By STAN KASPRZYK

FlightLog Archive

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Aircraft Flown

Richland T-28s - May 2025

I've enjoyed the unique opportunity to fly a number of formation training flights recently in the powerful T-28 Trojan. Years ago I took an extensive ground school course by T-28 instructor Michael Kopp, and had flown training flights in his former T-28B when it was acquired by Scott Urban.

In early 2025, Scott contacted me about supporting an informal formation clinic that he was hosting at his home field of Richland, WA (KRLD). We had three T-28s and four T-6s arrive by Friday morning for the clinic, with gorgeous early summer-like weather forecast. I presented a safety briefing to help set the tone, and we also received a parachute orientation in the evening, while enjoying smash burger tortillas for dinner at Scott's hangar.

Friday started with our first 'get the rust out' T-28 three-ship, with Roger Collins leading in his T-28C, Charlie Goldbach flying his T-28B with me in the backseat, and Scott Urban flying as #3 in his T-28B. The weather was perfect, clear and low 80s, and our working area was close by, over the Sunnyside airfield. We all had a little rust to work off, especially in comm and rejoins, but everyone took it slow for a safe and smooth flight.

Scott had arranged for all the participating pilots to join for lunch at Ann's Best Creole, nearby at the airport. Everyone was impressed with the large lunch portions, and I enjoyed a delicious catfish Po Boy. Next to the restaurant was the Fixed Base Operator (FBO), Sundance Aviation. I stopped by to meet the owner, Clif Dyer, while wearing my Sundance nametag and sporting my Sundance hat. Clif showed me around, and presented me with a complimentary Sundance Aviation ball cap.

We briefed and I flew a second flight in Roger Collins' T-28C N28LC, with Pete Blood as #2 with John Muszala in his pit, and Scott Urban as #3 with Jeff Hanoff, Richland CAF PT-23 driver, in his pit. We climbed again to the area over Sunnyside, practicing close formation, echelon turns and many rejoins, then flew as a wingman when Scott Urban took the lead. We smoked back to the bumpy overhead pattern at 200 knots, and enjoyed a spaghetti dinner while debriefing. Scott's wife Desiree mixed up two Purple Fox drinks, with Empress gin, tonic water, lime juice and a bit of maraschino cherry juice, for my first enjoyable gin drink in 50 years.

I also was able to check out a number of other impressive aircraft in nearby hangars, including Bill O'Neil's amazing camouflaged Berkut and a pristine yellow Swift owned by George Stanley.

On Saturday, I instructed in my third T-28 flight, with better three-ship comm and less rust evident in most of the maneuvering, still with some difficulty in rejoins, prompting a few overshoots, but everyone felt much smoother and relaxed after the three good workout formation flights.

Thanks for the invite, Scott, and the enjoyable opportunity to fly in your gorgeous T-28, along with Charlie and Roger's awesome birds! Sign me up for Richland 2026!