By DEREK ROBERTS.
Naval aviator, crop duster, aerobatic competitor and airshow pilot Wayne Handley knows his way around an aircraft or two.
A traditional start flying an Aeronca Champ in 1957 led to a stint piloting F4D Skyrays in the Navy and ultimately a successful career as a business owner and crop-dusting pilot.
It wasn’t until the age of 44, when a cache of spare helicopter parts was converted into a Pitts S1C, that Handley’s penchant for aerobatics took off.
Winning three California state aerobatic championships in the 1980s and making a name for himself on the national airshow scene, Handley became one of the preeminent aviation acts of the 1990s.
Wowing spectators across the country in his Pitts Special, Handley’s performance caught the eye of renowned aviator and Oracle founder, Larry Ellison, in 1996, earning him a three-year sponsorship from the billionaire tech titan. It’s a period of his career that Handley refers to with a humble smile as “fortunate.”
Today, at age 78, Handley no longer works the airshow circuit as a pilot, but he continues as an avid flyer and speaker, advising on unusual attitudes, aerobatics and upset recovery.
Though a lot has changed since he started flying in 1957 — and you’ll be hard pressed to find rental aircraft for $2.50 per hour — at this stage in his career you might say that things are starting to “loop” full circle.
Flying out of his home airport in the lush countryside of eastern California, with more than 30,000 hours of stick time, the aviator’s current aircraft of choice isn’t too far removed from that very first Champ he earned his private ticket in, 60 years ago.
What I fly
A 2005, American Champion Citabria 7GCBC, with a 180 horsepower, O-360 Superior engine.
Why I fly it
It’s light aerobatic and, with 5 notches of flaps, it will fly slow, but on the other end it will fly fast. It will do loops and rolls…and legally, it’s placarded for that. It’s a respectable backcountry airplane and it carries two people and camping equipment. A good pilot can go into any place in this airplane that an average pilot can go into in a Cub.
How I fly it
I like to fly low and slow and I’m talking really low. When you’re flying along at 60 and you have this feeling that the airplane needs to be retrimmed, no, you’re flying too fast, throttle back a bit.
Operating costs (based on 100 hours per year)
Flying advice
Always leave yourself one more option and I’m talking about in your decision making. Don’t spend that last option.
One thing that’s always in the back of my mind: If you die in a weather-related accident, they’re going to bury you on a nice clear day cause the front has moved through… And people are going to say, “what was he thinking?”
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“One thing that’s always in the back of my mind: If you die in a weather-related accident, they’re going to bury you on a nice clear day cause the front has moved through… And people are going to say, “what was he thinking”
man aint that the truth…lost a couple friends over the years scud running, and it was the same…wise words
Wayne. Jim Singer. Flew with you in your Pitts. I was the guy to tall so no chute. Lol I had the red Cessna 140. I’ve moved to Montana. Jim
Dear Wayne !
I am also an airplane lover and a pilot. If you have the stick & rudder skills, still flying and enjoy flying, then age has no bar. We do not grow old but just fade away.
Happy flying and many many happy landings !!
Suresh here.
I would like to know more about Wayne aerobatic life and also interesting chronicles about his judging experiences
I would like to know more about Wayne aerobatic life and also interesting chronicles about his judging experiences
I owned a 160 hp Decathlon…flew out of my own 1600 ft. sod strip…easy to get out, but at times a little tough to get in…No flaps…I loved that plane…it breaks my heart, because the FAA took away my medical due to health issues. I am glad to see you still flying…I wouldn’t want any other plane…Gentle and honest, but tougher than a pick up truck…I really miss her!!!
I knew about those who buy the farm in stormy weather were buried on a sunny day but never realized the reason. Thanks for the addition to my knowledge.
Wayne also taught many IAC assistant judges the fine art of being a competent judge. His comments on the break down of each aerobatic maneuver has made me a much better judge. Even though I don’t judge competitions any more, I still break down every aeronautics maneuver I see. Be it at airshow or on tv. On behalf of all of those neophyte judges and myself, thanks Wayne.
The F4D Skyray…seemingly an aircraft that just vanished, or at least disappeared quickly. Can Wayne or anyone else shed some personal light on its service life?
Hi Eric,
Many of the a/c designed in the forties and built in the fifties became obsolete in the sixties. The “Ford” did not have good flight characteristics around the carrier, so the Navy gave it to the Marines. My squadron was so low priority that we were “blessed ” with F4Ds when the Marines transitioned to the F-4 Phantom. I flew it off of 10,000 feet of concrete and loved it.
If you exceeded your optimum angle of attack coming aboard the carrier the rudder was blanked out and the elavons tended to “drag” the nose of the a/c toward the island before providing the lift necessary to correct to the left. Needless to say, the people in in the island were as uncomfortable as the pilot and they were also more influential.
Hey Wayne
Are you still kicking? Thought of you many times over the years as many of our compadres headed west. My last flight was in Feb this year for a flight review. Had to pay $50 an hour (CFI) to teach a youngster how to fly.
Semper Fi
Rocky