Scared myself Flying a T6!

The T6 is an intimidating aircraft for sure; this training helped A LOT.
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This episode covers How I #Scared myself #flying the T6 / Harvard, and the #FlightTraining we did to expand my envelope so I’d be even more comfortable flying it.
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Regarding spins in the T6 / Harvard - we don’t spin ours (although, it is not placarded that I know of.)
I asked Jared his thoughts on this, and here’s what he said:
We don't spin ours as it's placarded "Intentional Spins Prohibited". Students will typically find themselves in an unintentional spin in the airplane once or twice throughout their checkout, I'd say, usually from doing the stuff that we did (accelerated stalls upline/downline/inverted). The airplane recovers just as you'd expect. The manuals I've read for various types of Texans/Harvards/SNJ's have some words in it about not practicing spins below 10,000 feet, some don't say anything at all other than how to recover. Some manuals say nothing more than spins can't be conducted when on the left tank.
So, short answer - we don't spin ours intentionally. It does happen throughout a normal checkout course typically from not recovering from an accelerated stall quickly enough, and the spins are briefed and the academics are discussed before the first flight in the airplane. I've never been in a spin in a Texan that didn't come out exactly when it was told to. As far as the subject goes, the discussion within the community pops up from time to time and it just wanders. I can't recall a single Texan I've flown in the past that didn't have the same placard save for maybe one experimental Texan from some time ago.
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FLIGHT CHOPS DISCLAIMER:
I am a "weekend warrior" private pilot, I fly for fun with no intentions of going commercial. I have had my PPL for over 15 years, but still consider each flight a learning experience - I generally take detailed notes after each flight to remind myself what went well or what I could do to improve.... Having GoPro cameras to record flights like this is invaluable. I find these self analysis videos very helpful in my constant quest to improve, and am happy to share. Feedback is invited; however, please keep it positive.
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[@ryanpemberton9941]

Jared seems like an exceptional instructor. Clearly communicating what to do and what to expect each step of the way with calm, competent demeanor.

[@jxa4508]

Flew an hour in the T6 with him, he’s awesome. So patient, I actually learned a lot with such an overwhelming aircraft. Great dude.

[@thumpin250]

Hopped in the extra with him recently. Also a very positive experience. Would certainly fly with again.

[@Earnhardtracing88]

It’s so incredible to fly with instructors like Jared, who really care about there craft. Jealous would have loved to be in that lesson

[@FlightChops]

Agreed! and I am inspired to make a video to clarify for people that this sort of experience is not "unobtainium". If you can make it to Chicago, you can fly with Jared, he is also will to travel to people to train in their aircraft - and if you can't make that happen, there are a lot of other options through out the community to receive advanced training like this, in uncommon airplanes, which I would HIGHLY recommend, regardless of what you normally fly.

[@GustavoRodrigues]

The geese honk for curse words is 10/10 Canadian certified. Thanks for that, Steve!

[@cancian95]

Got a few hours on the Harvard IV this year and I still find it incredible how friendly this aeroplane is during normal flying and how snappy it can become if flown with “heavy hands”...absolutely love it! ❤❤❤

[@oryr16]

Really cool, the whole time I kept thinking this is a glimpse at pilots learning how to fly fighters back in the day. Fascinating look into that era.

[@FlightChops]

Yeah that's a good point - It is very cool to think about how we get to step back in time to fly these things!

[@CZrv4]

I stalled my RV4 at the top of a loop this summer. Caught me off guard at first but did exactly what Jared said and unloaded the wing and continued the loop. Great video about energy management.

[@FlightChops]

Good stuff!

[@Blackhawkae69]

I hope you get to fly a Spitfire one day! This vid reminds me why I'm subbed to you. Lovely

[@FlightChops]

Awesome thanks! And me too maybe one day!

[@TheGizMan1]

A P-51 pilot I know asked a new T-6 owner/pilot, “Are you comfortable with it yet?”, the owner answered “Yeah, I feel pretty good about it.” My friend said, “Don’t ever get comfortable with it. It will try to kill you. If you get comfortable you get complacent, and you die. Remember that.”

