| Author | Message | ||
| Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
Junior Member Username: Davewapinski Post Number: 139 Registered: 8-2001 |
Damn, I thought I was the only one who had watched it. I have all of the shows on tape at my Park City Utah place. Have never flown a Goose, but fell in love with what it could do. The 200 mph top speed always seemed very optomistic. Always thought that it would make a great mini-motor home. Does not porpose like a Widgon. Much cheaper to fly than an Alb. Parts for those R985s are real cheap and easy to find. If have the right fuel pumps, can even get an auto-fuel STC, but has to run on a mix of 100LL and autofuel. A really great plane. Dave PS: My son chose for his dog, a Beagle just like the series. Although this one has two eyes. | ||
| Edward Gault (Irfgt)
Member Username: Irfgt Post Number: 819 Registered: 2-2001 |
As an Ex military Air Traffic Controller I got to control some of the greatest planes of all time. C-123, C-130, C124, C-5, T-37, T-38, F-4, F-102, F-104, C-121, U-2, C-141, C-118, C-47, C-135, as well as all the Navy planes and Helecopters. What great memories. I had an Air National Guard C-124 come in for a weekend duty and smoke was pouring from each engine. I called the pilot and told him of my observation. He answered back, Ah, it's old enough to smoke. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Junior Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 137 Registered: 6-2001 |
Dave: I watched that show, fell in love with the plane. I have about 5 hours in a Goose. Great plane, but a little slow. Art | ||
| Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
Junior Member Username: Davewapinski Post Number: 136 Registered: 8-2001 |
Arthur, Have not been on for awhile � enjoying the other parts of life. Sounds like you have a great Baron. Glad you are enjoying it not just for the tool, but also for the fun, excitement and adventure. I first heard this expression from Ansel Adams, �Ships are safe in port, but that is not what ships are made for.� Feel the same about Ferraris. I first got my license about 20 years ago, but this is my first plane. While keeping the Maule, will get my second plane 2 or 3 years from now. It will be Lancair or a SeaStar http://www.seastarplane.com Another plane I am interested in, but currently cannot afford is the Eclipse. I find exciting the concept of a jet that is cheap enough to make the business model of a jet taxi a possibility. I am sure you know of it, but here is the site: http://www.eclipseaviation.com I have traveled much of the world, but generally not as a pilot. My son is named after aviation. When I lived in Hawaii, there was a short TV series called Tales of the Gold Monkey. After work I sometimes went down and looked at their Grumman Goose � one of my favorite planes. It was about a seaplane pilot named Jake before WW II. I thought the sense of life, living, excitement, and adventure was what life should always be. So Jake was changed to Jason because I thought it would be more socially acceptable and would be easier to live with. Hence, my son's name. Dave Wapinski | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Junior Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 124 Registered: 6-2001 |
David: Sorry I'm late in getting back to you, but the lock up problem caused the delay. I have some time in tail draggers, I got my license in one (1968) I have about 3000 hours, and have taken my Baron from the west coast to Europe, Latin America, Canada (this summer alaska), the Bahammas, etc. Flying is just a license to learn, and I'm glad you've got the right attitude about that. I hope you have a great time with your new airplane, and have as good a time as I've had with the Baron (which is equipped with an EFCS, and other great stuff). The trip to Europe was great, through Greenland, and Iceland, ended up picking up a hichhiker in Iceland, gave him a ride all the way back to Virginia. Must be a record. | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Intermediate Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 1536 Registered: 2-2001 |
The only thing that's gonna get you in the rain with the Fcar is that most of us have high performance tires, which for the most part suck in the rain as compared with something like Peter has on his car (a true M+S tire). But, with caution they can be driven in the rain of course. | ||
| Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
Junior Member Username: Davewapinski Post Number: 134 Registered: 8-2001 |
Arthur, The Baron is also a great plane. Actually I am a very good pilot, but always trying to be better. I have been flying taildraggers for about two years. You should continue your taildragger training. At first one is all over the runway. Later it becomes automatic. It teaches one to be more percise. Also can be fun and opens up new experiences. Lately I have been flying out of Red Stewart Airfield. It has one grass runway. Amazing how sharp a taildragger can turn when the ground is frozen and there is ice or heavy frost. Red Stewart has no runway lights. They mark the edges with lanterans at night - isn't that what they make Coleman lanterans for. It is a unique experience to land into a black hole marked by lanterans. Dave | ||
| Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
|
Arthur, I would not say a good pilot, just someone who likes to do things well and enjoys others who do things well. Trying to become a good pilot. In April I fly with Ray Maule, probably the best Maule pilot in the world and the son of the founder. It should be much fun. Dave | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
|
Front wheel drive cars spin so quick if u let off the gas in a corner. I think the only reasone why people think mid-engined ferraris spin alot is because people drive them too fast into corners and dont know how to handle them. | ||
| Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
|
I have never heard anyone say that a mid-engined car will ALWAYS spin out. There is a VERY BIG difference between saying a car will always spin out and that a car has a tendency to spin out. If one tries to hide the fact that something has a tendency to do anything, then noone takes safeguards and people die or get injured. Not very responsible in my opinion. It is not an intent to run anything down, but to face realities. I found out that a Maule has a tendency to ground loop, but not as bad as some taildraggers. It does not normally happen, but sometimes it does. Since I knew the truth, I ordered a wider gear (1 ft. 10 inches wider) that reduces this tendency. In addition, I arranged for advanced instruction from the best I could find. Many hours of practice to master it. Now I fly a taildragger (much fun) at least once a week to continue to develop skills. To me the truth is powerful. By knowing its weaknesses, I am far, far safer. If I cannot find out the disadvantages along with the advantages, then I will rarely make a major purchase. Frank, Maule makes taildraggers, tricycle gear, seaplanes, ski planes, jet prop, and soon a diesel burning Jet-A fuel. I believe they have over 100 people working in their factory. Maule started out building bush, workhorse planes that have a track record of being extremely reliable. They have always been quick convert to cargo planes capable of hauling 55 gallon drums, small motorcycles, etc. Then they refined them so they would also be good executive transport while retaining all the bush, workhorse capabilities. My Maule, Classy Lady, is really nice. My first thought was a white plane with bright magenta and bright almost neon blue pinstrips, with magenta highlights in cockpit. Then I flew the Land Rover Maule. It is an orange yellow, I liked it. Mine is a primary yellow. From the factory it has black ID numbers, N66E - took over a week to get a short N number. After market will have Sky Blue pin stripping that crosses just before it goes up the tail at a 45 degree angle. N number also changed to sky blue. On the tail above the pin stripes, will be corporate web link and a line or two of advertising. Do you know the hand that appears when you move a cursor over a web link? Will have that hand looking like it is clicking on the corporate web link. Might have some advertising on the wings - have not decided yet. The interior will be full gray leather, a special grade of Italian leather that is also resistant to sandy bathing suits, muddy clothes, rips, etc. There will be sky blue piping on the seats. Instrument panel will be gray to contrast the high tech instruments. Three blade prop. Vortex generators to give a speed range from about 40 mph to about 160 mph. Pilot and co-pilot Oregon Aero seats for safety and confort. Pilot and co-pilot 4 point seat belts. Full observation doors and windows. Plane can also be flown with windows open or doors removed (some restrictions). Full skylight with shade. Full seaplane kit for future conversion to amphibious seaplane. Pulsite landing lights for increased safety. Bush tires and brakes. I have not seen the plane yet - it is in Georgia getting an auto fuel STC so it run on either aviation fuel or auto fuel. After that, I need to pick it up and fly it to Lakeland Florida. There Gulf Coast Avionics will put a full UPS stack in. They cannot start until April 15. Avionics installation will take 3 to 4 weeks. Most notable feature will be GPS moving map display that will show VFR and IFR charts. Also will have approach and departure charts. In Terrain Avoidance Mode will show things within 500 ft of plane's altitude in yellow. Things at plane's altitude or above shown in red. It is a really great plane - a true Classy Lady. Dave Wapinski | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
|
Dave: the maule is great airplane. It is perfect for getting into and out of tight strips. I am a multi engine commercial pilot and fly a Beech 58 Baron, but I have some hours in a Maule, and know just how difficult it is to land a tail dragger in any sort of cross-wind. If you're flying one of those, you must be a good pilot. As to those that think that a mid engine car will spin, I suggest that a front or rear engine car, depending upon the weight balance will spin before the mid engine car. Think about a pendulum guys, an object with weights on either end will be less stable. The reason Ferraris end up spining is that someone (the driver) exceeded the traction at one end of the vehicle. You can make a front engine car do the same. I've spun more BMW 5s that I can count, because when you get them loose, the rear end steer. Driving skills can only go so far in recovery from either end breaking free, knowing how much traction is available and not excessively exceeding it is the key to going fast. That's why most driving schools train on oil. It's to keep you away of the feeling of the car when you approach the limit of traction. | ||
