#View from cockpit update
#View from cockpit series

#View from cockpit series

This is followed by a series of loud barks from the engine and a burst of smoke from the open stacks. I duck my head as Elmer winds the canopy forward part-way and fires up the Merlin This gets a thumbs up from our ground crew. One thing the Air Force training did was to instill in the student pilot the absolute necessity to follow the appropriate checklist. I can see some of the instruments and switches over Elmer’s shoulder, and monitor the action through my headphones as Elmer goes through his pre-start checks. It’s getting quite hot, with the sun beating down through the partially-open canopy. Once strapped securely into the back seat, parachute straps and harness prevent any movement. The average pilot requires a lot of training before leaping into the air in the Mustang. Stories abound of new Mustang pilots coming to grief with the torque roll induced by opening the throttle too quickly on a go-around, or having directional control problems on takeoff or landing. It's a big, fast and heavy aircraft by light plane standards. With the complication of the liquid cooling, the Merlin engine is more complex. But the big throttle, the supercharger and the whole Merlin powerplant are different.

The hardware in the cockpit is in some ways familiar to me, with some items identical to the AT-6 of the same era. So what’s it like to be sitting in the back seat of a Mustang? Visibility in all directions through the bubble canopy is superb, apart from the total lack of vision ahead. Six machine guns and excellent performance and range made the Mustang one of the top fighters in the Second World War. It’s a no-compromise fighting machine.Įlmer Ward's P-51D Mustang 'Man O' War' on the ramp at Hawthorne, Southern California. It was not your average flying club aircraft. 'Man O’ War' was immaculate, Red nose and tail, squadron letters on the fuselage and with distinctive black stripes along the fuselage and on the wings to break up the outline in combat. When his victim was strapped in the back seat Elmer finished his emergency egress briefing with a question, “Have you ever done a parachute jump? (Pause) I’ve been flying these things for years and haven’t done it yet.” Then, still grinning he climbed into the front seat and strapped in. Flying a Mustang is done as a no-kidding military mission and is briefed as such. Silver with red nose and tail, it was painted in the colors of Claiborne Kinnard, 334th Fighter Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group, operating in Europe in the latter part of 1944.īefore start our two fighters were pulled out of the lineup and parked on the ramp parallel to the crowd behind the ropes, to keep our slipstream away from the audience.Įlmer gave a through briefing and pre-flight introduction before we flew.

'Man O’ War 'sat on the ramp at Hawthorne in a line of eight Mustangs. It was a bit cramped, but a small price to pay for the experience. Just a quick ferry from Hawthorne in California to Elmer’s base at Chino.Īlthough this Mustang of course was built as a single-seat fighter, the cockpit had been modified to accommodate a second seat behind the pilot, in the place normally occupied by a fuel tank. The mission was a two-ship flight from the Hawthorne Air Faire in Elmer’s Mustang “Man O’ War” in company with a second Mustang “What’s Up Doc” flown by Ross Grady.

On my first Mustang ride some years ago I flew with veteran Mustang pilot and owner, Elmer Ward. Andrew Doyle, Senior Director Market Development, Cirium, will moderate a panel session on the importance of transforming operational efficiency and the role of big-data.But how does one ever get to fly aboard one of these classic fighters?… well, there are just a few ways…inherit the money…be a film star…own the company….or be lucky.

#View from cockpit update

She will present traffic figures for the region and provide an update on airline performance. Join Joanna Lu, Head of Consultancy Asia, Cirium, as she shines a light on the impact of COVID-19 on Asian markets.