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Description
- August 2020 -

I love my job!

I had the phenomenal opportunity to fly in the museum's Boeing Stearman, a 1936 open cockpit biplane. Some Stearmans were modified with the 450hp Pratt and Witney R-985 engine after WWII by private owners. Gilmore is one of these powerful aircraft. She is also among the few Stearmans with an engine cowling. Her dazzling red and cream livery is worthy of an airshow performance.

The whole flight was only half an hour; I got to handle the controls just briefly. I flew straight-and-level, a few gentle turns, and a steep S-turn across a road. The pilot then demonstrated a Lazy Eight - a maneuver I never liked in the C172, which is an absolute blast in this!

Entering a maneuver is very gentle - hardly any movement on the fight controls. Rolling back to level, however, is quite heavy. The pilot (a United 757/67 Captain) described her as a, "Big Truck."

That was the fastest half hour of my life! SO much fun! The open cockpit is fantastic.

Description
- August 2020 -

I love my job!

I had the phenomenal opportunity to fly in the museum's Boeing Stearman, a 1936 open cockpit biplane. Some Stearmans were modified with the 450hp Pratt and Witney R-985 engine after WWII by private owners. Gilmore is one of these powerful aircraft. She is also among the few Stearmans with an engine cowling. Her dazzling red and cream livery is worthy of an airshow performance.

The whole flight was only half an hour; I got to handle the controls just briefly. I flew straight-and-level, a few gentle turns, and a steep S-turn across a road. The pilot then demonstrated a Lazy Eight - a maneuver I never liked in the C172, which is an absolute blast in this!

Entering a maneuver is very gentle - hardly any movement on the fight controls. Rolling back to level, however, is quite heavy. The pilot (a United 757/67 Captain) described her as a, "Big Truck."

That was the fastest half hour of my life! SO much fun! The open cockpit is fantastic.