Air Maintenance!

[SUBMAN1]

Someone told me once that in an airplane, you just can't pull to the side of the road and fix it like you can in a car. I'd say they were wrong.

-S

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/3134/airmaintgb9.jpg

[NeonSamurai]

*cough*Photo*cough*Shop*cough* :rotfl:

[SUBMAN1]

*cough*Photo*cough*Shop*cough* :rotfl:

I'd believe that if it weren't for the correct shadows! This guy has some impressive light shading hardware!

For real though, I think it is real.

:)

[Etienne]

Shadows are rarely conclusive, but I'll bring your attention to the darkness of the man's shadow vs that of the wing's.

The propeller's not moving. Can that really happen?

[Spoon 11th]

The propeller's not moving. Can that really happen?

Yes it can. Why else do you think he's fixing the engine.

[TteFAboB]

Why not landing in the soft field below? Is gliding a Piper that much of a hassle? Unless...it's a minefield!

[Kurushio]

Just because you don't see the prop moving....doean't mean that it isn't. High shutter speeds and low engine revs would give that sort of picture. More then the shadows, I would say it's real because his clothes suit the time era of the plane...'60s. Who would go into that much detail?

Maybe he's taking a bird out of an exhaust pipe...or doing something to it. Most probably he's just showing off...I mean, a bit conveniant you have a photo plane at that moment.

[SUBMAN1]

Just because you don't see the prop moving....doean't mean that it isn't. High shutter speeds and low engine revs would give that sort of picture. More then the shadows, I would say it's real because his clothes suit the time era of the plane...'60s. Who would go into that much detail?

Maybe he's taking a bird out of an exhaust pipe...or doing something to it. Most probably he's just showing off...I mean, a bit conveniant you have a photo plane at that moment.

The prop did stop and is stopped. He killed the engine - maybe accidently for the photoshoot. Now to share my theory on what is happening here:

Those kind of aircraft lack a 'starter'. The only way to get it going is to 'hand-crank' it. From what I am guessing, his dive is not enough to get it turning on its own since his top speed in that kind of aircraft is rather pathetic, and that is coupled to the fact that this is a fixed pitch propeller. So I think he is trying to give his prop a 'helping hand' to get it to start turning in the wind before he has to make a dead stick landing in someones neighborhood.

Problem with this idea is that it could make this guy a member of the Darwin awards if he screws up. Who knows, maybe his other job is wing walking at an airshow so he is used to these kinds of stunts??!!

-S

[Kurushio]

Just because you don't see the prop moving....doean't mean that it isn't. High shutter speeds and low engine revs would give that sort of picture. More then the shadows, I would say it's real because his clothes suit the time era of the plane...'60s. Who would go into that much detail?

Maybe he's taking a bird out of an exhaust pipe...or doing something to it. Most probably he's just showing off...I mean, a bit conveniant you have a photo plane at that moment.
The prop did stop and is stopped. He killed the engine - maybe accidently for the photoshoot. Now to share my theory on what is happening here:

Those kind of aircraft lack a 'starter'. The only way to get it going is to 'hand-crank' it. From what I am guessing, his dive is not enough to get it turning on its own since his top speed in that kind of aircraft is rather pathetic, and that is coupled to the fact that this is a fixed pitch propeller. So I think he is trying to give his prop a 'helping hand' to get it to start turning in the wind before he has to make a dead stick landing in someones neighborhood.

Problem with this idea is that it could make this guy a member of the Darwin awards if he screws up. Who knows, maybe his other job is wing walking at an airshow so he is used to these kinds of stunts??!!

-S
And the photo plane was just on hand to capture this moment of madness? Pretty big coincidence. Apart from anything, I'm pretty sure he can't reach the prop...let alone give it a good twirl to get it started.

edit: Ok, a piper cub is hand cranked....corrected myself there

[Kurushio]

Cracked it:

http://www.pipercubforum.com/handprop.htm

[SUBMAN1]

Just because you don't see the prop moving....doean't mean that it isn't. High shutter speeds and low engine revs would give that sort of picture. More then the shadows, I would say it's real because his clothes suit the time era of the plane...'60s. Who would go into that much detail?

Maybe he's taking a bird out of an exhaust pipe...or doing something to it. Most probably he's just showing off...I mean, a bit conveniant you have a photo plane at that moment.
The prop did stop and is stopped. He killed the engine - maybe accidently for the photoshoot. Now to share my theory on what is happening here:

Those kind of aircraft lack a 'starter'. The only way to get it going is to 'hand-crank' it. From what I am guessing, his dive is not enough to get it turning on its own since his top speed in that kind of aircraft is rather pathetic, and that is coupled to the fact that this is a fixed pitch propeller. So I think he is trying to give his prop a 'helping hand' to get it to start turning in the wind before he has to make a dead stick landing in someones neighborhood.

Problem with this idea is that it could make this guy a member of the Darwin awards if he screws up. Who knows, maybe his other job is wing walking at an airshow so he is used to these kinds of stunts??!!

