The Dee Howard, "500" conversions, were indeed some of the most, "kick ***" aircraft of that time period. The Howard "DGA" when put on floats, was a cool machine as well. I shot these photographs, at Oshkosh as well. Here you go @jimmy six Enjoy from Dennis.
Not surprised on the outcome. The drag of a wing is less than the landing gear. I took many years for a high wing civilian air plane to have a retractable landing gear. If the Howard could have had one the Beech would have been left in the dust.
I just love old aircraft and warbirds. My last year in the Army (1970) I was in a recce squadron that had Mohawks. I got a flight in one the day before I headed home for separation.
Mohawks and Broncos, were two of the most unique aircraft of the Vietnam era. I shot this photo, of a cool Grumman Mohawk at Oshkosh. It always had a crowd around it. Enjoy from Dennis.
I was in the 122nd Aviation Co. at Hanau GE. Our D models had a big, cigar-shaped IR pod on one side to scan the old East German border. We also did conventional aerial photography with a variety of cameras. My job was to develop film and make prints. I rode in the right seat during my flight.
Sorry to say guys....but the sound of an inline v-12 will never measure up to the sound of a radial. Especially a P&W R-2800. The pics are great though, I enjoyed working on C-130's but I would have jumped ship to different squadron in a heart beat to work on DC-3's.
I have to agree @1930artdeco You just haven't lived a full life, till you are at the controls of a DC-3, hauling totes of fish, from King Salmon Alaska, over to Kodiak Alaska. Nothing like the drone of a pair of P&W 1830 radials, dragging your *** across the sky. As a matter of fact, in my opinion, all radials have a great song to them! Thanks from Dennis.
Very cool photos and info here - thanks all for posting. I love those older planes, always been fascinated by them and the folks who flew and maintained them. There is a museum/restoration facility about an hour away from where I live. Although they have done live airshows in the past my schedule has never allowed me to attend. But trust me, that's gonna change! Well worth the visit if you're ever in the area. Here's the website: ***en Fighters WWII Museum
Is the P38 Glacier Girl, restored in Somerset? Ky. still flying? Anyone know where? I viewed during restoration, years ago, around 1995.
They were were and are both great. The opportunity to hear a radial when growing up in the 50’s was common near the large airports and today a single engine single row radial will bring me out my house in a flash…During an air show the sound of a P-51 on a flyby will make the hair on the back of my neck stand at attention too.
So this post sent me on a quest for videos on radial engines, which resulted in finding this fantastic video. Enjoy! Now, off on a search for P51 Mustang fly by videos....
Went searching for P51 Mustang Flyby videos, was NOT disappointed... I don't know, if that doesn't get your blood pumping, maybe you aren't a hot rodder!
The Jalopy Journal
