John Thorp's Tiny Killing Machine

Рет қаралды 79,212

Ай бұрын

Ever heard of the Fletcher Defender? You’re not alone, this was a tiny warbird that could rain terror on its enemies below. Sadly, it was not to be, but its persistent and stubborn designer kept on working on new aircraft designs, until finally conceiving one of the most popular aircraft ever built. Check out the story on this man’s amazing journey through aviation, and if you watch the whole video you will be rewarded with an exclusive video on the only airworthy Fletcher Defender left flying. It’s got a wicked cool bark as well. Enjoy!
I wanted to give a big shout out to Ben Preston at / obscureairplanes for sharing the exclusive video of the Fletcher at a fly-in at California. Thank you!
And another to Philip Esdaile (Davis Air Repair, Davis CA), who graciously lent his time to share with me his knowledge, experience and stories on the Fletcher Defender.
Thank you Terry Hagle for allowing me use of his T-18 footage:
/ @terryhagle
I don't own these clips. All rights are reserved to their respective owners. Creative common videos are also utilized. If your clip is included and you'd like it removed, please email me, and we'll address the matter right away. richard@e-sense.tv
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Пікірлер: 145

@fullspektrum435 Ай бұрын

Nice video, and interesting subject! More of these, please! I really liked that you added the sound of the aircraft in the end, as often in videos like these it will be missing. I didn't know that cherokees were derived from Fletchers, that was new one for me!

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! The video at the end is truly the only footage out there of this super rare plane. A friend on instagram sent it a while back. Here's another bit of trivia (which I didn't include on the video) John Thorp invented the "flying tail" you see on Cherokees as well as jets like the MD-80.

@Kimoto504 3 күн бұрын

"at the end of this video" ~skips to end~

@twofacedmctwoface4876 Ай бұрын

Thank you for the story... I was one of the 10 whom developed the aircraft into the Cresco... the forerunner of the XL750...

@altaloma7789 Ай бұрын

They're called Augmenter Tubes, and use exhaust pressure to increase airflow in the engine compartment to aid engine cooling.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

And they sound AWESOME! Some of the best sounding planes have them (Caribou, Convair, Queenair, etc)

@altaloma7789 Ай бұрын

Oops, may have it spelled it incorrectly. Augmenter tubes is my best guess. They also got used on some other aircraft of the day, like Rockwell Commanders, and were oppressively loud. The video does not give a true volume representation. They were LOUD! Obnoxiously LOUD. Some people gave up and removed them to keep the complaints to a minimum. Some small airports even "requested" that their owners change them. Airports get enough heat from airplanes being loud. To make them louder brought on outrage, especially after the third or fourth run through the pattern.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

@@altaloma7789 Well, some context needs to be taken into consideration, these were popular around the 1950s, but pretty much ALL vehicles were loud back then. If you feel that these were loud, check out what early turbojets sounded like (early Lears, Sabres, etc). The tubes went away by the 1960s anyways, as other cooling methods were employed.

@lcfflc3887 Ай бұрын

Could have very well be mounted under the wings, such a careless idea to mounted on top of the wings, nasty fumes and extra notice the pilot does not need.

@DblIre 5 күн бұрын

Early Cessna 310's also had them

@xAEROPLANEx Ай бұрын

Can only imagine what could have been if one of the services had chosen to obtain these. Instead it’s delegated to being a footnote in history, part of the line of other interesting aircraft. Thanks for letting us know about it!

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@shinc4054 Ай бұрын

Thanks, interesting 🤔

@darylnd Ай бұрын

"Relegated," not "delegated." Different words, different concepts.

@xAEROPLANEx Ай бұрын

@@darylnd Indeed !

@kingghidorah8106 Ай бұрын

7:11 seeing a tiny prop plane armed with four sparrows is terrifying

@amiganutt Ай бұрын

My father started building the T18 before his death. I was able to take a flight in the T18 at an EAA Fly In.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Lovely design!

