Other Aircraft Jet Provost T-33 Casa DeHavilland Vampire Mig-17 Mig-21 Unique Types (for which no examiner is approved)   Jet Provost The British Jet Provost series, which includes the JP-3, JP-4, JP-5, and Strikemaster, represent a different sort of surplus jet, one with side-by-side seating. Powered by various marks of the Rolls Royce Viper jet engine, the jets range from a very low performance unpressurized jet (The Mark-3) to a fairly high performance pressurized jet (The Strikemaster). The hot-rod of the bunch is the Mark-4, an unpressurized (read that lightweight) model with the larger powerplant installation of the Mark-5. All are simple, robust, and easy to fly and operate. Red Star Aviation endorses Steve Picatti, of Van Nuys CA, as our preferred Jet Provost Instructor of choice. There are several other well qualified instructors and upon request we will make recommendations based on your geographical area. Dave Sutton, our primary volunteer Instructor, is rated in the Provosts and can give initial and recurrent flight instruction in these jets and can perform Flight Tests upon application and approval of the FAA. For the purposes of flight tests and rating issuance, the unpressurized jets (Marks 3 and 4) are considered to be a different rating than the pressurized ones (JP-5 and Strikemaster). T-33 The Lockheed T-33 "Shooting Star" is one of the "Icon Aircraft" of the Cold War era. Many thousands of Air Force cadets earned their wings flying the old Lockheed, and the design is an enduring one. Even today, T-33's continue to serve in various military and industrial roles. Red Star Aviation is pleased that it's Vice President, Fowler "Big Dog" Cary, is a highly experienced T-33 demonstration pilot and instructor pilot. Fowler is well known to the East Coast airshow community and is certain to be remembered by anyone who has ever met him. He holds a surface-level Aerobatic Display waiver, and does a beautiful job of displaying his immaculate American T-33. While not offering a full pilot conversion course in his jet other than by special arrangement, Fowler will be pleased to assist prospective T-33 operators with technical assistance, planeside orientation, and initial flights in his jet at his location in Columbia, South Carolina. Fowler is a Past Director of the Classic Jet Aircraft Association, and is an integral part of Red Star Aviation. Dave Van Liere, one of Red Star Aviations preferred training instructors, is considered to be one of the most experienced T-33 instructors and experts in the USA. He is available for flight instruction, ferry flights, Pilot Examinations, and all other general T-33 needs. In addition, Dave Sutton, our primary volunteer Pilot Examiner, is also rated in the T-Bird and can give Practical Tests in the jet upon request. Red Star is actively seeking a T-33 to add to our fleet, and is interested in speaking to any operators who would like to place their aircraft in service with us in order to facilitate its use in our programs. Casa The Spanish CASA HA-200 "Saeta" (Spanish for "Arrow") is one of the more common jets that we are asked to work with. This jet, which shares its Turbomeca Marbore powerplant installation with the French Fouga, was the last aircraft design done by the famous Willy Messerschmitt. With a slow stalling speed, straight wing, and simple systems, it rivals the L-29 as a good choice for a first jet. Its main advantage, shared with the slightly higher performance Fouga, is a second engine. For those pilots not wishing to maintain live ejection seats, something that we consider to be a safety requirement in a single engine jet, the twin engine CASA deserves consideration. Dave Van Liere, one of the Independent Instructors who have been vetted and approved by Red Star Aviation, is the worlds leading authority on the civilian operation of the CASA Saeta. He is both an Instructor and Examiner in the aircraft, and we endorse his services. Our primary volunteer Instructor, Dave Sutton, is also rated in this aircraft and can provide initial and recurrent training in this model. DeHavilland Vampire The DeHavilland Vampire (and it's slightly more advanced cousin, the Venom) have been operated in the USA as civil aircraft since the late 1950's, making it one of the oldest types to have been available to the Classic Jet community. Red Star Aviation has owned and operated an ex-Australian Mark-35W Vampire, and is scheduled to take possession of a DH-100 version Vampire in late spring 2005. We perform flight training and FAA Testing in this jet, and are also pleased to recommend the services of Dave Van Liere as our first choice in an independent Vampire instructor and Examiner as a second alternative. Mig-17 The MiG-17 can really be considered a variant of the MiG-15, and training in the MiG-15UTI