[@iflyc77]

Jared is a great instructor. To get those long *time stands still* 90 degree barrel rolls, just delay the roll until the nose is a little bit higher and don't pull quite as hard.

[@jxa4508]

Gambit out of Chicago is an amazing place for flight training. First Class!

[@FlightChops]

It really is!

[@markthibault8579]

Great video that makes me appreciate the aerobatic pilots who've mastered the Harvard like Bud Granley. I saw him many times and was always impressed by his ability to make it dance, especially the snap roll he would do on takeoff. What a legend.

[@markthibault8579]

Here's one of Bud's more recent performances before he retired: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJSmqoesr5WWq7c

[@EcliPsMonKey]

I got very lucky doing the aUPRT course in the UK where I got to experience a lot of this kind of upset. I can't imagine experiencing them in a real un-manufactured environment but like you say, massively opens the flight envelope and is fascinating to fly/witness! Keep up the great videos :)

[@po1ly414]

I see jared often in passing and he’s always just a nice, cheerful dude. It’d be amazing to fly with him

[@thumpin250]

Very positive experience with Jared and gambit. Would fly with again.

[@AnsonChappell]

Steve your videos continue to impress. And check out that centreline discipline on landing!

[@FlightChops]

Thanks 👊

[@Sports-Jorge]

Only have 1 hour in the T6, what an amazing plane to fly and do acro in! Doing some Super D acro training tomorrow and absolutely love it so far! Flew with Jared a few years in a decathlon up there. Great guy and instructor! I'll have to see about flying with him in the T6. Keeping the flightchops sharp

[@FlightChops]

Right on! Get after it and see if you can do some time with Jared in that T6!

[@uscustoms05]

Great video. Looked like a picture perfect day. Im one of the fortunate aviators that has a buddy with a few warbirds that gets to go for a ride every now and then.

[@GaryLaaks1]

We also flew the T6 (We called them the Harvard) here in the air force South Africa. Awesome plane. Still a few airworthy in our parts. Radial howl during aerobatics gets the blood flowing. Nice vid.

[@SkyhawkSteve]

looks like a ton of fun! As a viewer, I gotta say that the light was beautiful! A wonderfully scenic time to be in the air!

[@adamshallenberg3286]

Great video! I felt the same butterflies I always felt during stall training just while just watching this.

[@FlightChops]

Awesome to hear you felt the video was that immersive!

[@mygremlin1]

Speaking of accelerated stalls. In 1973 flying a PA-28 and doing acc. stalls I got into a flat spin with my instructor. He used spin recovery to regain control.

[@ProfSimonHolland]

nice flying you two .

[@FlightChops]

Glad you enjoyed it - and thanks for being an active community member Simon!

[@Timbo428CJ]

And the pull still got ur attention, 😮 now you know and so do we! It's gotta so much fun flying a T6 warbird. Great teacher you got there!!

[@billbrisson]

looks like fun! knowing how to fly aerobatics properly is good, knowing how to recover from a mistake or an unusual attitude during aerobatics is probably more important! it's not the smooth loop or roll that gets ya, it's the messed up ones! I kinda spooked myself after doing my second or third loop a few years back when I flew through my own propwash. it took a second to understand what was happening, now I know that means it was a good loop :) Keep inspiring us Steve, I think I'm going to take a page from your book and see what I can do to get checked out in a Beaver next summer.

[@skynat247]

Hey, never been first to a FlightChops! I miss flying, glad to see you still at it!

[@FlightChops]

When you say "still at it", I assume that means the feed hasn't been showing you my stuff? Because I have published ~2 episodes per month non stop for over 10 years 🤷🏼‍♂️😂

[@blancolirio]

Excellent Steve!!

[@clarencewiles963]

Nice ride, good view all around. Thanks again for sharing 😊

[@goatflieg]

I wish the Catalina had been on the ramp when I visited. I'll definitely be back for some flying with Jared sometime, but of course I'll have to drive there now. That yank would have scared the hell out of me too. Didn't think a T-6 could ever reverse bank that quickly.

[@FlightChops]

Yeah - That airplane sure can drop a wing FAST!