@frankzardini6224 Ай бұрын

The background story is fascinating! Mr Fletcher's confidence and determination are unparalleled examples to follow. Thanks for posting the amazing stuff!

@andrewoh1663 Ай бұрын

I live in New Zealand and regularly see Fletchers doing their thing above farmland.

@handy335 Ай бұрын

Good stuff! Well done! Thank you!

@davidmcintosh7563 Ай бұрын

What a cool airplane! I bet it’s a fun plane to fly!

@ivandenisovich6005 Ай бұрын

Fascinating stuff. I'd heard of the Defender but not the back story. Look forward to seeing more from your channel.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Thank you!

@mattheide2775 Ай бұрын

Thank you for the video and the channel. I think that the civilian aircraft designs in the late 40's through the 50's was the Golden Era for small airplanes. I guess there is a saying in the pilot world; If the plane looks right, it will fly right. 👍

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Well said! Thanks for watching

@MeppyMan Ай бұрын

My father flew the Fletcher FU-24 in NZ back then. I had no idea of its history. Cool video. Dates of each event in the video would have been really nice.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

That’s awesome! Thanks for the feedback and will take that dates into consideration for next vid 👍

@MeppyMan Ай бұрын

@@aircraftadventures-vids fletchers were popular when I was growing up in small town NZ.

@ronbarden7210 Ай бұрын

My dad also flew the FU-24 in New Zealand back in the 1950s. In fact, he test flew the first 42 completed at Robertson Air Service and James Aviation. He trained the technicians on how to assemble the Fletchers from the kits. He lost his best friend during the test flying of the FD-25.

@MeppyMan Ай бұрын

@@ronbarden7210 wow that’s awesome. Sad about his friend. Not sure what years my dad flew them. Probably late 60s before he started flying helicopters. Such an iconic Kiwi ag plane.

@markawbolton Ай бұрын

I was involved with FU - 24 in airborne geophys 2005 ish .. wierd half seat for a half passenger.. me ..

@foxie1927 Ай бұрын

Thanks, I enjoyed that, wrapping the story into the John Thorpe history generally, added interest. As did tying it into the COIN Ops aircraft category, like the Mwari. Of course the final clip and audio of those augmentors playing their tune was the cherry on top.👍🏻

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Thanks! I guess the video was really a bio on John Thorp (I usually start with a story on the plane but ultimately weave the designer into the story)

@vumba1331 Ай бұрын

When still flying the airfield used had a sky diving school and used the turbine FU 24 as their dive aircraft. Amazing performance, easily back down on the ground before the skydivers after a 12,000 foot drop!

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

There's one sort of local to me, about 1hr south in X51

@kiwikeith7633 Ай бұрын

I had a ride in a Fletcher FU-24 crop duster. The pilot was out for practice. It was the most thrilling flight in fixed wing I ever had.. I ca attest to the agility of the plane, and the G's it can deliver. I recall staring down the trunk of a pine tree from above, and pulling out of the dive as the branches spread out towards the ground. Passing though gaps in the hedge and then following the meandering of a creek back to the base field. And there are so many flying today, although many are upgraded to turbo-prop as the CRESCO.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Wow! Thanks for sharing that.

@DblIre 5 күн бұрын

Thorpe was the first to fly a homebuilt aircraft around the world. The plane is now in the EAA Museum in Oshkosh Wisconsin.

@trinas7131 Ай бұрын

And now we have the Brazilian Super Tucano doing the same roll.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Verdade!

@bradalgra8088 Ай бұрын

Richard, outstanding video on one of my all time favorite aircraft! I think I have every photo that exists of the FD-25, but have never seen that video footage. I always wonder where Ben gets his rare content from sometimes. Great backstory of the Defender and John Thorpe. I always cross my fingers that it will appear at Airventure one day, as it has once before at Pacific Aerospace's booth. Fingers crossed. Thank you, and keep bringing the great content Richard!

