From the Cockpit
When I was on the road with Collings I shot hours of video footage. The GoPro camera really opened new avenues of filming. I haven't posted many videos, more or less a lack of time to edit, but I'll slowly add more as time permits. The first video I did was 14 years ago...hard to believe. I know a lot of people don't like music to videos and the links I put below do not have music. I think it is safe to say we all like the sound of a Mustang when it flies by, BUT, from the inside it is eye watering loud and relentless. The best I heard it described was like standing under a tin roof in a hailstorm. How those guys managed to do anything negligible over the R/T is beyond me...even with modern radio equipment it is hard to make out anything over the radio.
The first video is from 2013 and a photo shoot we did with the 262. We were on our way Austin and used the B-24 as a photoship. It is eerie looking out and seeing a 262 off your wing. This is one of the 5 that were completed in Seattle a few years ago. It (they) were reverse engineered from the original that now resides in the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola. Other than the engines, avionics and brakes, they are really accurate reproductions and given actual Messerschmidt serial number by the family.
The second video is a cockpit cam of some aerobatics done while moving between cities. I always tried to plan some flights that I could go by myself so I could do some acro filming. Most people get queezy really quick and it makes getting footage difficult. It is 9 minutes but it gives you a good perspective of how much sky the airplane uses to do maneuvers. Since Betty Jane was dual controlled all our flights were geared toward the customer doing as much of the flying as they wanted. For most people, the most eye opening aspect of the Mustang is how slow the controls are if you don't muscle it around. The roll rate isn't that fast and it takes anywhere from 15-20lbs of pressure to really get it moving, especially if you are carrying a lot of speed. At a minimum, loops are around 4gs, too keep from stalling out at the top.
When I was a kid I always wondered what it would be like to see things from the cockpit...it is an utmost honor to be able to fly such machines and it gives you a new perspective and appreciation for what these guys did. I hope you guys like these.
Jim
What's not to like.
lucky dog...lucky dog
Great stuff...thanks for sharing.
I just finished watching the videos ...
Man you are one extremely lucky dude !
When I was working at the Fire Department and we had an exciting day (or night) I would tell my guys "just think, we get paid to do this !", then we would all laugh... living the dream.
Thanks for sharing these with us.
Phenomenal. I 'll be back later. I need to go buy some lottery tickets so I can buy one of those.
Out of this world. I just caught up with this, while in bed with ‘flu and fever, and thought nothing could raise my spirits. This did. Truly awe inspiring.
https://imodeler.com/2018/11/from-the-cockpit/#comment-313168
Thanks for sharing. First time I ever got a real feel for what it was like in these aircraft. When I saw the Me 262 it took my breath away.
Thanks David! glad you like them and glad they helped. It always amazed me how much sky you eat up maneuvering and 'dogfighting'. I could turn all day long with the 262, but as soon as he rolled wings level he just walked away from my like I was standing still. It was really eye opening. Glad they didn't have them sooner!
Amazing ! Since this video is likely the closest I'll ever get to flying (or flying IN) a Mustang, I thank you VERY much !
@jimh