Gee Bee R2 Near Crash in Germany - Delmar Benjamin
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- čas přidán 13. 01. 2013
- Delmar Benjamin initiated and helped to build an fully operational copy of the famous GeeBee R-2 racing plane.
See a second video here: Video link
• Delmar Benjamin Displa...
Watch more of my videos on my Playlist:
/ @scalejetfred
Delmar demonstrated that the plane was not only fast, but also fully aerobatic. This is demonstrated in the air shows he presented his skill and the GeeBee's aerobatic abilities.
In Germany he performed one of the last demonstrations before the GeeBee copy was finally put on display in the United States.
Material for this video was recorded in Michelstadt, Germany 2001.
A number of camera operators participated to record the weekend air show where Delmar and his plane was one of the high points of the show.
From the combined video material Alexander Obolonsky produced for the show's organiser "Fiber Classics" (To day CARF models) a video sold by Fiber Classics.
My remuneration fort the 3 days work was the exchange of all recordings done by me and James O'Brien, who used my second camera, in return for all material recorded on that weekend.
This was honoured by A. Obolonsky who sent the relevant tapes for mu own use as "AVF Video - Airvideofred"
This CZcams clip is the only the second time I am using material handed to me from that show.
The kit for the RC model of the GeeBee R-2 shown in this video was built from a Fiber Classics Kit and is still available from CARF Models, may be even the Show video as produced by A. Obolonsky.
Aero top videos (www.modellsport.de/shop are selling a Scale documentation of the GeeBee R-2 with video of Delmar's plane and the Fiber Classics RC model.
Enjoy!
This brings a smile to my face. My Father and I saw Delmar and his Gee Bee a number of time at air shows in the SF Bay Area, and at Reno. I feel lucky to have have watched such an awesome pilot and aircraft perform in person. Great memories of great airshow performances.
Fantastic video. I saw Delmar fly this play around 1999 or so in my home town in California. I think it was the last time they had a local air show here. One of the things Delmar would do would taxi the plane up near the crowd, and jump out of the little door before the plane came to a complete stop. He was quite the showman! I think I have some still photos still, he was wearing the exact same outfit.
Someone I know ran out of film just as he hopped out of the plane so instead of taking photos that person was reloading film.
Amazingly crisp knife-edge flying considering the short moment/tiny rudder/minimal deflection combination! Superb piloting skills. :-)
3.40 🚀🚀🚀🚀
@@Hakinank 3:40
Wow what a special treat seeing the Gee Bee in action. I remember going head over heels when my dad brought home a metal model of this beauty (same color scheme). I bet I was 4 or 5 years old, Im 70 now. Thanks for posting this wonderful video.
I remember seeing the GeeBee at the Cleveland airshow in the mid 90's.....drove from 3 or 4 hours away just to see this one plane.
And I came from Ireland to record the 3 day Airshow not knowing the GeeBee would be there.
Of camera I talked to his wife and to him at length.
She still sends a short note referring to my recordings of the GeeBee on CZcams.
Greetings from Dublin Ireland,
Fred
The most incredible precision flying I've never even seen of a most difficult subject. I have flown a free flight model of it I built many years ago, with electric power. Fairly successful. Delmar's is the best ever seen!
Wow, thanks!
Brings back great memories of the 1996 Dayton Air Show when my young boys were into The Rocketeer. We went so they could see the Gee Bee fly. Delmar held each boy and let them look into the cockpit. To this day my younger son has a large pic of the Gee Bee in his room.
Thank you Fred for bringing this remarkable bit of flying to your excellent channel,most enjoyable.
Thank YOU for visiting my channel. Spread the news please. Greetings, Fred
Nice documentary. I too met Mr. Delmar back in the early 90's at the Phoenix air races. He put on a great show and was a very personable guy.
Brilliant video of a brilliant plane and it's pilot. Delmar was a brave man. I take of my hat deeply for him. Love the GeeBee.
Just stopping by to watch your video again. So well done. Thank you again for posting. Great stills and details also.
Don't fret about your voice over Fred - it was the perfect icing on the cake of this remarkable video. A simply superb demonstration of all that is possible in giving enjoyment with good grace on CZcams. With best wishes from the UK..
Delmars energy management and precision are incredible. Thanks for the video
Yes they are!
Thanks for watching, Fred
These experimental racing planes in the day were a big part of our air craft history! I am glad that there are those such as Delmar and his wife that were able to build an exact replica of this very famous classic racing plane so that those of us that will ever be able to afford to do such epic things can enjoy these air crafts too! Regards Mike S.
