Thank you Brian Coughlin for trusting my backseat flying abilities in this wonderful vintage aircraft, and Old Rhinebeck Aaerodrome pilot Alex Jameison for taking me up! The thrill of a lifetime, flying around in an open cockpit on a beautiful fall day in upstate New York, with the leaves at peak color!
I got to take the controls once we hit 700 feet and Alex let me fly over to the Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge, then turn north along the Hudson, and then west back to the Aerodrome, following his hand signals, just like the old days, without headphones/microphones. What a wonderful classic machine! I only wish I'd had some goggles, as my eyes really strained against the 65mph wind! Luckily my eyes teared up so much that after a couple minutes I could see just fine. I didn't take much video since I was too busy flying, but my wife was on the ground and managed a few photos and video, and Tim Haggerty took a few which I included here.