BUZZ JOBS

After viewing that video of the three jets beating up an airport someplace I got to thinking about that ever present maneuver that temps ALL pilots. I go back to listening to an instructor saying that when doing a really low buzz job you look not at the runway or anything else but the horizon.
Then I proceded to perform a really low flight along the beach near my home on Siesta Key near the surf line. It was a fairly windy day and the waves were about eight feet high and throwing up spray and foam. I had the PT-19 about 15 to 20 feet above the beach and over the surf as it rolled ashore. Then I found out just how high the rotors are from an agitated surf when you are in the lee of the waves. The upwind wing acted like somebody grabbed it to pull it down into the surf and the airplane went into the most violent turbulence that I had ever experienced up to that point. I had a good head of steam, about 125 to 130 but it was like being in a car with square wheels that were coming off. I pulled back instinctively at the first sign of trouble but it was almost too late because the right wing was momentarily in the spray and I was about to take quick bath. As I flew back to the field ( at altitude) I thought I heard a voice, " Okay, dummy, I'm warning you !"

 

And the very reason for that big yellow stripe that starts under my collar and heads south.

 

That stripe has more to do with good common sense than bravery, I think. I was lucky enough to try numerous other things before I caught on.

 

There are bold pilots and old pilots, just no old-bold pilots.

It was intersting to hear Bob Hoover, of all people, make that comment on the video clip someone shared recently.

 

I'm old, not bold, but plenty stupid sometimes. I got spoken to by one of my instructors who made more sense than anyone when he told me that an airplane is just waiting to kill you and if you leave an opening it will take advantage of it.
Switches

 

I got nervous just reading that, i bet the adrenaline was flowing after that.

 

I guess it was . So was the pee.

 

LOL another great one man.