Thanks for watching.!
On my ScaleJetFred channel I have one more video, It was recorded one day earlier.
Delmar was to fly over ONLY as preparation for the next day display.
To all present, including his wife, he landed.
Because -unknown to him- the beginning of the concrete runway is a sharp edge Concrete above the grass hill!
The rest shows Delmar's skill to save the plane and himself...
Watch it and enjoy!
Filename Filename
Teil 2 GeeBee 16 Feb 13.m2ts
Part 2 GeeBee of 16 Feb 13.m2ts
Regards Fred from Dublin Ireland
THANK YOU for upload!!
Very well photographed and recorded. Put a big smile on my face! DANKE!
Danke fuer das Lob!
Gruss aus Dublin Irland - Fred
One hell of a pilot..:-)
Being a young pilot in California a few decades ago I LOVED watching Delmar fly this beautiful, history racer. Loved it. But, I knew this airplane was a real handful and always had a tings of anxiety watching his routines. He really created a treat for aviation fanatics with this project. If I remember correctly Steve Wolf might have had a hand in building this machine. Another aviation great - Steve.
Thanks for the comment Steve!
Greetings from Dublin Ireland,
Fred
Thanks for recording all this history. Awesome plane
Glad you enjoyed it
Regards Fred
GREAT GREAT GREAT video!! thanks for your hard work and determination!! Really enjoyed it!!
FANTASTIC! Thanks for upload. A perfect addition to airrideGTIs Gee Bee R2 replica video.
Thanks for this. I never saw Delmar, but the Gee Bee is a beautiful yet quirky aircraft. Love 'em. And yes, the man has incredible skills.
Couldn't agree more!
This is an absolute great video... What a great narration, this man is great....
Excellent video with excellent narration
Great video Sir! Please keep them coming!
Wonderful to see the Gee Bee flying again, even if just in video. So many memories. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Linda, it flew twice on that weekend. I have a second video from that weekend including a near crash after which the GeeBee had to be cleared by German authorities for take off>
I am happy you liked this, may be you get back to see more on
CZcams.com/user/ScaleJet
Greetings, Fred from Ireland
@@ScaleJetFred Yes, I have watched your videos and shared them with many friends. I was at the show in Germany . . . I'm Delmar's wife!
Dear Linda, firstly I am apologising for not realising who you are!
I am so happy to read your comments aand that the recording as presented is what you can expect from an amateur video camera operator!
I still remember everything and I regret not having talked to you directly. However, between the two videos on my Youtune
channel you have some exposure as the strong support behind Delmar!
I hope you are all well?
Please give my regards to Delmar, I never forget his scilll flying the GeeBee.
Greetings from Dublin, Fred
@@lindabenjamin2013 lol would think he would know that ! great skill in a airplane and building them and great man your husband .
I never had the privilege of meeting you or your husband . but your name gave me a pretty good clue
Fantastic flying demonstration esp with a plane so short coupled. Very good pilot and beautiful replica.
Thank you for these pictures and the amazing skills of this pilot. Fantastic airplane and very unforgiving. Proven skills of this great pilot!
Many thanks! Fred
2023 - The algorithm just put this in my list! Tremendous video! And yes, I think nearly everyone interested in aviation likes to see the repair stills. Thank you!
Thanks for the video! Love the Gee Bee ♥️
Thanks for watching!
So do I!
Thanks for the visit to my ScaleJetFred channel where you find a second video with the Gee Bee flying on same location but second day.
Regards Fred
Delmar, superb pilot, ty!
Thank you Osano for visiting bith videos.
Greetings from Ireland, Fred
fantastic sound!!!
Simply beautiful! What kind of person would give this video and thumbs down? Some idiots can never be pleased! Thank you for sharing this amazing footage of such a beautiful machine. I would love to see more amazing videos if you get the chance. Much love and respect from Colorado USA.
there no crash and burning airplaneparts, thats why.
I was thinking the same, takes balls of steel to fly that little widow maker.
The pass with the Cessna 310 was truly awesome!
I agree Mightflier! please note that a second video of this GeeBeee flying after the damaged U/C was mended over night!
Thanks for watchin and happy New Year.
Regards Fred from ScaleJetFred channel
ScaleJetFred thank you, and Happy New Year to you!
