MOFFETT FIELD 6 20 1999 DELMAR BENJAMIN GEE BEE

Delmar Benjamin flies his GEE BEE , a replica which he built, at the 1999 Moffett Field Airshow. From my old VHS tapes.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• MOFFETT FIELD
• CALIFORNIA
• DELMAR BENJAMIN
• GEEBEE
• REPLICA
• AIRSHOW
• 1999

[scvdon2]

II agree.

[TheBenSage]

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!

[66tbird1]

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.

[djdepaolo]

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!

[xrayracer1]

When i saw the jet dragster starting up behind the other plane i thought "oh shit he crashed it!!"

[TarDevil50]

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.

[digitalbaba1960]

That's talented pilot. This JB coolest aircraft ever built on the planet.

[picturethisalso]

im glad he proved the airplane was not a flawed design ,pilots just didnt have as much aerobatic and airflow info back then.

[Ikonta]

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!

[skooter2767k]

@sablatnic last I knew it had around 1600 hours on it. Delamar is a cool guy, fun to be around. :)