Don't Try This at Home

[BillD22]

After taking off from Half Moon Bay airport (KHAF) near San Francisco on a VFR coastal sight seeing flight in our FS2020 C172 G1000 we decide to add a little thrill to the day by flying under the Golden Gate Bridge.

 

My dad, who was a career Navy pilot, actually did this in a Navy OS2U shortly after the end of World War II while he was temporarily stationed at Alameda Naval Air Station across the bay. In his words, "It was a piece of cake."

 

Somewhere in a long lost family photo album I remember seeing a b & w picture of him with his canopy open waving to his wingman who took the photo with the bridge in the background.

 

Turning in, flying under the bridge, and climbing out the other side. Fun fact: The Golden Gate bridge center span height is listed as 220 feet above the water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 1, 2020 by BillD22

[DAVIDSTRAKA]

You know I always longed for those days. I remembered my grandfather telling me a story of the day he paid $4.00 to get a ride in a bi-wing airplane and was able to fly under the Fort Stuben bridge near Steubenville, Ohio. I had the honor of flying him in a C-172 in the early 80's. That is something You can never forget!

[doering1]

Very cool! So much relevance for you too!

[BillD22]

You know I always longed for those days. I remembered my grandfather telling me a story of the day he paid $4.00 to get a ride in a bi-wing airplane and was able to fly under the Fort Stuben bridge near Steubenville, Ohio. I had the honor of flying him in a C-172 in the early 80's. That is something You can never forget!

 

Yes - back in the day you could do stuff like that and nobody got too excited.

[Rupert]

Yes - back in the day you could do stuff like that and nobody got too excited.

 

True enough! And when in the military whether deployed or about to be deployed during a war you were forgiven a lot of stuff as well! They couldn't afford to take us out of the cockpits when we were replacing people already killed or wounded!

 

Nice shots!

 

Michael

[azzaro]

Thanks for giving us the full story. :) I hate abridged versions. :rolleyes: -- Bob

[NMLW]

A bit of daredevil in you eh Bill? Nicely done. :pilot: At leas your dad had the option of putting his Kingfisher safely down on the water if he wanted to. :D

[ussmidway]

Thanks for giving us the full story. :) I hate abridged versions. :rolleyes: -- Bob

 

NICE :cool:

[ussmidway]

You know I always longed for those days. I remembered my grandfather telling me a story of the day he paid $4.00 to get a ride in a bi-wing airplane and was able to fly under the Fort Stuben bridge near Steubenville, Ohio. I had the honor of flying him in a C-172 in the early 80's. That is something You can never forget!

 

But did you fly over Deans birthplace, is the question.