Sammy Mason: Unlimited in an S1!

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Colonel
Posts: 3450
Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2015 10:31 am

[youtube][/youtube]

I know the straight and level people here don't much
like to see skilled pilots at work, but I just had to
post this.

Conventional wisdom is - hell, Kirby Chambliss, Red
Bull racer even said - that you can't fly an old Pitts
in Unlimited any more.  It has been that way for
decades.

No sir, to fly Unlimited, you need a half-million
dollar composite monoplane.

But not Sammy.  A very impressive young man. 
For peanuts, he bought a single seat Pitts in
pieces, and with the help of his father, put it
together.

Now, I know a lot of people here hate aviation
families, but maybe you could cut Sammy some
slack - his grandfather (first guy to loop a helicopter)
taught Steve McQueen to fly. 

Maybe Steve McQueen is as cool as you.

Anyways.  The above video is Sammy flying
the 2017 Unlimited Q in his low-buck S1.

Now that's a real Pitts video - not some Porkchops
facebook "look at me get some dual" crap.

Another note on aviation familes for you to
hate:  Sammy's cousin has a 450hp Stearman
outside of Seattle, that you can rent for
wing-walking, and that's exactly what my son
did:

[img width=500 height=356][/img]

Hate away, haters, because that's what you do.

We fly.

[url=http://archive.vcstar.com/news/local/sa ... 02781.html]http://archive.vcstar.com/news/local/sa ... 02781.html[/url]




David MacRay
Posts: 1259
Joined: Wed Jun 03, 2015 3:00 pm

You can say all the bad things you want about barely capable single engine Canadian PPLs getting dual. I would love to get some dual Pitts with Sammy or your son. I would consider making a YouTube channel for it if I got enough patreon funding.

Oh well, I don't have a patreon account, I guess I'll go to the buffet for lunch instead. Maybe I should make a channel for that. "BuffetMaster" My motto could be, "Stack, eat, repeat!"

I quite like your son, used to live chat with him a bit at AvCanada a few years ago. I enjoy reading about him doing well.
vanNostrum
Posts: 338
Joined: Wed Nov 04, 2015 9:04 pm

Relation to the Sammy Mason author of
Stalls Spins and Safety?
DeflectionShot

[quote]Relation to the Sammy Mason author of
Stalls Spins and Safety?[/quote]

I think so...good book BTW.
vanNostrum
Posts: 338
Joined: Wed Nov 04, 2015 9:04 pm

Yes very good book
He is/was probably the Grandpa
vanNostrum
Posts: 338
Joined: Wed Nov 04, 2015 9:04 pm

[quote author=Colonel Sanders link=topic=6278.msg16538#msg16538 date=1494942867]
[youtube][/youtube]


Now that's a real Pitts video - not some Porkchops
facebook "look at me get some dual" crap.
[/quote]


+1
Strange world where mediocrity is celebrated and deemed
'' inspirational'' for future aviators
I don't remember needing any motivational  videos to surmount
the many obstacles to become a pilot
Three Bars
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2017 4:22 pm

It all depends on your audience. Pork chops is catering to the ppl and dreamer crowd by offering them something that is attainable by anyone. Nothing wrong with that. Pretty much everyone starts with dual at least on the same class of aircraft.  I seriously doubt anyone went from a 172 to soloing a Pitts first flight.

But an unlimited show flown in an S1, most of us professional aviators don't even know what that means. Is it good?  Is it bad?  Somebody has to explain it to us... how much more so to people who's only exposure to that is at a local air show where they're either in the beer gardens  waiting for the military demos or staring mouths wide open secretly hoping for a crash.
Colonel
Posts: 3450
Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2015 10:31 am

[quote]offering them something that is attainable by anyone[/quote]

Hold on a second there, Mister Moneybags.

In the hours-to-ppl thread, you [b]just[/b] said that
money was no object, and you would flush $7,000
down the toilet without a thought.

Now, you're saying what Sammy did is "unattainable"?

[img width=500 height=74][/img]

Sounds like someone is making excuses because
they are lazy and don't want to put the effort out.
David MacRay
Posts: 1259
Joined: Wed Jun 03, 2015 3:00 pm

[quote]But an unlimited show flown in an S1, most of us professional aviators don't even know what that means. Is it good?  Is it bad?  Somebody has to explain it to us...
[/quote]

Hey, I'm already working this side of the bridge. The buffet was delicious by the way.

Let Jay Leno ruin your image of most boy's dream car in the 1980s, the Lamborghini Countach.



After watching that imagine Sammy has fixed one up to race with purpose built modern formula one cars.
But, then he is competitive because of his skill at driving.

Let's say, "It is good." Even though he is doing it, there will still be people saying it is impossible. I think Sammy's father might need a bit more credit here though.
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