GeeBee R2 Replica maiden, December 23, 1991 - Delmar Benjamin

December 23, 1991 - maiden flight of the Benjamin/Wolf GeeBee R2 Replica
Copyright Delmar Benjamin/Steve Wolf - VHS "History flys again"!

[@titusllewelyn]

I was fortunate to be present to see the R2 Replica being flown by Delmar Benjamin at an event in Arizona in the 1990's. I flew in my Starduster II Biplane and was parked close to the GeeBee R2. I had quite a conversation with Benjamin that I will remember forever.

[@tetreaulthank4068]

Huge respect for Delmar as a highly skilled pilot and it says a great deal for that builder, beautiful job !

[@bradmiller9507]

Where would we be, without Pioneers? A Most Excellent Display!!! More Power to You All ... Thanks.

[@flyinhawaiian5848]

Fantastic, but demanding airplane! Note the amount of rudder action during the takeoff run, and just prior to touchdown....Delmar is such a gifted pilot, with balls of steel!

[@EamonnSeoigh]

Lol, once he was wheels up it’d be too late to not have something.

[@bov634]

My bee was a nasty bitch on the ground but in the air it was a great airplane to fly

[@krisgreenwood5173]

I saw this airplane at an air show in the middle 90's. Benjamin was flying it. He put on a hell ofva good show.

[@Heyemeyohsts]

This video has it all - mullets , girls , Richard petty / Indiana Jones guy, aviation, nice old guys.... This is my new favorite KZbin video!

[@carloko08]

hehehe you are right, this video have everything good, that was good times also, 80` ;)

[@Heyemeyohsts]

carloko08 the only thing this video is missing is an explosion somewhere in the background . I bet Delmar would not bother to turn to look at it either

[@seanjacobs3552]

That is some funny stuff

[@flymachine]

Delmar and Kermit have done so much for aviation, and it's not to do with the amount or exotic types in their logbooks its that they proved that literally anyone with a dream to fly can achieve and go beyond the dream, the notion of clean cut, RayBan's wearing perfectly balanced aviators went right out the window with men like them.

[@warbirdflyerF4U]

Incredible airplane and even more incredible pilot

[@dbaider9467]

That was really exciting! Thanks for the share. What a plane, what a pilot. A little barrel with wings. Amazing aero, really.

[@leeroyholloway4277]

I watched him fly it at SnF '96. i couldn't believe my eyes then, and my good fortune as I look back on that day. His airshow routine in the GeeBee was on par with anything I've ever watched.

[@laurentcherrier8492]

A famous plane. One of the big legends of Aviaton.

[@dickfitzwelliner2807]

Jimmy was my great grandpas cousin, the man did a lot in his life and was once the fastest man on earth. He had big balls for sure. That mullet is sadly fantastic, his wife sounded like she was pretty moist downstairs after he landed

[@homefront3162]

dick fitzwelliner Even better, it was his daughter

[@uuzd4s]

Delmar flew into the Pocatello Id Airport one day in 1998 w/ the R2 to refuel, refresh and have a chat w/ my A&P instructor John Baken. They knew each other, John was the regional Experimental Aircraft Association's president and a Great representative of Idaho's "Get er Done" attitude. Delmar pulled up to our old B-17 Hanger/Classroom and when the side hatch opened his teen daughter stepped out first and then Delmar. I guess her seat was up against the Firewall, facing aft. (I'd have paid good Money to just Sit in that seat for a flight!) He was kind enough to allow some annoying questions from the eager students and while explaining the R2's flight characteristics he said to Never take off or land under 90 Kts. He also explained how he'd almost learned the hard way why so many of the Original Gee Bee's crashed in violent Snap Rolls back in the day. He said the Ailerons would bind up and lock in Hi G turns, and so the Replica was modified to remedy that problem. Delmar is a highly instinctual Pilot w/ Chuck Yeager like skills in the Pilots seat. It was a Real Treat to meet him !

