My father taught me how to fly remote control planes when I was 10 years old. I'm now 47 and I'm still actively building and flying. Sadly by myself as I lost my dad to cancer as well. Not a day goes by without thinking of him. I too believe that he's with me at the flying fields and events that I attend. Honestly I don't know where I would be today without this hobby and my passion for aviation. My partner and best friend supports me now. She loves aviation too so I'm extremely lucky. I really enjoyed this video and I hope you are still actively flying yourself. Blue skies and fresh cut grass:)
Thank you so much for this comment and for sharing your own story with me. I am indeed still flying - a vintage Second World War trainer and the Smith. In fact, the Smith and I will start our 10th season together this spring. I wouldn't normally do this but given our very similar stories with our fathers, I'll mention that I wrote a book about this journey and my relationship with my Dad. You can find it here but it's available thru any book-seller, if you're interested. www.amazon.ca/Airborne-Finding-Foxtrot-Alpha-Mike/dp/1773100637/ref=sr_1_1?crid=ESP3R8JZ5KAC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gKUhaa_NIgNyHtZKNxIDg7u2n8MExb0GFGucZP2lKHg.jA7NTvzBxxqRRi-J6-adn9qjFH1XETqx5MxOVPfZCVs&dib_tag=se&keywords=airborne+finding+foxtrot+alpha+mike&qid=1711639076&sprefix=airborne+finding%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-1
I'm reading this book, 'Airborne, Finding Foxtrot Alpha Mike' right now. So beautifully written. I'm going to be a pilot too, hopefully, and I enjoyed the part of the book that talks about Tony's stay in Kenya. I'm a proud Kenyan myself. Good job on the book.
Thanks very much for the kind words and for picking up the book. I`m glad you`re enjoying it! Please feel free to share your thoughts in a review on Goodreads or Amazon. Best of luck with your aviation journey and please let me know if I can be of any help with that. Always happy to be a resource!
Does RU-vid automatically add music when an aviation video is uploaded? I've never met a person that doesn't flip out against when the subject is brought up. There is no way pilot folks could possibly think that music would be better than engine, ATC, wind noise, etc...yet a great many have it. Maybe RU-vid pays more for views with music over a P51 low level flyby.
I took my dad on his last flight. Videos of his flying in outback Australia and his final flight at Laguna Quays Intl are on my page. They are always with us. These great men of aviation. Even if only we know them. Because their legend will be lost one day except for these RU-vid videos.
After watching all of your Smith Mini Plane videos, I'm still amazed by the number of fasteners used in the windscreen assembly. Haven't actually counted the number used and what the windscreen assembly must weigh! Not a criticism because I'm in love with ALL of the Miniplanes I've had the good-fortune to view first-person, but without a doubt, this has to be the most robust Miniplane windscreen I've ever seen, and judging from the number of fasteners used is probably capable of withstanding mach-2! I'm curious as to what the entire windscreen, frame, fasteners and all, weighed in at. Gorgeous airplane however, as I'm just beginning the construction of a Fisher Flying Products FP-404 biplane, which was obviously modeled after the timeless Smith Miniplane. KUDOS!!!
It probably is the most robust windscreen assembly out there! Most of the Miniplanes I've seen have had the Pitts-style one-piece curved plexi windscreen - my Dad's included. I've seen one other example that had a windscreen like mine but it was cut down to maybe 60% of the height. I didn't build the airplane so I'm not sure of the exact weight. The builder flew a Stearman around the time he was building this example and it looks like he modelled the windscreen off of that. I like the Fisher biplane - there's one not too far from me. Best of luck on the build and thanks for showing the Smith some love!
I love that film! I think he had it up at Chelsea not too far from Rockcliffe. Blake's bipe eventually ended up at nearby Smiths Falls before being sold on to the States. It's back in Canada and part of the Bush Plane Heritage Museum at the Soo.
Yes, Blake's old MacGregor is now in the Soo. I located her in central Indiana and hauled her up there. It was worth the time, effort, and expense to see Blake interact with and sit in her one last time, after so many decades. I built a Smith Miniplane in the mid-70's, when I was in high school, and the type still has a special place in my heart. I'm wicked pleased you were able to find another DSA-1 in nice shape, and with such a perfect registration, too!
It was runway 09 at Rockcliffe, Ontario, which has a displaced threshold. That runway originally extended another several hundred feet west (beyond the fence and beyond the current roadway I fly over on the approach) and that part of the pavement is in bad shape (hence the displaced threshold). I don't know why they marked it with an X which you've rightly pointed out denotes a closed runway. It was only the only one applied and only on that unserviceable part of tarmac. My guess is that's why they applied it, even if incorrectly. Having based the airplane there for the last 6 years, I can firmly say the runway is open and serviceable and used daily.