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Hey Brad! Yeah Ben shot that video at a fly-in earlier this year where the defender showed up at a small fly-in. Caught him by surprise too! I was more than thrilled when i saw the vid. Owner was fun to chat with, just not sure he’s going to drag it up to Osh!

@bradalgra8088 Ай бұрын

@@aircraftadventures-vids I knew it was up in Northern California but didn't know it was still airworthy. So happy to see it still flying. It's such a unique airplane!

@ronbarden7210 Ай бұрын

I did see the FD-25 at AirVenture in 2010. My dad worked with John Thorp for many years. We spent most of two years in New Zealand (1954 - 56), while my dad helped Robertson Air Service and James Aviation get tooled up and assemble the first FU-24s. He then did the test flights on the first 42 completed.

@bradalgra8088 Ай бұрын

@@ronbarden7210 That's pretty cool Ron! Lucky man to work with John Thorp. Legend.

@ZebulonAirRacing Ай бұрын

Awesome job, cool subject, keep the videos coming!

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Thank you my friend! I'm thinking of doing a compilation and include the Epsilon, not quite sure what the theme will be.

@dannyphantom1232 Ай бұрын

Love the defender! Great video as always 👏🏻

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Thanks! 👍

@mustang51hy Ай бұрын

Excellent video! one cool panes for sure!

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Thanks!

@user-fd7vt5zx7q Ай бұрын

Wow... Great job!

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Thanks!

@allovertheworld1356 Ай бұрын

Great content. Just got back from flying 1969 PA28. Same same but different. Waiting for more.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

More to come! Thanks for watching.

@SoldierXXL Ай бұрын

That thing sounds like a classic motorcycle !

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Not sure about that…maybe a Valkyrie??

@Flightstar Ай бұрын

Great story and presentation.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Much appreciated!

@Flightstar Ай бұрын

@@aircraftadventures-vids Id love to see a story about the Private Explorer and its predecessor the Global Explorer. Designed by a Dean Wilson, Who designed the Avid kit plane and who''s features tricked into the prolific KitFox and recently the Just Aircraft Highlander bush plane. Unfortunately the Global explorer crashed somewhere in British Columbia. The Private explorer I believe the design was sold to a company in Quebec that tried to kit it in two variants, A light version with a Rotax 912 and a big size camper version powered by a Lyc 540. It was nicknamed the Wingebago. The only flying version of that, that I knew of, crashed in Lake Azure in BC also, after the pilot forget to retract the gear on the amphib floats and it sunk in 400' of water. That one was powered by a turboprop. It had been recovered by the insurance Company after being found by an underwater drone, which during the search also found a Tiger Moth on Skis sitting on the bottom of the lake in pristine condition. It had landed on the ice in the 40's and abandoned by the crew , then presumably sunk during the spring breakup. There's a lot of gaps in the Explorer's saga and I you'd be the guy to make a great video story about it.

@charleslindsay3201 Ай бұрын

good background about thorpe the man.i remember the thorpe high performance kit plane but don't think i ever saw one.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

My pleasure! I feel like the designer needs as much of the spotlight as the plane. And there’s so many more i’d like to cover (Dean Wilson is one).

@hotprop92 Ай бұрын

Wow, I want one of these!

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

I’m not so sure Philip (the owner) will let you!

@undertow2142 Ай бұрын

The world needs a relatively inexpensive twin engine amphibious plane that you can go camping in. Like a downsized PBY Catalina.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Look up the Wilson Global Explorer! It's exactly that. I'd love to do a video on that thing.

@drifter503 Ай бұрын

Great video. I’ve seen one of those 750xl at FXE

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! and sharing the pic of the 750. I know they use one at Homestead for skydiving too.

@stevenhard3961 Ай бұрын

Looks a lot like the USAF T37 jet powered trainer. The T37 is also a fighter jet.