| magoo (Magoo)
|
Chris, I agree totally. Just another way of putting it. | ||
| magoo (Magoo)
|
Dave, The comment about Nader was only because he thought the Corvair was unsafe under certain conditions. A Ferrari is designed or bred if you will to do what it should do best. Since the car is obviously a high speed, high performance vehicle its does what it was intended to do by design. It certainly is not a all purpose vehicle and has its limitations under some road conditions. So I guess we are kinda speaking the same language here. I just feel that know matter what you drive you should know its short comings as well as its strong points. BRGDS. | ||
| Chris Richardson (Boozy)
|
When I see people saying a mid engined car will spin out all the time I say Yours will. That just means you don't know how to drive it properly. Like any car you drive at a speed which is safe according to road conditions. It's not that mid engine cars spin out all the time, it's that they are inherently oversteering vehicles. Learn to drive one properly and you won't have a problem. Why do you think most race cars that actually have to corner are rear or mid engine? A skilled driver would prefer to have the vehicle tend to oversteer rather than understeer. The physics that apply on a dry track apply in the rain. Take it out in the rain once and play around in an empty parking lot. Great for handling practice and easier on the tires! | ||
| Edward Gault (Irfgt)
|
Yea, they make good farm vehicles. All the farmers in S.C. have them to heard their cattle. | ||
| Ernie Bonilla (Ernie)
|
LOL you guys are so funny. You get mad if a guy does burnouts cause "it will fry the clutch". But then you say "drive your car in the rain" like there is no chance of your car getting totalled. If anything your chances are worse. Not because of your driving but because it seems everyone on the road transforms into slobbering idiots that are oblivious to anything else on the road. Yes the cars can be driven in the rain, but is that the wisest thing to do? I think not. If you have no choice but to drive your Ferrari in the rain, that is one thing. But if you have an alterntive vehicle that is worth less and still choose to drive the Ferrari, espacially if your in Southern California, in the rain you are just asking to get hit. IMHO | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
|
Dave, Maules are great airplanes. While I now live in the Atlanta area, I grew up in Moultrie, Georgia, the home of Maule aircraft. I went to high school with both Gary and David Maule who are the sons of founder B.D.Maule. While I too am a private pilot, I am not checked out in a taildragger. I fly a Caessna 172 and 182 most of the time. It is my understanding that Maule now makes a tricycle gear plane too. | ||
| James Dixon (Omnadren250)
|
How about this 355 in a muddy field?? I had to resize these pics as they originally were super high res at 1024x768    | ||
| James Dixon (Omnadren250)
|
. | ||
| James Dixon (Omnadren250)
|
How about this 355 in a muddy field??  | ||
| Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
|
Yes, I can handle "Classy Lady", the Maule. Before I decided on buying the Maule, I flew the Land Rover Maule - a really nice and versatile plane. Land Rover was nice enough to loan it to me. The Ferrari is one of the next projects - I look forward to flying (driving) it. Dave | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
|
Can the 550 take the rain, I'd say so.  | ||
| Tom Antal (Intenso)
|
I just got back form London yesterday. The weather was miserable, lots of rain and wind. But I saw a 360, 360 Spyder, 550 and a 355 Spyder in one day driving around in this crap. My hats off to all you UK Ferrari lovers...you really know how to enjoy your cars. Tom | ||
| Michael A. Niles (Man90tr)
|
Dave, if you can handle a Maule , you can handle your Ferrari in the rain..  | ||
| Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
|