[@JBtheExplorer]

Amazing video! One of my favorite aircraft, aerobatics, and that lighting! Awesome stuff Flightchops!

[@1hornet1]

I've never flown in a T-6. I did, however, get to fly in a T-34 in formation on a T-6 and and a Stearman for a missing man flyover. Afterward, we went out on our own and I got to do a bunch of aerobatics in it. Too much fun!

[@FlyingBC]

Great episode with some classic FC style flight experiences/lessons to learn from.

[@ChrisB257]

Jared sure seems to know his stuff!! An impressive selection of planes he has. There seemed moments in your flight (stalls?) that probably got your pulse rate up, more than a bit - major and useful learning experience, and thrilling too!!.

[@FlightChops]

On this flight I was fairly calm - we had lots of altitude - the air work was done at 6,000' and I was with Jared. The incident that inspired this one though, THAT raised the hart rate :P

[@rocket_88oldsmobile14]

At least you know not to be horsing around at low altitudes doing any kind of aerobatics . Stay safe and good flying to you .

[@FlightChops]

Thanks yeah... I don't often speak in certainties... but I can assure you, that you'll never, ever see me doing low level aerobatics.

[@JohnVHLife]

Ive rode in the backseat once in a SNJ, pretty wild experience.

[@MickKerr]

The Gambit extra looks amazing!

[@dougmackenzie5976]

I almost stalled a T-6 at the top of a loop. Things got pretty exciting for a second or two. Thankfully, the T-6 is forgiving -IF you know what to do to correct the situation.

[@Bigtirepilot]

This was a really great video! Great instruction!

[@MikeInTheFront]

Wow learned a lot from this. Thanks FlightChops!

[@FlightChops]

Glad to help!

[@thomasaltruda]

The accelerated stalls and incipient spins are much easier and safer than traditional, slow deceleration 1 G stalls because a 1 G stall, you have to lower the nose and accelerate the plane back to flying speed. With the turning, accelerated stalls, you already have the airspeed, all you have to do is lower the AOA, and it’s flying again.

[@haydenm.3912]

I see what you're getting at and I somewhat agree however, you don't have to "lower the nose" for either of these, you have to unload the wing. That is to say there is no difference in the recovery between them depending on how you look at it so some would argue it's equally as safe. I also find that the wing drop is more violent and more frequent in doing accelerated stalls when slightly uncoordinated. So yes and no, just like many things in aviation haha. It's an interesting conversation though.

[@thomasaltruda]

@@haydenm.3912 yes, you are right.. I shouldn’t have said “lower the nose”, I should have said reduce the Angle of Attack, or “unload the wing”

[@bazwabat1]

Regarding the difference between the Harvard and T6. The RNZAF got the Harvard MK II the IIA and III. The MK II was identical to what you are flying in Canada except ours had gear doors. Then we got the MK IIA and III and these were identical to the AT6C and D. They were built as part of RAF orders (not the MKII which came direct to us NZ901 to NZ1005)and the later MK IIA and III had RAF serial numbers which were not applied(NZ1006 to NZ1099). The last three Harvards we got were interesting as they were Canadian built MK IIB (NZ1100 to NZ1102)built as part of a RAF order but came to us. Great video and I believe I would need a chnage of underwear doing things like that in a T6 or a Harvard!

[@FlightChops]

Thanks for sharing your insights. And honestly, this training with Jared wasn't scary at all.

[@txkflier]

That was nice. Great job!

[@patrickcoleman6088]

I'd say that this is exactly what happened to that poor girl and her passenger as they were leaving Oshkosh '23 in their T-6. She lost visual cues for VFR flight as she climbed, started a slight turn as seen on ADSB, and didn't see she was pulling back, as evidenced from her airspeed on ADSB. Steve, if you were caught off guard with that right wing snap down, imagine what she must have experienced. It made me jump in my seat when I saw that right wing drop....

[@FlightChops]

We shot this a year or so ago, and I had it in mind to title it something like: "How not to kill yourself in a T6"... And then that crash happened, and I thought the same thing... So I just didn't feel right using that title when it came time to publish this one.