Had a chance to see Delmar Benjamin fly this plane in person at a hot air balloon event in North Carolina many years ago. Got to see the plane up close. Amazed it flew so well. I fly as well and also used to build and fly model airplanes and flew a model of the R-2. Even as a model it was a handful. Can't imagine flying the real thing.
7/2023: I remember the Gee Bee from my early years, i was born in 1952. Always fascinating.
A Big Engine with a Seat! Very Cool. My respect and thanks to all involved. The repair engineers were remarkable. Great work. Thank You
Thanks for sharing!
Fred
Delmar Benjamin has proven that a highly skilled pilot can indeed safely fly the Gee Bee, but I
am certain he would agree it is not for the novice. What he has done is validate the design by the Granvill brothers which dates bact to the very early 1930s. The Granvilles would be thrilled to witness what he can do with their plane.
Based on how the RC versions flies, its not too bad if you can really reduce the wing loading from the original. Shouldn't be hard the original had a massive engine that probably didn't produce that much power.
@@jeffk464 You can't compare RC aircrafts with real ones. The weight/power ratio alone is totally wrong. RC planes have a lot more power when compared. That is why they are also easier to fly.
@@MisterKatzmore importantly they have almost nil wing loading compared to even light aircraft
only 550hp...in a plane that weighs as much as a cessna 172 that flew on 145hp
Grew up in Creswell Oregon where the Gee Bee was constructed by Delmar and his long term friend and airshow pilot, Steve Wolf. (Steve flew and performed with the biplane Sampson) Had the privilege of meeting them both and stopping by from time to time as she was being built. What's under the fabric is a sheer work of art. It is flawless. Once test flights began in 1991, you would often see the R2 as she streaked across the sky. What an amazing sound, an amazing aircraft, and what amazing men who built her. Thank you, gentlemen, for your huge contribution to our aviation history, reborn again. : ) BTW, This is a fantastic video. Thank you for sharing!
Great video, what a beautiful and impressive plane. Thank you for the well done video.
Many thanks!
Fred of ScaleJetFred
Thank you for your comment Mike!
we all have our "moments" but Delmar was at all tims in full control.
I was privileged to be asked for participation of the production of the DVD of the show.
Hence I have used only footage from my two cameras (second was operated by James O'Brien, to day a commercial pilot himself.
It is a piety Delmar stopped flying the GeeBee
Regards Fred
I listened to Delmar speak at Oshkosh. Very smart man who fully understood the aerodynamic capabilities and limitations of that airplane. Fantastic airshow performer. His quote I remember. " just don't go slow"!
Thank You for this comment David!
Greetings from Dublin Ireland, Fred (German National)
Always been amazed by this little plane.
Great you found my channel shirtshine1 I have one more posting of the GeeBee flying: GeeBee Part 2: thdp7ZqSESo Enjoy!
Greetings, fred
The Gee Bee is nothing more than an engine nacelle with wings. Delmar is one hell of a good pilot, and this from a retired airline pilot. The Gee Bee is a difficult plane to fly because it is a tailwheel airplane with a very short fuselage. I have 4,000 hours of tailwheel time, mostly in the Beech 18 and DC-3 so I know how hard this airplane would be to land in a crosswind.
Thanks for the comment,
Fred
You documented this historic scene excellently sir.
Thank You very much!
Greetings from Dublin Ireland, Fred
A pure chunk of aerodynamic instability, flown by a great man. A flying brick.
Was Delmar a flying brick (and a great man)? 🙂
what a great sound. wish I could have seen it in person
Wow now that is what I call an outstanding damage control team. Well done Lufthansa. Great video and nice save on landing. Loved it.
Good save. Top-notch piloting.
Great video!
Das war ein flieger vom Feinsten - well Done Delmar !!! I was in Michelstadt - phantastic
Hallo Martin,
Es ist schoen diese Erinnerung zu haben.
Ich bin extra von Dublin (Irland) nach Michelstadt gekommen um es zu dokumentieren.
Herzlichen Gruss aus Dublin, Fred
Awesome video.
What an awesome video , thanks so much for sharing . All the best ................
Thank you Scott!
Pass this to your friends please
and thank you for visiting ScaleJetfred channel.
Regards and greetings from Dublin, Ireland
Fred
Hi Dave!
I must thank YOU for your commen because it will also be offorr other enthusiasts watching the video and reading about your experiences.
regards Fred
Very impressive work by the Lufthansa engineers!
