Back in the late 70s, several times throughout the north central US and south central Canada, I saw a very gifted air show pilot perform a brilliant airshow aerobatics routine with a beautiful white and orange/red Starduster Too. That crate stood out against what then was a swarm of Pitts working the air show circuit.
His name was Al Pietsch, and he captivated this young guy with his routines in a very interesting two seat biplane without what seemed like a single straight line on it. I bent his ear several times, and although I never did get to fly it, I did sit in the hot seat and make vroom vroom noises.
Unfortunately, Al passed a number of years back, but his beautiful little plane stuck in my mind, and Al and his Too lived rent free in my head for almost 50 years. So a Too was only natural for me.
That man made me a pilot through his kindness and showmanship, and I hope I’ll produce a Too worthy of his memory.
Thank you to Mr Dave Baxter himself for the picture of Al’s amazing Too. I might still have some old Super 8 videos of him performing, but I doubt it.
His name was Al Pietsch, and he captivated this young guy with his routines in a very interesting two seat biplane without what seemed like a single straight line on it. I bent his ear several times, and although I never did get to fly it, I did sit in the hot seat and make vroom vroom noises.
Unfortunately, Al passed a number of years back, but his beautiful little plane stuck in my mind, and Al and his Too lived rent free in my head for almost 50 years. So a Too was only natural for me.
That man made me a pilot through his kindness and showmanship, and I hope I’ll produce a Too worthy of his memory.
Thank you to Mr Dave Baxter himself for the picture of Al’s amazing Too. I might still have some old Super 8 videos of him performing, but I doubt it.
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