Fly Low, Fly FAST

[KooLaid]

How can you POSSIBLY beat a feeling like that?

[video width=420 height=350:668f7bd721]http://www.youtube.com/v/v9T51UsuaPU&autoplay=1[/video:668f7bd721]

[Lee]

I've seen treetop level flying.

I don't think I've seen bush/weed level flying before.

That was impressive.

Lee

[KooLaid]

Some parts of that looks like it came outta starwars! That anikin sywalker thing where they go racing around the desert on the hover mabobers.

[~Barn~]

Sweet vid. Nice find Koolwhip.

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

I wonder what their limit is in speed that close to the ground? I would imagine it is limited a great extent...but it sure looked like they were haulin' ass anyway.

Thanks for sharing Koo!

[SXSMITH]

I've got the 'fast' part down but you can't do the 'low' part in most of the U.S. Let me know if you want to go. There's another sensation flying a couple of feet apart. Even numbered weekends just south of Dallas @ Lancaster Field. All you have to pay for is the fuel.

Scott

Flyin'

[~Barn~]

How much would the fuel cost me? Say..... an hour in the air.

What would we be flying in?

[Buddau]

I need some dramamine now!

[SXSMITH]

How much would the fuel cost me? Say..... an hour in the air.

What would be be flying in?

It's an L39-ZA. An hour of fuel there is between $350 - $500 depending on weather and what you want to do. Closer to the $500 if you want to do extreme aerobatics and chase the other 2 jets at 5+G load and do loops under the assigned ceiling.

They are trying to acquire a MIg 23 Flogger. Mach 2.3. Closer to $3k/hr for fuel, but few people can say they've been twice the speed of sound at their own hand.

More info about the jet model here:

http://l39.com/

One of the pilots, "Roma" says you haven't lived until you are heading straight at the ground at 500 mph.

[SXSMITH]

I'm planning on going down to Dallas for a flight the weekend of October 6th - 8th. There are a couple of seats open then if YOU would like to fly.

If you can get yourself to Dallas (Lancaster Field) and drop a credit card on the counter for ~$500 for fuel, you'll get an hour you will never forget.

[Fly boy]

my life goal comes true!!!!!! woud I really be at the stick? and what would I be flying in, if I'm at the stick? If I'm not flying... i'm probly out.

[wulf]

There's an outfit at centenial airport that you can dogfight with a friend in prop trainers.

Sxsmith, do you need a pilots license?

[McVaaahhh]

"Son, you're ego's writing checks your body can't cash"

Sweet vid!

[SXSMITH]

There's an outfit at centenial airport that you can dogfight with a friend in prop trainers.

Sxsmith, do you need a pilots license?

These are considered 'rides'. No license needed. To answer one of the other posts, it's an L-39ZA. The Soviets used them to train MiG pilots. My friend Jon who owns one of the three ships @ Lancaster allows 'stick time' but he may require you have a few previous hours in the air before he trusts you. You will NOT get the throttle under any circumstances.

A little more about the aircraft here: http://l39.com/about.html

[Fly boy]

PMed you.

[rforsythe]

These are considered 'rides'. No license needed. To answer one of the other posts, it's an L-39ZA. The Soviets used them to train MiG pilots. My friend Jon who owns one of the three ships @ Lancaster allows 'stick time' but he may require you have a few previous hours in the air before he trusts you. You will NOT get the throttle under any circumstances.

A little more about the aircraft here: http://l39.com/about.html

So if I bring my logbook proving flight time I get to control one of those? I may just have a reason to go to Texas someday now!

Hey Barn, wait til they get the Mig and we can recreate Top Gun! You know, exchange foreign relations...

[SXSMITH]

So if I bring my logbook proving flight time I get to control one of those? I may just have a reason to go to Texas someday now!

Hey Barn, wait til they get the Mig and we can recreate Top Gun! You know, exchange foreign relations...

Jon says no problem taking the stick other than 90% of the people who go up like to fly in tight 3-ship formations. Literally a few feet apart. So they can get photos of each other. When doing that they can't let anyone take the stick. They also like to play follow the leader and chase. Also dangerous for anyone with < 1,000 hours in one of these. In the course of an hour there might be a few minutes away from everyone where you could do some turns and rolls at your hand. They can talk you though them. Sounds like they won't be getting the MiG 23 any time soon. It was in bad shape over in Bulgaria.

Believe me, it's more fun to pull 5G's watching the plane in front of you than to make yourself sick trying to fly a straight line with your own hand.
They will do rolls and loops and dive at the ground @ near 500 mph. If you're not in top shape you will brown and gray out. They like to remind you when you step off the plane that you've done pretty much everything the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds have. After my first hour two years ago, I almost couldn't walk when I got off.

Lots of shots of the L39's here:

http://www.pbase.com/sxsmith/flying

Here's a shot about 3 feet apart.

http://www.pbase.com/sxsmith/image/43973970/original