How Low Can You Go??

**GASML** · 15th July 2005, 17:01

Lewis Benjamin set this unfortunate precedent at Sywell in the 1970s.

It was a heck of an ending to a crazy flying act!

Apparently his nose recovered faster than the Tiger's!

**jonny956** · 15th July 2005, 18:23

Some cracking stuff fellas. Certainly brightened my day. Always remember looking out of my window on the 5th floor of a Portugese hotel in '89 and seeing a Nimrod pass below me (taking a German chap's towel off his poolside lounger). Happy days!

**Kilvy** · 15th July 2005, 18:57

I thought I'd be the first..........

How low can you go......ask a Typhoon pilot! :diablo:

Kilvy

**Manonthefence** · 15th July 2005, 19:23

This low!!

**Rich82** · 15th July 2005, 23:22

Surely, the award for lowest (most audascious?) flying has to got to the pilot (and I'm sorry I can't remember any details) who flew a B-17 no more than 3-6 feet off the ground in a film.

I have no pics (but given time I will have) and as said, cannot remember the name of the film, but it starred Steve McQueen and to watch the forementioned aircraft flying so low is simply phenomenal.

Trust me, you watch the film, and during the scene where said action takes place, you can't help but duck, cringe, shout "Don't do it!" etc.

See it.

**Melvyn Hiscock** · 16th July 2005, 00:08

Try looking at post 87.

**Bill16STN** · 16th July 2005, 13:14

Thought this would amuse .......

http://www.friday-fun.com/showvideo....ipname=Fishing

**Jules Horowitz** · 17th July 2005, 02:24

Bill
This really taks the cake, great vudeo

**robmac** · 17th July 2005, 22:21

Good video, but I think you'll find this one is the best of the best!! It is taken from a thread I did not long ago on the Fighter Meet at the Weald. I don't have the info on who's piccy it is I'm afraid!!

**GASML** · 18th July 2005, 18:08

Originally Posted by Kilvy

I thought I'd be the first..........

How low can you go......ask a Typhoon pilot! :diablo:

Kilvy

Or an air racer! Reno '99, sorry I can't credit the brave photographer!

**Ontario-Warbird** · 18th July 2005, 18:23

The picture was already posted but i thought i would link to the video of a simular pass in MK923 at Mr. Billing's own grass strip.

http://www.ontario-warbirds.ca/video/low%20pass.wmv

Dave C

**turbo_NZ** · 18th July 2005, 18:53

Originally Posted by Bill16STN

Thought this would amuse .......

http://www.friday-fun.com/showvideo....ipname=Fishing

That scene with the Catalina from the start of the movie "Always" cracks me up everytime I see it

**DazDaMan** · 18th July 2005, 18:55

Originally Posted by Bill16STN

Thought this would amuse .......

http://www.friday-fun.com/showvideo....ipname=Fishing

The classic opening sequence from the Spielberg movie "Always"

**turbo_NZ** · 19th July 2005, 00:27

....as I said, Daz.....

**GASML** · 19th July 2005, 10:15

Just remembered this, taken at the Rockingham motor race circuit a couple of years ago. It's a bit of a cheat really, the grandstand is a good 50 feet above ground level!

**Skybolt** · 19th July 2005, 10:22

Wow,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and it is only 10 miles from home. Bet his boss would have thrown a wobbler IF he had seen it.
Cheers,
Trapper 69

**Seafuryfan** · 21st July 2005, 22:04

Can anyone video capture the crazy Grumman Duck flying filmed for 'Murphys War'? IIRC correctly the aircraft actually takes off branches while being filmed from the camera ship.

Would like to know who the pilot was...

**The Blue Max** · 21st July 2005, 22:13

Originally Posted by Seafuryfan

Can anyone video capture the crazy Grumman Duck flying filmed for 'Murphys War'? IIRC correctly the aircraft actually takes off branches while being filmed from the camera ship.

Would like to know who the pilot was...

Frank Tallman i belive!

**Steve 964** · 21st July 2005, 22:39

Any one seen the 1980's programme about the then Confederate Air Force, called 'Ghost Squadron' ?
There are some excellent low flying shots on there,that are amazing .
They include:
A Frank sanders Sea Fury T Mk.20 taking off that appears to go lower once retracted undercarriage all with smokewinders !!
And then a back seat ride with Lefty Gardner in his P.51D 'Thunderbird' who does some amazing low level passes over his personal airstrip before landing ,taxiing across a road and then parking Thunderbird on the lawn in front of his house!!
If you haven't seen it get a copy ,well worth seeing even though its 20 years old,

Steve

**Bradburger** · 21st July 2005, 23:20

Steve,

Dug it out a while ago.