[@Peacewind152]

One thing that shocks me in every Chops video is how still Steve holds the camera without a tripod.

[@FlightChops]

Hahah - thanks - 👊 - I've learned to be nimble and low profile from a production standpoint to get these things done ,while also being in student pilot mode. 🤓

[@bottom-gun]

Ay, I flew with that school in that exact airplane!

[@geoffmatthews8302]

Nice one mate!

[@FlightChops]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@zombieapocalipse2020]

Inspirational

[@marks4058]

Does your audio recorder have a configurable limiter, compressor or gain controller? If it does, you could experiment with the "release time" setting. Try something like 10,000ms, it's probably set to 50ms. Changing that will help with the loud pop of volume when someone starts speaking. Amazing footage and angles, I enjoyed the composite showing all three internal cameras at once.

[@FlightChops]

Thanks for the insights here. I’m using a very simple method to record the audio straight to a GoPro. It captures “as you hear it”, which isn’t always great…. But I’d be open to trying to get it to be cleaner.

[@marks4058]

@@FlightChops A possible alternative: Some GoPros have a an audio option called "raw-low". This records the audio at a lower volume but higher fidelity, then you can add an auto gain control filter in your video editor (with a slow release value) to bring it back up to normal listening levels. That might be less preflight workload and one less set of batteries to worry about rather than carrying another bit of expensive kit.

[@taylor818e6]

Would be great to see the maneuver from the outside from another plane filming it. The view from the inside is great but hard to appreciate the overall perspective. Thanks

[@FlightChops]

Luke just posted on Instagram showing a snap roll from the outside - this is basically an accidental half snap. Here’s the link to Luke’s whole snap (he’s doing it on a 45 degree up line, which is incidental. instagram.com/reel/C0UgUvAOzdN/?igshid=NTYzOWQzNmJjMA==

[@JasonRosewell]

Hey sweet thumbnail 😊

[@mikewaterfield3599]

That bird un manned me, scared the hell out of me.

[@FlightChops]

Haha - "un manned me" is a keeper 😂

[@mikewaterfield3599]

@@FlightChops yeah, things are a bit accelerated, I never did finish the check out. I need to try again with the NATA.

[@edcew8236]

The Expanded Envelope Exercises® are a set of exercises for normal category aircraft and are not related to "Expanded my Envelope" in the title of this video. A presentation on those is at kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXSVqZl8g8dkqbM

[@FlightChops]

Hey, yes I didn’t even think of the name over lap as it was Jared’s idea, but yes, Ed is up to some great stuff.

[@agentjuiceaviation]

Man, the more I see vids like this the more I want to fly a T6 myself. I wonder what it takes to be a T6 instructor?

[@FlightChops]

Balls of steel 😂 Have you seen my check out series? I think we did a pretty good job capturing that process.

[@mstx1007]

Excellent !

[@FishyCanada]

Can you flat spin a T6/Harvard for training purposes? Great vid Steve!

[@FlightChops]

Check the description for a more lengthy answer about spins - I haven't heard of flat spinning one though.

[@bigmuz_pilot]

What has happened to aviation content on youtube, this video has 30k views after 2 weeks and youtube only just recommended it to me even though I have the bell clicked.. Crazy

[@FlightChops]

Thanks for sharing your experience with this - it has become clear to many creators that the bell (and even subscription system over all) isn't working any more. It's all about "up next" and suggested content that the system thinks viewers want to see, regardless of what they are subscribed to... This has made it harder and harder to get quality content to be shared by the system unless it is framed as sensational, so that the algorithm picks it up. I'm tryna fight the good fight, but it is tough. Consider signing up for the Patreon campaign (you can do so for free) and the odds of missing what I publish will be much lower.

[@chetmyers7041]

fun stuff

[@richardcannon7327]

I knew a person killed in a formation loop T6 he was on the outside inverted stall spin. He and his son didn't make it. The T6 bites very hard. It did back in the day too.

[@FlightChops]

Sorry to hear that. And yeah, the airplane is honest and does what you tell it to, but also lets you know quickly when you're telling it to do the wrong thing.