Indeed! thanks for the visit - Fred
D.B. could make that GeeBee dance. That was impressive 👍👍
Hi, Very nice plane you are a fantastic pilot and fantastic demostration with your GEE BEE , love the little ones yours is awesome
Great video, The Gee bee is my all time favorite birds
Thanks for the comment! Fred
cant beat that sound of the radial.
That sound is amazing
Never got to see Uncle Delmar fly his GeeBee, but I do remember his black and gold pitts special. Dad got to help hold the streamer across the run way, he would do the inverted flyby and cut it with the prop. I distinctly remember his wife in a long white dress hand propping it out on the tarmac. Ukiah CA airshow, long long ago.
+silentseawolf I do recall part of the story when he built it, he called up Jimmy Doolittle and asked him to listen, then fired up that wasp radial. Jimmy Doolittle instantly said, "that's a GeeBee."
My condolences on the loss of your Uncle Delmar. He was a great man and a wonderful pilot! I know he has been gone for a while now but I was happy to see that his Gee Bee is with Kermit Weeks now.
What a fabulous plane! I have a fantastic cut away drawing on my wall at home 😁
Thank You for sending a comment,
have a look at my second posting og the GeeBee leaving this show and a talk of me with Delmar.
Fred
Yes more walk around pics please haha. Great video.
Thank you for the visit and nice comment! You can visit my CZcams channel by clicking on the blue
"ScaleJetFred"
on top of this, my message and select from 135 postings!
Not too many crashes mixed in.
Greetings from Ireland, Fred
very nice video, the stills in the hanger were nice as well.
Yes, thanks - Fred in Dublin
Great video thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching!
Greetings from Dublin - Ireland
Fred
@@ScaleJetFred i watched Demar fly this several times at the Reno air races impressive.
Thank you for watching and sending a comment,
Fred
Wow ! scary landing, expertly handled.
Well spoken Shane! Hope you return to my channel for more? Greetings Fred
muchas gracias Jorge!
Thank you for visiting ScaleJetFred
Greetings, Fred
The Gee Bee is just the coolest damn thing around. Ever since I saw The Rocketeer as a kid :)
Hallo Pantera Tiger!
Thank you for visiting my CZcams channel.
For your information: you can find a second posting of this GeeBee flying on the next day and also over 70 other vodeos.
greetings, Fred
Es freut mich sehr!
Thanks and Greetings from Dublin Ireland, Fred
the inspiration for many toy planes, finally found it. young and old easily love it.
Thats great! Greetings Fred from Dublin Ireland.
Fantastic Great racing aircraft
Thank You for watching Ray!
Did you see the second posting with the GeeBee flying on my CZcams ScaleJetFred channel?
Regards Fred
Hands down one of the best ever, thanks Delmar!!!!
Indeed Paul!
Greetings from Dublin, Fred
That sound is BRUTAL!
I agree!
Thanks for watching
Indeed Tony,
You are correct!
Regards Fred
I of the hardest aircraft to fly that ever took to the skys but a winner at air races. I don't know how many pilots were killed flying this plane but it was considerable. In one race nobody would fly it except Jimmy Doolittle who won the race with it.
Delmar is a great pilot but few are at Doolittle's level - great video and it's wonderful to see this historic aircraft back in the air.
Doolittle loved the plane, had only good things to say about it. There were 2 fatal accidents in R1’s. Neither was due to poor engineering.
Thank you both!
Fred in Dublin, Cameraman since years for RC and Full size flying.
Looks dangerous as hell! I’d love to take that beast for a spin. Nothing like the sound of a buzzing prop being spun by a snarling P&W radial.
Thanks for your comment! Greetings Fred
Fantastic
Granville Brothers - Springfield, Massachusetts! The Gee Bee was was hot stuff when I was a boy growing up in Western Massachusetts, even three decades later. A very well-made plane, eccentric, sure, but lovable. Its only flaw was that it took such delight in killing its pilots. I do not know, but my visceral impression is that this replica has a different configuration from the original - it seems to fly very well. Thank you, Fred, for posting this.
Great video.
Excellent flying skills from Delmar Benjamin of a wonderful plane.
I never understood why Delmar Benjamin stopped flying this plane and why he put it on display museum.
Its a plane with plenty of character and every airbatic pilot with this airplane would have had lots of annual flying in happenings to fly.