Magoo, If Ralph Nader tells the truth, then I consider it a high compliment. Thanks for the compliment. It would seem that according to the laws of physics, a front engined car would track straighter. It would seem that a mid-engined car would probably corner better. Maybe that is why mid-engined cars always seem to go faster. However, in the real world, there are always tradeoffs. It seems that the advantages are that a mid-engined Ferrari would be more exotic and faster, but with the disadvantage of having more of a tendency to spin out. When I read that posting about the Mondial that the friend of owner's wife crashed, I wandered if it spun out. The damage suggests that it might have happened. Ferrari markets not just to racers, but to other people as well. I like to know what disadvantages I am getting for certain advantages. This way I can make an intelligent decision. For example I like to know that a TR is unsafe above 60 in the rain before I try to drive it at 150 mph in the rain. Another example is the new Maule airplane I will be getting in a few weeks. The plane has advantages, but it also has a tendency to spin out on the ground - called ground loop in aviation terms. The advantages outweigh this disadvantage. However, because I did pull up the accident statistics (not just believing what salespeople told me), I understood the plane's (Classy Lady) weaknesses. As such, I have received the training and experience to safely handle Classy Lady on the ground. Dave Wapinski | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
|
The 550 is a full road worthy every day car. Rain or shine. No question that you should. What good is a nice car if you can look at it in the garage and take it out once a month, if you find the time that very day it is not raining. Enjoy! I have great experience with Yokohama AVS Sport in the rain. Got caught once in a tropical downpour and was driving 60 passing everybody on the INterstate. The car never felt loose. | ||
| magoo (Magoo)
|
Dave, All due respect, You and Ralph Nader should get together. These mid engine cars are designed to be driven on, hopefully, a dry track. They perform better than a front engine car in their handling under these conditions at high speeds. These cars are not built for your every day driver, snow, rain, other bad weather conditions. | ||
| Brian stewart (Eurocardoc)
|
Go for it, rain or shine. One lasting memory for me will always be the trip back from Greensboro to Indy one time in a 355 cab., blue sky through the Smokey Mts., snow and rain elsewhere, after a year of chemo and radiation I was in heaven doing 120mph+! | ||
| Michael A. Niles (Man90tr)
|
William is correct, when in rain slow down big time in the TR. Even when driving slowly it can be tricky. It is just not meant for water operations. | ||
| magoo (Magoo)
|
LWR, Excuse me but this seems like a ridiculous question. First of all who told you it was a bad idea to drive a Ferrari in the rain? I can just sum it up by saying, "Drive it whenever because one never knows when his last driving experience in his Ferrari may end." Enjoy and keep it clean and well serviced. Really that's all one can do. | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
|
Yeah Dave, a mid (or even better rear) engined car will want to swap ends, just as a front engine car will want to keep normal. Of course these apply to a certain point, at which they both will come around. It's the same as studying torques and how a figure skater with her arms in will spin (turn) faster than one with arms out. Or you can look at it like an arrow (someone else used this analogy) where when the weight is in the back it will fly retarded whereas with it in front it will fly relatively normal. The tires are the only thing preventing it from driving "retarded" as I put it. These are loose analogies, they get more complex. The other point is that before suspension became so sophisticated a mid engined car was significantly faster, nowadays (ie 550 Maranello) with all the computer and varibility they are closer. | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
|
I knew people in california didnt know how do drive in the rain but i didnt think its that bad. I guess its because all the oil and grime that builds up over the weeks in between rain get lifted up and make the roads slick. I also thought that when it snows even 2" in dallas or anywhere down south that everything shuts down. | ||
| Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
|
I have always thought that a mid-engined or rear-engined car had to be basically unstable although it might be able to be controlled. Experiences in the rain seem to bear this out. Especially with a high powered engine like the 512 TR. Just the laws of physics and weight distribution. I have never understood though why mid-engined cars always seem to be faster. A good example of this instability is from flying. If one puts the third wheel on the back end of a plane (a taildragger), it always wants to swap ends while on the ground. Afterall the weight or CG is behind the main wheels. This tendency can be controlled, but a tail dragger pilot always has to be alert while moving on the ground. There are also some advantages of a taildragger. If one puts the third wheel in front, the weight or CG is in front of the main wheels, so the weight makes the plane want to go straight on the ground. Another good example would be to push a kid's tricycle backwards. Notice how unstable it is. I have always thought mid-engined Ferraris had to be the same. Not necessarily bad, but a trait that has to be known and delt with. IMHO, Dave Wapinski also a taildragger pilot | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
|
