pushing planes

Jay started a discussion recently about pushing planes after seeing
someone push a Cherokee by the elevator.

I was at the Golden West Fly-in at Marysville, CA (MYV) over the
weekend, and after the air race demo, the crew of Dreadnought
(Hawker Sea Fury) grabbed a bunch of spectators to help push it
from the flight line back into the display area. The pilot was on
one side of the elevator, and I was the on the other side, along
with two other guys. There were six people pushing on the elevator,
and a bunch more pushing on the wings, and we were barely able to
move that beast back into the display area. I assume since the
crew was telling us to use the elevator to push the plane back,
that they know what they are doing.

After flying home, my passenger (non-pilot) jumps out of the Archer
and goes over to the elevator to help push the plane back. I had
to explain to him the difference between a 10,000lbs fighter and
1,600lbs Archer. I can move an Archer with one hand on the tow
bar. Moving a Sea Fury takes a dozen or more friends.

John
--
John Clear - http://www.clear-prop.org/