Jesse James' P-51 flight

[Jon Woellhaf]

In a recent episode of his new series "Jesse James is a Dead Man," Jesse
pilots a P-51 around the pylon course at Reno. I was amazed at how well he
did after only a few hours training. I'm quite certain I couldn't have done
nearly as well.

Assuming Jesse really was actually doing the flying, of course.

[Jon Woellhaf]

Sorry for the double post. Outlook Express said the message wasn't sent.
Hope more copies don't show up.

[Dudley Henriques[_2_]]

On Aug 4, 5:15*pm, "Jon Woellhaf" > wrote:
> In a recent episode of his new series "Jesse James is a Dead Man," Jesse
> pilots a P-51 around the pylon course at Reno. I was amazed at how well he
> did after only a few hours training. I'm quite certain I couldn't have done
> nearly as well.
>
> Assuming Jesse really was actually doing the flying, of course.

Handling a 51 at high speed at high manifold pressures and RPM that
far down in the marbles is a physical chore. The problem is not only
the altitude but the left turns. As soon as aileron is applied to the
left at these speeds inducing bank, it pulls the nose down as the lift
vectors split. To make a racing turn you need perfectly blended
aileron and inside rudder and simultaneously applied back pressure to
keep the nose where it belongs. You don't get much time to do it right
as a correction at race speeds so it's a first time done correctly or
else.
Jessee was flying with Dan Vance in the front seat and I've no doubt
at all that Dan had his hand gently on the stick ready to over ride in
pitch as Jessee entered each turn.
The Mustang isn't all that hard to fly and anyone could be taught to
handle basic straight and level and medium turns in no time at all,
but for this specific flight, as I said, you're just too close to the
edge to allow ANY error at all, and Dan Vance was right on top of what
Jessee was doing with the airplane at all times.
Dudley Henriques