I worked on the EA-6B Prowler when I was in the Navy. My first tour was in VAQ 130 and second in VAQ 129. This brought back some great memories thanks.

So much awesome footage in this video, which doubles as an Armed Forces aviation recruiting video and a Van's Aircraft sales pitch. Love it.

@flyingaardvarks1133

Жыл бұрын

Im going for recruiter/sales rep of the year. 🤣

@bryannairn

Жыл бұрын

@@flyingaardvarks1133 at next year's SKO, during the award ceremony, are you expecting the Rolex Submariner, or a custom Bremont MBII?

@bryannairn

Жыл бұрын

@@flyingaardvarks1133 at next year's SKO during the awards ceremony are you expecting a Rolex GMT II? Or a custom Bremont MBII?

@flyingaardvarks1133

Жыл бұрын

I think of that as more of an “and” question than an “or” question…

What a fun and very informative video. After reading "Flight of the intruder" and flying with some A6 guys, maximum respect!

While I appreciate all of the thoughtful points you've made here, I've decided to hold out and continue saving up for the Prowler.

@flyingaardvarks1133

Жыл бұрын

LMK when you get it please. I’ll pitch in for gas for a ride (front seat, though).

Nice comparison. Such different missions and availability. What an opportunity to be able to have done both. I love my RV7A. BTW, I don’t think the tail dragger version has any practical advantage over the A model.

@flyingaardvarks1133

Жыл бұрын

Right on!

Back in the early 70’s as the Ops YN in VA-196 (Whidbey) I got a couple hops right seat in KA-6D’s mainly at Fallon. Since I’ve built and fly my Sonex at my home field KOSH. Look me up if you get out here! Hoping an RV-8 is in my future!

@flyingaardvarks1133

Жыл бұрын

We may or may not have a whole video SERIES on the channel about our trip to KOSH in 2020 :)

I didn't know the Prowler could go super sonic . I'm an A6 fan and some A6 content would be cool . First time here , I sub'd .

@flyingaardvarks1133

Жыл бұрын

Only in a dive! 😎 Thanks for subscribing!

@EdD-ym6le

Жыл бұрын

@@flyingaardvarks1133 10 4 I caught that . Nice to know it could take it . Tough scrappy aircraft . There's a story at the Smithsonian Air and Space magazine website about an A6 that skipped off the water at night at 400 or 500 knots . Later in it's career the maintenance crew was finding a lot of gremlins in the aircraft and researched its history which became the story I read .

What, a Marine flying a civilian nose dragger? That's like being issued a BB gun rather than an M16.

@flyingaardvarks1133

Жыл бұрын

Hahaha-none of the jets had the gear in the wrong position, so sticking with it ;)

Go with the red one.

@flyingaardvarks1133

Жыл бұрын

Smart move 😎

@TJPRV4RV8

Жыл бұрын

Just need a shark on the nose. Maybe a wheel conversion. Sweet video.

The VAF link sent me. This was a lot of fun and you shared some excellent footage; thanks for that, and I subscribed. But I'm curious about something. You chose an RV-6A; nice plane. I built an RV-8 because I always wanted a P-51 but could never afford one. I can't help wondering, with all your amazing experience, if you have any tailwheel time and whether that was a factor in your selection of an -A model. Like I say, just curious. I'm also guessing based on your location and experiences that we have some common friends in the RV community.

@flyingaardvarks1133

Жыл бұрын

I know this is a controversial take, but I have 0 interest in a tail wheel for tail wheel sake. The only reason I’d fly one is if it was functionally better for that mission (e.g. bush plane with massive tires) or if the plane I wanted to fly only came in that configuration (e.g. P51). All the planes I flew in the USMC were nose gear equipped. I believe the design of a trike is superior; better taxi visibility, better landing stability. I get that some people feel a TW is better because it is harder, but I would argue you could mis-rig your controls to make any plane harder to fly…I don’t think making a plane hard to fly is the goal. It feels like a similar argument for an old 6 pack vs glass. TW are a touch faster, better off-concrete (especially true for RVs), and sure easier to get the cowl off. So there are advantages. But those don’t outweigh the handling characteristic advantages for me. Watching people in a TW 6 taxi in a continuous swerve always seems odd to me. That said, although I don’t seek out flying a TW, if the “right” plane was a TW, I wouldn’t shy away from it, it just isn’t a “positive” in my personal decision matrix based purely on being a TW. I grew up watching airshows and only really cared about the jets as a kid, so while many people have nostalgia for a TW, all the planes I loves watching had a nose gear, so I don’t personally have that list for a taildragger. I actually remember preferring piston planes-even back then-that were nose wheel equipped because they looked slightly more like the jets. But I sure don’t fault anyone who prefers a TW aircraft!

@goatflieg

Жыл бұрын

@@flyingaardvarks1133 Thanks for sharing. Your reasoning is thorough and completely valid. I learned tailwheel because I dreamed of flying warbirds and figured I'd need the skill set. I've gotten training in Stearmans, Texans and Chipmunks as well as a LOT of different warbird rides, including a P-40 and three different Mustangs. But long ago I realized the only way I'd get close to owning one was to build my own. I've got almost 90 hours so far and love it. I know there will be times that I'll find myself wishing it was a trike, for all the reasons you mentioned. But it's the plane of my dreams; I built it, fly it and love it, so that works out pretty well. Planes are like motorcycles; no single model works well for all missions. But I know you'll agree that all RV models have a wide range of capabilities. Gotta love 'em for that!

@flyingaardvarks1133

Жыл бұрын

TBH I don’t think I know many (if any?) tail dragger pilots who with they had a trike in the RV world. They are both awesome. And like you said, the TW is definitely more of the warbird-eske experience. 🫡

Lol. Somehow this video just popped up on my feed. I was an ECMO in VMAQ-1 back from 1993-1996. Go Banshees.

@flyingaardvarks1133

Жыл бұрын

Hell yeah man! Hope it brought back some good nostalgia. CB for the win!

@TheSiriusProject

Жыл бұрын

@@flyingaardvarks1133 you could also mention that you needed to land the prowler at a field with a working huffer and power cart or you would be calling the skipper to request a c-130 be sent out with one onboard for ya. Ugh

@TheSiriusProject

Жыл бұрын

@@flyingaardvarks1133 and yes the videos did bring back a lot fun memories. I’ve flown many RVs too. They are great

3:23 where are those cliffs? 5:10 I never understood bypass before. TIL. the EA6B might be fun and cool but wowwwww, it's ugly.

@flyingaardvarks1133

Жыл бұрын

Badlands, South Dakota. Near KRAP if you’re looking on foreflight 🫡

@flysport_tedder

Жыл бұрын

@@flyingaardvarks1133 oh rad! been there on two wheels, just not over it.

@flyingaardvarks1133

Жыл бұрын

@@flysport_tedder If you get the chance, it is some pretty awesome flying. If you want to see way more, check out kzread.info/dash/bejne/o6OLp7FtYtfQg5c.html

@flysport_tedder

Жыл бұрын

@@flyingaardvarks1133 cool, I'll go back and watch. it's certainly on the list, though I wanna knock off Electric City/Coulee first!