For you Spad fans

[Boz330]

This video and the one that follows shows the usefulness of antiquated technology in war.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmPefi4HZGQ

Bob

[LynC2]

A great old plane, it has been 48 years since I fired one up. :bigsmyl2:

[HarryT]

Those pilots are GREAT! I still have my square of orange parachute cloth used to mark where my head is (just in case I need their help again). They were fearless.

[popper]

Great plane but I thought it would be about the bi-plane.

[HarryT]

The Douglas A-1 Skyraider (formerly AD) was an American single-seat attack (http://vietnamwar.wikia.com/wiki/Ground-attack_aircraft?action=edit&redlink=1) aircraft that saw service between the late 1940s and early 1980s. It became a piston (http://vietnamwar.wikia.com/wiki/Reciprocating_engine?action=edit&redlink=1)-powered, propeller (http://vietnamwar.wikia.com/wiki/Propeller_(aircraft)?veaction=edit&redlink=1)-driven anachronism in the jet age (http://vietnamwar.wikia.com/wiki/Jet_Age?action=edit&redlink=1), and was nicknamed "Spad (http://vietnamwar.wikia.com/wiki/Soci%C3%A9t%C3%A9_Pour_L%27Aviation_et_ses_D%C3%A9 riv%C3%A9s?veaction=edit&redlink=1)", after a French (http://vietnamwar.wikia.com/wiki/France?veaction=edit&redlink=1) World War I fighter.

[LaPoint]

LynC2, First- Thanks for your service!! Second- maybe you can verify, or dismiss, an urban legend in reference to the SPAD? If you rapidly advance (slam it forward) the throttle on take-off from a dead stop you cannot put in enough left rudder to counter the torque from that big R-3350 adequately and you'll end up running off the side of the runway. Any truth to that legend?? Thanks in advance.

[xs11jack]

Legendary machine, great video, thanks and Thank You LynC2, for your service in them.
Ole Jack

[MaryB]

Love the sound of those big radial engines! Couple WWII planes at a museum near me and they fly over every so often. Unmistakable sound!

[Rufus Krile]

Lync... Were you flying for Heinie out of NKP? The 160th? I was in that neighborhood in '71-'72 and one of our guys was grinning when he showed off the ding in his pot and the empty 20mm case that caused it. THAT'S close air. Spad drivers could not buy a drink anywhere. I read somewhere there was even an A1 configuration with fold-down seats behind the pilot that'd carry 6 people. They ended up just flying them to death after cannibalizing all they could. Probably what the fighter mafia has in store for the Warthog.

[LynC2]

Sorry for the misunderstanding, I wasn't a pilot when I was in the Navy. I was an ADR-2, aviation machinist mate which is Navy talk for aircraft mechanic. The last one I fired up was for a magneto check after changing the spark plugs. However I can still remember that monster engine bouncing the plane around was I was amazed by all the raw power it had.
They definitely had enough torque to twist the whole plane around it's propeller. Inexperienced Navy and Marine pilots put a good number in the ocean when they applied too much power when they were given a wave off on carrier landings. Too much power applied too quickly flipped the plane on it's back.

[Geraldo]

I read somewhere there was even an A1 configuration with fold-down seats behind the pilot that'd carry 6 people.

I did see a multi-seat version at an air show, operated by CAF. No idea what the model number is nor can I recall the number of seats other than is was side by side with rear seats.

[Boz330]

I did see a multi-seat version at an air show, operated by CAF. No idea what the model number is nor can I recall the number of seats other than is was side by side with rear seats.

Check out the other video, it talks about the tandem seat model, but most were single seat.
I would guess that with that much HP and a 4 bladed prop, applying throttle too quick would result in a ground loop.:shock:
You have to have some airspeed for rudder authority. I haven't flown anything with that sort of power but I have quite a bit of time in a Beaver with the P&W 450HP radial and empty you have to get it moving before getting frog y with the power. Radials definitely have a soothing sound.

Bob

[lancem]

Met a vet that flew those in Nam, he told me he had over 2000 carrier landings. I could not imagine that...

[LaPoint]

No Worries LynC2. I misinterpreted what you wrote, you didn't mislead anyone. I am not an active pilot any longer. I had a few friends that had some pretty cool old airplanes. Two of them couldn't hold a medical for about the last 5 years they flew so I was more than willing to fly as their safety pilot. Because of that I was able to log a few hours in a C17L Beechcraft Staggerwing and a Waco HRE. This shooting, casting, reloading hobby is dirt cheap compared to aviation!

[9w1911]

I thought you meant these guys:
http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/vintage-aviator/vintage-aviator-ltd


(http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/vintage-aviator/vintage-aviator-ltd)

[9w1911]

Is it wrong of me to want to be a Skyraider pilot during Viet Nam? I am probably just ignorant about it all but I would give anything to do that.

[LynC2]

No Worries LynC2. I misinterpreted what you wrote, you didn't mislead anyone. I am not an active pilot any longer. I had a few friends that had some pretty cool old airplanes. Two of them couldn't hold a medical for about the last 5 years they flew so I was more than willing to fly as their safety pilot. Because of that I was able to log a few hours in a C17L Beechcraft Staggerwing and a Waco HRE. This shooting, casting, reloading hobby is dirt cheap compared to aviation!

Your are correct, our shooting hobbies are definitely cheaper than owning and operating aircraft. I seriously considered getting my pilot's license when I got out of the service until found out how much everything would cost. I was also a plane captain (crew chief for Army types) and air crewman on UH-34's flying SAR (search & rescue). I managed to log a good number of hours on the stick when flying 2nd seat. Our pilots wanted to make sure we got back in case something happened to them. They just wouldn't let me take off or land due to the potential issues, but I felt confident I could have done so anyway if needed. I really enjoyed my job in the Navy, I just didn't care for where they sent me! BTW, I was only in for 4 years and I was always land based.