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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 7, 2018 20:56:38 GMT 12
Forum member and well known aviator Bevan Dewes has just made a very exciting post on his Facebook page. He has been in Australia the past five weeks, during which time he gained an Australian pilot's licence, converted to and went solo in the Harvard ex-NZ1024. Once he had several hours in the Harvard, he then got the amazing opportunity to fly Doug Hamilton's beautiful two seat Curtiss P-40N on several occasions with Doug in the back seat. What an absolutely terrific progression Bevan has been making in his warbird flying in the past couple of years. We're very good friends and I have known a long time about his goal to fly the WWII fighters. Many people may have think these days such a young fella could not make it happen so early, especially when they are not a millionaire, but at 24 years old he's actually extremely experienced and capable, and he has exactly the right attitude and outlook to go very far in the warbird world. He has worked very hard to achieve this and I'm so stoked that he's flown the Kittyhawk, his huge dream plane. Whilst he has been keeping it generally very quiet till going public tonight, I have been among a very privileged few as he has kept a few of us in the loop through this adventure every step of the way. He is so excited, and he's so passionate about what he's doing. He remains extremely humble and grateful to those who've helped him out, particularly Doug Hamilton and his family. I'm so happy for him, and proud to be his friend. Bevan is on the fast track to the big league in warbirds. See his Facebook post here: |
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flymac
Pilot Officer
Posts: 45 
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Post by flymac on Jul 7, 2018 21:45:20 GMT 12
Congratulations Bevan. That is some accomplishment today.
I checked my father's logbook and he soloed a P40.N.20, NZ3208, at Ohakea on 7th Feb 1945 after 223 hours training in Tiger Moths and Harvards in the previous 10 months.
He went on to fly Corsairs but always rated the P40 as his favourite aircraft.
He also flew Harvard NZ1024 whilst at Ohakea.
Great news to hear pilots can still do the same today.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 7, 2018 21:48:44 GMT 12
Wow, when Bryan Cox soloed in the P-40 he had just 120 hours flying time. He still marvels at how small that amount seems.
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flymac
Pilot Officer
Posts: 45
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Post by flymac on Jul 8, 2018 12:07:26 GMT 12
Dave, was that solo/1st pilot hours? My father had 111 hours solo before the fighter otu at Ohakea.
My father started training - first flight April 3rd 1944 - Air Experience DH82 1478.
I believe Bryan Cox trained earlier than this.
Reading the log book I was surprised how important the Link trainer was for training instrument flying.
Have any been preserved as they must have helped train many successful pilots.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 8, 2018 12:13:37 GMT 12
Bryan had a total of 120 hours when he flew the P-40 for the first time, which was also of course a solo flight.
Yes there are a number of preserved Link trainers around, in museums such as MOTAT, Wigram, Ashburton, and I think Classic Flyers has one?
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Post by JollyGreenSlugg on Jul 9, 2018 20:34:41 GMT 12
This is wonderful news, congratulations Bevan!
Bevan, it’s really terrific to see a good fella reach those hard-earned goals, especially after such hard work and effort. You’re a positive example to us all, and those creaky old fogies like myself admire your enthusiasm and that incredible drive that you have! I could never be jealous, as you’ve earned it, well and truly.
It’s fair to say that the future of warbirding is in good hands! Good on you, mate!
Cheers,
Matt
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Post by ZacYates on Jul 10, 2018 21:50:04 GMT 12
I’d like to echo everything Matt said above. Bevan strikes me as someone who’s worked very hard to achieve the things he has, and while I’m deeply envious I am also very, very happy to see this latest news.
And I thought the rest of his holiday was cool enough!
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Post by vultee43 on Jul 26, 2018 20:03:51 GMT 12
Congratulations Bevan. Must admit to being green eyed. P40 is my dream ship, even trumps the Spitfire. I hope this leads to much more heavy metal flying. You will be a much wanted man in years to come.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Jul 27, 2018 20:33:47 GMT 12
Agreed. P-40 for me. Take note Russell and Ross! Well done Bevan, proof that it can be done without a silver spoon...
