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  • Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.

    Post 16 Update

    Post 17 Warning

The Gee Bee Z is Out!

What a superb aeroplane....really enjoying it...well perhaps except on landing. More like an arrival most times than anything else. But getting there. Taking off proved a little difficult at first (took 8 attempts on my first session before all the wheels left the ground!), but still having the odd spot of bother upon reaching the ground again. But then, I love a challenge and am getting it with this aeroplane!!!

Happy (and successful) landings,

MartinView attachment 81599
 
The reason I'm so nuts abouthe Alabeao GeeBee Z is that the Alphsim FSX GEE BEE is still a stunner. Hope some of the expert painters will add some cool skins to the Alabeao model.

geebeealpha.jpg
 
T6flyer said:
What a superb aeroplane....really enjoying it...well perhaps except on landing. More like an arrival most times than anything else. But getting there. Taking off proved a little difficult at first (took 8 attempts on my first session before all the wheels left the ground!), but still having the odd spot of bother upon reaching the ground again. But then, I love a challenge and am getting it with this aeroplane!!!

Happy (and successful) landings,

MartinView attachment 81599
Click to expand...

T6, what a great screenshot! A 1920x1080 would make a great desktop wallpaper!
 
Lionheart said:
Thanks John for the link to that Video. Kermit did an excellent job of landing that tiger. What a beauty. Must be nice to just have a look at one of those things, but imagine being able to fly it!?
Click to expand...

Last time I visited there, Kermit was no longer flying it, not wanting to shake the tiger by the tail too much!

ttfn

Pete
 
The only concern that Kermit Weeks has had in flying his near-exact copy of the GeeBee Z, and a serious one at that, is aileron flutter, which is well believed to be the reason of the original's demise. He had some engineers look at it after the first flight or two he did with it, and found that the aircraft was prone to developing aileron flutter above 240 mph. When the original broke-up in flight, it had likely been going over 300 mph at the time. The plan at least at one time was to add a mass weight balance on the bottom of each aileron to prevent this and allow the aircraft to safely fly above 240 mph, but I believe the plan has since changed, and that when/if flying it again, the plan is just to stay under 240 mph with it. Weeks was also concerned about aileron flutter on his GeeBee R2 (former Delmar Benjamin), and had that one tested as well.

As of last summer attention has been paid to Fantasy of Flight's GeeBee Z, with a number of engine runs and inspections to check that all is healthy and set to go, so that it will hopefully be flown again soon.

For a little technical addition - Kermit Weeks' replica has the exact same airframe design to the original, as that was the goal when it was produced. The replica that was used in the movie Rocketeer, built by Bill Turner in 1978, however, has a slightly larger wing and longer fuselage, to make it more forgiving. That airplane is on display at the Museum of Flight.
 
Lionheart said:
I wouldnt blame him. He may have been a bit intimidated by flying such a beast. :S
Click to expand...

seriously - after a few simulated flights in it - and after the first three tries that would have ended fatally for me in r/l - I can see why even the most experienced pilot would balk...

one flight - for the history and heritage of the beast, and the ability to claim it in ones log book...ok - for the very best all around aviator with so many types already flown - yes maybe

but to tempt fate again and again? no - that's just crazy talk

this aircraft is a demon witch on an average day - who could survive it on a regular basis?
 
Speaking of GeeBee's, there are a few to-fly reproductions well underway at this time (though not any more "Z's", that I'm aware of).

Jim Moss, a well known name in vintage aircraft circles for having built an absolutely incredible, authentic, reproduction of the Laird Super Solution (do a Google search for Jim Moss Laird Super Solution, if you aren't familiar), is currently nearing completion of a reproduction of a GeeBee Q.E.D., the largest GeeBee variant, fitted with two seats. The aircraft, especially compared to the GeeBee Z, is massive. In addition, Mac Transtrum has been at work building a GeeBee R2, and there are two different GeeBee R1 projects advancing along, one being done by Harold Forth and another by Lee Oman. All of these projects are being done with a tremendous level of attention to authenticity.

