After checking in, I bump into Marco's wife, Helen, in the pilot shop: turns out Marco is taking some IFR dual in the school's 182RG today. I decide to hang around to say hello to him and watch him take off. And of course there's pictures to be taken...
  So I'm outside talking with John, Marco's instructor, about kite-flying, when somebody says: "Will you look at that..." we all look up to see this curious formation fly over the field from the north, then circle back and disappear whence they came: Vultee and two RVs. That's different...







I really like this 150D with the droop-tip wing kit... beautiful paint job, too. Checking my planespotter's guide, I see that this model was only produced in 1964, which explains why I've never seen one. It was the only 150 with the straight tail and wraparound rear window...







Speaking of RVs... another great paint job.







Godspeed, Marco! Here goes our pal MarcoAviator, into the wild gray yonder on his first lesson in real IMC. John's taking him over to Allentown to do approaches in 78R, the school's nice RG. Although Marco owns a piece of a Cherokee, it's not equipped properly for IFR flight, and by taking lessons in the RG, he's getting the complex airplane rating out of the way at the same time (retractable gear and constant-speed prop). Pretty smart for somebody who hangs around these forums...
I'd like to fly this sucker, but to take it solo one needs 25 hours in type. Maybe if I really start my IFR training soon, I'll choose this mount...

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Thanx, Doug. Isn't that just a perfect-looking 150?  He made a few circuits, and Ididn't see any mind-blowing performance with the droop tips... but he may not have been using them to full advantage. That could make the sort-of anemic 150 into a pretty good short-field performer; I think you could chop the power earlier, just like a 172, and still have some lift going. Nice.

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I've never seen a Vultee in a civilian scheme before. Nice

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Ouch - 25 hours! Thats a fair amount of time (and cash). Is that just for that particular aircraft, or generally in the US as it an retractable gear aeroplane? I know in the UK you'd have to do "differences" training for things such as gear and constant speed prop, but I don't know how much flying you have to do - I was under the impression it was a couple of hours (not being a very "current" civil pilot! Must get my PPL!)

Hey. What's the idea of hiding these away in the Real Aviation forum? I never know where to look next. ???

Nice shots there old chap.

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I thought that was the way it worked.

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Ahhh. I see, that figures. I suppose that make the few thousand dollars spent on the hours worth it in the long term. I take it that it can be 25 hours in any retractable undercarriage aircraft?

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As far as I know ... yep. 

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Remember what they say, though: there are two types of retractable pilots- those who have landed gear-up, and those who will... one of those silly sayings, but insurance companies are driven by statistics, after all.
You sure are close- if you ever could use me (and my wallet) as ballast on a dual flight in that thing, gimme a call; I'd be glad to help, and it'd be interesting to observe John scaring the hell out of you...

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We have a rather cunning way of avoiding this - the "(callsign) Finals, gear down" call (having checked 3 greens). If ATC don't hear the words "gear down" they will call "(Callsign) check gear, acknowledge?". If the pilot does not respond the will either order a go-around and/or the pilot will receive a red flare from the runway caravan...

I don't think they've had an unintentional wheels up landing in years (touch-wood)...