• Filmed a flight on the Antonov An-2 biplane to drop parachutists using a GoPro HERO7 Black action camera mounted on a head mount. It turned out a bit high, although I set the pilot's seat to the lowest position. Plus, the presence of a strong canopy frame had its effect: "thanks" to 1940s technology! 😊
For this reason, the view of the Earth in certain directions can be slightly blocked. But I tried to minimize this effect by looking under the canopy frame... 😁
Also, at certain moments, I had to constantly turn my head. The parachutists (tandem jumpers and videographers) were dropped from an altitude of 2,500 meters (~ 8,200 feet) and above a thin but opaque cloud layer, which was located at an altitude of about 2 kilometers (ceiling is 6,500 feet AGL). Therefore, navigation and determination of the exit point were carried out by GPS using the FLY is FUN application with a horizontal situation indicator (commonly called the HSI).
• Date: December 1, 2024
• Airport: Kalachevo Airfield Airport (XSCW), Kopeysk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia
• Pilot in command: Sergey Vyatkin
• Equipment used for video filming: GoPro HERO7 Black action camera
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✅ Since the same questions are asked in the comments, I decided to post answers to some of them (FAQ):
1. "How old is this plane? Why is it so old?" - this particular An-2 biplane is not that old and was built on January 17, 1990 at the Polish aircraft factory PZL Mielec 🇵🇱
For example, the last American long-range strategic bomber Boeing B-52H Stratofortress was produced on June 22, 1962, and these aircraft will remain in service until at least the 2060s! 🇺🇸
2. "What is this "anti-theft" on the control column/yoke for?" - this is the control column/yoke and rudder pedals control lock. It is needed for parking fixation of the position of the control surfaces (elevator, rudder and ailerons), as well as parts of their control systems. Fixation is necessary to prevent spontaneous movements of the control surfaces from side to side due to the effect of wind when the aircraft is parked and to prevent unnecessary wear of the kinematics ("loosening") or breakdowns;
3. "What is the handle (or lever) on the left side of the yoke and what "hisses" when you press it?" - this is main brake handle. The An-2 aircraft has an air brake system;
4. "Is it cold or warm in the cabin in winter? Is there a heater?" - in winter, it is even hot in the cabin! 🥵
The aircraft is equipped with a heating system for the fuselage cabin and canopy glass. Cold air, entering the intake and heating up in the heat exchanger on the outlet pipe of the exhaust system, enters the distributor, from where the warm air can be directed into the system or, if necessary, discharged overboard the aircraft.
• Time marks for easy navigation through the video (chapters):
00:00 Preparing to start the engine
01:30 Start of spinning up the flywheel of the RIM-U-24IR electric inertial starter
02:24 Start of the nine-cylinder, air-cooled, radial aircraft engine Shvetsov ASh-62IR with a takeoff power of 735.45 kilowatt (1,000 horsepower)
04:18 Loading parachutists on board
08:08 Start of taxiing to the line-up for takeoff
10:12 Takeoff from unpaved runway 31
11:42 Start of the first turn towards the left crosswind followed by the second turn towards the left downwind (one combined turn by 180°)
16:45 Altitude 1,000 meters (~ 3,280 feet)
19:05 Altitude 1,500 meters (~ 4,920 feet)
21:50 Altitude 2,000 meters (~ 6,560 feet), passing a cloud layer about 100 meters thick (~ 328 feet)
24:00 Entering the "Jump Run" course
25:20 Altitude 2,500 meters (~ 8,200 feet)
25:30 Reducing manifold pressure before the “Go” command in order to reduce the intensity of the air flow to facilitate hanging the videographers overboard
25:40 Jump of the first tandem with a videographer (shot through the cabin window)
26:05 Jump of the last (third) tandem (without a videographer)
26:15 Beginning of an intensive descent (after full retraction of the flaps)
26:52 Breaking through a thin cloud layer
Descent with right and left spirals with a very beautiful view of the Korkinsky coal mine (turquoise water enters the mine from the Tominsky mining and processing plant)
29:00 Right spiral descent from 650 meters (~ 2,132 feet) with entry into the base turn area at 300 meters (~ 984 feet)
30:54 Start of the base-to-final turn at 150 meters (~ 492 feet)
31:14 Switching the automatic propeller AV-2 to a low pitch
31:40 Passing the threshold of the unpaved runway 31, beginning of the flare
31:50 Landing and flaps retraction
32:28 Stopping to let out a passenger from the right seat
32:50 Start of taxiing to the parking area
35:00 Aircraft parking
35:55 Stopping on wheel chocks
36:05 Start of engine shutdown procedure
#An2 #Biplane #Cockpit #Flight #FlightDeck #POV #Vintage #Warbird #Warbirds #4K #4KVideo