Eeeeeeeee-urk! The rising whine of the electric inertia starter ends abruptly as I pull the red handle, the prop lurches, and then start to rotate as a couple of cylinders fire, stumble and fire again. The blades turn faster and faster as the big round engine rumbles into life. There’s a Spitfire in the circuit and a Hurricane taxying past, but any truly knowledgeable warbird aficionado knows that the most interesting airplane on the airfield today is the one I’ve just started, as it’s the only NA-64 in Europe.
Unsurprisingly, the North American Yale is very closely related to its stable- (or perhaps that should be school?) mate, the Harvard. The test aircraft was one of a batch of 230 built by North American Aviation at its Dallas, Texas factory in 1940 for the French Air Force and Navy, of which almost half had been delivered by the time France surrendered. And here’s an interesting fact: the Germans probably operated more Yales than any other allied aircraft, as they captured 93 from France and put them into service with 24 different Luftwaffe units. I first meet it with owner Ian Jones and instructor Neil Oakman at Fenland on a lovely October day. Ian and Neil know how to make an entrance and the Yale looks magnificent as it comes roaring into the circuit with the sun sparkling off its shiny silver fuselage. I am eager to get airborne but there’s a snag. The boys have got to be back to Duxford by 1700, the instrumentation in the rear cockpit is very limited and Fenland isn’t overly large when compared to Duxford.
After a quick discussion, we decided the prudent thing do is to get the pictures in the can today and for me to go to Duxford and get checked out in the front seat at a later date.
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Denne historien er fra July 2020-utgaven av Pilot.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Hybrid-Electric ‘Hawaii Bird' Makes First Flight
Electric aviation company Ampaire flew its second technology demonstrator on 10 September. The aircraft is a refined version of its Cessna 337 ‘Electric EEL’ hybrid-electric power conversion.
Rare Rearwin
Made in tiny numbers by Piper and Aeronca standards, the beautifully-engineered Rearwin Skyranger proves to be a delight waiting to be discovered
Dr Hill's new helicopter
You’ve seen pictures of concept helicopters before, and most of them never rose from the paper… but this one has a better chance than most of flying in the real world. It’s the Hill HX50, and the designer describes it as a ‘disruptive’ entry into the small helicopter market, offering a step-change for the better in safety, performance, comfort and elegance.
Make mine a turbine!
To say aviation and turbines is a happy marriage is true−albeit mainly in the airline, business aircraft and helicopter world. Light aviation, especially the ultralight segment, remains essentially a turbine free field−apart from noble exceptions, in the form of single-engine jets and ‘experimentals’.
Industry experts say...
Representatives from a selection of Approved Training Organisations look forward to the future of Commercial Air Travel and prospects for professional pilots after the pandemic
Flight training
News from the clubs, schools & ATOs
First airline job
... won and lost after just eighteen months in the right-hand seat. Reflections on the rewards of the hardest work in a lifetime
Safety Matters
Safety Matters and Safety Briefs are based on the AAIB Bulletin and UK Airprox Board reports, with additional material from the US National Transportation Safety Board.
Donegal wins ‘most beautiful airport' - again!
Donegal in Ireland has been named as the ‘world’s most beautiful airport 2020’ – for the third successive year – in a major vote by more than six thousand ‘flying fans’. The award is given as part of the annual Scenic Airports poll conducted by private jet booking service PrivateFly.
Come to Sweden!
A French pilot retires to Sweden, where he enjoys great weather, blissful flights and barbecues – and invites British flyers visit this GA-friendly country