished product to enjoy flying videos.

Especially if it includes a bounce like that! I acknowledge that I have a tenth of the skill of that gentlemen and props for the masterpiece landing on the next attempt, but holy moly!

Again, great video and keep them coming.

Brett

That was the cool thing about the obstacle competition--total game-changer, even for really good pilots. Randy Goza, who has been on the podium in Valdez in years past, said this was way more fun than just hitting a chalk line. Phil had to search all the way to Poland to find the pylons (literally), but I'm sure glad he did!

AvidFlyer wrote:

Alaskabound wrote:Holy hard landing!!! That skywagon at 6:09 just gave me a whole new respect for Cessna spring gear!!!!

I was thinking the same thing...I bet that was a wild ride inside the cockpit. I have one my worst landings on camera and from the outside it looked normal...yehaw.

Sure got redemption on the second one though. Best landing on the vid in my opinion.

Agreed. That's why I included it right after. Anyone who harshes on the bounce should first ask themselves if they have the skill to grease a 180 on over an obstacle like he did. I don't. And yet, even quality drivers like that dropkick one every now and then. Gives the rest of us some hope!

RanchPilot wrote:Agreed. That's why I included it right after. Anyone who harshes on the bounce should first ask themselves if they have the skill to grease a 180 on over an obstacle like he did. I don't. And yet, even quality drivers like that dropkick one every now and then. Gives the rest of us some hope!

exactly. I'm glad that we have hope! Gives us something to strive for.

RanchPilot wrote:Agreed. That's why I included it right after. Anyone who harshes on the bounce should first ask themselves if they have the skill to grease a 180 on over an obstacle like he did. I don't. And yet, even quality drivers like that dropkick one every now and then. Gives the rest of us some hope!

I see now that my post made me sound like a huge dick... I was amazed more by the strength of the spring gear than the landing itself. God knows I've dropped plenty of hard landings... I just never get to see it from that angle! Great video, really wish I could've made it down.

I wasn't talking about anybody here. Frankly, I think all the BCP guys are on the same page--we've all been there, or we know we'll be there eventually. I was referring to the Einsteins out on the wider interwebs, who just see the bounce but have no context because they've never been out there working the plane at the edge of its capabilities.

And you're not alone in noticing, and appreciating, the virtues of the spring gear!

Awesome video Darin. "THE bounce" is pretty hi up on my f@%# up list for sure.
I appreciate the kind words. Its painful to get to see in detail. My plane is not a hanger queen and gets used pretty regular. But that goes in the abuse category.
I know exactly what I did wrong and yet again learned something at almost the expense of totaling out my plane in front of a bunch of folks and cameras.
I really did not expect it to hold up the instance it broke over. I was expecting to be clean up on aisle 3.
Nobody feel bad about any comments. I don't take it personal. I'll be the first to say WTF!
Really a great video Darin. I enjoyed almost all of it
Really glad I stayed around instead just dissapearing off into the fog like I wanted to do. Haha. Ended up meeting some great people I'd like to fly with.
I changed out my bushwheels. Thought maybe some spaldings would suit better.

That is a great photo. Watching the video I hadn't realized the gear splayed out that much (might want to replace the bolts that hold the legs to the gear box ).

When I got back into flying after a 30 year hiatus I was getting my taildragger endorsement at the same time. Started the training in the back seat of a Super D because I was getting a Stearman, which you fly from the back seat, so my instructor wanted me to train from the seat I'd be flying from. Initially I landed the Super D four feet above the ground. 4g landings (on the G meter). The Super D had spring gear also, and if I recall correctly it's one piece going from one wheel to the other (I could be wrong about this). Anyway after two days of this my instructor finally asked if I knew where the ground was? I asked him if that was a trick question.

Anyway 55wagon kept it under control and not only aced his next landing but won his class as well. Nice comeback. And me? Well I finally stopped landing four feet above the ground. Most of the time anyway.

Nice videos everyone, I've enjoyed all of them.

P.S. Here's proof the Super D survived me.



And one of the happiest days of my life, getting my tailwheel endorsement in a Stearman. (anyone recognize the strip? one of the nicest I've flown) Sorry for the journey down memory lane. I now return you to our regular, scheduled programming.

I'm an (increasingly) old ski bum, 55wagon. We had a saying, "if you're not falling, you're not trying." Kudos to you for putting it on the line and proving it up with your next pass. Nothing but respect from me.

Great video Darin! I have got to make it down next year. Love the pylons and the new, "real world" competition. Great job to Phil and all the guys who hung it out for our entertainment!

55wagon, i can't believe you didn't have a prop strike with that drop.

And as always great video RP