My infatuation with Stearmans began at 7 years old, when, while piled into the back of our Oldsmobile Cutlass station wagon on a family road trip to Florida, I spied a barnstormer in a brilliant blue-and-yellow airplane plying his trade from a nearby airstrip. I pleaded for my parents to let me take a ride, and they actually discussed it, but decided the cost was well outside our tight vacation budget.
Taking Wing: Stearman Patrol
Key Takeaways:
- The author fulfilled a childhood dream of flying a Stearman biplane, an aircraft he and his wife have long admired, after being invited by a friend and fellow pilot, Todd Anderson.
- During the flight, the author found the Stearman surprisingly handled like a Cub despite its higher power and weight, experienced aerobatics, and observed the demanding skills required for landing the taildragger.
- The personal general aviation experience deeply reaffirmed the author's love for the freedom of flying, highlighting what he misses in his commercial airline duties.
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