[@morre6748]

Steve, I know it's a lot to ask, but with the distortion on the T6 intercom, this is an episode where I would have loved subtitles. I had to watch some parts three times to understand things where the automatic subtitles didn't catch.

[@FlightChops]

Thanks yeah, I had considered it for this one… almost all of my experience in these airplanes the intercom is cranked and distorted and you can barely talk because of how loud the engine is… so at the end of the day, it’s kind of realistic to the experience 🤷😬😂. But yeah, thankfully most of my videos don’t have this issue.

[@davidbrothers3903]

Why does the right wing drop on accelerated stall? Prop wash ? Great video

[@txkflier]

The wing with a downward deflected aileron will generally stall before the other one. That's why the ailerons need to remain centered when you're on the verge of a stall. Also, being in a skid or a slip (turn coordinator ball not centered) can make one side stall before the other.

[@iflyc77]

It actually says in the T6 manual that the right wing will drop in coordinated flight because the washout is slightly different between each wing. That was an intentional design *feature* to make the stall characteristics worse to prepare students for fighters that they were going to be checking themselves out in. It takes about half a ball of left rudder to get a straight ahead break in a T6.

[@johnlucas2037]

Personally, I miss the good ol days of flight chops when he was learning to fly different GA aircraft, and he would bring us along, and we could relate to the experience. While the T6 is cool, it’s not some thing that most people will ever get a chance to fly.

[@FlightChops]

Did you watch the previous 2 episodes about the challenging AirVenture arrival? And a couple months ago I published one flying an old Piper Arrow in Sweden that I thought was great classic GA content (which got no views :(

[@gambitaviation]

You can come fly our Texan anytime! I’ll make sure to get you the cheapest rate possible - all you have to do is show up! You’ll get the front seat on flight #1.

[@FlightChops]

Thanks for chiming in Jared - my next reply if John came back was going to clarify that his comment has inspired to make a video to clarify for people that this sort of experience is not "unobtainium". There are a lot of options through out the aviation community to receive advanced training like this, in uncommon airplanes, which I would HIGHLY recommend, regardless of what you normally fly. If you set aside the budget for a few $100 hamburger cross country missions in a 172, you can have yourself a life changing lesson that will make ALL of your other flying better - even if only one briefing and one flight, like this video covers. Why not make something like THIS replace your next flight review?

[@flylikeagirl]

I had the pleasure of doing UA and aerobatics in miliary selection. As always, a great video. I've been watching you for ages. I'd like to introduce you and your viewers to my new channel, out of Australia. Fly Like a Girl - Fearless and Fabulous

[@latech15]

Audio is a problem in this one. The instructor sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher.

[@michaelalden5119]

Hey possibly a dumb question I was wondering why does the right wing drop so aggressively in the upset maneuvers

[@lynwoodjones]

😮

[@Buzzlightyear706]

Guys that airplane snapping to the right during accelerated stall ( 8:17 ) Can anyone tell me what is the aerodynamic reason for it? Or point me to some good source? I have no idea why it rolls in the opposite direction

[@FlightChops]

My understanding was that it is mostly related to the torque of the engine / massive prop... but there have been some insights shared in the comments here that indicate the airframe may have also been designed that way to prepare students for the handling characteristics of the fighters they were heading to next.

[@spanieaj]

Time to nag you! Where is your helmet?!

[@FlightChops]

Yeah, I know man... It was a weekend trip and I was there with my wife and we limited ourselves to carry on luggage, so I didn't bring the helmet.

[@tmeyer2022]

I don't know how you guys can clearly understand each other with such bad audio.

[@FlightChops]

Haha - yeah, sorry about that - nobody hears anybody clearly in a T6. They all have distorted intercoms because the airplane is SO loud.

[@fredbrillo1849]

My memories of flying a T6 was it was the first military type aircraft I'd flown that you really had to fly all tge time. NOT like a typical civilian trainer that's so stable you have to work hard to spin. A T6 will spin if you just look at it cross-eyed.

[@FlightChops]

For sure yeah - the T6 was meant to be unforgiving to sloppy flying... It is what prepared the students for the fighters.