To say that I'm knee-deep in slides is not an exaggeration. And most of them aren't organized so finding a particular airplane is difficult. For a long time they were in storage in NC in Jim Clevenger's place but then his ex sold the house and gave me a month to move all my stuff out which took two 40" shipping skids just for slides. In total there were about 20 skids and a bunch of trips to the junkyard to get the tools, artillery piece, engines, etc., etc. out of his hangar. So, when it came here it was all I could do to get the slides indoors in every crack and crevice I found empty. Most are still there. I did have about four hundred of them scanned a few years back and that's where the Christmas ones came from.
How about a Part Three Budd? Perhaps a Pitts Special exclusive paying homage to the wonderful Curtis Pitts, a man I know was very dear to you, and to all of us that you trained.
I'm contracted to the Pitts Flying Museum here in town to do three Pitts books. One history, a technical one and a coffee table book. I'm going to have to quit flying eventually and that'll give me the time. Or at lease it'll give me more time.
I saved opening these two TOL’s until the day after Christmas for what I knew would be a great dessert to enjoy. Thanks BUDD, I am proud to have been photographed grinning out of an Extra 400 over Sedona as you clicked away in the doorway of Cutter’s A36. Knowing you for 40+ years has been a true treat!
I would say that the two of us knowing each other for that long as been a treat. You, more than anyone else in my existence has seen me at both extremes: Wearing a tie at conference tables and NBAA shows and hanging out of airplanes hiding behind Nikons totally dressed down to the real me. BTW - you do know that 90% of the people reading this may not even know what an Extra 400 was/is.
I’m sure that is true. The most Extra thing about it was the Extra money that used to be mine before beginning that deal!😎. Don’t stay up tonight trying to find the E400 pictures now!!
Merry Merry and Happy Happy Sir! To Hell with them that think that WE don't want to read about the flight characteristics of different birds. Corporate America dictates what we see, hear, read.... I find myself going back to read about the airplanes you've flown and written about. I've been blessed to fly quite a few but nothing in your realm. I still use your technique of flying a nosewheel off the ground. Make it so easy.
Now to the pics, my brother loves the camera. I guess I'm too lazy. Even with my phone I forget to take a pic. Those you posted for us are amazing and I drool imagining the flying it took to make it happen.
Well...that made the day after Christmas including a bad food hangover brighter. Thank you very much. It wasn't until I posted that and was reading back through it that I realized how easily I could scroll back through the pix and totally visualize what was happening while I was clicking shutters. At the same time, it dawned on me how incredibly lucky I've been to work with and be friends with so many people who were, and are, really worth knowing. It has been an incredibly fantastic ride and the good news is that it isn't over yet.
Memories are such a gift! Doing what you love means you are not working but blessed to get paid to do it. I for one, and sure many others, am happy it's not over!
Thank you, my friend. I'm currently so far away from the life I'm supposed to be leading and I really needed these photo essays to redirect my mental focus. I wish the best of holidays to you, the Arizona Redhead and your entire extended family.
Budd, I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a joyful and healthy 2025! Thanks for all the stories... and pictures this year! Keep 'em coming... I'll support the paywall again in 2025.
Amazing history, Budd, of which you’ve played a key part in preserving! Aviation Pictures are worth more than a thousand words, and excite even the newest neophyte. Thanks for all you continue to do, and for the mentorship given to a lowly helo guy trying to find his rudder in a Pitts.
when I started keeping count of what I'd flown it turned out that when Dan Newman let me fly his Jenny it was exactly my 150th different type. And it was a real window into a time when anything that got off the ground was considered to be high performance. I more than doubled that number before I quit counting and oddball pilot reports went out of favor. However, it was a real kick during the roughly 25 years it lasted.
Amazing photography of those beautiful aircraft. Thanks and Merry Christmas!
To say that I'm knee-deep in slides is not an exaggeration. And most of them aren't organized so finding a particular airplane is difficult. For a long time they were in storage in NC in Jim Clevenger's place but then his ex sold the house and gave me a month to move all my stuff out which took two 40" shipping skids just for slides. In total there were about 20 skids and a bunch of trips to the junkyard to get the tools, artillery piece, engines, etc., etc. out of his hangar. So, when it came here it was all I could do to get the slides indoors in every crack and crevice I found empty. Most are still there. I did have about four hundred of them scanned a few years back and that's where the Christmas ones came from.
bd
How about a Part Three Budd? Perhaps a Pitts Special exclusive paying homage to the wonderful Curtis Pitts, a man I know was very dear to you, and to all of us that you trained.