[@samstroup2685]

Delmar flew his GeeBee at KAWO one time and I got to see it up close on the ground. I looked over and the guy standing next to me was him. I introduced myself and said, 'I have to tell you, this thing scares the bejesus out of me just looking at it!' Delmar replied, 'Me too' ;)

[@LtRiot]

my left ear thoroughly enjoyed this

[@johnpike5680]

100 mph stall...that'll scare a lot of bush pilots

[@Heyemeyohsts]

Those eighties girls are looking so sweet - man I miss those days

[@skswig1]

Ya

[@BeselerSimRacing]

amazing pilot, amazing mullet...'nuff said!

[@Heyemeyohsts]

Bingus258 haha I was going to say the same thing

[@tinytattoomike7943]

Clearly the mullet was in control Like always

[@Heyemeyohsts]

I’m growing a mullet starting tomorrow so I can fly like that!

[@melted_cheetah]

Dope ass sweater too.

[@eriku571]

I remember seeing a Geebee fly inverted flying down a runway during an airshow in the 1980s. What an amazing airplane!!!

[@textech4056]

I always thought the GeeBee was more of a guided motor than an airplane. The wings just counteract engine torque and everything else is following the prop.

[@jeffmoore9487]

So cool. It's sometimes hard to put historical engineering in its proper light. This does it!

[@rfialko]

No words.

[@davidg6022]

It's at Kermit Weeks Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Fla.

[@Helicopterpilot16]

Why is the museum closed? Momentary?

[@stefandwoodham]

Tyler H weeks passed

[@MrLunchHour2]

stefan w kermit weeks is still alive.......

[@stefandwoodham]

@@MrLunchHour2 passed gas....not away...silly!

[@MrLunchHour2]

stefan w lol

[@franciscoduran3688]

That´s pretty thrilling! Taking off and landing. Flying inverted was the crown of the flight :)

[@mas3ymd]

His mullet added some much-needed stability to the plane.

[@hgodtx]

Thank you KZbin, I never saw one of these until now. I had always seen the RC models people would build and fly back in the '80's.

[@alanosterman7130]

In honor of these brave pilots who died flying this type of craft. Though some models were enhanced beyond the Granville brothers recommendations. Lowell R. Bayles... Dec. 5, 1931 Russell Boardman... July 2, 1933 Florence Klingensmith... Sept. 4, 1933 Cecil Allen... Aug. 30, 1935 Francisco Sarabia... June 7, 1939

[@ralphaverill2001]

I've read that this plane was a beast to fly and killed a lot of pilots. It was made back in the 1930's for speed record attempts.

[@REDMAN298]

Used to admire the Gee Bee parked at OSH. Flying that is an accomplishment.

[@adversereactor2253]

Chubby boi-that's an iconic plane with one badass pilot.

[@erikhafer1415]

when I see this Aircraft, Flying by the seat of your pants comes to mind.

[@gabbyhayes4561]

There are a lot of amazing airplanes out there.This one is at the top of that field. Truely a beautiful plane. 😎🇺🇸

[@sblack48]

You can imagine what it was like in all the airshow hospitality tents after the show with all the jet and warbird jockeys barely able to fit their egos into the tent, and then Delmar walks in and they all look at their shoes 😂

[@bigrobnz]

A man with a mullet can do anything......

[@P51]

EPIC mullet

[@airraptor]

Thanks for posting this, I know its your favorite plane.

[@Buelligan88]

Delmar was rocking a hell of a mullet back then.

[@hannes_lutzenberger]

100% right

[@Buelligan88]

That was definitely not a beginner's mullet. You have to be committed to pull something like that off. Building and flying your own GeeBee was impressive enough.

[@fstover5208]

Incredible.

[@joet-sk4sw]

What a great pilot, sould be a professional test pilot..

[@kwik440]

AWESOME !!

[@stanleydomalewski8497]

They were vicious little Bruts, that Only the Best Pilots Could Fly !

[@eastendmafia1773]

Now THAT is a cool dude

[@brezel53]

Thanks for sharing, Hannes! GREAT!

[@hannes_lutzenberger]

You are welcome buddy

[@sblack48]

I didn’t realize they hand propped it but I guess it makes sense

[@JetFire9]

To the young lady in the leather jacket @4:05, "Hey, what are you doing after this?"

