Corkey's Plane Talk

WOW, I finally have time on my computer! My email really backs up (over 500 emails) when I’m at an event like Sun-N-Fun. Up and ready to go early morning and then BAM it’s dark. You talk to 8 million people, hahahah ok that’s stretching it a bit, but the day is busy. More on Sun-N-Fun later. I’ll start with our LoPresti 1st Saturday and the Jim Bede show.

We had more than 100 people show up for this 1st Saturday at LoPresti. There was a line of fly-in aircraft that was impressive and the parking lot was filled. The breakfast is not your normal fly-in breakfast; LoPresti goes all out at “Roy’s Café.” I mean Starbucks coffee, bacon, sausage, eggs, several types of pancakes, juices and fruit. Jim Shaffer’s wife, Alda, cooks and she is fantastic. Mimi and David had everything set up like a TV studio – you have to watch David LoPresti run the show. He should have been a TV MC. He gets everyone involved.

You don’t want to miss a Jim Bede talk. They’re educational, informative and very entertaining. I have known Jim since the late 60’s, did a lot of test work for him, lead his BD5J Jet Team and even inspired the BD-10 Jet. I always wanted a small F-15/F-18 type jet. I have had the privilege of flying most of Jim’s designs and, as I have said, if Jim designed it I’ll fly it and know I’ll love it.

Jim gave a great talk. He had people glued to their chairs as he went through all his aircraft designs. He explained where the inspiration came from for each, their purpose and any problems they had to overcome building them. Oh yes, he explained the company problems concerning the BD5. Having been at BD during this period I know no one lost more money or was more disappointed than Jim. I do know first hand that the BD5 series is a great airplane and one of my top 10 airplanes. You know, it is funny, when someone talks to me about Jim and says “he’s a crook” I ask them if they had a deposit on the BD5. Most times the answer is the same. “Oh, I didn’t but I have a friend who has a Brother in Law whose friend did.” Yes, I have met depositors of the BD5 and while disappointed they also say that they had more fun, excitement and dreams about the 5 then the money put up. All in all it was a super 1st Saturday.

With the Fury just out of annual I was ready to practice my aerobatic show. I needed my Fury FIX! I had several aerobatic shows to fly at Sun-N-Fun and needed a little private time with the Fury to get reacquainted.

The annual was done by 2 Bums – hahahahah that’s their company name. REALLY! 2 Bums are two brothers who are aviation artists, not parts changers. Nathan Rigaud, one of the Bums, has a varied aviation back ground besides his A&P, from airshow aerobatics to corporate jet pilot. Their shop is at the Sebastian airport, 12 miles north of Vero Beach and where we will be moving LoPresti Speed Merchants at the end of the year.

Sun-N-Fun was a lot of fun and a hell of a lot of work. Our booth was always crowded, (not complaining Boss), but my time flying the shows gave me time to relax, hahahahahah. I always enjoy seeing old friends and making new ones, the airplanes were great and the air show fantastic. I did have some ask me why so many of the same types of airplanes flew in the show. I didn’t have an answer. I do know that after the Fury flew I answered a lot of questions. Many were about what speeds and G I was using and when could they get one. Well, my speed during the Fury show ranges from apx. 40 KTS to 225 KTS (259 MPH) and seldom do I go over 3 G’s – but some times hit 3.5 G’s when I hit my wake in the bottom of a loop. My answer usually brings two more questions: “Isn’t 40 KTS below the stall speed and I thought you needed more G to fly some of those maneuvers?” They’re listening now. Yes, 40 KTS is below the stall speed but at that point of the maneuver I’m at zero G, if you have no weight, you have no stall speed. The Fury and I actually go slower than that but the lowest number on the airspeed is 40. Concerning the G used, 3 G’s is all that is needed to do most maneuvers in any airplane; it depends on the area you’re trying to keep the airplane in or if someone is shooting at you. My show is to demonstrate energy management to show that you can enjoy aerobatics with a passenger and without beating yourself up. In a game of ACM (air combat maneuvers) you can really pull on the Fury. There is plenty there but a smart fighter pilot will always use energy management. Ever hear the joke about the Old Bull and the Young Bull? That’s energy managment. Oh yes, there are many other questions and debates. Hahahaha, that’s the fun of it. I also had a noticeable experience at Sun-N-Fun this year. In years past I have had pilots come up to me and thank me for inspiring them to pursue an aviation career and they would tell me where they saw me fly. At Sun-N-Fun, I had a number of pilots come up and thank me but with a twist. They all seemed to use their hand to show their height and the type of airplane I was flying when they saw me fly hahahaha. I got a kick out of a Lady airline Captain Who told me I inspired her when she saw me fly my Mustang show; she was 8 and used her hand to show me her height at that age. Curt LoPresti and I were at a party where several of the Aerobatic pilots told me I had inspired them when they saw me fly the Bearcat or the BD5 Jet. Curt looked at me and said laughing, “Corkey, you know you’ve been around awhile, but it must make you feel good to hear that.” Well Boss, it does. I like to know in some way that I have given back to aviation cause aviation has been very very good to me.

We, the Fury, LoPresti and I have a big year ahead with some great announcements to come. Yes, I could tell you some now, no I wouldn’t have to kill you; Curt and Rj would kill me so I won’t hahahahaha. Just stay tuned! Me, I’m headed to the Warbird show at Galveston, TX. The Fury loves a crowd.

Check 6,
“Corkey”