You can hear in this man's voice, that he's proud. He's earned what he's made. He's passionate for his work. We need more people like him. Truly the greatest generation.
I think I learnt more about the sopwith tri-plane here than from pro documentaries, JUST AMAZING! Its all an honor to have such a gentleman speak and explain these technicalities, you just listen and absorb it all in, its all inspiring. Hats off to you Sir! AND THANK YOU FLITE TEST for the interview! You know we love our WW1 planes, the grace with which these war machines flew, just lovely
That is one of the most amazing videos i've seen on FliteTest! The story was just amazing to listen to. An incredible guy in my opinion and a big thank's to FliteTest for sharing that with us!
Bless his heart love seeing these old aviators and their projects. The man is a living piece of history and a treasure. For the younger folks...when you meet someone like this...sit down, by them a meal and just listen. You can't always get thos kind of info from a boo, or even a video on the internet. You can't ask him a question on this video. Treasure the old folks man! They've learned the hard lessons and if your smart, you'll learn from them and save aggravation or worse.
Alex, this is one of your best interviews I have seen to date. Great video editing also. I didn't even read the other comments and thought the background music was a bit loud.
Between this and the Flite Fest videos, I'm convinced that this hobby has the most amazing cross-generational engagement to be found and that you guys are doing your damnedest to keep that tradition going. Thank you for bringing this story to the community.
Thanks Flite Test for demonstrating wisdom and grace. I thoroughly enjoyed the interview with Mr. Woodall. His life experiences are more than worthy of our attention. It was obvious that his passion for aviation drove him to take on the daunting task that lay before him in building his Sopwith Triplane. Had it not been for his choice to serve our country, I'm certain he would not have had the vision or drive to accomplish it. God bless him, and God bless all at Flite Test for sharing this man's life with us. Steve Dennis
I liked this a lot. Like Steven Pelayo said, asking the questions and respectfully listening to the awesome story without interruption, just how it should be,brilliant.
My brother told me about this fellow. He was there when Mr Woodall took off. I believe the video where the inspection cover comes off is what he recorded that day. What a work of art that plane is.
Wow, thumbs up and added to my Favorite Videos! What a man; what a project; what a story. Great interview by Alex and amazing editing. This must have taken an enormous amount of work. Thank you Flight Test folks for making so many high-quality videos!
Terrific story. I salute you sir. To have the drive and skills needed to bring this aircraft to life, not to mention the courage to get her airborne, is an inspiration.
Wow, Awesome, Awesome, Awesome. Love these interviews capturing a history we are slowly loosing and thank you Alex for your great kindness to capture a story of an American treasure. This gentleman and his story is just awesome. The camera work and editing is amazing too. Thank you
Talk about an inspiring story... And the idea of building something like this and then getting into it and actually lifting off the ground...... That is the very essence of the spirit of flight......WOW 😱
Well done! I built a Murphy Renegade 2. Push-pull tube controls; differential frieze ailerons. The tailplane wire braced with anti crush tubes around the bolts to stop possible deformation of the 3/4inch tubes making up he tailplane. SS wires; lots of turnbuckles safety wired.... +10G, -6G.
What a lovely old gentleman with an amazing story and a beautiful plane! Flitetest have come such a long way! The content just keeps getting better and better! Keep up the great work you guys do!
Exceptional build, just amazing. The sheer amount of work humbles me. As others have said, a respectful and informative interview; well done Alex and crew. Got quite a surprise when Bill mentioned the Benson gyro-glider kit. I too built one (with Rotor-Hawk rotors) and flew it without an engine, as I learned to come to grips with gyrocopters, before I installed a VW engine. Like Bill though, I saw too many accidents with them, one fatal, and so sold mine and went over to fixed wing light aircraft and gliders. Sadly, I can no longer fly solo due to a heart condition, so got back into flying RC planes, especially with FPV goggles. I have a model Stearman and a Focker DVII that I fly that way, which is great fun. Interestingly we have an elderly pilot in my RC club who flew Vampire jets for NZ and later flew all sorts of commercial jets. He flew a WWI Fokker triplane for exhibitions in Sydney. His experience with it in mock dogfights was hair raising, just to hear about.
