The Mighty T-28: Video

This is the video component of my T-28 adventure, from back in November last year.

My earlier blog post describes what is going on here, but if you sit back and watch, I hope you enjoy the sights and sounds of this big old warbird. Joe Dickerson takes me for a ride around the start line and final two corners of the SARL Rocket 100 race course, which he was due to fly the next day.

Oh, to keep you from wondering what the inertial reel is, it's the seat harness lock. While you remain strapped in for the whole flight, you can release the inertial reel in order to stretch and move around more easily, but it must be locked for takeoff and landing, so you can't lean forward from the seat.

I ran several cameras in the plane. Two cameras - forward and rear-facing - were sucker-mounted onto the canopy, although I could not mount them until the canopy was closed. I also had a handheld camera for those wing shots, and a little extra external footage from the race day.

I've got to say, I've loved T-28s ever since the first time I saw one over at Duxford, probably ten years ago. They're such excellent aircraft. I am delighted to have had the chance to fly in one!

Cessna 172 Video

In which Glenn takes me in his C172 from Georgetown to Kittie Hill and back. We examine what's left of Georgetown Lake after the long hot summer, and get a bit of rough grass strip practise. It's fun to come in low over the trees; a bit gusty as the wind shifts around them.

Also present was the visiting B-17 'Aluminum Overcast', which makes a few cameo appearances.

Things I learnt in making this video:

• GoPro camera mounts really do stick very well to Cessna wing struts, even at full-on Cessna cruise speeds.
• Colour balancing two different cameras, with two different colour profiles, when one is outside and the other is behind a blue-tinted windshield, is a Bitch. My efforts here are not perfect, but at least it's no longer blue.
• If you're going to put tape around a camera, make sure the end is not facing against the slipstream.
• When the tape comes off, it makes an unholy racket in your audio track. Yes folks, that's why the engine noise fades to music in part of this film...
• Kittie Hill's runway is full of holes; at the time we visited, anyway. I hope for their sake that it has softened up with the recent rain.

Anyway, here you go, enjoy a sunny November day's flying...

Ryan PT-22 Video

Join me in the front seat of the Ryan PT-22 and experience the sights and sounds of open cockpit flying! Put a fan in front of your screen to simulate the wind; the engine sound and wind noise are provided for you :-) I did consider adding music to this video, but in the end I didn't want to drown out the engine, it has a beat all of its own.

Watch out for my awesome low pass down the runway! OK, we were still at 2000ft but it felt like I was doing it for real... my first fly-by... ! (NB: it's at about the 3:30-minute mark, not Steve's one just after takeoff)

Rocket 100 Air Race

Although it's been a few months now since the end of the 2011 Sport Air Racing League season, I have put these videos together from the day.

The final race is always good, since a lot of folks show up for it. Despite the grey and blustery weather conditions, everyone flew well and had a good time.

First up, here's some of the racers explaining why they enjoy participating in SARL:

Here's the race course for the Rocket 100:

For a bit of fun, I put a GoPro camera into AnnElise's Cessna 182, set to take timelapse pictures at 1 second intervals as she went round the racecourse. You see her lining up for takeoff at Taylor, flying around and returning to base, all in a minute and 30 seconds.

Now, we look forward to the 2012 SARL season... If you want to remember the race dates, may I suggest this useful SARL 2012 Calendar for your wall? ;-)