This made my day, thanks! They're great airplanes. Get very comfortable with tailwheel airplanes and particularly ones that are short coupled and tough to see out of straight ahead. The backseat of a Citabria or Decathlon is a good place to start for the blind out the front side while a Luscombe or some S-2 time will help with handling short couples. Thanks for reading the book and I'm thrilled to learn it had an impact on you. Best of luck in your journey and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. -J
Agreed. To note, the front seater (who is wearing the head cam given the better view) is on a familiarization/experience aerobatics flight (not aerobatic checked and not undergoing training, although a pilot) and I'm doing most of the flying from the back seat. On the maneuvers where the front seater is flying, I'm guarding the controls, including the throttle.
Lacking an enclosed cockpit, that's generally where they are. It's likely to keep it away from the stuff in the cockpit that would interfere magnetically. To be honest though, it's pretty useless so it really doesn't matter where it is!
@@scotabot7826 it's very short coupled and can be a bit of a handful if you're not on top of it during landing. It can do mild acro but I don't do more than aggressive lazy-8s. I have some S-2 time but most of my tailwheel/aerobatic time is in Super Decathlons and almost all of it in the backseat.
@@TheTVPilot Back seat is good though. My dad and I used to fly a 75 Bellanca Citabria, and he always flew it from the back seat, with me in the front. I was about 10/11 years old and pretend he wasn't back there. Ha Ha. What I would really like to build is a Steen Skybolt!
@@scotabot7826 that's just it, yeah. Teaching acro from the back made me pretty comfortable landing blind in the three point (which is every landing in the Smith). No real way to prepare for the short coupled-ness as the S-2 is long and heavy in comparison. I would imagine an S-1 is similar to the Smith. I found that if I carry power all the way to the ground, it's much easier to handle. Skybolts are very nice too!
It is very touchy on the ground! Take-off isn't so bad but the landing roll out can get sporty if you're not on top of it. I carry power all the way to the ground and then slowly throttle down during the roll out. The extra blast over the tail as well as the pull of the propeller helps alot.
Great video thanks for sharing. The stall warner going off at 300 feet off the ground reminded me of a flight I had with my instructor. I let it go off at the same alt. Scared the crap outta me. My CFI ( 1980) proceeded to smack me (literally) back into reality and I jammed in power and nose down att. He told me if I ever let the speed bleed off like that again that he would kick my ass when we got up to heaven ..( hopefully 👹). Lol.
We fly with both, Manifold Pressure and RPM, on a reading of 25. Directly after Take-off you adjust this setting and leave it like this until approach. This setting corresponds approximately to maximum continuous thrust in 4000 feet and is commonly used in the 8KCAB.
+Michael Johnson Hi Michael, thanks for the kind words. My Smith has an Lycoming O-235 giving me 115 horsepower. My example was stretched by 6 inches in the cockpit so there's a little extra room, even though I don't really need it. I'm 5'8" and stocky with fairly broad shoulders and I'd say I fit comfortably. My biggest issue for fit is when it starts to get cold. The more clothing I wear, the wider my shoulders get and then it can get a little uncomfortable. My dad flew a "stock" Smith. He was 5'6" and slighter than me and fit well. I'm told Frank Smith was about my dad's height and build. A friend of mine is 6'2" and even with the extra room in my Smith, his knees are bent enough that they hit the instrument panel. All that said, they're great little airplanes and I love mine.
Kevin Lakin Hi Kevin,They are terrific little airplanes and will do passable but very basic aerobatics - loops, rolls and stall turns. However, if you're looking to get started in aerobatics, I would suggest finding a good aerobatic instructor with access to a Citabria or Decathlon. Both airplanes will allow you to properly learn aerobatics in a pretty benign tailwheel airplane. Once you're comfortable flying acro, have the instructor check you out on the rear seat and spend time doing circuits. This will help you grow comfortable being blind out the front during the initial take-off roll as well as the flare and roll out. Have them teach you how to 3 point it from the back seat in varying wind conditions. Then, seek out some Pitts S-2 dual time and again practise take-offs and landings. This will help you master flying a short coupled biplane -again blind out the front. That was the route I took. That doesn't mean it's the only way to do it but that's how I prepared for the Smith. She isn't a tiger by any means...but like anything else, you need to be on top of it otherwise things get squirrely in a hurry.I love the Miniplane...but I don't use it for aerobatics (I have access to a Super D for that), I just boot around in it. A Pitts S-1, after one properly prepares, is far superior.Good luck!-J
Thanks! I was amazed by what they picked out from the ground. Maneuvers I thought I'd nailed had one thing or another out of whack...and figures I didn't feel so great about were done well (as judged from the ground.) Buckets of fun anyway - still riding a high!
