Cool visitor at work today

[GoldenRivet]

I dont claim to know anything much about the T-28 Trojan...

but on his takeoff he had what appeared to be a speed brake or dive brake deployed underneath the belly.

I mean this thing had dive brake written all over it figuratively speaking.

Normal procedure or pilot error?

I youtubed about a dozen trojan takeoffs... didnt see it in any of them

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Now that's a trainer!

Trainer? Heck it could be used as a COIN aircraft.

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

I dont claim to know anything much about the T-28 Trojan...

but on his takeoff he had what appeared to be a speed brake or dive brake deployed underneath the belly.

I mean this thing had dive brake written all over it figuratively speaking.

Normal procedure or pilot error?

I youtubed about a dozen trojan takeoffs... didnt see it in any of them

I think your pilot messed up...

The Navy TROJAN models had a hugely important difference-with considerably higher power the engine was canted noticeably downward a few degrees from the aircraft longitudinal axis. These higher-powered T-28s flew much like a jet-powered aircraft by design, albeit with a three-blade propeller, easing full transition of a student pilot to jet power following T-28B advanced training. The T-28B has a perforated retractible rectangular-shaped speed brake, or dive brake mounted just behind the main gear covers under the fuselage, further differentiating the B model from the T-28A. The revised B wing tips added 6 inches to the wingspan. The Navy used a smaller diameter high-pressure nose gear tire that was non-steerable, for greater maneuverability and deck handling requiring unrestricted rotation of the nose gear.

http://www.airport-data.com/articles...-Rev-4;14.html

[GoldenRivet]

Yeah... he goofed is my guess.

I was watching him climb out, wheels went up, he came by with his brake deployed.

i said to my friend "Uhhh his speed brake is out, I bet he is wondering why his climb performance sucks."

but if i have learned anything in my 12 years in aviation... its that i dont know everything and always stand to learn something.

that said, I assumed there was a reason for his procedure.

probably error though as it was retracted when he started the engine, and he deployed it during taxi and left it down.

perhaps he was testing it, and then got side tracked.

beats me

EDIT:

Note... he was preceded in takeoff by a slow single engine aircraft. It is possible that he was using this technique to increase his spacing between himself and the preceding departure as they were both going to be in the pattern.

[TLAM Strike]

Maybe he was just trying to see how much power that plane's engine had. Take off with airbrake down...not bad, but it ain't no Crusader...

[GoldenRivet]

I had an instructor years ago, he was an F-18 pilot way back when.

He told the story of one of his wingmen... the plane got struck by lightning and due to some sort of electrical fault as a result of the strike, the wings began to fold as if they were commanded to do so.

trouble is the flight was cruising along at altitude in less than ideal weather.

I dont recall how it ended... i think the guy had to pull the loud handles.

[TLAM Strike]

Crusader and Corsair > Hornet

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Crusader and Corsair > Hornet

classier perhaps... but "greater"?

i dunno.

seems like i saw a video somewhere (discovery wings channel perhaps) of an F-18 that went into a dogfight with a Crusader.

The crusader got chewed up and spit out hard.

this Crusader was turning and burning for all it was worth... the F-18 pulled lead on it and sustained that lead through the turn for something like several minutes.

not that im a particular fan of the F-18

my jet aged fighter?

I'll take up any day