I'm not sure Kermit flew it any after he acquired it, he may have flown it a time or two. Seems for the last several years, Kermit flies most of his planes a couple times then just parks them...he seems to just fly a handful of them semi-regularly. I remember many years ago, he seemed to fly them all pretty regular. Never see him fly rare stuff like the B-26 Marauder, Grumman F3F, etc. anymore...seems mostly interested in acquiring more wood and fabric stuff and let the rare planes he got many years ago just sit..I prefer the WW2 stuff, but he is getting older, and I get him wanting to mess more with the old biplane stuff he really seems to like most....
Genialer Pilot, meinen höchsten Respekt vor ihm, wie er die alte Kiste handelt und fliegt, Hammerhaft, aber dass er so einen kleinen Fehler begeht und vor dem THR aufsetzt und das Fahrgestell anknackst... das hätte ich nie gedacht .... aber kann passieren ....
The thing that impressed me was his strict control in the landing afterwards. Even in the skid. I was impressed!
Just to clarify: He was not supposed to land as he did not inspect the runway before.
The beginning of the RW was a concrete 1 ft step sticking out of the Grass on the hill...
thats where the damage happened...
Thanks for watching!
Fred (of ScaleJetFred) in Dublin Ireland
hi derremax,
this is the link to my second posting of lying the GeeBee
GeeBee R-2 Racer flown by Delmar Benjamin - PART TWO
enjoy,
Regards Fred
i don't remember the year & thought i'd never see a GB fly other than on film
but there she was flying over Fostoria ,Ohio several years past. a beautiful sight to see. there was a 2nd plane that i barely noticed.
I was equally impressed when I first could see her first!
Regads Fred
p.s. I have one more video on ScaleJetFred from the same airshow when I talked to the pilot without script, for german TV.
I saw Delmar fly at Oshkosh with my Dad about 20 yrs ago.
This was 23 Years ago...
Thanks for your visit to my ScaleJetFred channel!!!
Fred
Really beautiful and unique plane. I remember it from the movie the Rocketeer. I think it would be so cool to fly and to see how fast it would go. I think originally the plane needed the ailerons and rudder balanced.
thanks for the visit to ScaleJetFred channel!
Greetings from Dublin Ireland, Fred
I saw it fly at the Sussex Air show in NJ in like 1992. Totally surreal.
I saw this plane at an air show in Concord NH somewhere around 1995.
This dude is bad ass love the Geebee
Hi Taron, Great to know you visited my channel with 140 videos.
I love the GeeBee too! That's why I have 2 videos of it. you find the other one here:
Video link
czcams.com/video/thdp7ZqSESo/video.html
Enjoy and greetings from Ireland! Fred
Thank god Delmar... it's about time! You finally found Linda's Gee Bee!!
Thanks for watching
Hi Fred - are you the one doing the interview in this vid?
Yes Ben, it was done for the official video of the 3 day event. It was not pre scripted, so I must apologise for the performance.
Thank you for watching, Fred
indeed, you are correct
Fred
I was at this very Airshow. I still remember watching the Gee Bee R2 flying with only one wheelcover due to the incident on the landing approach the day before (it was quite a short runway on a hilltop in the German Odenwald). The day I attended the Airshow a french pilot sadly had an incident with his Fokker Dr.1 (the rudder broke off mid air) and was killed in the accident. This was a very sad and tragic day.
Yes, a very tragic day indeed. I did record the accident but will never show it to the public.
Thanks for your comment,
Fred
Cutting edge plane. Along with Supermarine, critical for later fighter development in all countries
Amazing. It's hard to believe such an aircraft is able to fly at all, let alone do the exciting manoeuvres displayed here. This is proof that all pilots are heroes. Well I don't mean "private" pilots, obviously, but real pilots. Anyway what a remarkable aeroplane.
Heroes or Fools?
Thanks for the visit to my ScaleJetFred cvhannel!
Fred
wunderbar danke
Hallo, danke fuer den Kommentar!
Auf ScaleJetFred ist ein zweites Video mit einem anderen Flug der GeeBee!
Weihnachtsgruss aus Irland, Fred
danke thx " all " great info that I didn't know! wunderbar
Hallo geoh7777!
Thank you very much for your interesting comment!
Greetings from Dublin, Ireland
Fred
I agree with you!
Fred
Good video. I do not understand the people who would give it a thumbs down.
Thanks very much! Regards, Fred
p.s. on my channel you find one more video of this GeeBee flying. under CZcams rules I can not give you the link here.
Thanks for watching MacNutz2!
Enjoy the second posting of the GeeBee I have at ScaleJetFred.
Regards Fred