This is one of the coolest videos you guys have done. Model flight got inspiration from real planes and pilots. I love hearing stories like this man had to tell. More like this in the future please! That said, I like all you guys' antics. I love that you offer your plans for free and give sound advice on what beginners should look at getting and what is for transitioning etc. Y'all rock!!
It's hard to imagine the determination it took to build this plane. Also the courage to fly it under the circumstances he describes. An amazing man for sure.
loved this video, maybe its just the way the video was shot/edited but it seemed as though he got more excited about talking about it as the show went on, almost like as he felt people cared more the more detail he was willing to give. amazing guy and one to feel proud of his accomplishments!
Fantastic video. Great old guy and loved listening to him! I was involved in rebuilding an old aircraft many years ago. Our lessons learnt were, first, work out how long you think it will take then double it. Second, do the same for the budget.
With my having been involved from the outset with the Sopwith Triplane constructed by what was the entirely voluntary membership Yorkshire based Northern Aeroplane Workshops and which now lives with the Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire, England, I found this to be a fascinating story. That is not least because it’s commencement was some ten years before we embarked upon our project working from a more or less full set of original drawings we acquired from Hawker Siddeley. From the inception, it was decided the aircraft must be constructed to flying standards and inspected at that time by a CAA appointed inspector. In the video I noted one or two variations that we successfully worked around, not least those of the streamlined tubing discussed which we succeeded in persuading Accles & Pollock’s successors to produce especially for us. Indeed, that resulted in our having a surplus stock, including sufficient tubing of the U/C profile to construct three undercarriages! Our Triplane, named ‘Dixie’, now resides at the Old Warden aerodrome alongside its NAW stable mates, the Bristol M1C and the Sopwith Camel named IKANOPIT. I will add that all three of our aircraft are in authentic colour schemes and markings, those having been carefully and extensively researched by the NAW historian. A very interesting video marred only by that annoyingly obtrusive tinkling music.
Fascinating! What an amazing story. I noticed people complaining about the background music... To be honest, I didn't even notice it. When I'm totally engrossed into something everything else on the planet fades into a minor background noise. lol
The fact this guy ran into problems and custom fabricated what he needed and came up with his own solutions... Just damn.. Dudes part genius that's for sure.
Great job , I build 2000lb mini army tanks from scratch so my hats off to you for such a wonderful job and project. Maybe my next tank will be a ww1 Mark1 .
What a brilliant bloke Bill Woodall is! Terrific achievement to build and fly that Shuttleworth collection in Bedfordshire, England have one ('Dixie') which they still fly regularly along with a load of other Pre WW1 through to WW2 aeroplanes (so if you're in the area...)
Wonderful video. Great story. I really enjoyed when he got into all the details of building the plane. Amazing how small those planes were and what they did with them.
Saw that the streamlined wires the same asa Hawker Huricane (had some in my old Hurricane cockpit project). What a charismatic amazing gentleman who was inspired as a boy about the first world war flyers & he built his dream all those years after.
Dispite all the hate you hear today, this man inspires me, makes me proud of America and ingenuity, determination, talant and hard work of other men. Music is fine. STOP parroting the same complait.. it's not original or cool to whine.
I might not have noticed if it wasn't so repetitive, but I can't argue this point. 1...5...6-...4 again and again... :) This guy reminds me of my 90-year old grandfather. Great story, great history, great respect.
probably could have muted it a bit more. I thought the background music was fine and I was so zoned in on the story that the music didn't distract me much.
Alex sounds a bit robotic, but I could listen to Bill all day. Also the music seemed a bit out of place for an interview, but still a great story to hear. I look forward to more Flitetest doctrinaires and RC videos :-) I'd like to also see you guys make a video on regulations and safety protocol for your powered paragliding series.
What a great story from a wonderful gentleman, I would also like to Thank him for his service to our country. Without men like him we wouldn't have the freedoms we have today, and thanks to this video because we now have a story that would've been lost to time on video forever so future generations can learn about our history from one of the men who made it.
Only an elite class of people know what blood sweat and tears it takes to build an aircraft from scratch! My hat is off for everyone of them! God bless every one of them!