-S
And the photo plane was just on hand to capture this moment of madness? Pretty big coincidence. Apart from anything, I'm pretty sure he can't reach the prop...let alone give it a good twirl to get it started.

edit: Ok, a piper cub is hand cranked....corrected myself there

He doesn't need a good whirl - he already has mother nature (the wind) giving him a hand!

[Kurushio]

He doesn't need a good whirl - he already has mother nature (the wind) giving him a hand!

So why does he go out of the plane....?

[SUBMAN1]

He doesn't need a good whirl - he already has mother nature (the wind) giving him a hand!
So why does he go out of the plane....?

He has to start what the wind will eventually finish. Until it starts, that prop isn't gonna go anywhere!

Having the photo plane taking a pic is not abnormal to me. We used to get a group of aircraft all heading out to lunch every other weekend. About 6 to 7 aircraft typically - head up to Arlington for burgers. Having a cam and taking pictures was normal.

-S

[NeonSamurai]

Its definatly a edited photo, big reason? there isnt the slightest trace of wind on the person, what hair he has is in place, his pantlegs arnt forced back nor is any other part of his clothing showing the slightest effect of wind.

Not to mention the picture as a whole just doesnt look right, it looks like a super imposed image. Also as for the prop, it would be rotating and there would be some motion blur from it if the plane was in the air, as the prop is solid and thus cant be feathered.

[NeonSamurai]

Its definatly a edited photo, big reason? there isnt the slightest trace of wind on the person, what hair he has is in place, his pantlegs arnt forced back nor is any other part of his clothing showing the slightest effect of wind. You try managing that in 100+ knots of airspeed it takes to keep a plane like that from stalling

Not to mention the picture as a whole just doesnt look right, it looks like a super imposed image.

[SUBMAN1]

Its definatly a edited photo, big reason? there isnt the slightest trace of wind on the person, what hair he has is in place, his pantlegs arnt forced back nor is any other part of his clothing showing the slightest effect of wind. You try managing that in 100+ knots of airspeed it takes to keep a plane like that from stalling

Not to mention the picture as a whole just doesnt look right, it looks like a super imposed image.

I think you are wrong - he has no hair! And his pantleg is clearly trailing behind him.

By the way, he is in a Piper - he isn't moving too fast because that plane is rather slow!

-S

[Linton]

I really think this is a genuine image.Somebody a long time ago set an airborne endurance record.The main problem the pilot faced was oil consumption which I think the photo shows is being dealt with!

[NeonSamurai]

Pipers still have a stall speed of around 80 knots at least.

And he does have hair just a bald patch on the top. And zooming in up close i dont see any signs of wind on his clothes at all (his clothes facing into the wind would be pressed tight against him).

Plus the shadows dont seem line up right from the ground.

Also there is a slight fuzzed ring around the plane. Though this could be caused by shrinking the photo.


Of course i cant say conclusivly either way as the photo is too small

[Sailor Steve]

Pipers still have a stall speed of around 80 knots at least.
Well, you're way off the mark there. The Cub's MAX speed was only around 80 knots:
J-3C-65 - Max speed 148km/h (80kt), typical cruising speed 132km/h (71kt). Initial rate of climb 450ft/min. Service ceiling 12,000ft. Range 402km (217nm).
http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=298

The nice thing about a Cub landing is that it happens at a near-walk. Actual touch down is around 35 mph, so even if your technique is sloppy, everything is happening so slowly you have all day to set it straight. If you don't have much tailwheel time, try not to think about it. Get the airplane on more or less straight and it will roll more or less straight. Start fighting the rudders simply because it's a taildragger and you think you should be doing something, and it will do a slow motion dance. Best advice in landing a Cub is to make sure it is straight and not drifting and leave it alone after touch down. There's a reason for the saying "...lands easy as a Cub..."
Here's the whole article:
http://www.airbum.com/pireps/ClassicCompCub.html

I've seen 'clown' stunt pilots at air shows climb out of the cockpit and back in; the plane is incredibly stable. I'm certain the shot was staged; the source even says it was being flown from the back seat. That said, I'm equally certain there was no computer juggling; it also says the photo was taken in 1946. That should be verifiable.

[NeonSamurai]

Ok im wrong about the stall speed (what can i say im use to fighters) :)

Still though there would be some sign of wind on the person. Check out some of the vintage barnstormer movies featuring wingwalkers. Those biplanes could fly even slower, and the wingwalkers still showed clear signs of wind on them and their clothes.

Also altering flim has been around almost since the invention of the photograph. ;)

But perhaps it is real, if it is then yes it would definatly be staged. But it is still a odd looking photo.

[SUBMAN1]

Ok im wrong about the stall speed (what can i say im use to fighters) :)

Still though there would be some sign of wind on the person. Check out some of the vintage barnstormer movies featuring wingwalkers. Those biplanes could fly even slower, and the wingwalkers still showed clear signs of wind on them and their clothes.

Also altering flim has been around almost since the invention of the photograph. ;)

But perhaps it is real, if it is then yes it would definatly be staged. But it is still a odd looking photo.

There is evidence of wind - look at his 70's style pant leg, and then look closely at where his foot is. His pant leg is not behaving in a normal manner!

-S