[@Mike-01234]

Delmar piloting skills are amazing

[@outoftownforbusiness4276]

Scary airplane. He makes it look easy!

[@sablatnic8030]

When he flew it in Germany I believe he said that it is quite easy to fly, but it takes some time to learn to fly it - guess he is right!

[@mohdfadlyarifin2433]

The legend!!!❤

[@BigWheelHawaii]

Talented Kid,,, The Epitome of "Cool Hand Luke",,, Talented Kid... So Few Can Do,,, But He Is One ,,, He Can Do... All The Shows He Put On,,, and Never a Hair Out of Place, As Far As The Spectators Knew...

[@rustykilt]

This i one cool pilot who faced the Elephant, and came away with respect and confirmation of his skill.

[@yashilghazi5948]

It must be difficult to walk with such big balls.

[@carloko08]

HAHHAHAH i agree

[@dyer2cycle]

Everybody laughing, but you could feel the tension preflight...everyone well knew this flight may not go well, especially Delmar and his wife...they knew well that their embrace might be their last, and you could tell it...

[@greysonG10]

My grandfather built the gee bee.

such a beautiful instable plane on low speed but in speed perfect

[@billjonesnation]

That was awesome!

[@ervinthompson6598]

What Kermit Weeks' aerodynamicist showed with flutter testing was even scarier.......from its onset, til total destruction , could be measured in probably less than two seconds.

[@santatigerclaus]

i have a umx flying model of this ive flown once-so many planes so little time

[@normg2242]

I've got that model too. Destroyed one, am on my second one now and it's finally working for me ... lol

[@Mike-01234]

Jimmy Doolittle was still alive he died in 1993 I believe he did see a video, or actually saw it fly before he passed away.

[@thermalascension]

Amazing.

[@robertbennett848]

To get any control from the ailerons etc. you need a lot of wind over the control surfaces. Without it the plane will stall. Like a bee, it takes power to over come the weight of the plane, because the wings are so small.

[@pipcop]

I also saw the GeeBee fly at KAWO, but I have to tell you that this is NOT an airplane..... it is an engine with trim tabs attached !!

[@robertbennett848]

It should have been called the Bumble Bee! Have you ever seen a bee who loses his air on his wings? He spins into the ground, but usually recovers. Because he is more than 3 mistakes high. RC fans will understand.

[@carloko08]

amazing video this, i never heard about this plane, look like a Miyasaki´s Ghibli Studio aircraft design, incredible lines and with a look of a epic peaceful-east-pre-war Miyasaki´s tale, the canopy and the entire concept is incredible, the pilot is a brave man, anyway i see many dangerous moments overall during the take off and landing coz in the air was simply amazing, this planes are to sell or are just personal proyects?

[@joeaksa]

Sure would have been nice to ditch the music at the beginning. Wanted to hear the engine instead!

[@skipstalforce]

Boy he was kicken the shit outa that rudder on take off! "CAn'tbank it over 30", proceeds to roll it.

[@santatigerclaus]

i didnt know there is a pilot door on the side, figured the canopy raised and need a ladder

[@ronjohnson9507]

Dancin on the rudder

[@alanosterman7130]

Wonderful to see this. Big fan of this aircraft. But, wish it contained more information instead of happy people. The original R2 had a 550 HP motor, does this one ? Also, the original had two gas tanks that held 302 gallons of fuel. Built for cross country Bendix race. From Burbank CA. To Cleveland, Ohio. The R1 was fitted out with an 800 HP motor, and a 160 gallon fuel tank. Built more for the Thompson pylon races. There was also a special type of propeller created for these planes too. Wish there was more information given here.

[@heartland96a]

what was that about not exceeding 30 degrees of bank ? heck lets go inverted !

[@gabekremer7148]

It's much more stable inverted than upright

[@heartland96a]

@@gabekremer7148 Thank you for the update.interesting. how that works out that way.

[@williamkillingsworth2619]

Its from the low of center mounting position and dihedral wing. When u flip it, it goes Anhedral and high, which is more stable.