On this page, there are a few photos of these three different projects. As you view the page, take note of where one project ends and the next begins. (There is also a great photo of Richard Seeley's very accurate and beautiful "Mystery Ship" which was just recently completed.) http://supersolutionproject.blogspot.com/2013/01/golden-age-projects.html

(If you look at some of the other past pages at the link above, there are a number of photos of Jim Moss' Laird Super Solution. After having flown the aircraft for a while, it was retired to the EAA Museum where it can be viewed on static display.)

EAA recently posted this photo of Jim Moss' Q.E.D. to their Facebook page, showing how large the thing is: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!...0636043622.210206.192081688622&type=3&theater
 
Wow! That QUD replica does lend to the size of that model. I never realized how big that was! Should be an interesting aircraft to see fly, for sure. Thanks for the link John.

Joseph
 
Joseph, I thought you might like the fact that Lee Oman (veteran Reno AT-6 pilot - "EROS" Race #69) is working on a GeeBee R1. As is mentioned on the Super Solution page, it would be fantastic to see him bring it to Reno and fly it around the pylons, even if just for show.
 
Bomber_12th said:
The only concern that Kermit Weeks has had in flying his near-exact copy of the GeeBee Z, and a serious one at that, is aileron flutter, which is well believed to be the reason of the original's demise. He had some engineers look at it after the first flight or two he did with it, and found that the aircraft was prone to developing aileron flutter above 240 mph. When the original broke-up in flight, it had likely been going over 300 mph at the time. The plan at least at one time was to add a mass weight balance on the bottom of each aileron to prevent this and allow the aircraft to safely fly above 240 mph, but I believe the plan has since changed, and that when/if flying it again, the plan is just to stay under 240 mph with it. Weeks was also concerned about aileron flutter on his GeeBee R2 (former Delmar Benjamin), and had that one tested as well.
.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the detailed technical insight there Bomber_12th, thats' basically what I was alluding to in my earlier post.

ttfn

Pete
 
Bomber_12th said:
The only concern that Kermit Weeks has had in flying his near-exact copy of the GeeBee Z, and a serious one at that, is aileron flutter, which is well believed to be the reason of the original's demise. He had some engineers look at it after the first flight or two he did with it, and found that the aircraft was prone to developing aileron flutter above 240 mph. When the original broke-up in flight, it had likely been going over 300 mph at the time. The plan at least at one time was to add a mass weight balance on the bottom of each aileron to prevent this and allow the aircraft to safely fly above 240 mph, but I believe the plan has since changed, and that when/if flying it again, the plan is just to stay under 240 mph with it. Weeks was also concerned about aileron flutter on his GeeBee R2 (former Delmar Benjamin), and had that one tested as well.

As of last summer attention has been paid to Fantasy of Flight's GeeBee Z, with a number of engine runs and inspections to check that all is healthy and set to go, so that it will hopefully be flown again soon.

For a little technical addition - Kermit Weeks' replica has the exact same airframe design to the original, as that was the goal when it was produced. The replica that was used in the movie Rocketeer, built by Bill Turner in 1978, however, has a slightly larger wing and longer fuselage, to make it more forgiving. That airplane is on display at the Museum of Flight.
Click to expand...

I had always heard the reason for the famous crash of the GeeBee caught on film was that the new owner had an extra fuel tank installed to extend the range and it screwed up the C.M., obviously, by shifting it rearward, which would be a huge mistake in an aircraft that short as it would have massive implications for control volume. Though, I hardly see where there would be room for another fuel tank. Is that largely an urban myth to the best of your knowledge?
 
Bomber_12th said:
Joseph, I thought you might like the fact that Lee Oman (veteran Reno AT-6 pilot - "EROS" Race #69) is working on a GeeBee R1. As is mentioned on the Super Solution page, it would be fantastic to see him bring it to Reno and fly it around the pylons, even if just for show.
Click to expand...


Thanks. The idea of a Golden-Era class is certainly neat to entertain. At least if just for demonstration.
I think we need some other venues of air racing to arise in this country, personally.

I did get to witness Mr. Benjamin's R-2 replica race a Formula 1 at Reno, that was pretty nifty to see. I want to say it was more or less a demonstration race, and I think it was Nemesis.
Joseph
 
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