World’s newest Wirraway Pilot
Lars Larson, the witty pilot and commentator that you can catch in action on Museum flying weekends, has just completed his endorsement in the Museum’s 1940 CAC Wirraway. Well-known Warbird pilot Steve Death visited the Museum for a couple of days to provide the training that helped Lars to successfully learn to fly the Wirraway.
Steve described the type of training that was involved before Lars could pilot the Wirraway on his own. “We began with extensive ground school prior to flight, after which, the first flying session with both Lars and myself involved general handling of the aircraft and its systems. We then returned to the airfield for a session of take-offs and landings. We carried on with this until the sun was setting and then returned to the field. A de-briefing process concluded the first day of flying.”
“A good cross wind was blowing the following day, in time to challenge Lars with his newly-found flying skills. The day began with a flight that involved carrying out emergency procedures training. This involved what to do in the case of engine failure and any other possible problems. We then landed at the field again, after which Lars performed his first solo flight.”
Lars found the Wirraway a delightful airplane to fly and commented that, “It’s noisy, it shakes, it rattles and I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to fly it.”
Lars’s flying training was made much easier by his extensive flying history in tail wheel type aircraft such as the Piper Cub, Tiger Moth, Ryan STM and his own Cessna 180. During the week Lars is a 737 pilot for Qantas and has more than 10,000 hours flying experience under his belt.
Check out photos of Lars taken after his first solo flight in the Wirraway. http://aviationmuseum.ayera.com/news/LarsWirraway.cfm
History Channel
If you have not yet had the chance to watch the Museum’s program, Temora Aviation Museum Warbirds it will be showing on the History Channel on the 24 and 25 April.
It is a 60-minute program, which features rare archival footage as well as recent interviews with the veterans who flew the aircraft. It involves spectacular air-to-air photography and is narrated by the familiar voice of Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell.
If you would like to purchase your own DVD or VHS copy of Temora Aviation Museum Warbirds online, visit the Museum’s Website Merchandise page at www.aviationmuseum.com.au/shop or call the Museum on 02 6977 1088 to order a copy.