[@rpgrynn]

Very-Very nice - That's Aviation

[@M5guitar1]

Impressive landing.

[@skswig1]

I would want some Nomex and a helmet.

[@carloko08]

yea i think the same, but that was a man of 80`, hard as a rock, that times was like roman soldiers way, BRUTE, nowadays that flight would not have been authorized if it had not had elements of protection as you say, nomex suit and a helmet

[@whca_tech]

This seems like the real world equivalent of the Earthworm Jims' Rocket. Strap in, hang on...

[@Gyrobobb]

Is this video available with no music or laughing? I'd really like to see this again with only the sweet sound of the airplane, prop, and motor!

[@DUBEE43]

HIGHLY IMPRESSED, THANKS!!!!

[@billeudy8481]

Was this aircraft used in the No Rocket Man film?

[@dlkline27]

I wanted to hear engine sound and what do I get? Music. Nuts.

[@markhilken7026]

Can't even omagine the torque on that thing

[@garygullikson6349]

Semi-hysterical laughing, just like model fliers after a successful maiden. Delmar is one cool dude.

[@jimbos3421]

I don’t know who has bigger balls, the guy whom hand propped it, or the guy who flew it!

[@timothyroth8073]

Interesting .

[@DeadRoman]

Righteous mullet

[@diamondmidnightgardener]

Strange choice of music.... I would have thought "stayin' alive" by the BeeGees would have been more appropriate!

[@dlb300zx]

And.... you sir have won the internet for today! lol

[@foxmoth5477]

love that mullet....he is not a follower...but a doer????

[@paulosilva-dm1qb]

No shaking wings he goes directly down...No wonder it was called widow maker..

[@davidfowlerjr6114]

Does anyone have any idea where this plane is now? Is it in a museum somewhere or is it in a hangar somewhere?

[@hannes_lutzenberger]

The plane is on display at Kermit Weeks "Fantasy of Flight Museum" near Orlando/Florida, the biggest Gee Bee collection on the planet

[@davidfowlerjr6114]

Hannes Lutzenberger okay thanks......I've heard of Fantasy of Flight but haven't had a chance to get there yet, i watch kermits "Kermie Cams" all the time, I live in the northwest panhandle of Florida just a few hours away

[@hannes_lutzenberger]

You live only few hours away and you never made it to that amazing place? We fly from Germany to the US only to see the Gee Bee :-) So come on, life is short!

[@whca_tech]

5:08 HOW?? Can you taxi in that plane?? You can't see anything but the sky...

[@wesfrazier5739]

When we did a LOT of trade with Japan.......what happened with that?

[@jimbos3421]

I wonder if Lindburgh ever flew the original sample?

[@stevenjames8260]

That looks a bastard to land.

[@pumatraca]

What kind of airplanes Delmar was flying before he'll fly the Gee Bee?

[@BetterAircraftFabric]

He flew lots of aerobatics planes like Pitts Specials and Buecker Jungmeister, too.

[@geoffreypiltz271]

That's an highly skilled pilot. How about an updated version with contra-prop and retracting undercarriage?

[@humdrummed]

I saw this plane fly at an airshow. Unfortunately some dumb ass decided that was a good time to fire up the engines on a big four engine plane. So I did not get to hear the GeeBees engine as it passed.

[@GeoffreyGodshall]

Don't exceed 30 degree bank, proceeds to go inverted. LOL

[@stefandwoodham]

That mullet.......

[@bigAnt2020]

Nice mullet, and that's on his wife.

[@townsey5612]

I'll have whatever they are on.

[@rancidpitts8243]

What are they on? They are on , it's over and I'm still alive. Coming back from Vietnam and Desert Storm at wheels up we cheered, we laughed, we cried; we were still alive.

[@admiralbenbow5083]

That was fun. Shame about the mullet.

[@karaDee2363]

It takes one hell of a good pilot to fly This Plane .. The Need for Speed, fastest plane on the planet during its day

[@fredmyers120]

Not even a walkie-talkie between planes? That seems to be way too reckless