Trainer is fully adequate to qualify a pilot in the MiG-17. The MiG-17 features a more sharply swept wing, and most versions have an afterburning version of the VK-1 engine. Red Star Aviation has operated three MiG-17's over the years, of both Polish and Chinese manufacture, and can perform full pilot training in our MiG-15 and then do differences training for the very slightly different MiG-17 as well as issuing pilot authorizations in type. This is one of the highest performance, most reliable, and safest high-performance fighters available to the civilian owner. We simply love them! We are presently negotiating for another, and selected pilots who fully qualify in our MiG-15UTI may be offered the opportunity to solo the MiG-17. Mig-21 The MiG-21 is a Mach-2 interceptor, and represents the "big time" in Classic Jets. Red Star Aviation has been working with MiG-21's since 1991, and has operated four of them in the past. Our only advice on these is that they are NOT a good first classic jet. We are able to give flight instruction in these, and our examiner is authorized to give Flight Tests in them. We can also suggest some other excellent resources for maintenance work, flight instruction, and pilot flight tests. Please contact us if you want more information about these jets. Unique Types (for which no examiner is approved) One of the more common questions we are asked is "How do I receive a flight test in unique aircraft, ones for which no examiner is approved". The answer is actually pretty simple: You find the best qualified instructor and receive flight training just like you would receive in any other airplane. When it comes time for the fight test, a Designated and "Qualified" Examiner can apply to the FAA for a one-time authorization to conduct a flight test in an airplane for which no examiner is rated. Being "Qualified" is sort of vague, but basically the FAA will look to see if he is qualified in one of five basic categories of airplanes: Piston Single, Piston Multiengine, Straight Wing Jet, Swept Wing Jet, and Supersonic Jet. Generally, once approved by the FAA, the examiner works closely with the Instructor in order to determine what will constitute a safe and effective test. The test is then given by the Examiner. In a two seat airplane, you can expect that the Examiner will want to make at least one flight with the Instructor in order to familiarize himself with the characteristics of the airplane, and you an rest assured that the Examiner will have been cracking the books on the model for the last several week, so that he is prepared himself. Our policy is to make one flight in the pilot position and a second flight in the Instructors position in order to be familiar with both cockpits. Another question is "How do I receive a Flight Test in a single seat airplane?" The answer can be made according to two possibilities: If a two seat aircraft of the same or an extremely similar model is available, the FAA will probably want you to arrange to rent or borrow it for a flight test. This is the case for the MiG-17 (for which a MiG-15UTI is used) and for the A-4 Skyhawk, F-5, Vampire and Hawker Hunter. If no such aircraft is available a flight test can be arranged to be done by observation from the ground. This is often the case with aircraft such as the Spitfire, Hurricane, P-40 Warhawk, Corsair, etc. The Examiner will probably want to fly with you in some sort of aircraft in order to judge your capabilities and the North American T-6 is often used for this preliminary test for the heavy piston Warbirds. It's not likely that a pilot converting to one of these priceless fighters is a novice, so it's likely that these tests will not be difficult to arrange or pass. The last question is "How do I get an authorization in an airplane for which NOBODY is yet qualified?" Well, that's a bit more difficult to answer. Basically, the FAA will ask that you find "somebody" who is qualified in the airplane to give some sort of instruction, This Instructor may be a foreign pilot, or the training make actually take place overseas. This is always the subject of negotiation, and each is done on a case-by-case basis. The test will need to be done by an Examiner, and early coordination will be required between the Instructor, Candidate, Examiner, and FAA in order to make this a smooth transition. Red Star Aviation has already received one-time approval to give ground-observed flight tests in the Curtis P-40 Warhawk and the Hawker Hurricane, both single-seat fighters, and in the Yak-3, a dual control fighter. We are working closely now with a prospective operator of the SU-25, a single seat ground attack jet, and with another operator who is now restoring an A-37. Early communication between all parties cannot be overstressed when dealing with these issues.