@fredferd965 Ай бұрын

In the 1950's Fletcher Aviation was located in Rosemead, California, before the I-10 freeway was built. Though the facility is gone now, its location was just east of what is now Fletcher Avenue, and south of what is now Flair Drive. (This is to the east of Rosemead Boulevard.) At the time, Fletcher Aviation had an airport, Fletcher Field. In the early 1950's Fletcher Field was used to film major scenes in the movie, The Billy Mitchel Story, with Gary Cooper. It was the only airport in the entire Los Angeles basin that didn't have houses in the background. Looking south and east, there was a convenient line of trees as a backdrop. We lived nearby and walked over there (I was maybe 6 or 7 years old) and saw Cooper in uniform coming out of one of the buildings. The Goodyear Blimp showed up and gave blimp rides for only five dollars. There were a number of skeletonized US "yellow pearl" biplanes parked on the ramp, and the Grumman amphibious biplane showed up for local color. It is all gone now, every bit of it. The only thing that remains is the name of Fletcher on the road. One long wing Fletcher 24 flew out of El Monte Airport for many years. We would see it in the air every now and then.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing that! Certainly enriches the story behind the plane.

@fredferd965 Ай бұрын

@@aircraftadventures-vids You're welcome! You have a great presentation here! Well done!

@monostripezebras Ай бұрын

It kind of reminds me of Bob Diemerts "Defender" concept ;=P

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

I recall that wacky thing. Would make a great video, except there's almost no record of it (as far as images)

@MonostripeZebra Ай бұрын

@@aircraftadventures-vids there is the worlds greatest aviation documentary: watch?v=ZvbQMqd0kEY ;=P

@danmallery9142 Ай бұрын

The wing looks like an inverted gull wing / Hershey bar Piper wing.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Well, now you know where that hershey wing came from 👍

@rolfhelder7771 Ай бұрын

These videos look much better than the too narrow format of short videos.

@flymachine Ай бұрын

I am busy designing a metal utility aircraft based on the defender with a turboprop - other than the many obvious benefits of the design this all started because putting a turboprop on the defender was an obvious itch I could not scratch my whole life

@terryhagle Ай бұрын

7:35 - my GoPro video, used without permission- but thanks for including N218TH while it was in phase 1 and primer gray

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

I'm sorry, I can add a mention in the comment and link to your channel if that's ok?

@terryhagle Ай бұрын

A comment and link would be great. Nice coverage of John Thorp and his designs

@hotprop92 Ай бұрын

I vaguely remember an article in one of the aviation rags of the day, perhaps Air Progress, back in the 70s early 80s. Born out of the needs of Vietnam where where the NVA would wait out the fast movers since they gulped down fuel like a dry camel. These could loiter forever and the idea was to have them minutes away from the action so seemingly instantaneous response time and hang time. Great concept but the military-industrial complex wants big expensive. It's all about the bucks not what might make sense and best for the mission.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Yeah not sure if that was the sole reason but it makes sense. Like i mentioned, this plane was a pioneer in the COIN concept so it did have its use.

@aviatoraw Ай бұрын

The Air Warden proves the concept is still valid.

@aviatoraw Ай бұрын

Sky Warden

@ncdave4life Ай бұрын

Neat story and video, but the right-channel of the Defender's audio is missing.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Really?? Gonna have to look into that, some folks mentioned it doesn't work with headphones either. Ugh, mistakes of a rookie video editor. Thanks for letting me know.

@ncdave4life Ай бұрын

@@aircraftadventures-vids, I use headphones, which is why it is very noticeable when one channel is missing. The left channel is fine. Maybe the folks who "mentioned it doesn't work with headphones" have headphones with only the right earpiece working.😀

@andywells397 Ай бұрын

You can see where a tucano came from.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Sort of. Tucano started as strictly a training plane (evolved from the T-25 Universal). It then developed into a formidable COIN aircraft.

