Narrative:

Holding short of runway 8L at lima, tower gave clearance 'now' for immediate takeoff, heavy jet on short final. We executed takeoff checks and took off knowing that we should be out of heavy's way if he was to abort landing, so he executed his maneuver. It was a normal takeoff after being given clearance for an immediate takeoff from M8L at lima intersection. After lift-off at approximately 300-400', captain accelerated in level flight airspeed to 130 KTS. For about 1000', I asked for flaps up. He said no. Just past intersection 4 and 8 runway west/O prior briefing or comment, captain executed a 30 degrees pitch up and 50 degree banking turn and climb till about 2000'. I was totally surprised at the fact of his action, but in now way felt in danger or that safety was at stake or jeopardy. I was uncomfortable with action, but felt maneuver was within limits on aircraft. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter states that the flight crew was called into the chief pilot's office and asked for an explanation. It seems that a reporter was driving near the airport, saw the maneuver and drove immediately to the tower. Tower, of course, had to report to local FAA office. Captain apologized profusely to reporter and said that he could not really explain his actions. Report says captain, 'just wanted to be brave,' since it was a ferry flight and no passenger. Chief pilot convinced inspectors that the maneuver had not exceeded the aircraft limitations and FAA has apparently closed the file.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MDT ON FERRY FLT. FOR NO APPARENT REASON, CAPT PERFORMS RATHER EXTREME PITCH AND BANK MANEUVER ON INITIAL CLIMB.

Narrative: HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 8L AT LIMA, TWR GAVE CLRNC 'NOW' FOR IMMEDIATE TKOF, HVY JET ON SHORT FINAL. WE EXECUTED TKOF CHKS AND TOOK OFF KNOWING THAT WE SHOULD BE OUT OF HVY'S WAY IF HE WAS TO ABORT LNDG, SO HE EXECUTED HIS MANEUVER. IT WAS A NORMAL TKOF AFTER BEING GIVEN CLRNC FOR AN IMMEDIATE TKOF FROM M8L AT LIMA INTXN. AFTER LIFT-OFF AT APPROX 300-400', CAPT ACCELERATED IN LEVEL FLT AIRSPD TO 130 KTS. FOR ABOUT 1000', I ASKED FOR FLAPS UP. HE SAID NO. JUST PAST INTXN 4 AND 8 RWY W/O PRIOR BRIEFING OR COMMENT, CAPT EXECUTED A 30 DEGS PITCH UP AND 50 DEG BANKING TURN AND CLB TILL ABOUT 2000'. I WAS TOTALLY SURPRISED AT THE FACT OF HIS ACTION, BUT IN NOW WAY FELT IN DANGER OR THAT SAFETY WAS AT STAKE OR JEOPARDY. I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ACTION, BUT FELT MANEUVER WAS WITHIN LIMITS ON ACFT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR STATES THAT THE FLT CREW WAS CALLED INTO THE CHIEF PLT'S OFFICE AND ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION. IT SEEMS THAT A RPTR WAS DRIVING NEAR THE ARPT, SAW THE MANEUVER AND DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE TWR. TWR, OF COURSE, HAD TO RPT TO LCL FAA OFFICE. CAPT APOLOGIZED PROFUSELY TO RPTR AND SAID THAT HE COULD NOT REALLY EXPLAIN HIS ACTIONS. RPT SAYS CAPT, 'JUST WANTED TO BE BRAVE,' SINCE IT WAS A FERRY FLT AND NO PAX. CHIEF PLT CONVINCED INSPECTORS THAT THE MANEUVER HAD NOT EXCEEDED THE ACFT LIMITATIONS AND FAA HAS APPARENTLY CLOSED THE FILE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.