Aircraft Carriers - Airlift Aussies.jpg (1/1)

"Dave Kearton" wrote (in part):

"Netko" wrote in message
ex.com...
On Wed, 3 Feb 2010 22:07:52 +0000, Dave Kearton wrote
(in article ):

It's called a 'Pika', an early manned prototype for the Jindivik.
Only
about 2 made.


http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseu...ar180/pika.htm

Thanks for this - it's a new one on me, I confess.

It looks, well, compact and yet somehow underpowered.





Underpowered would be a valid assessment - especially for a manned aircraft.
The first aircraft crashed in '51, severely injuring the unlucky pilot.

Fred Knudsen. He became CFI at Point Cook in the mid 50s (when I was
on course there) then was running DCA in Brisbane in the early 80s. He
was still flying as an instructor at Coolangatta until a couple of
years ago. I had a lot of respect for him.

--
Mike Mackenzie (AVCOM Services)
Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
Remove "XYZ" from the "Reply to" address when responding by email.

"Mike Mackenzie" wrote in message
...
"Dave Kearton" wrote (in part):

"Netko" wrote in message
pex.com...
On Wed, 3 Feb 2010 22:07:52 +0000, Dave Kearton wrote
(in article ):

It's called a 'Pika', an early manned prototype for the Jindivik.
Only
about 2 made.


http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseu...ar180/pika.htm

Thanks for this - it's a new one on me, I confess.

It looks, well, compact and yet somehow underpowered.





Underpowered would be a valid assessment - especially for a manned
aircraft.
The first aircraft crashed in '51, severely injuring the unlucky pilot.

Fred Knudsen. He became CFI at Point Cook in the mid 50s (when I was
on course there) then was running DCA in Brisbane in the early 80s. He
was still flying as an instructor at Coolangatta until a couple of
years ago. I had a lot of respect for him.

--
Mike Mackenzie (AVCOM Services)
Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
Remove "XYZ" from the "Reply to" address when responding by email.




Thanks Mike,


The story I heard 30 years ago, was that his back was badly stuffed up.
I'm glad that he had a long and fruitful career.





--


Cheers

Dave Kearton

"Dave Kearton" wrote (in part):

snip

Underpowered would be a valid assessment - especially for a manned
aircraft.
The first aircraft crashed in '51, severely injuring the unlucky pilot.

Fred Knudsen. He became CFI at Point Cook in the mid 50s (when I was
on course there) then was running DCA in Brisbane in the early 80s. He
was still flying as an instructor at Coolangatta until a couple of
years ago. I had a lot of respect for him.


Thanks Mike,


The story I heard 30 years ago, was that his back was badly stuffed up.
I'm glad that he had a long and fruitful career.

Since the prang his back was always twisted, and he walked with a limp
- but it didn't seem to affect his flying ability.

--
Mike Mackenzie (AVCOM Services)
Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
Remove "XYZ" from the "Reply to" address when responding by email.