An-2

[expat]

Just leaving work today and this was taxing out.

Matt

[ozzy72]

See loads of those when I'm in Pecs. I've even jumped out of 'em a couple of times.

[wifesaysno]

There is a privately owned one that putters around West Michigan too. Yeah its slow, but the bus with wings is still pretty cool! 1) it has a radial
2) its a biplane
3) its a taildragger
What more do you want?!

Thanks for the pics Matt!

[expat]

See loads of those when I'm in Pecs. I've even jumped out of 'em a couple of times.

Was that because one of the wings fell off.........

Matt

[beaky]

8-)
When I win the lottery, I will buy one, put a turbine on it, and set it up for amphibious floats and skis. 

[expat]

[quote] 8-)
When I win the lottery, I will buy one, put a turbine on it, and set it up for amphibious floats and skis.

[ozzy72]

If you can't beat 'em join 'em...

Meanwhile the dear old Ant is going upmarket, I've never been in one this pucker!!!

[expat]

If you can't beat 'em join 'em...

Meanwhile the dear old Ant is going upmarket, I've never been in one this pucker!!!

Very nice...........But it is still Russian and very old.............

Matt

[ozzy72]

How much time have you got on them Matt? Yes, they were designed in WWII. So were all the torpedos used by navies today that actually work!
Old doesn't mean bad, it means it is more likely to work than its computer powered replacements.
I've got a soft spot for the old Ant... they've just got a certain magic ;-)

[expat]

How much time have you got on them Matt? Yes, they were designed in WWII. So were all the torpedos used by navies today that actually work!
Old doesn't mean bad, it means it is more likely to work than its computer powered replacements.
I've got a soft spot for the old Ant... they've just got a certain magic ;-)

I have no time at all, however, I deal on a regular basis with Russian aviation and you could not pay me enough to do a runway dash in any aircraft be that Russian or a Western aircraft that they now operate that a Russian mechanic has had anything to do with be that today, yesterday or 50 years ago. I have spent a fair bit of time sorting out "repairs" that have been made, all be it good faith, that would make your hair fall out. Good faith and safety are a dangerous double act. It is more by luck than judgement that there are not more smouldering holes in the ground. Check the news, just recently, two big named carriers in Russia have had their maintenance licences removed for violations and they were so bad, that they will never get the maintenance authorisations back again and have had to go to a contracting company....
There is a certain magic to many old aircraft including of course Russian, but as with a lot of things that are magical, there is a lot of smoke and mirrors. I will admit though, that if the aircraft is maintained to Western standards and is operated by a Western operator then the aircraft is almost Western, however, as I said, I have seen way to much to have any faith in Russian aviation. In fact I am not sure what is worse, Russian or African.......

Matt

[ozzy72]

I'd trust a Russian mechanic right up to the first drink of the morning (about 5.30am).
Those in the EU that've been properly maintained, such as I've had dealings with, have been more reliable than a Swiss watch and more regular than a metronome.
I agree that a lot of the Soviet engineers couldn't handle Meccano safely!

[expat]

I'd trust a Russian mechanic right up to the first drink of the morning (about 5.30am).
Those in the EU that've been properly maintained, such as I've had dealings with, have been more reliable than a Swiss watch and more regular than a metronome.
I agree that a lot of the Soviet engineers couldn't handle Meccano safely!

That about sums it up rather nicely......

Matt

[ozzy72]

Matt have you ever known me to mince words. I tell it like it is with a poetic but slightly sarcastic twist.
You're talking about the guy who once found out one of his fellow climbers had had too much tea before bedding down and hadn't tied himself into the portaledge or the hill and rolled over for a night time pee and fell 2000 feet to his death and upon being told this said "He must have been dying for a p*ss!"
Brain, a good 10 seconds behind mouth

[expat]

Matt have you ever known me to mince words. I tell it like it is with a poetic but slightly sarcastic twist.
You're talking about the guy who once found out one of his fellow climbers had had too much tea before bedding down and hadn't tied himself into the portaledge or the hill and rolled over for a night time pee and fell 2000 feet to his death and upon being told this said "He must have been dying for a p*ss!"
Brain, a good 10 seconds behind mouth

Over the last ten years of my membership at SimV I had noticed (once or twice) that your "observations" and humour" did not have the same perspective as that of the average member........... Saying that, I am not exactly know for being the most PC person you will ever meet. I think we could add Fozzer to this listing too....

Matt

[ozzy72]

Political correctness is the language of cowardice. You know what really offends me? Not being able to say exactly what I like for fear of offending someone!