Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: SIAI-Marchetti. Model: SF.260. Nickname: Warrior
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane SE Land
> Engine Description: single piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/5/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 1
> Number of Times Flown: 1
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: Leonardo now owns the design

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 82
> Date First Flown: 9/30/1995
> Location First Flown: Santa Monica, CA Airport (KSMO)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Air Combat USA (I believe)

Recollections:
On this date, I flew the SF260, the DC-3 and the PT-22.  I believe the SF260 was from “Air Combat USA”, a company which does rides with people marketed somewhat like “top gun”. I believe the flight consisted of the standard “qual eval”, exploring the airplane’s handling qualities, grabbing some performance points, etc. Like many QE’s, I’m sure the safety pilot was wondering “why do these guys do this?”…

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Ryan Aeronautical Company Model: PT-22 (ST3KR?) Nickname: Recruit
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane SE Land
> Engine Description: Single piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/5/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 1
> Number of Times Flown: 1
> Other Aircraft Models Associated:

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 81
> Date First Flown: 9/30/1995
> Location First Flown: Santa Monica, CA Airport (KSMO)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Unknown

Recollections: I flew this airplane from Santa Monica airport the same day as flying the DC-3 with “Jan”.  I did not record who I flew the PT-22 with.  

It would be 28 years later before I flew a similar design, the PT-23, as part of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF).

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Antonov. Model: AN-2. Nickname: (NATO codename) Colt
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane SE Land
> Engine Description: Single engine piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/5/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 0.5
> Number of Times Flown: 1
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: n/a

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 94
> Date First Flown: 6/27/1997
> Location First Flown: North Las Vegas airport
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Maloney

Recollections: I flew the Colt during a staff field trip.  We were visiting nearby Nellis AFB, NV (to see some really cool airplanes which–at the time–were quite classified) and took a day to contract for Qual Evals.  I flew the Colt, an R-44, and a Beech 18.  What a day! 

I flew the Colt for just half an hour but I did 7 landings!  Not sure I ever left the pattern.  I remember finding the airplane pretty easy to land a really a lot of fun to just sit in.  It is HUGE.  The wings and tail are fabric covered and, being a Russian design, many of the system controls were unusual to my eyes.  A wonderful QE in terms of stressing our “adaptability”. 

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Piper. Model: J-3. Nickname: Cub
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Single Engine Land
> Engine Description: Single engine

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/5/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 1
> Number of Times Flown: 1
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: various “Cub” models, including PA-18

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 86
> Date First Flown: 9/28/1996
> Location First Flown: Van Nuys Airport, CA
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Unknown

Recollections:
Ok, first…why do I count this as a different airplane than the Super Cub, upon which I’ve also written a recollection?  The answer: because I will never forget flying this J-3 from a Los Angeles area airport while conducting a “Qual Eval” as part of a USNTPS Class Field trip.  I believe it had the original 65 HP engine.  I do NOT remember who I flew with but I remember taking off, enroute to conducting some “high work” (test pilot stuff like stability and control tests) and listening to the “pock-it-a, pock-it-a, pock-it-a” of that little motor.  What seemed like 20 minutes later, and we were climbing thru 1000 ft AGL.  Needless to say and owing to the very low climb performance, I elected to truncate my high work before returning to the pattern for 5 landings.  Everyone loves the CUB.  Generations learned to fly on it, people praise other airplanes by saying “it flies just like a cub”.  This flight in the J-3 showed me the beauty and serenity of the cub in it’s purest form…with little power available but with wonderful flying qualities.