Spare change for a worthy Flyer?

[Flyer]

Or just lend me the key, and I'll bring it right back!  

To be auctioned on Sunday, April 10, 2011

Built in the mid-sixties by Montreal-based Canadair as the CL-41, this nimble twin-seat jet aircraft was designated the CT-114 Tutor by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), and later unified Canadian Forces, and employed as their primary jet trainer. The aircraft was adopted in 1971 by the Canadian Forces legendary Snowbirds Demonstration Team (431 Squadron) to bring thrilling aerobatic performances to air show events across North America. With its high maneuverability and lightweight design, the classic CT-114 Tutor is ideally suited to the formation and aerobatic roles of the exciting Snowbirds shows that continue to enthrall audiences today.

Known as Snowbird #10, this fully documented Canadian-built jet was flown by the Snowbirds team in the 1990s and remains in very good condition. The aircraft retains its original cockpit instruments, controls and ejection seats and can be certified airworthy upon proper restoration, or used as an historical attraction for any museum. It was originally powered by the popular General Electric J85 axial flow jet engine which has since been removed after being retired from the team. An extensive collection of documentation including log books and complete maintenance and service records will accompany this sale. Arrangements can be made to disassemble the aircraft for shipping worldwide, at additional cost.

This unique offering represents a rare opportunity for collectors and flying enthusiasts to purchase one of the most famous aircraft in Canadian aviation history.

[jimmy]

I don't know.....

That picture makes it look like it's leaking!!  

[Hardware]

Snowbird pilots are awesome.  Just ask one of them...

Did you hear the Snowbirds had to cancel their last out of town show?  Someone forgot to pre-order the silk toilet paper...

I'm here all week.  Try the veal!

[jp]

Hmmmm...    No motor...

I have a good Briggs engine out of my busted snowblower...

[Kootenanny]

Never mind the naysayers, I want!  I want!

I've flown a Tutor, it was an amazing experience--not at all what many might think.  And fun like nothing else!  Unfortunately, I always planned to be rich by the time they retired the planes, so I could buy one for myself...hmmm...

[ajf]

I've flown a Tutor, it was an amazing experience--not at all what many might think.  And fun like nothing else!

Care to expand on how you managed this?  And on what it's like to fly?

[Kootenanny]

Care to expand on how you managed this?  And on what it's like to fly?

In a different life, I was in pilot training in the CAF.  I was CT'd (basically, I flunked out--another story unto itself), but during my time there, I had the opportunity to fly a Tracker, several different helicopters, and several Tutors (the ones I flew were unpainted trainers, not the Snowbirds aircraft).

What's surprising about a Tutor is the noise--or rather, the lack of it.  You're wearing a helmet with full hearing protection, and built-in earphones, of course, and an oxygen mask...but in flight, you hardly hear the engine, the loudest thing is the breathing of your copilot beside you (through the pickup in the O2 mask).  20,000 ft at 400 knots, and you feel like you're floating along in silence.  It's weird.   The canopy means you have excellent visibility all around--the wings are behind you, so you can see down very well, too.  Flying with a stick is the only way to go--and unlike smaller prop planes, you seldom touch the rudders in the Tutor, except to cross-control.  At 12,000 ft, pull back the stick and head straight up at the cumulus clouds, put the throttle forward, push the stick to one side for a bit of twist going up, then pull it over upside down at 20,000 ft and roll upright.  It won't accelerate straight up (few jets will), but it'll do an 8,000 ft straight up climb no problem.

There is a G-meter on the dash.  Pick out a road (I was flying out of Moose Jaw, Sask.--all the roads are straight) and follow it.  Pull the stick back and pin the G-meter dial at 2 Gs.  In the rear view mirror (yes, there is one!) pick up the road you were following, and keep the tail centered on the road.  Keep pulling back the stick to keep the G-meter at 2.  The horizon comes up over your head, again pick out your road and follow it down--you can start easing off the stick to hold 2 Gs, follow the road, the horizon appears again in front of you, let off the stick and return to straight and level.  Loops are easy in the Tutor!  I did vertical 8s and snowmen, too (or, to be clear--I was along for the ride, at this time I was just a flight student on OJT in Moosejaw, and although I did get to fly the Tutors through some of these patterns, I never personally flew anything more complex than a loop).  Flying the Tutor was so intuitive, even an unqualified kid like I was could do it easily.  Look where I want to go, the plane went there with seemingly no effort on my part.  Compared to single engine prop planes I've flown, the Tutor was a magic carpet!