Excellent interview ... . flown for thirty years and enlightened from new information provided by inspiring history through a respected aviator you've provided... Appreciating you very much sir....
I got my wings at 3G3 in 2007, and people were still talking about this project and the first flight. Awesome guy. Cheers to the R.O.M.E.O.s (Really old men eating out).
Just wonderful in every way. What determination it must have taken to see the project through to the takeoff It is very inspiring that Bill worked so hard to keep the aircraft as authentic as possible. I thought the interviewer was intelligent and respectful. My only criticism is that there could have been better credits in the information box.
I remember seeing a Sopwith Triplane fly at a Shuttleworth Flying Day a few years ago and particularly recall my sister saying 'Oh look A Venetian Blind' !
Great video and brilliant builder. Boy does the soundtrack get irritating after a while. What would be wrong with simply having the voices without the music?
Excellent video guys! Hey, just noticed that "homebuilt" was missing the "e" on your thumbnail, just an fyi! I've said it before but you guys have to tour the Naval Air Museum at NAS Pensacola. Would make a great episode! Cheers! Fergy
This is an incredibly interesting story! But, please, please, please, upload a version without the background music. I'm not a native English speaker and music makes it horribly difficult to follow his story. Or at least add subtitles when you do documentary-type videos.
Nico L I turned on the auto generated subtitles after I read this comment and to be honest at least 95% (19/20) of the words are correct and in correct order. Punctuation isn't the best but it's readable. Maybe one out of twenty words is off but that's an average because there were times where 100 words would go by without an error, and then 5 in a row would get messed up.
That's a sweet old man with a wonderful dream God bless him I love it when people r determined to complete something great. Great videos guys loved it👏
You can hear in this man's voice, that he's proud. He's earned what he's made. He's passionate for his work. We need more people like him. Truly the greatest generation.
Firebird Aviation Couldn't agree more. People just don't understand what it means to work and earn things these days.
It's men like this that made America GREAT !!!
Firebird Aviation imnotcrying
Nah
What a smashing chap, articulate, unassuming and, clearly, possessing of great skill and knowledge.
Great interview. Thoughtful, informed and respectful questions, then shutting-up and listening without interuption. Well done!
I totally agree great interview technique. Well done!
Agreed, this guy had a great story to tell.
music slightly to loud other then that nice
I think I learnt more about the sopwith tri-plane here than from pro documentaries, JUST AMAZING! Its all an honor to have such a gentleman speak and explain these technicalities, you just listen and absorb it all in, its all inspiring. Hats off to you Sir! AND THANK YOU FLITE TEST for the interview! You know we love our WW1 planes, the grace with which these war machines flew, just lovely
Where's the "i love it" button.. like is just not enough..Beautiful person to stand next to Alex! I can listen to this all day long :D
JaRCo de Rover Me to I really enjoy listening to stories like this. Truly motivational for an aspiring pilot.
That is one of the most amazing videos i've seen on FliteTest! The story was just amazing to listen to. An incredible guy in my opinion and a big thank's to FliteTest for sharing that with us!
Bless his heart love seeing these old aviators and their projects. The man is a living piece of history and a treasure. For the younger folks...when you meet someone like this...sit down, by them a meal and just listen. You can't always get thos kind of info from a boo, or even a video on the internet. You can't ask him a question on this video. Treasure the old folks man! They've learned the hard lessons and if your smart, you'll learn from them and save aggravation or worse.
Mad respect for people who pursued their dreams & went on doing what they love. A truly inspiring story. Awesome video!
Alex, this is one of your best interviews I have seen to date. Great video editing also. I didn't even read the other comments and thought the background music was a bit loud.
Watched this when it was first posted had to come back and watch again Very interesting stories. Love the old biplanes. 👍🏻
Between this and the Flite Fest videos, I'm convinced that this hobby has the most amazing cross-generational engagement to be found and that you guys are doing your damnedest to keep that tradition going. Thank you for bringing this story to the community.
Incredible dedication to a project. We don't call them the greatest generation for nothing. I'd like to shake his hand.
Great story! You can really feel the respect and admiration you have for him in the interview. Please invite him back for another interview.
