The Beauty of a Byplane

[r1zeek]

While I was doing softball at school today, I noticed an byplane flying around in the distance. When I wasn't playing and was sitting out I watched it for about half an hour, about 2,000 feet up in the air (I would guess) and he was diving, spinning, stalling and some very nice turns. Just made me think how beautiful a byplane is. I don't really know byplanes but from the looks of it, it looked a bit like a Sopwith Camel or the ones they used in WW2 to drop torpedos.

I would love to fly one of them, they seem to have much more grace and beauty than some of these modern planes.....

[[GSV]Trig]

Swordfish

[MA_Moby]

seeing as you're in Battle (that's Kent, innit) it might well be one of the Tiger Moths of Stampfes from Lashenden (Headcorn) Aerodrome. There's a club there called the Tiger Club that do displays and aeros and stuff ~ http://www.tigerclub.co.uk/index.html

I really want to have a go at flying a biplane. The thrill of the open cockpit etc - wind, oil, and noise

edit: doh - just realised Battle's in East Sussex, or some such place - still flipping close to Lashenden though!

[r1zeek]

Originally Posted by MA_Moby

seeing as you're in Battle (that's Kent, innit)

Not far off, Battle is in East Sussex.

He was flying around for about half an hour, I thought he was showing off to somebody but then after 30 mins he turned round and flew off.
Could have been a swordfish but i'm not sure, all i could see was the black on him as the sky was too bright around him. I thought I saw a glint of red when he was really low but it could just been because of the reflection, i'll never now.
Was very nice to watch, even though we lost softball

[yamangman]

I doubt you would be seeing a swordfish do what you have described . Not only because it isnt really capable, but because it really is a real rareity. ...rrrr

[MA_Moby]

The Royal Naval Historic Flight have three airworthy Swordfish at RNAS Yeovilton, so it's possible you saw one of them - and I think they are painted with black on part of the fuselage. I doubt they'd put them through the paces too much though as they're pretty thin on the ground, and it's a little out of their way. More likely a Tiger Moth from Lashenden - there's one there that's painted dark red and silver. It sounds like you had a nice free display though, whatever it was

[Dakaras]

Thats why I like living where I do in South Oxfordshire, we get modern bi planes doing stunts every weekend in summer and the Tiger comes over once or twice a weekl

[Zak33]

if it was fiercesomely powerfull and holding itself on the propellor in a climb its a Pitts Special (sp?)

[yamangman]

Could've been a Pitts Stinker, or any one of their other biplanes.

[r1zeek]

Originally Posted by MA_Moby

sounds like you had a nice free display though, whatever it was

Aye, it was very relaxing.
By my guestimation it sounds like a Tiger Moth, had very long wings though