I'm contracted to the Pitts Flying Museum here in town to do three Pitts books. One history, a technical one and a coffee table book. I'm going to have to quit flying eventually and that'll give me the time. Or at lease it'll give me more time.
You have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, as well.
Same to you, Hoss.
bd
I saved opening these two TOL’s until the day after Christmas for what I knew would be a great dessert to enjoy. Thanks BUDD, I am proud to have been photographed grinning out of an Extra 400 over Sedona as you clicked away in the doorway of Cutter’s A36. Knowing you for 40+ years has been a true treat!
I would say that the two of us knowing each other for that long as been a treat. You, more than anyone else in my existence has seen me at both extremes: Wearing a tie at conference tables and NBAA shows and hanging out of airplanes hiding behind Nikons totally dressed down to the real me. BTW - you do know that 90% of the people reading this may not even know what an Extra 400 was/is.
I’m sure that is true. The most Extra thing about it was the Extra money that used to be mine before beginning that deal!😎. Don’t stay up tonight trying to find the E400 pictures now!!
Merry Merry and Happy Happy Sir! To Hell with them that think that WE don't want to read about the flight characteristics of different birds. Corporate America dictates what we see, hear, read.... I find myself going back to read about the airplanes you've flown and written about. I've been blessed to fly quite a few but nothing in your realm. I still use your technique of flying a nosewheel off the ground. Make it so easy.
Now to the pics, my brother loves the camera. I guess I'm too lazy. Even with my phone I forget to take a pic. Those you posted for us are amazing and I drool imagining the flying it took to make it happen.
A very gracious THANK YOU!
Well...that made the day after Christmas including a bad food hangover brighter. Thank you very much. It wasn't until I posted that and was reading back through it that I realized how easily I could scroll back through the pix and totally visualize what was happening while I was clicking shutters. At the same time, it dawned on me how incredibly lucky I've been to work with and be friends with so many people who were, and are, really worth knowing. It has been an incredibly fantastic ride and the good news is that it isn't over yet.
Memories are such a gift! Doing what you love means you are not working but blessed to get paid to do it. I for one, and sure many others, am happy it's not over!
Have a great New Year.
Thank you sir. You have a good year.
bd
Thank you, my friend. I'm currently so far away from the life I'm supposed to be leading and I really needed these photo essays to redirect my mental focus. I wish the best of holidays to you, the Arizona Redhead and your entire extended family.
Thank you, Budd. Merry Christmas!
Budd, I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a joyful and healthy 2025! Thanks for all the stories... and pictures this year! Keep 'em coming... I'll support the paywall again in 2025.
Amazing history, Budd, of which you’ve played a key part in preserving! Aviation Pictures are worth more than a thousand words, and excite even the newest neophyte. Thanks for all you continue to do, and for the mentorship given to a lowly helo guy trying to find his rudder in a Pitts.
Hey, Tim,
Good to hear from you. Chopper pilots always have better feet than the rest. And thanks for the kind words. I very much appreciate them.
bd
Spectacular Budd, thanks. Merry Christmas!
I’d go back to Old Rhinebeck in a heartbeat.
I was fortunate enough to see Dan Neuman’s 1969 award winning Jenny fly back in the ‘70’s. Before he sold it to Kermit Weeks.
Thanks for posting these pics!
Here's a coincidence for you:
when I started keeping count of what I'd flown it turned out that when Dan Newman let me fly his Jenny it was exactly my 150th different type. And it was a real window into a time when anything that got off the ground was considered to be high performance. I more than doubled that number before I quit counting and oddball pilot reports went out of favor. However, it was a real kick during the roughly 25 years it lasted.
bd
I didn't know oddball pilot reports went out of favor. My brain says "How could they?!" but we both know where my head is at...
Which fighter was young Steve Hinton flying in that formation… and why?
I don't know. I was going to ping him, but didn't have the time for him to get back before I posted it.