OT: Albatros D.Va, the Pilot's Perspective

[Bomber_12th]

This video was just recently put up by Fantasy of Flight a few days ago. Fortunately Kermit Weeks seems that he might just becoming quite attached to taking these types of videos while flying some of the aircraft in his collection, and abroad.

Kermit Weeks' Albatros D.Va, although a reproduction, is 100% authentic in every detail. The aircraft is powered by an original WWI era Mercedes D.III engine (in fact, if I recall correctly, Kermit Weeks had the engine, and some others of equal vintage, and provided them to "The Vintage Aviation Limited" in New Zealand so that they could be restored to flying operation and also be copied for exact reproductions of the engines - in return, he has gotten some great, purely authentic, WWI aircraft that are now powered by those engines, including a Sopwith Snipe, complete with an original, correct to it, Bentley rotary engine).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2r-OYf93JI

If you are interested in viewing a couple more of the same style:

Kermit Weeks' replica Curtiss Pusher (newer video than one you might have seen previously): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAlju9EXTw8

Weeks' P-51D "Cripes A' Mighty 3rd": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94HRSACNZ_w

 

[Bomber_12th]

Currently Kermit Weeks has been in England with Gene DeMarco (of TVAL), flying another TVAL-produced authentic Albatros D.Va and Re-8 "Harry Tate", which, owned by the RAF Museum, will sadly be going on permanent static display following their few planned flying appearances. Last weekend the aircraft were flown in a display and photo shoots at and around Old Warden (the Shuttleworth Collection were placed in charge of assembling the aircraft and keeping up with tasks involving the aircraft until their move to the RAF Museum), and today were flown to Duxford, a short cross-country trip, where they will take part in this weekend's Duxford air show.

A great photo thread of these activities can be seen here: http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=118674&page=4

Following the flight over to Duxford today, Kermit posted several photos and captions from the flight to Facebook. I wanted to post a couple of them here:

"Here I am warming up while Gene gets in the Re-8. The Albatros takes longer due to having to warm up the coolant temp to 50 degrees Centigrade. The Re-8 engine is air cooled and warms up by the time he taxis for take-off. Here's my modified WWI Checklist - Seat Belts - Spark Advanced - Cam Lifter set - All Fuel and Air Pressure Valves down - Coolant temp 50 degrees - Engine Grease Seal Screw 1/4 turn - GoPro Cameras running - GPS set - Camera handy - Flying Scarf in trail." - Kermit Weeks

...and this is what Kermit means by GPS, just in case you had other ideas. ; )

"This a shot of my normally oily windscreen! Since this original engine was supplied by the RAF Museum and will eventually become a (sad) static, Gene and the guys at TVAL kept as much of the original but somewhat worn parts in it.

The engine in my own Albatros doesn't leak near as much out of the top end as this engine. Remember, the the valves and rocker arms on the Mercedes are all exposed and...are doing their thing right in front of your face.

As a side note of interest . . . this airplane has NO FIREWALL and you can easily see the back of the engine from the cockpit! Actually, the only thing between you and the engine IS THE FUEL TANK!
I always carry two rags with me. One to clean the windscreen about every couple of minutes and another cleaner rag for my goggles!" - Kermit Weeks