Page 54 - World Airshow News Q3 2024

Stick time with... Doug Rozendaal in Mister Mulligan

By Denise Decker
T here are warbird pilots, and then

there are Warbird Pilots. Doug
“Rozy” Rosendaal is the latter. He
is rated in dozens of different air-
craft, many of them warbirds, all
of them unique, historical, or both. He
climbs in and straps it on, becoming one
with the airplane.
Doug and I met at an airshow many
years ago when he brought an airplane in
for static display. I was doing “meet and
greets”, so it was my job to pick him up
at the airplane and take him to check in
to pick up his credentials. That evening
we were with a group of friends and had
a chance to talk. When I asked where he
was from Doug replied, “A little town in
Iowa you’ve probably never heard of.” I
told him I have family in Iowa and then
asked about the town. It was Clear Lake,
where my dad was born and raised. What
a small world!
We ran into each other at many air-
shows through the years, and I always
thought it would be fun to go flying with
him. We finally got the opportunity at
SUN ‘n FUN this past April. Doug was
performing several times that week in
Mister Mulligan, an (almost) exact replica 600-horsepower engine quickly acceler- have been fun, it was way too crowded to
of a 1930s air racer, the Howard DGA-6. ated us to 90 mph, and we were off the even think about a Mister Mulligan Vic-
Our flight almost didn’t happen. Doug ground in what seemed to be just a few tory Roll.
had a potential issue with the aircraft ear- hundred feet. The airplane is old, and is a After what seemed like a minute, it was
lier in the week, so it was a nice surprise replica of an even older airplane, so while time to head back to the airport. We came
when he called me early Sunday morning it looks a bit rickety, it is surprisingly in on the performer arrival, Doug slowed
to see if I was ready to go flying. I wanted smooth. Mister Mulligan also climbs re- the airplane, and we touched down at
to, but was still 45 minutes away. Doug ally well at 2,000 fpm. We did a right turn 74 mph in a perfect three-point landing,
said we could still fly after the performer out and continued climbing for just over which is normal for Mister Mulligan. As
briefing, but the flight would be shorter a minute, quickly leveling off at 2,500 feet we taxied back to the hot ramp, we saw
since the airspace would be closing for the with an indicated airspeed of 200 mph. Kim had the checkered flag flying. Our
airshow, and he was performing early. As we flew over “the cow pastures of flight was over.
After Doug completed his preflight, it Lakeland” (his words), Doug continued Though the flight was short, I’m so glad
was time to go. Mister Mulligan’s door is to talk about the merits of Mister Mulli- Doug made the time for me. After watch-
deceptively high off the ground. There’s gan and everything he enjoys about flying ing him fly for so many years, it was really
a narrow steel, two-step ladder to get in the aircraft. His feet were on the rudder interesting to see him work inside the air-
and out of the airplane, so Kim Pardon, pedals at all times for yaw stability, and plane. He’s an amazing pilot, and Mister
Doug’s better half, warned me it wouldn’t though it looks intimidating, he claims it’s Mulligan is truly an amazing aircraft…a
be easy. I managed. really not hard to fly. The huge engine is Damn Good Airplane!
One of the SUN ‘n FUN Air Ops Red loud, but not uncomfortably so, and if you Photo: Denise and Doug in Mister
Hats was waiting to escort us through the point the nose down (as we did) the accel-
crowd as Doug yelled “clear!” and started eration through 250 mph was extremely Mulligan (photo by Denise Deck-
the Pratt & Whitney engine. Mister Mul- quick. Just a few seconds. Visibility was er).
ligan has very limited forward visibility much better in the air, a definite plus with
on the ground, so my job during taxi was all of the other SUN ‘n FUN attendees Editor’s Note: For more about Doug
to keep an eye on the right side of the sharing the airspace. Doug demonstrat- and Mister Mulligan, check out our
aircraft. ed how maneuverable the airplane was, feature article elsewhere in this issue.
As we lined up on runway 9, Doug and all of our turns were tight, much bet-
pushed the throttle forward, the ter than on the ground. Though it would

www.airshowmag.com 54 Quarter 3, 2024