Any front engined car is gonna be light years ahead of a mid engined in normal circumstances regarding stability. It's so much more predictable and easier to recover. I say drive it, I'd be careful of other people (like you are already I'm sure) and just take it easy. If it's pouring I take the jeep just cause it's easier in the rain (water puddles on Fcar roof and then will come in like niagra falls if you have the window open a bit and go around a turn, as me how I learned that). Sometimes though it's just plain fun to take out the Ferrari though in the rain, and I have a 308 which is nowhere near as stable or sealed as your 550. Washing is no problem for me, I wash it every 2-3 days anyway to get the dust off. If you want to, just drive it.  | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
|
in my experience, the 550 doesn't handle too badly in the rain, as long as you are not stomping on the accelerator and the abs is on. Driving my boxer in the rain was much more of an adventure; the 348 also went tail out easily on wet surfaces.Although the tyres have alot to do with it,the Maranello was shod with P-Zeros, not a great rain tyre, but it still handled fine; must be something to do with the balance of the car,cause the boxer could be downright scary (shod with those lovely Michelin metrics). | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
|
Its snowing in Dallas today and some juvenile part of me wants to take the Ferrari out. It must be memories of doing donuts in the snow packed parking lots as a kid. | ||
| Craig Dewey (Craigfl)
|
I don't drive mine in the rain because it's a pain to clean it. Besides, in Florida, just wait one more day and it will be sunny again... | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
|
anything over 60 mph in a heavy rain & the 512TR is uncontrollable , the back end dances all over the place  I have a few rust spots i'll get taken care of when I repaint her | ||
| Willis Huang (Willis360)
|
At the last Seattle FCA Christmas party, only about 5 brave souls drove their Ferraris (I wasn't one of them) in the heavy downpour. It was so bad in places that standing water in the opposite direction on the freeway splashed on my lane, which was already accumulating water. Visibility was almost nil at times. | ||
| Arnaldo Torres (Caribe)
|
My TR has never been on the rain (as far as I know), but my only concern when driving in the rain would be other motorist on the road. Here in L.A. every time it drizzles we get over 500 accidents in a single day. No, I rather drive my oldy but trusty Mercedes on the rain. | ||
| Nika (Racernika)
|
I don't mind driving my 308 in the rain - just have to remember my tires are performance summer tires and the car can hydroplane easily. I also find the interior fogs up a bit. For safety sake I'll think twice but my car is meant to be driven ...which is a "must do" at every chance I get! | ||
| Willis Huang (Willis360)
|
I drive my 360 about 3 or 4 times a week. Rain is unavoidable in Seattle but I try to pick the time and days when it's least likely to happen or not having heavy downpours. Since it's so hard to predict, I just take the car out as soon as I see some sunbreak or clearing skies. Light sprinkle is OK. I got crazy last week when it snowed and took my F-car out on the icy roads. The ASR came on just twice on the bottom of hills and the car was never twitchy as a whole. Cleaned the car as soon as I got home. | ||
| 89MondialCab (Jmg)
|
Seattle weather is a lot like your weather from my experience...get out and drive! I drive mine in the rain and snow if it is not too deep. I have other cars that can substitute...but nothing beats driving the Ferrari. Plus, dirty car = another excuse to get out and wash it! - JMG | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
|
I've only driven in the rain the few times there was a Ferrari event or car show I didn't want to miss. Actually I ran parade laps at Texas Motor Speedway in the rain... http://server.ferrarichat.com/~ferrari/ferrarichat.com/discus/events/tms2001/ The GTS doesn't leak or anything and it handles decent, but it's just a pain to clean afterwards. Only driving it 2-3 days a week, might as well pick the days it's not raining. | ||
| Ernie Bonilla (Ernie)
|
Sure you can drive it in the rain if you want the paint to deteriorate faster from all of the road grime that gets kicked up. Or hey not that people drive any better when it is raining, but if recall correctly don't the accident rates like triple when it's raining. Gee wouldn't want to risk getting hit. But hey it is your car so have fun drive in the rain. I know I'm being sarcastic, but those are some of the reasons that I don't like to drive mine in the rain. That and the targa top on my 348 leaks big time, oh yeah not to mention the vented engine cover. | ||
| LWR (Lwr)
|
Please tell me why it's a bad idea to drive a Ferrari in the rain... OK, I can understand why with an older Ferrari (pre-85?) but surely the modern Ferraris are as well protected from rust as any other car? Is it a bad idea to drive my 99 550 in the rain? (Bearing in mind in the UK that's all we ever have) I know first hand that its less enjoyable in the rain... it's difficult to get the power down without the ASR kicking in. So, do you drive your Ferrari in the rain? Is it a bad idea to drive it in the rain? Why? LWR PS. I already know that snow is a different story alltogether | ||
| Anonymous |
poker casino poker 793 |