jrm53
Member
Ryan was the folks that built the Spirit of St louis for the Atlantic flight that Charles Lindberg made in 1927. Most of the PT22's went to the military at first for a price of approx 10,000. Jeff
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Harrison Ford's Plane?
- Thread starter Texas Star
- Start date
Wyatt p. Tato
Member
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2014
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- 282
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- 284
I think he needs to find a better mechanic. It's not like pulling off the road when the classic car quits. I have owned old cars and tractors and sometimes they just get tired and need a rest.
All things considered, old Hans did a pretty fair job of putting his "fighter" down. And doing it within a stone's throw of a couple of doctors isn't half bad, either.
Sort of reminds me of Mel Gibson's line in "Air America": "I crash better than anyone."
Sort of reminds me of Mel Gibson's line in "Air America": "I crash better than anyone."
mstem
Member
Shame to loose a perfectly good airframe that can't be replaced.
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A friend is waiting to see the FAA accident report, his fatherbought one for 600 dollars in 1947. It changed hands in later years and had the same paint scheme.
By all accounts, Harrison Ford is one of the nicest guys you'll run across, especially in Hollywood.
He is also known to be a careful, well-experienced pilot. Looking at what happened, it seems clear that he didn't 'crash'...he was out of power, could not maintain altitude, could not make the runway, and had to make a forced landing. Had he been able to make the runway, or a level surface, the airplane probably would not have been damaged, and he would not have been injured. Out of options, he made the best choice he could, and I think he did a great job.
I wish him a speedy and full recovery.
He is also known to be a careful, well-experienced pilot. Looking at what happened, it seems clear that he didn't 'crash'...he was out of power, could not maintain altitude, could not make the runway, and had to make a forced landing. Had he been able to make the runway, or a level surface, the airplane probably would not have been damaged, and he would not have been injured. Out of options, he made the best choice he could, and I think he did a great job.
I wish him a speedy and full recovery.
GatorFarmer
Member
I was surprised, upon looking it up, to read that he did not truly take up flying until he was 55. Apparently since then he has considered flying a sort of civic duty...flies for both Special Olympics and Operation Smile, personally flew relief supplies to Haiti, saved two people lost in the woods and even started a program to expose children to aviation and give them free airplane rides.
As actors go, I think he earned his way. The guy was Han Solo and Indiana Jones.
As actors go, I think he earned his way. The guy was Han Solo and Indiana Jones.
Shame to loose a perfectly good airframe that can't be replaced.
Eh, it's plenty repairable. Have seen much worse come back to flying condition. In the '90s I was involved in building complete P40 fuselages. That PT22 just needs a good going through. Probably back in the air in a year or three.
100% new upper rear P40 fuselage. (Circa 1996)
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Sounds like what may have been John Denver's last question...
(ETA: Which plane is pictured on the T shirt shown in the Post above? Hint, Mr. H also had a shirt done with the photo turned 90 degrees with the nose pointed straight down. Can't remember the caption, but it wasn't very kind...)
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M3Stuart
Member
I get to be the first one to say it?!?
Any, and I mean ANY, landing you can walk away from is a GOOD LANDING. PERIOD. (Although, technically, he was probably hobbling or crawling).
...crashed my @$$...
Any, and I mean ANY, landing you can walk away from is a GOOD LANDING. PERIOD. (Although, technically, he was probably hobbling or crawling).
...crashed my @$$...
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That's what I was thinking. Before he was recruited as an air crew member my Dad spent time as an Navy aviation machinist mate in the South Pacific during WW2. Based on some of the pictures of planes that were considered salvageable the first couple years of the war, in 42 and 43, Fords plane would be flying again.
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williamlayton
Member
I THINK--just me--much must be said that he is still alive. Hell, boys--he aint no spring chicken anymore.
Blessings
Blessings
7shooter
Member
That looks a lot like the same type plane that I talked my wife into going up with me in Key West a few years ago. It was a short flight around the town and cost $60. My wife is afraid of flying and wasn't going to go until she heard it was the same price for one or two people. She is pretty frugal and felt like I needed to get my moneys worth. Seriously.
I later told her the plane was older than she was which didn't appear to be a comfort to her.
I have a coffee mug with a photo of myself giving a thumbs up in the cockpit with an old leather pilots helmet on. I wish I had brought a white scarf.
I later told her the plane was older than she was which didn't appear to be a comfort to her.
I have a coffee mug with a photo of myself giving a thumbs up in the cockpit with an old leather pilots helmet on. I wish I had brought a white scarf.
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OP
Texas Star
US Veteran
Yeah, he's 72. Don't know if he still does carpentry.
He didn't crash...He just ran out of air.
Speaking of bad reporting. I saw one report that said it was a "Jet" trainer.
Speaking of bad reporting. I saw one report that said it was a "Jet" trainer.
mstem
Member
Eh, it's plenty repairable. Have seen much worse come back to flying condition. In the '90s I was involved in building complete P40 fuselages. That PT22 just needs a good going through. Probably back in the air in a year or three.
100% new upper rear P40 fuselage. (Circa 1996)
I sure hope it can be repaired! I didn't know a plane that damaged could be repaired. I love those old warbirds! I guess a trainer can be called a warbird. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I'd love to be able to help restore them!
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It's a warbird. US military property.
And, yes, sometimes all you need is a data plate. One of the P40 projects recovered out of Russia had been shot down in such a way that it went screaming near on straight down into a swamp. Fuselage behind the firewall was only about four feet long...
Sheet aluminum that old is often quite brittle now. Intergranular corrosion under the pure aluminum cladding. A bit of fresh sheetie might be good, wreck or no. Bent forgings can be a bother. But the PT22 probably doesn't have many.
M3Stuart
Member
Jus' gimme some duct tape and I'll fix 'er right up!
Laugh about that duct tape
Those aircraft fixers over in the great lamented SE Asia area fixed up our little round holes (usually in the aft end) with duct tape..and we went flying off again.. We flew a few old Helio Couriers.
Those aircraft fixers over in the great lamented SE Asia area fixed up our little round holes (usually in the aft end) with duct tape..and we went flying off again.. We flew a few old Helio Couriers.
