LOCAL LIFESTYLE | events: out and about
Your Local Magazine • September 2012
Events Your Local
Out & About Flying high at Old Buckenham Taking to the skies in a vintage Boeing P-17 Stearman Biplane, courtesy of Old Buckenham Aerodrome.
When I was given the opportunity to go up in the skies in an old vintage WWII Boeing P-17 Stearman Biplane I just couldn’t resist. The thought of flying in an open cockpit at 500 feet with the wind rushing past was a childhood dream come true. Upon arriving and looking around this glorious 1941 flying machine, with its 7 cylinder 220hp radial engine up front and its beautifully hand-carved Canadian Birch propeller, I was blown away by its sheer magnificence and could not wait to get airborne. I was introduced to Gerry Honey, Chief Flying Instructor who talked me through all the safety procedures and where we would be flying. Also if I was ok, he would perform some aerobatics, which consisted of wing overs, loop the loop and then going straight in to a stall turn, and I would feel the effects of approximately 3.5G - with that I couldn’t wait to get in the sky! With flying hat and goggles on and the engine fired up, we began to gently roll down towards the runway. Before I knew it we were up in the air, gliding gracefully – at about 60-80 knotts at 550 feet.
We headed towards Attleborough then continued to Great Ellingham where Gerry banked the plane to 90 degrees and pulled hard back on the stick to create a very tight turn to head towards Banham. Once levelled out, it was my turn to take over at the controls! Very hesitantly I slightly moved the stick to the left and the craft responded smoothly, then I straightened up and pulled back to get my horizon levelled up and made a few more turns, and hey I was flying… but I was glad when Gerry said he was taking back command of the plane!... With all this excitement I forgot about the aerobatics… Gerry raised the altitude to 1,500 feet and proceeded to do a few wing turns, followed by a loop the loop and straight in to a stall turn… all I can describe is seeing the horizon one moment then seeing nothing but sky then the exhilaration of seeing the ground and experiencing the G force as the plane pulled back up until we were pointing vertically upwards again. Then the aircraft slowed until it was hanging in the sky and a gentle touch on the rudder brought its nose round into
a vertical dive. Gerry, of course, always had complete control and once again we levelled out. At this point the adrenaline was pouring through my veins and for those who are wondering if I used the sick bag… no I didn’t - although I was glad I didn’t eat anything before I went up! After the aerobatics, Gerry flew back to Old Buckenham Aerodrome to land. Once we taxied to our final position and the engine was turned off it was time to get out, and I remember I wanted to do
it all again! I can honestly say that was the best experience I’ve ever had and all I can say is “Wow what a breath-taking experience – totally awesome!” I would recommend this to everyone. The friendliness of all the staff at Old Buckenham Aerodrome, safety and control of the plane was second to none, and to Gerry Honey, who I had complete faith in. This would make an amazing gift, or even if you would like to experience a piece of history go on and book your trial flight, it’s absolutely out of this world. By Matt Bignell.
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