Harrison Ford's Plane?

[Texas Star]

Most of you probably saw on the news that actor Harrison Ford, an experienced pilot, had what seems to have been an engine failure and crash landed on a golf course in his WWII vintage trainer. (One ninny newsman said it was a fighter.)

I can't post photos but a bunch of you probably saw the plane on the news. What is it? I think I know, but the name evades me at the moment. Is that a Stearman of some sort?
A Boeing? What's the model?

BTW, he has a broken ankle and a broken pelvis, but is expected to recover.

 

[Faulkner]

It was a Ryan ST3KR built in 1942.

 

[Texas Star]

Yes, that's it!

Thanks, Faulkner. Much appreciated.

I just found it on the Net. It was also called a PT-22. A Net source said that about 1,000 were built.

 

[Faulkner]

Toys of the rich and famous.

 

[Hofstet]

He needs to give up flying, or buy newer planes.

 

[Mcwsky09]

I thought it was this one.

I was thinking about the headline and the use of the phrase "crash landing" and whether that is technically correct in such a situation as it can sound like he did something wrong and is at fault. It may just be a consequence of the way headlines are written but it seems to me that it would be more accurately to say that he experienced equipment failure shortly after take off and despite no power was able to land without injuries to anyone but himself. That doesn't quite capture what I am thinking, it is difficult to not think "crash landing" because even hard landing doesn't seem right.
Clearly he wrecked the plane and injured himself but it could have been far worse. Maybe if is just a matter of degree such as the difference between I had a fender bender and a car accident and a car wreck.

 

[GatorFarmer]

From what I understand, Ford is a legitimate aviation enthusiast and does a lot of work in the vintage aircraft community. Several times he has rescued individuals using his personal helicopter, participates in search efforts spending his own money for fuel and such and otherwise attempts to be a good citizen.

Though Han did fire first...

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

There are some great flying videos of Harrison Ford flying his deHavilland Beaver on YouTube. Same with Clint Eastwood flying his helecopter...just do a search.

Then their is John Trivolta's house in Florida:

http://telstarlogistics.typepad.com/telstarlogistics/2008/06/exploring-john.html

 

[JayCeeNC]

In a related story, Brian Williams has assured his fans that he was NOT injured when he and Harrison Ford were shot down over a California golf course last week...

 

[CScott]

And Bill O'Reilly interrupted his golf game to help pull Ford from the wreakage.

 

[Step N. Mud]

which way does the fuel petcock go?

 

[okiegtrider]

In a related story, Brian Williams has assured his fans that he was NOT injured when he and Harrison Ford were shot down over a California golf course last week...

Good one. Broke me up some.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I thought it was this one.

I was thinking about the headline and the use of the phrase "crash landing" and whether that is technically correct in such a situation as it can sound like he did something wrong and is at fault. It may just be a consequence of the way headlines are written but it seems to me that it would be more accurately to say that he experienced equipment failure shortly after take off and despite no power was able to land without injuries to anyone but himself. That doesn't quite capture what I am thinking, it is difficult to not think "crash landing" because even hard landing doesn't seem right.
Clearly he wrecked the plane and injured himself but it could have been far worse. Maybe if is just a matter of degree such as the difference between I had a fender bender and a car accident and a car wreck.

"Crash" is a term of art with the FAA. I was told at one time by someone who ought to know that the FAA considers any landing, successful or not, that did not occur at a recognized airstrip, to be a "crash."

 

[Vulcan Bob]

The PT stands for "primary trainer" and the yellow paint job was to indicate such to a observer. The common nickname for this type was "the yellow peril" as a junior birdman was at the stick. This type may have supplemented /replaced the Steerman biplane.

 

[steveno]

I believe Ford also does a lot of flying related to the special olympics.

 

[PatriotX]

This was reported as his THIRD career crash landing. One of those was in a helo.

 

[Texas Star]

Actors like him can afford newer airplanes. Tom Cruise probably paid a lot for his P-51, and he's an aviation and history buff who insisted on finding and using P-40's as the RAF fighters that strafed the German colonel's column in N. Africa in, "Valkerie." I respected that, and was surprised and pleased to see that in the film.

I sense some jealousy in these posts. Personally, I'm glad that at least some men can afford these planes, that they care, and therefore the aircraft remain with us & flying.

These flying actors seem not to be those who make headlines with narcotics abuse or emotional outbursts.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Deleted........

 

[zzzippper]

which way does the fuel petcock go?

Well if THAT doesn't get you banned, nothing will!

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

Toys of the rich and famous.

I'm with Texas Star. I'm thankful we have these rich MF'ers that keep these fine old classic planes flying. Otherwise, by now they'd all of been turned into pop cans, excepting the few hanging from wires in the Smithsonian.

The PT-22 is powered by the Kinner R-540, a five cylinder radial. Thousands of these engines were made in the 1930's, but the Kinner Company itself went out of business in 1937. Kinda makes it hard to get spare parts.