Thanks for posting this video. My Dad saw one of the originals fly when he was a lad in the 1930s and I got to see Delmar Benjamin fly this replica at an airshow in Santa Clara, CA, in the late 80s. It was quite a thrill to have the (sort of) shared experience with my Dad. Your video, which is well shot, brings back some happy memories. Cheers!
Good work on the video. He put on a good show always. In the late 90's I parked at runways end and he flew over head inverted and waved like he remembered me from a year earlier chatting for an hour at the Phx show.
These planes, due to their bulbous shape and small wings, seem to defy all laws of physics. But I guess that huge engine makes up for a lot!!....lol. Love it!
I saw this aircraft at the Hillsboro airshow in Oregon. It is of great interest to note that he built the R-2, not the much more powerful R-1, and also take note that he keeps the speed down for all the manuevers. Despite DB's performance, I still think Jimmy Doolittle is the most talented pilot to fly the GeeBee. And his was an R-1!
In aerodynamic theory, the R1 should have slightly improved handling characteristics. The airframe was designed around the heavier P&W R-1340. The lighter R-985 in the R2 made the plane a bit more difficult to keep in the Center of Gravity envelope and resulting in an aircraft somewhat more pitch sensitive. Delmar was very weight conscious in the R2. His decision to build the R2 was economic.. the more popular and less fuel-thirsty R-985 was less expensive to feed and maintain.
Thanks for the posting. I remember seeing it perform up at EAA Oshkosh. Whatching the aircraft fly gave me a feel what it might have been like ti see the origional back in the early 1930's.
Thanks for posting this video. My Dad saw one of the originals fly when he was a lad in the 1930s and I got to see Delmar Benjamin fly this replica at an airshow in Santa Clara, CA, in the late 80s. It was quite a thrill to have the (sort of) shared experience with my Dad. Your video, which is well shot, brings back some happy memories. Cheers!
TheBenSage 1 month ago
Good work on the video. He put on a good show always. In the late 90's I parked at runways end and he flew over head inverted and waved like he remembered me from a year earlier chatting for an hour at the Phx show.
66tbird1 1 month ago
These planes, due to their bulbous shape and small wings, seem to defy all laws of physics. But I guess that huge engine makes up for a lot!!....lol. Love it!
djdepaolo 3 months ago
When i saw the jet dragster starting up behind the other plane i thought "oh shit he crashed it!!"
xrayracer1 6 months ago
That's talented pilot. This JB coolest aircraft ever built on the planet.
digitalbaba1960 11 months ago
im glad he proved the airplane was not a flawed design ,pilots just didnt have as much aerobatic and airflow info back then.
picturethisalso 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@N701RB I have seen it in his museum down in Florida.
FLY172M 1 year ago
I saw this aircraft at the Hillsboro airshow in Oregon. It is of great interest to note that he built the R-2, not the much more powerful R-1, and also take note that he keeps the speed down for all the manuevers. Despite DB's performance, I still think Jimmy Doolittle is the most talented pilot to fly the GeeBee. And his was an R-1!
Ikonta 1 year ago
In aerodynamic theory, the R1 should have slightly improved handling characteristics. The airframe was designed around the heavier P&W R-1340. The lighter R-985 in the R2 made the plane a bit more difficult to keep in the Center of Gravity envelope and resulting in an aircraft somewhat more pitch sensitive. Delmar was very weight conscious in the R2. His decision to build the R2 was economic.. the more popular and less fuel-thirsty R-985 was less expensive to feed and maintain.
TarDevil50 9 months ago
Fantastic show. And fantastic plane. Does anybody know how many hours he logged on that plane?
sablatnic 1 year ago
@sablatnic last I knew it had around 1600 hours on it. Delamar is a cool guy, fun to be around. :)
skooter2767k 1 year ago
Thanks for the posting. I remember seeing it perform up at EAA Oshkosh. Whatching the aircraft fly gave me a feel what it might have been like ti see the origional back in the early 1930's.
flyboy75p 1 year ago
Thank you for posting this clip. I never got to see Demar fly the Gee Bee. Last I heard the plane was in a museum? Is Delmar still flying?
osgood54 1 year ago
@osgood54 Delmar is still flying...the geebee is not sadly.
AerotechMan101 1 year ago
I was there , I remember it being HOT , this must have been shot far south of the performer staging area .
flyjay77 2 years ago
II agree.
scvdon2 2 years ago
Thats one plane I miss seeing at airshows
pasley21 2 years ago