Screamin’ Sasquatch — the engineering making it a marvel

Screamin’ Sasquatch — the engineering making it a marvel

 

 

Screamin’ Sasquatch and pilot Jeff Boerboon — photo by Stew Milne

Jeff Boerboon — Screamin’s Sasquatch’s pilot — responded to our queries regarding how this rare aircraft came to be, how a 1929 Taperwing Waco became an aerobatic performance aircraft powered by a conventional throaty radial reciprocating engine (P&W  985 Wasp Junior) as well as a powerful raging turbojet (GE CJ610). A description of the engines and aircraft, as well as several other photos, can be found in the previous Monday’s post. Now, here is what Boerboon, who knows the aircraft intimately, has to share with us 🙂

Screamin’ Sasquatch followed the design philosophy to be  “…a modern day air show machine but still maintain its vintage appearance and appeal.” He gives credit to Jimmy Franklin during 1999 for the idea and Jack Link’s Beef Jerky’s support (Jack Link’s is a huge supporter of the U.S. Armed Forces) to bring this “…one-of-a-kind, jet-powered aerobatic biplane capable of flying straight up at maximum speed.”

The aircraft design changes:

• The entire aircraft has been substantially reinforced. Notably, the fuselage tubes are now of oversized thick wall steel with the wing ribs as well as spars given the same attention.
• The top wing’s center section has been reduced nearly four feet, along with the cockpit moved three feet aft, and the tail section has new more modern lines as well — all giving the Waco a “sleeker look” to Boerboon’s eyes, and who is better to judge?
• The wheel struts have been lengthened to allow for the additional clearance needed for the underling GE CJ610 jet engine with oversized low pressure tires (a bit more suspension)

The 12 minute air show:

• Inside the aircraft and cockpit there are two of everything with the two vastly different engines with regard to fuel and oil systems as well as throttles (on the same quadrant as you might expect)
• The 100LL fuel for the P&W 985 is supplied from a 28 gallon tank paired with a 6 gallon oil reservoir, the Jet A fuel for the GE CJ610 is carried in a 56 gallon tank, with a 24 gallon tank providing the smoke oil. [50 gallons Jet A + 10 gallons 100LL + 24 gallons smoke oil = a 12 minute air show performance]

Flying the Screamin’ Sasquatch:

• The power to weight ratio (P:W) at the beginning of the air show is 4500:4000 and increases as the fuel is burned. Since the ratio is greater than 1:1 Boerboon can bring  Screamin’ Sasquatch to a hover — then accelerate upward quite positively!
• Pros make hard look easy and Boerboon observes the flip side of the climb is the dive and using control of both engines to produce sufficient drag to keep Screamin’ Sasquatch below the never exceed speed of 250 mph
• Clever use of engineering has the jet engine’s thrust line traveling through the CG resulting in no elevator trim changes required as speed varies
• The GL Avionics Stratomaster Odyssey touch screen system addresses cockpit management functions

 

Jeff Boerboon partnering with Jack Link’s bringing Screamin’ Sasquatch, Jack Link’s Jet Waco, to air shows in the U.S. during the 2014 season — photo by Steve Schultze

Our thanks to Jeff for setting aside precious time in answering our questions 🙂

Seeing Screamin’ Sasquatch couldn’t be easier as it will be performing at the Boeing Seafair Air Show, at Genesee Park, on the 2nd as well as 3rd of August this year 🙂