@pcbondart Ай бұрын

seems like the intended mission was what the A37 ended up performing

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Seems like it. As well as many others

@pcbondart Ай бұрын

@@aircraftadventures-vids Embraer Super Tucano, Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine to name a couple of them

@jurianmisawayee1138 Ай бұрын

P750 wings looked awfully similar to the silhouette but I didn’t know they were related

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Yup! It's got Thorp's name on them

@joesutherland225 Ай бұрын

Hmm im thinking drone applications today based on this design

@RichardHodge-ec3mx Ай бұрын

🛩🤩

@FairladyS130 Ай бұрын

That Defender was too small and simple for the US military, has to be big dude.

@hotprop92 Ай бұрын

And very expensive

@craigwall9536 Ай бұрын

Boy, are YOU wrong! It was designed as a COIN fighter: COunter INsurgent fighter: intended to go after the Viet Cong, down low and popping out from behind trees. This design evolved into the Thorp T-18, a high performance all-metal homebuilt.

@craigwall9536 Ай бұрын

It's sad to see a video like this. While nominally accurate, the interpretation are wildly off center in some cases.

@jeffapplewhite5981 Ай бұрын

Bazooka Joe!

@AlphaWhiskey_Haryo Ай бұрын

so we can say Piper Warrior and PAC750 have a common ancestor?

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Certainly can!

@user-cx1hy9nq9b 13 күн бұрын

отличный канал!

@ormtheelder2657 Ай бұрын

I live in northern calif. Where is this plane located?

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Davis, California.

@tomthompson7400 Ай бұрын

whats the aircraft at 7:17 , it looks great too.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

It's called the AHRLAC, a new design from South Africa. Looks a bit like a cross between a Bronco and Skymaster.

@tomthompson7400 Ай бұрын

@@aircraftadventures-vids its a mighty looking thing , I like Broncos , they just look right ,,, like a mosquito looks right.

@cbroz7492 Ай бұрын

..this this looks like IIRC Northrop Y aircraft from Vietnam..

@waltergolston6187 Ай бұрын

like the rumble it means business

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Certainly not stealthy!

@TheIndyspace 22 сағат бұрын

@@aircraftadventures-vids , in nap of the earth flight, probably "stealthy enough"... 🤔

@keithsargent6963 Ай бұрын

Kinda like mounting a 50 cal. M2 on a VW bug.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Yeah, sorta like that

@grandkaiser1 28 күн бұрын

It's a flying death Harley 😅

@Sailor426 Ай бұрын

Slab wing FU24 721 cube boxer 8 cylinder the go to machine in NZ Ag industry ….long days 800 ton in the bin on land and survey strips .

@hotprop92 Ай бұрын

800 tons???

@Sailor426 Ай бұрын

@@hotprop92 that’s right one ton a load 800 take offs and landings , govt money …that was our biggest farm ! Obviously the bin wasn’t that big trucks would keep filling it so if you didn’t get blown out that’s big days. Some times two Fletchers but one loader !

@war_thunder_gameplay Ай бұрын

IT looks like a soko j 20

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Soko came out nearly 20 years later

@davidcisneros1429 Ай бұрын

Sounds a little bit like a radial.

@constitutionallyweird6812 Ай бұрын

Gijian please

@borisivkovic6308 Ай бұрын

Check Yugoslavian Kraguj!

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

Yup, it's on my video as well

@AndrewTubbiolo Ай бұрын

I'm sure at some point the Ukrainians will test this concept out.

@wm.tomlinson1434 Ай бұрын

Sounds lie a Spitfire.

@Paladin1873 Ай бұрын

The problem with such small, limited capability aircraft is the need for lots of them and pilots to match. It becomes a drain on the finite resources of a world class air force tasked with performing many different types of missions around the world. Small COIN aircraft are best suited for smaller nations with limited requirements and no counter-air threat.

@aircraftadventures-vids Ай бұрын

I agree. Still, it was an interesting take on warfare, even if it had its disadvantages

@Paladin1873 Ай бұрын

@@aircraftadventures-vids PT boats of the sky.