Thanks Flite Test for demonstrating wisdom and grace. I thoroughly enjoyed the interview with Mr. Woodall. His life experiences are more than worthy of our attention. It was obvious that his passion for aviation drove him to take on the daunting task that lay before him in building his Sopwith Triplane. Had it not been for his choice to serve our country, I'm certain he would not have had the vision or drive to accomplish it. God bless him, and God bless all at Flite Test for sharing this man's life with us. Steve Dennis
I liked this a lot. Like Steven Pelayo said, asking the questions and respectfully listening to the awesome story without interruption, just how it should be,brilliant.
My brother told me about this fellow. He was there when Mr Woodall took off. I believe the video where the inspection cover comes off is what he recorded that day. What a work of art that plane is.
Wow, thumbs up and added to my Favorite Videos! What a man; what a project; what a story. Great interview by Alex and amazing editing. This must have taken an enormous amount of work. Thank you Flight Test folks for making so many high-quality videos!
Terrific story. I salute you sir. To have the drive and skills needed to bring this aircraft to life, not to mention the courage to get her airborne, is an inspiration.
Absolutely amazing interview. I could listen to this guy tell stories all night long!
Wow, Awesome, Awesome, Awesome. Love these interviews capturing a history we are slowly loosing and thank you Alex for your great kindness to capture a story of an American treasure. This gentleman and his story is just awesome. The camera work and editing is amazing too. Thank you
can't beat listening to people's story's from the past . could listen to them all day long .
As a retired airframe and powerplant technician that is one beautiful plane.
amazing story
This was a wonderful presentation. I love to hear older men who are alert and recall their history.
There really is something special about this generation of people. I love listening to these stories.
Talk about an inspiring story...
And the idea of building something like this and then getting into it and actually lifting off the ground......
That is the very essence of the spirit of flight......WOW 😱
What a great story! Thanks FliteTest and Bob Woodall for showing us and telling us about this awesome done-it-myself project!
BRAVO!!! very enjoyable feature of the sopwith triplane! Great job with the interview also!
Well done! I built a Murphy Renegade 2. Push-pull tube controls; differential frieze ailerons. The tailplane wire braced with anti crush tubes around the bolts to stop possible deformation of the 3/4inch tubes making up he tailplane. SS wires; lots of turnbuckles safety wired.... +10G, -6G.
What a lovely old gentleman with an amazing story and a beautiful plane! Flitetest have come such a long way! The content just keeps getting better and better! Keep up the great work you guys do!
Exceptional build, just amazing. The sheer amount of work humbles me. As others have said, a respectful and informative interview; well done Alex and crew. Got quite a surprise when Bill mentioned the Benson gyro-glider kit. I too built one (with Rotor-Hawk rotors) and flew it without an engine, as I learned to come to grips with gyrocopters, before I installed a VW engine. Like Bill though, I saw too many accidents with them, one fatal, and so sold mine and went over to fixed wing light aircraft and gliders. Sadly, I can no longer fly solo due to a heart condition, so got back into flying RC planes, especially with FPV goggles. I have a model Stearman and a Focker DVII that I fly that way, which is great fun.
Interestingly we have an elderly pilot in my RC club who flew Vampire jets for NZ and later flew all sorts of commercial jets. He flew a WWI Fokker triplane for exhibitions in Sydney. His experience with it in mock dogfights was hair raising, just to hear about.
Alex,Excellent Interview. Mr Bill Woodall thank you for sharing your story. God's Speed.
A great interview. What a wonderful guy. Greatest generation.
No doubt a man with patience and perseverance. Thank you for a job well done on this interview.
wow! this has been my favorite flight test videos by far. the ammount of information that man has is amazing. and that plane!!! its beautiful .
This is one of the coolest videos you guys have done. Model flight got inspiration from real planes and pilots. I love hearing stories like this man had to tell. More like this in the future please!
That said, I like all you guys' antics. I love that you offer your plans for free and give sound advice on what beginners should look at getting and what is for transitioning etc.
Y'all rock!!
It's hard to imagine the determination it took to build this plane. Also the courage to fly it under the circumstances he describes. An amazing man for sure.
