8/2/2003: Jet-powered biplane

Undertoad · 08-02-2003, 10:08 AM

What could be crazier than putting a couple of jet engines on an authentic 1937 Waco biplane?

Having a wingwalker climb up on top of it while you're flying it.

The pilot here is Jimmy Franklin, and I had to look for images of him after hearing that this plane had been sighted by excited aviation folks at Oshkosh this year. There are a lot of shots of this guy and his wingwalkers because apparently they do their thing at air shows and get a lot of excitement.

Remember, you don't get a Darwin award if you live.

Photo credits: 1, Bill Van Pelt; 2, Rich Kolasa

xoxoxoBruce · 08-02-2003, 10:53 AM

Nice job UT.

So this guy is using a jet engine to turn the prop on his Waco. I guess the smoke is for effect. He must have been a crop duster that inhaled a lot of chemicals. Wait till Tom Ridge gets a load of this rig.
Since you'll have no IotD tomorrow, will you put up a thread so we can rag on you like last week?

Elspode · 08-02-2003, 10:56 AM

Actually, it would seem he is not using the turbine engine to drive the prop. It is actually jet propelled. Crazy Missourian, this guy.

http://www.franklinairshow.com/

I initially thought the same thing, Bruce, due to the downward angle of the jet exhaust (obviously necessary to divert hot gases away from the Waco's fabric covering). I figured that would be problematic in terms of thrust vectoring, but the web page specs on the Waco seem to indicate that the jet is in addition to the Waco's normal Pratt and Whitney radial.

xoxoxoBruce · 08-02-2003, 12:25 PM

You're right, El. From the site it looks like when the plane is flying level the pipe follows the upward sweep of the bottom edge. That way the exhaust isn't *that* far off straight. Of course with jet thrust, it doesn't have to be *that* far off to be trouble.

quzah · 08-02-2003, 07:44 PM

They're a threat to national security. They distract you by having a wing walker, and while you're looking up in awe, a cloud of toxic death rains down on you. Damn terrorists anyway! I'm going to go email Bush and tell him to send out a hit squad^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hthe military.

Quzah.

xoxoxoBruce · 08-02-2003, 09:14 PM

For all we know they might BE national security. On their web site , much of the info on the plane is "classified". They could be IDing air show patrons as suspects.

Elspode · 08-02-2003, 09:30 PM

I wonder if the wingwalker has to take off his shoes before climbing on board?

Nothing But Net · 08-02-2003, 11:08 PM

Not to get off topic, but doesn't that silo look just like a dick?

xoxoxoBruce · 08-03-2003, 10:09 AM

Certainly not mine

juju · 08-03-2003, 10:36 AM

From Yahoo:<blockquote><i>Felix Baumgartner has become the first person ever to fly across the English Channel without the benefit of an aircraft, gliding from England to France wearing only a specially designed flying suit</i></blockquote>

xoxoxoBruce · 08-03-2003, 01:20 PM

Does this mean we can't rag on UT for no image today?

juju · 08-03-2003, 03:05 PM

I just thought I'd help out. :)

Nothing But Net · 08-03-2003, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
Certainly not mine

Oh yeah, I'm sorry...

It's big and hard

Nothing But Net · 08-03-2003, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Undertoad

What could be crazier than putting a couple of jet engines on an authentic 1937 Waco biplane?

Damn, that's a dumb question UT. Try putting a David Koresh in Waco...

08-02-2003, 10:08 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	8/2/2003: Jet-powered biplane What could be crazier than putting a couple of jet engines on an authentic 1937 Waco biplane? Having a wingwalker climb up on top of it while you're flying it. The pilot here is Jimmy Franklin, and I had to look for images of him after hearing that this plane had been sighted by excited aviation folks at Oshkosh this year. There are a lot of shots of this guy and his wingwalkers because apparently they do their thing at air shows and get a lot of excitement. Remember, you don't get a Darwin award if you live. Photo credits: 1, Bill Van Pelt; 2, Rich Kolasa

08-02-2003, 10:53 AM	#2
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Nice job UT. So this guy is using a jet engine to turn the prop on his Waco. I guess the smoke is for effect. He must have been a crop duster that inhaled a lot of chemicals. Wait till Tom Ridge gets a load of this rig. Since you'll have no IotD tomorrow, will you put up a thread so we can rag on you like last week? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-02-2003, 10:56 AM	#3
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Actually, it would seem he is not using the turbine engine to drive the prop. It is actually jet propelled. Crazy Missourian, this guy. http://www.franklinairshow.com/ I initially thought the same thing, Bruce, due to the downward angle of the jet exhaust (obviously necessary to divert hot gases away from the Waco's fabric covering). I figured that would be problematic in terms of thrust vectoring, but the web page specs on the Waco seem to indicate that the jet is in addition to the Waco's normal Pratt and Whitney radial. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

08-02-2003, 12:25 PM	#4
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	You're right, El. From the site it looks like when the plane is flying level the pipe follows the upward sweep of the bottom edge. That way the exhaust isn't that far off straight. Of course with jet thrust, it doesn't have to be that far off to be trouble. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-02-2003, 09:14 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	For all we know they might BE national security. On their web site , much of the info on the plane is "classified". They could be IDing air show patrons as suspects. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-02-2003, 07:44 PM	#5
quzah Knight of the Oval-Shaped Conference Table Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 375	They're a threat to national security. They distract you by having a wing walker, and while you're looking up in awe, a cloud of toxic death rains down on you. Damn terrorists anyway! I'm going to go email Bush and tell him to send out a hit squad^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hthe military. Quzah.

08-02-2003, 09:30 PM	#7
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	I wonder if the wingwalker has to take off his shoes before climbing on board? __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

08-02-2003, 11:08 PM	#8
Nothing But Net Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Spring, Texas Posts: 1,481	Not to get off topic, but doesn't that silo look just like a dick?

08-03-2003, 10:09 AM	#9
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Certainly not mine __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-03-2003, 10:36 AM	#10
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	From Yahoo:<blockquote><i>Felix Baumgartner has become the first person ever to fly across the English Channel without the benefit of an aircraft, gliding from England to France wearing only a specially designed flying suit</i></blockquote> Attached Images

08-03-2003, 01:20 PM	#11
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Does this mean we can't rag on UT for no image today? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-03-2003, 03:05 PM	#12
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	I just thought I'd help out. :)

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