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 3, 2018 20:26:02 GMT 12
I reckon I should put this up here. It was a pleasure to introduce Bevan, the world's youngest P-40 pilot, to Ron Hildreth, who was a rigger on P-40's during WWII on Monday. We had a great fun visit with loads of interesting stories. This photo has been very popular on Facebook.  |
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Post by Mustang51 on Aug 3, 2018 20:36:58 GMT 12
Without people like Bevan the warbird movement will die. Too many older guys flying warbirds think that they are the bees knees but do not remember that 19 year olds were flying Spitfires and the like in combat. Same in WW.I. They think because they are young these others cannot do the job. My hat is off to Bevan who has proven, with what I shall call sponsorship and what I shall call farsightedness by Doug Hamilton, that he is up to the task. Bloody Good Job Bevan !!!
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Post by bevanid on Aug 3, 2018 22:11:48 GMT 12
6 weeks on I still can not actually believe I actually got to fly the P-40, An opportunity I did not think would come for along time yet. After building time in Doug Hamilton's gorgeous Harvard (Harold) I was given the chance to fly his P-40. After a trip in the back seat following through a couple of takeoffs and landings it was time to swap seats and have a go myself. My first takeoff in the P-40 is something i will never forget. It is certainly a step up from the Harvard. Getting airborne and getting the gear up I was thinking to my self gesh that would have been a shock to the system for the young guys having their first flight in a P-40, with barely a couple of hundred hours total time. I can see how it could get very messy very fast if you add power to fast or allow the aircraft to wander on the runway! once airborne and cleaned up the P-40 gets along nicely at about 220mph(220kts TAS) at 2300rpm and 30 inches of manifold pressure and it handles every bit as good as other pilots say, the ailerons are fantastic and it the energy in aerobatic maneuvers is amazing it climbs like a home sick angel, and then diving it accelerates very quick too so you need to keep an eye on that particularly close to the ground. Coming back into the circuit for a run and break I used just cruise power ran down the runway at approx 270mph then pitch up into the circuit easing the power back to about 22" MAP and speed dropping to below 175mph to get the gear down. On down wind maintaining 150mph then slowing on to base to about 130mph to get the flaps down. the P-40 comes down like a brick so its very important not to let it start to sink, its requires quite a bit of power to maintain a reasonable descent rate. On final push the RPM forward to get about 2650RPM and check the hydraulic handle is firm then over the fence at about 100mph and ease the throttle closed and it settles nicely into a tail low wheeler. and roles straight as an arrow, with only minor corrections required. (That is a very, very basic run down of getting a P-40 on the ground, trust me there is a lot more going on than that!) I don't think the smile has left my face since that day. Having the chance to fly it again a week later after everything had a chance to settle in really helped me feel comfortable in the aeroplane now with a couple of hours in it I can not wait to do more one day!! I have been exceptionally fortunate to be able to fly some very amazing aeroplanes during my aviaiton career so far. but to fly the P-40 has been my goal for a very, very long time. Everything I have done until now has been working towards that goal. It is a pretty amazing feeling to actually achieve it! but that would not have been possible with out the amazing support of everyone who has encouraged and mentored me over the years, and particularly Doug for allowing me to fly his Harvard and believing in me enough to allow me to fly the P-40. I still cant get over it! just amazing! It is quite special to be a similar age to the guys who were flying P-40s 75ish years ago in WW2 although I'm not flying in combat I certainly feel a unique connection to the aeroplanes. To be able to meet some of the WW2 veterans who worked on and flew these aircraft and hear their stories is pretty special also, it give a sense or reality to what we are all trying to achieve, 'to preserve living history' and keep their stories alive. I hope what I have achieved will show other young people that flying WW2 fighters is not completely out of reach, you just need to have focus, enthusiasm, patience and most of all Passion and dedication. I'm not from an aviation family but they are supportive of my aviation passion and I am lucky have amazing friends and mentors who have given me a lot of time and support. "You need to aim big to achieve big" and I have goals not dreams      |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 3, 2018 22:23:22 GMT 12
This for me is "Post Of The Year" Bevan. Bloody fantastic!
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Post by Mustang51 on Aug 3, 2018 23:31:43 GMT 12
Aim big.........
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Post by harvard1041 on Aug 4, 2018 6:23:21 GMT 12
Good job Bevan and congratulations !
Doug sure is a good guy and the team as Precision there do a good job.
Cheers
John.
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Post by Gavin Conroy on Aug 4, 2018 21:10:10 GMT 12
Great work Bevan, fantastic to see.
I first met Doug back in 2011 and two things I know about him is that if you are the type of person who is a good bugger and hard worker you will get on well with him!
My last trip to see Doug was in 2016, we had a blast flying with and in everything only to arrive at the farm in the Lockheed for a couple of beers one night and no doubt you loved that environment as well.
Onwards and upwards mate!
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