Page 14 - The Bill Sadler Story sample pages
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Chapter N ine: T he S ad ler A irc raf t and the S ad ler rad ial airc raf t engine proj ec t
In about a year, it was possible to assemble the complete aircraft, and the airplane was ready
for its maiden test flight. This moment was crucial, as the big shots at TAI were ready to
observe the work of Bill and his crew.
The first test flight of the prototype
Bill had arranged the safety crew and all the equipment needed to handle any problem, a
necessary precaution when flight testing an unproven aircraft. He acted as the test pilot, and
although his takeoff in the aircraft was without drama, unfortunately, the aircraft’s center of
gravity had been set too far back, and it was tail heavy. Bill struggled to keep the plane aloft
because it wanted to do a loop. He was finally able to keep it airborne using maximum power
and land at the end of the runway. He could only control the prototype with the control stick
fully forward and to land the plane as slowly as he could. Luckily, the only damage was to the
landing gear.
ABOVE: The Piranha taxis
before takeoff, with safety
vehicles following. Bill is at
the controls. He flew the plane
on all of its test flights. (Sadler
Family Collection)
RIGHT: Sadler Piranha light
ground attack aircraft takes
off with Bill at the controls.
(Sadler Family Collection)
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