Philipp Haidbauer
1. Do you remember your first flight as a pilot?
PH: In those days, it was still possible to buy pleasure flights with airliners. I was small, had been given a red cap to wear by the stewardess and was, of course, not the pilot! But from then on I wanted to be one.
2. How many flying hours can you look back on?
PH: I can look back on over 1,500 flying hours and almost 2,000 landings, more than a third of them in formation, and over 400 acrobatic flights and aerial battles. So far then, not so many hours that I?ve lost count, but for the most part they were very demanding!
3. In which Flying Bull aeroplane would you prefer to do a risky landing manoeuvre rather than use a parachute?
PH: During my training I was thrown out of a plane flying at 400 metres three times ? the first time I definitely didn?t want to leave the plane of my own accord. And I certainly won?t be doing it a fourth time! After all, an aeroplane without an engine is ? unlike a helicopter ? still a glider thanks to its wings. Still I would be prepared to risk a lot for my favourite plane ? the Stearman.
With the Alpha Jet on the other hand, being so unlucky to loose both engines not right overhead an airport, I probably would prefer to leave the aircraft at an acceptable distance to the ground. Guess it is no fun to hit anything else than a runway with 125 knots.
4. F-22 or Corsair? Airbus 380 or B-25?
PH: A 380 and a Raptor fly without the pilot needing to do very much. With the Corsair and the B25 you have to do a lot more to keep them in check. Question answered?
5. Which aeroplane would you like to fly if you could choose any, and why?
PH: Let me put it another way: there?s no plane that I wouldn?t like to try flying some time. And I?d really like to learn to pilot a helicopter too ? just for the love of flying!
6. Is there a (technical or design) feature on your aeroplane/helicopter which particularly intrigues you?
PH: I?m a big fan of the wings. They have proved to be very useful?
But seriously: I?m fascinated by the love of detail with which the planes have been restored and brought back to life!
7. Have you never had an uncomfortable feeling when boarding or during a flight because of the age of the machines?
PH: 1. If I feel uncomfortable I don?t even step on board.
2. I have every confidence in the excellent skills of the technical crew.
3. Old does not equate to worse!
8. What was the most turbulent flight you?ve ever had?
PH: Only life is turbulent ? flights are sometimes smooth and sometimes less so.