Unfortunately, although I did learn to fly in the military, I did not continue there, and I never got my private license (or commercial license)--something for which I kick myself to this day.  I was young, emotions ran hot, I screwed up.  I don't talk about it much--I was given a taste, then had it snatched away.  Motorcycle riding is a substitute, one of several...

[Flyer]

...I had the opportunity to fly a Tracker.

 
One of my all time favourites in the 70's!

Unfortunately, although I did learn to fly...I did not continue...I was given a taste, then had it snatched away.  Motorcycle riding is a substitute, one of several...

BTDT. Feel the pain.  

[Kootenanny]

 
One of my all time favourites in the 70's!

Really different.  Mind you, I don't have enough experience with different aircraft to tell, but the Tracker was weird...it has a lot of power and oversize control surfaces (it was Canada's only carrier based aircraft AFAIK), and although the controls were very heavy, the response was immediate to any input (actually, kinda like my Buell... ).  

I also got a chance once to fly in the Aurora, but I never got any time at the controls...

[ajf]

Thanks for the insight on the Tutor, Kootenanny.  Sounds like a great "sport-touring" plane for a wealthy pilot.

There's no shame in dropping out of military pilot training.  Probably the smoothest, most talented pilot I've flown with washed out - too "reckless" but more likely just a personality conflict - and became a navigator in Halifaxes.  He put many hundreds of hours on my hometown flying club's Cubs and Champs, seldom above 50' AGL, and never had a problem.

Regarding getting a license, have you considered an Ultralight license?  The cost is much less than a Private, and with your experience you'd get it done in the minimum required hours.  If I lived where you do, one of my first purchases would be a Challenger or similar on amphibious floats.  If you buy used they're relatively inexpensive and if you have some mechanical aptitude you can do all the maintenance.  Some can be built with folding wings so you can trailer them home for storage.

[Kootenanny]

There's no shame in dropping out of military pilot training.  Probably the smoothest, most talented pilot I've flown with washed out - too "reckless" but more likely just a personality conflict - and became a navigator in Halifaxes.  He put many hundreds of hours on my hometown flying club's Cubs and Champs, seldom above 50' AGL, and never had a problem.

Regarding getting a license, have you considered an Ultralight license?  

No shame now, but...when you're 21, it's major!  I was rated above average in aerobatics, and was at the top of my class (97%) in academics, when they flunked me for landings, which were rated 4 out of 6 (but, as you mentioned, I learned much later that my CT had more to do with my reactions to authority than my flying ability).  I was offered ATC, but I told 'em to screw off (there's that "reaction to authority") and left.

And, don't tempt me with the ultralight thing.  All I need right now is another activity to spend time and money on   (I'm already into whitewater kayaking, skiing and snowboarding, motorcycling, there's a sportscar in my garage needing restoration, and never mind the fact I've gotta build myself a studio for my artwork, which was curtailed when I moved a few years ago...).

[bubba zanetti]

 
One of my all time favourites in the 70's!

We see those fly out of Castlegar often in the summer ....



Conair flys them and the wonderful sound of those radials can give me goosebumps on a hot day.  Known now as the "FireCat"

[Kootenanny]

We see those fly out of Castlegar often in the summer ....

Conair flys them and the wonderful sound of those radials can give me goosebumps on a hot day.  Known now as the "FireCat"

Jim, didn't know the Firecats were the old Trackers...or maybe I did, but had forgotten...I'm not under the approach path and so don't see all the aircraft coming and going.  Seems to me they'd make great fire planes, they are very capable and are STOL to boot.

In any case, thanks for the info.