Jacob LolkOctober 25, 2013, 6:19am
I have been stationed here in Russia for work the last 5 months. I am working on the erection of a tobacco expansion plant in Gvardeysk in the region of Kaliningrad. Outside of town there is an aeroclub with lots of flying and parachute activity. They fly the 4-seat Yak 18T and the aerobatic Yak 52. The parachuters jump from an Antonov bi-plane. I had seen them give demo rides in the Yak 52 and was not quite sure I would like to be thrown around like that, but finally the other day I decided that I had to seize this opportunity. I had a demo ride with a retired Russian airforce pilot.
I had never done more that a spin in a glider so this was all new for me. The worst part were the really hard g's. We pulled 6 g's. I remember thinking how I could feel each piston bang up my spine as my butt was squeezed hard into the seat. And then I would think how can the plane and my pilot take this type of abuse, but he and it seemed to be doing just fine. Anyway it was quite an experience and I would like to do more aerobatics some other time, only more gentle. Here is a video they made of my face during the ordeal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtfuTHlSsTk
I am quite sure this will be the only time my Lonesome Buzzards cap will experience this type of flying.
Jacob
I had never done more that a spin in a glider so this was all new for me. The worst part were the really hard g's. We pulled 6 g's. I remember thinking how I could feel each piston bang up my spine as my butt was squeezed hard into the seat. And then I would think how can the plane and my pilot take this type of abuse, but he and it seemed to be doing just fine. Anyway it was quite an experience and I would like to do more aerobatics some other time, only more gentle. Here is a video they made of my face during the ordeal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtfuTHlSsTk
I am quite sure this will be the only time my Lonesome Buzzards cap will experience this type of flying.
Jacob