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| I did this at “Thunder City”
in Cape Town, South Africa, which has the largest collection
of historic flying jets in the world, as well as being
an outpost of the US National Test Pilot School. The plane
that I flew in was an 11-ton, 7000lb thrust, ex-Royal
Navy Hawker Hunter (Thunder City also has Buccaneers and
supersonic Lightnings).I was able briefed in emergency
procedures beforehand, by Steve and Aggie Dent. |
My date ... |
Climbing in ... |
Steve is the Chief Engineer and used to maintain Hunters
for the Rhodesian and Somali Airforces! Aggie, his wife,
is a very sweet lady, whose demeanor belies the fact that
she has 6000 hours flying experience, much of it bush
flying in East Africa. At one point in her life, she spent
2 years living at Kasama in Zambia. Agge was kind enough
to take my camera and take the above photo’s (Thank
You!). The pilot was Mike Beachy Head, the head-honcho
at Thunder City, and an aerobatic and show pilot. We departed
from Cape Town’s main airport, and did a circuit
around Cape Point at 2around 1000 feet and 350 knots,
and accompanying magnificent views of the Cape! The day
was perfect and the morning air smooth. |
| Mike was very generous and patient,
and let me fly almost from the word go. It took me a few
minutes to stop the self-induced oscillation, but thereafter
I was able to do a passable job at staying on a steady
course, though somewhat less good on altitude. Mike was
no doubt being polite, but said that I held it steadier
than some airline pilots that have been up with him (take
a bow all of those of you who have labored to teach me
who to fly). But the Hunter was really smooth and responsive
(it apparently has a great reputation with pilots). It
was hard to believe the speed that we were zipping along
at. |
Taxing out .. |
Airborne ...
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We then went up to a military flying area, and beat
up the sky! Rolls, loops, Cuban-8’s, etc. Amazing!
The day was perfect for flying and the view unbeatable
– you have to experience corkscrewing up from the
ground to 8,000 feet in a blink of an eye, and then rolling
inverted and seeing the whole word of sea, beaches, and
mountains laid out beneath (or above?) you! Despite my
initial trepidation that I was going to humiliate myself
(Aggie had kindly said that if I needed to loose my breakfast,
I should just pull the top of my flight suit out and use
it as a barf-bag! |
“We will have a shower for you when you get back!”),
I discovered that I can pull 5G‘s without losing vision
or losing my lunch – but I was drenched in sweat by the
end of it. I now have real respect for the real jet-jockeys,
it is an incredibly physical experience. We did some slow speed
flying – full flaps at 150 knots (stall speed is 130 knots,
great than top speed of my Cessna!), and I was able to not lose
much altitude in the transition.Mike then let me do a couple
of steep turns (I didn’t completely disgrace myself!),
and then 2 rolls. Like most beginners I did not sufficiently
commit on the first and Mike had to step in, but the second
one worked fine – not difficult when you consider that
the roll rate of the Hunter is 360 degrees per second! Then
Mike did a simulated show display and I freely admit to not
knowing which was up, down, front or back for a few seconds
as Mike zoomed all over the place. Then fuel was out, and he
made me fly back to the airport at exactly 1500 feet, not 1400,
not 1600 (“Yes, Sir!”), with again a magnificent
view of the city and Table Mountain.
Mike had me fly part of the approach, which was quite difficult
as with full flaps and at slow speed, the Hunter (or more accurately
the pilot) is liable to roll and oscillate. Mike said that flying
these fast jets slowly is more akin to helicopter flying with
the amount of stick input you have to give. Mike did the actual
landing (I know I would have flared way too late, and dug a
big hole in the runway). I then taxied in (differential braking
only!) in behind a 727, the envy of all concerned. Although
we were up for 70 minutes, it did not seem like it, in fact
I want to do it again so I can really take it in this time.
Now, how do I enter this into my logbook?
Coming home ... |
Thanking the real pilot ... |
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The grin on the face of the tiger…. needs no words.
Suffice it to say that I had a great time last Friday,
and have been grinning inwardly ever since. In fact, I
have wired dollars to your account as payment for a Hunter
flight for my friend in Johannesburg – please advise
when finance has been received.”
Paul Maritz – USA – Hawker Hunter flight
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