Matthias Dolderer
1. Do you remember your first flight as a pilot? If so, when and where was it?
MD: I can remember my first solo flight very well; it was in October 1984, one month before my 14th birthday, at home on our airfield in Tannheim (Germany).
2. How many flying hours can you look back on?
MD: About 7,500.
3. In which Flying Bull aeroplane would you prefer to do a risky landing manoeuvre rather than use a parachute?
MD: I?d prefer a landing with any aeroplane to one with a parachute ?
However, I would risk a lot for the Corsair.
4. F-22 or Corsair? Airbus 380 or B-25? (Which machine is the more exciting to fly?)
MD: I?d certainly like to fly the F22 some time ? but there?s nothing to compare with the Corsair. Flying an A380 is like driving a bus. I?m sure it would be fun to fly a few airfield traffic patterns in one, but everything else is controlled by the system operator. The B-25 is a bit more interesting ? at least you fly it yourself!
5. Which aeroplane would you like to fly if you could choose any, and why?
MD: A space shuttle, because I?d love to see the Earth from space.
6. Is there a (technical or design) feature on your aeroplane which particularly intrigues you?
MD: The unique sound of the Corsair engine always gives me goosebumps. And I still find the gigantic 4-metre-diameter propellers and gull wings very impressive.
7. Which (flying) characteristics on which type of aeroplane do you find particularly fascinating? And which do you view critically?
MD: The Corsair?s speed, agility and also its manoeuvrability in slow flight are simply terrific. Theoretically you could land her on an aircraft carrier! The extremes are rather tricky areas ? too slow, too fast or too low ? and this is what I always try to avoid.
8. Have you never had an uncomfortable feeling when boarding or during a flight because of the age of the machines?
MD: No, the Flying Bull aeroplanes are fantastically maintained. And besides: you have to reckon with technical problems during any flight. Wherever technology is involved, technical failures can occur. It?s irrelevant how old the machine is.
9. What was the most turbulent flight you?ve ever had?
MD: One flight I will always remember was a night flight with a single-engine machine from Tannheim to Italy (with spare parts for racing cars). It was full moon, the Hale-Bopp comet was shining and there was an incredible number of shooting stars in the sky?
10. Which machine should definitely still be added to the Flying Bulls collection?
Well, in fact it already includes pretty much everything you could possibly want. But if I could choose, a Mustang P51, a Bearcat or a F104 or F18 would fit in well?
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