This was a capital interview! I look forward to more talks with these old chaps, especially those who flew warbirds.
loved this video, maybe its just the way the video was shot/edited but it seemed as though he got more excited about talking about it as the show went on, almost like as he felt people cared more the more detail he was willing to give. amazing guy and one to feel proud of his accomplishments!
theres a true legend in aviation history right there! what a hero!
Fascinating story, and one brought out very well by the interviewer's thoughtful questions. Very well done all round!
Fantastic video. Great old guy and loved listening to him! I was involved in rebuilding an old aircraft many years ago. Our lessons learnt were, first, work out how long you think it will take then double it. Second, do the same for the budget.
With my having been involved from the outset with the Sopwith Triplane constructed by what was the entirely voluntary membership Yorkshire based Northern Aeroplane Workshops and which now lives with the Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire, England, I found this to be a fascinating story. That is not least because it’s commencement was some ten years before we embarked upon our project working from a more or less full set of original drawings we acquired from Hawker Siddeley. From the inception, it was decided the aircraft must be constructed to flying standards and inspected at that time by a CAA appointed inspector. In the video I noted one or two variations that we successfully worked around, not least those of the streamlined tubing discussed which we succeeded in persuading Accles & Pollock’s successors to produce especially for us. Indeed, that resulted in our having a surplus stock, including sufficient tubing of the U/C profile to construct three undercarriages!
Our Triplane, named ‘Dixie’, now resides at the Old Warden aerodrome alongside its NAW stable mates, the Bristol M1C and the Sopwith Camel named IKANOPIT.
I will add that all three of our aircraft are in authentic colour schemes and markings, those having been carefully and extensively researched by the NAW historian.
A very interesting video marred only by that annoyingly obtrusive tinkling music.
Fascinating! What an amazing story.
I noticed people complaining about the background music... To be honest, I didn't even notice it. When I'm totally engrossed into something everything else on the planet fades into a minor background noise. lol
It can be difficult for non native speakers that have to concentrate on what is being said instead of just listening though.
Yes, I understand that. My wife has that problem with some things too.
The fact this guy ran into problems and custom fabricated what he needed and came up with his own solutions... Just damn.. Dudes part genius that's for sure.
I got shivers listening to bill’s story. Thanks for sharing this amazing journey.
One of your best episodes yet guys! I hope to be half as switched on at Bill's age as he is!
Great job , I build 2000lb mini army tanks from scratch so my hats off to you for such a wonderful job and project. Maybe my next tank will be a ww1 Mark1 .
best video I've ever seen on TH-cam, seriously!
This guy's story is great!
Great Video, Fantastic Story. Well done guys.
Great interview. I love how humble the builder of this magnificent machine is.
The music is drowning out what the man is saying.
What a brilliant bloke Bill Woodall is!
Terrific achievement to build and fly that
Shuttleworth collection in Bedfordshire, England have one ('Dixie') which they still fly regularly
along with a load of other Pre WW1 through to WW2 aeroplanes (so if you're in the area...)
Wonderful video. Great story. I really enjoyed when he got into all the details of building the plane. Amazing how small those planes were and what they did with them.
Saw that the streamlined wires the same asa Hawker Huricane (had some in my old Hurricane cockpit project). What a charismatic amazing gentleman who was inspired as a boy about the first world war flyers & he built his dream all those years after.
Dispite all the hate you hear today, this man inspires me, makes me proud of America and ingenuity, determination, talant and hard work of other men. Music is fine. STOP parroting the same complait.. it's not original or cool to whine.
What an achievement ....... we need more guys like him around
Very humble down to earth and simple person
This guy needs to be in classrooms!! His story is incredible!!
Amazing guy with an amazing story, great stuff. I have one point of feedback on the editing though. The background music a bit dominant in my opinion.
Thought the same.
I hate background music and this detracts hugely from what is a very interesting video about an outstanding engineer.
I might not have noticed if it wasn't so repetitive, but I can't argue this point. 1...5...6-...4 again and again... :)
This guy reminds me of my 90-year old grandfather. Great story, great history, great respect.
probably could have muted it a bit more. I thought the background music was fine and I was so zoned in on the story that the music didn't distract me much.
Jason Phipps - 1-5-6-4; just like modern christianish music. Can't unhear it once you notice it. Awfully annoying.