As you say, nice footage of Lefty Gardener beating up Rebel Field in his P51 and doing an Ed Shipley style roll downwind whilst lowering the gear.

Thought it was rather cool when he taxied the P51 across the road, up his drive and parked on the lawn to be greeted by his wife and kids!

Talking of the low level flypasts and the CAF, I seem to remember reading (and seeing a picture) about one of their Buchon’s, which allegedly came a cropper in the mid-late 70's when doing an extremely low flypast. Luckily, it didn't destroy the aircraft or pilot as it remarkably skidded to a halt with just bent props and damaged underside!

Does anyone know if this was indeed the case and not just a belly landing?

Cheers

Paul

**92fis** · 21st July 2005, 23:23

Has anyone got any pic's of OHB in the T-33 at duxford flying low over a cornfield, That was low.

**turbo_NZ** · 21st July 2005, 23:43

Originally Posted by The Blue Max

Frank Tallman i belive!

Wasn't he the other "pilot" on the orginal Pheonix bitza ?
The one that claimed Paul Mantz's life

**Steve 964** · 22nd July 2005, 14:26

[QUOTE=Bradburger]
Steve,

Dug it out a while ago.

As you say, nice footage of Lefty Gardener beating up Rebel Field in his P51 and doing an Ed Shipley style roll downwind whilst lowering the gear.

I reckon given the respective pilots ages ,its more likely that Ed Shipley does Lefty Gardner style rolls downwind

I first saw those pics of Ormond Haydon Ballie flying the T.33 low over the fields in Aeroplane Monthly in the early 80's i think ,but they have been posted on this forum recently,sorry I can't remember what thread or who posted though.

Steve

**Flanker_man** · 22nd July 2005, 16:19

Meanwhile, back at a low-flying Typhoon thread near you............

A thought just occurred - and that doesn't happen very often these days !

With the canards mounted so far forward, could the pilot have lost sight of the ground during his pull-up out of the dive ???

In straight and level flight, they certainly block his view down and to the front.

It can't be that simple can it ??

Nah! - there must be a more plausible reason for the near-miss surely ??

Ken

**Zhukov121** · 23rd July 2005, 00:43

I was out at Thumrait from 2002-2004

Whilst there I heard about the 'famous pictures' and after questioning afew people I managed to get my hands on the original pictures for afew hours....

I scanned enhanced and put them on the web
http://www.samolet.co.uk/rafo/

**Chad Veich** · 23rd July 2005, 03:33

Originally Posted by Bradburger

Talking of the low level flypasts and the CAF, I seem to remember reading (and seeing a picture) about one of their Buchon’s, which allegedly came a cropper in the mid-late 70's when doing an extremely low flypast. Luckily, it didn't destroy the aircraft or pilot as it remarkably skidded to a halt with just bent props and damaged underside!

Does anyone know if this was indeed the case and not just a belly landing?
Paul

Paul, that's the story as it was told in Air Classics. The pilot was apparently lining up for a low, fast pass and simply got too low. He must have hit extremely flat! Anybody know who the pilot was for that episode?

**geedee** · 23rd July 2005, 07:35

Check this link out. Got some excellent video's. This lot of the Mirage....you almost got to stand up to see over the dashboard !!!. Cracking soundtrack as well !!

Well recommended

http://www.patricksaviation.com/vide...ion=view&id=50

**Skybolt** · 23rd July 2005, 07:39

Those photos from Thumrait were awesome. Shades of tales of the Jever "Steam Laundry" from the 1950's and 60's. I bet if the Sultan of Oman had realised what pleasure he was providing for a bunch of hooligan but highly professional top gun fighter jocks and mud movers he would have reversed the salary situation. I reckon you should have paid him for the opportunity to indulge your baser instincts.
Did car insurance premiums go up after the "buggy strike"...........????
Cheers,
Trapper 69

**DazDaMan** · 23rd July 2005, 12:44

Originally Posted by Chad Veich

Paul, that's the story as it was told in Air Classics. The pilot was apparently lining up for a low, fast pass and simply got too low. He must have hit extremely flat! Anybody know who the pilot was for that episode?

No, but the aircraft was none other than Harold Kindsvater's beauty, N109W.

(Jorge Dietsch pic)

**Bradburger** · 23rd July 2005, 22:13

Thanks for the info Chad.

Wasn't sure if it was true or not!

And Daz, thanks for that info too.

Now I know where I read about the incident. It was in a AP feature a while back on the Kindsvater's machine.!

Cheers

Paul

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