A question about radials
 

Hey everyone,

I was curious if anyone knew of anywhere I would be able to get checked out in a radial engined airplane. Preferably a T-6, or other old trainer, such as a Stearman.
I'm thinking I'm probably out of luck unless I'm lucky enough to meet someone with one, but you never know. I'm currently working on my tailwheel, and I've been itching for months to fly something with a radial. Actually, I think it's more that I just want to start the thing.

Years ago it wouldn't have been a problem since I had access to a DGA-15P, but sadly it's not in the family anymore.

Any help would be great. I'd rather not have to buy countless hours in one of the Commemorative Air Forces aircraft.

Thanks,

- Paul

Try www.douglasdc3.com. If you want round motors go all the way! I don't know what else to tell you except trying going to airshows this summer and talk to the people there. I'm sure there are places available ,though I don't know if they let you solo- a tailwheel with a lot of horsepower can be tricky.

Getting typed on the DC3 would be amazing! The SIC seems like it'd be the only one even remotely worth it though. 14k is a little out of my budget right now!

That given, does anyone know of any places that still operate radial engined aircraft? What I mean by that is are there any 135 operators out there that fly DC3's, Beech 18's, etc? I know of the place in Alaska that still operates the DC-6's.
It's still a long way off that I'd be eligible to apply at those places, but to go to a place like that would be perfect for me...and it'd save me the money of getting typed in the -3!

I did my tailwheel endorsement through a gentleman that flies warbird and biplane tours in KCRQ CA and we became close after doing some flying together in his 170. Turns out because of his extremely vast tailwheel and antique experience a wealthy gentleman wanted to sell his pristine stearman but was out of state so he put him in charge as the guy who would show it and ferry it if need be. Part of the deal was that he had to also fly it reguarly to keep it in top shape.

Moral of the story, by making friends with him he and I would reguarly take the stearman out and put it through its paces doing touch and gos and low passes and your basic loops, barrel rolls and spins. I ended up with around 15 hours of stearman time through that.

My inlaws live in a grass strip aviation community in central NH, most of the people who live there are current or retired airline pilots with a passion for aviation. Most of those pilots own very cool planes such as the new standard, dehaviland beaver and a few cessna 195s. By shaking hands, meeting and greeting I have had a chance to get up in quite a few because no one likes to fly alone.

In closing, they say it is all about who you know to get a job around here, well the same applies for what you want to fly. You want to fly a radial...hang around people who fly them, talk to them be there friend (you will be anyway because they are all typically great people) and the chances come. Before you know it you will know most anyone within a 100 mile radius who owns one of the belching beast and get some good stick time in them.

The DC-3 type will be my guilty pleasure when I make some more cash and I will get it before the plane is extinct.

www.catalinaflyingboats.com.

Hi,

I'm not sure where you are geographically, but here in PA (Bucks County) we have an airfield called Van Sant. They have a couple of Stearman that you can get checked out in along with a Tiger Moth. They also do aerobatic instruction.

http://www.vansantairport.com/