Alex sounds a bit robotic, but I could listen to Bill all day.
Also the music seemed a bit out of place for an interview, but still a great story to hear.
I look forward to more Flitetest doctrinaires and RC videos :-)
I'd like to also see you guys make a video on regulations and safety protocol for your powered paragliding series.
I'm glad this series is back, I was worried it had died out.
What a great story from a wonderful gentleman, I would also like to Thank him for his service to our country. Without men like him we wouldn't have the freedoms we have today, and thanks to this video because we now have a story that would've been lost to time on video forever so future generations can learn about our history from one of the men who made it.
Awesome story. Thanks to people like this gentleman history will not be completely forgotten.
That is beautiful, I love this kind of general aviation content. Keep up the great work!
Really would like to meet him if he is still round! What a tale of ingenuity and tenacity! You go boy!
Amazing story,amazing man,glad he still around!
Only an elite class of people know what blood sweat and tears it takes to build an aircraft from scratch!
My hat is off for everyone of them!
God bless every one of them!
Amazing story! love this segment of Flight Test great job!.
Excellent interview ... . flown for thirty years and enlightened from new information provided by inspiring history through a respected aviator you've provided... Appreciating you very much sir....
Well done interview. That gentleman has a wealth of knowledge.
Lose the music but great video of a great man and his plane.
It's a shame he never met Tommy. The two would have hit it off really well. Magnificent men and their flying machines both.
What a great story. Beautiful old plane.Good job telling story!
This is outstanding. Need to hear that old radial engine pulling though in high fidelity, that would put it over the top.
Need more guys like this.
I got my wings at 3G3 in 2007, and people were still talking about this project and the first flight. Awesome guy. Cheers to the R.O.M.E.O.s (Really old men eating out).
That's real commitment! An authentic a project as you could get.
Just wonderful in every way. What determination it must have taken to see the project through to the takeoff
It is very inspiring that Bill worked so hard to keep the aircraft as authentic as possible.
I thought the interviewer was intelligent and respectful.
My only criticism is that there could have been better credits in the information box.
what a lovely interview. Beautifully done young man.
What an absolutely MAGNIFICENT video!
Why the music? It's interesting enough hearing this bloke talk.
Amazing interview. That guy had guts to do what he did.
What an episode, more of this please! Great mix between this and the RC stuff
Thank you Bill, for sharing your passion and your knowledge.
If I could add a photo I'd be saluting.
His story is amazing, it's incredible that he made this by hand over decades. I just wish the music was toned down...
What an awesome video! Would love to see more videos like this one sharing the stories of building real aircraft. Thanks for sharing👍🏼
This is my favorite flite test video.
That was awesome. Please do more of these episodes.
I remember seeing a Sopwith Triplane fly at a Shuttleworth Flying Day a few years ago and particularly recall my sister saying 'Oh look A Venetian Blind' !
One of the best videos from FT in a while, well done!
Beautifull episode and keep doing more interviews with people like this gentleman, just great to share in his passion
Great video and brilliant builder. Boy does the soundtrack get irritating after a while. What would be wrong with simply having the voices without the music?
I love these full scale videos that you lot are producing, absolutely beautiful craftsmanship
Excellent video guys! Hey, just noticed that "homebuilt" was missing the "e" on your thumbnail, just an fyi!
I've said it before but you guys have to tour the Naval Air Museum at NAS Pensacola. Would make a great episode!
Cheers!
Fergy
Great story and I think Alex did a great and respectful interview. Nicely done!
This is an incredibly interesting story!
But, please, please, please, upload a version without the background music. I'm not a native English speaker and music makes it horribly difficult to follow his story.
Or at least add subtitles when you do documentary-type videos.
Nico L I turned on the auto generated subtitles after I read this comment and to be honest at least 95% (19/20) of the words are correct and in correct order. Punctuation isn't the best but it's readable. Maybe one out of twenty words is off but that's an average because there were times where 100 words would go by without an error, and then 5 in a row would get messed up.
What a great guy. Living history right there.
Beautiful story and excellent editing!
That's a sweet old man with a wonderful dream God bless him I love it when people r determined to complete something great. Great videos guys loved it👏