Mind Blowing Airplane Stunts

Life.com ^ | unknown | various

[ransomnote]

45 great photographs of airplane stunts.

[ransomnote]

Anyone know what kind of plane is featured in slide 34, the 1963 RAF aircraft?

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Its called a British Lightning if I remember correctly.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Its called a English Lightning if I remember correctly.

[Doogle]

English Electric Lightning F Mk 1

[Delta 21]

Those are the "Firebirds"

[Notary Sojac]

There are some great shots here... I've seen many of these airshow acts live but there are only two in my personal hall of fame.

Bob Hoover flying the Shrike Commander (eight point rolls on the deck into a dead engine)

and the Thunderbirds flying the Super Sabre. The F-16 is a stunning performer and a joy to watch but the -100 was a real thunder bird.

[RaceBannon]

Looks like a Lightning

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2812733010045608305fUlcRC

[Doogle]

....nothing like Jimmy Franklin’s jet power Waco...*smiles*

RIP Jimmy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5jUttjraJE

[ransomnote]

Had to look up Bob Hoover. Found a great YOUTUBE link with him narrating: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUVWHUR5OEI

Quite an incredible clip. He demonstrates the maneuver and, with a cargo full of military generals, demonstrates rolling the craft while they gens are drinking coffee, and again while he himself pours iced tea into a glass - not a drop spilled - this with the engines OFF.

[PLMerite]

I don't know how much centrifugal force it takes to keep iced tea in a glass during a roll but I bet my stomach muscles are stronger.

[ransomnote]

I think what impressed me is the finesse - it doesn’t require that much force to keep the tea in the glass but the entire manuever was so smooth - he’s flying the plane and pouring the tea backward and rolling the plane with such calm - without an unsteady hand on the controls or the tea - no air pocket dislodges the glass etc.

[Delta 21]

at least 1g.

[Vinnie]

Bob Hoover is one of my all time favorites.

Saw him come in low in a Shrike, kill both engines, loop, line up w/ the runway, touch one wheel, then the other, and land. Dead stick.
Rolls up, gets out wearing a black business suit and ribbon tie.

And that was after his P-51 show.

The Best.

[Notary Sojac]

Yep.... when Hoover rolled the bird in front of the crowd with both props stopped, you could hear the soft “whoosh” of the silent plane cutting through the air, the crowd of 30,000+ was that quiet.