Well worth the ride. These things look kinda big on the outside, but get in one and it sure changes your perspective on them, and the guys that had to duke it out in them. That tailgunner location gives me the chills...
We had 7 B-17's in the air together over Ypsilanti Mich. last year. The final fly-by was a 4-plane formation with one pulling up for the missing man. An incredible, unforgettable sight!
Cool stuff. I can't get enough warbirds. FYI, for the Open Wheel Reunion, we are going to stop and take a gander at the Collings Foundation B-17, B-25 and B-24 this Saturday, the 22nd. Be at Hot Rod Ch***is at 10am. Don't miss it! thread on Open Wheel Reunion
For what it's worth, the Collins Foundations B-24 and B-17 are in Davenport Ia right now, 7:24 central time, they should have got over there about 3:30, first to set up and give walk thru's, tomorrow, they will probably be giving rides in each. I think they were charging $425 for about 1/2 hour or 45 mins. From there, they go on up towards Chicago, I can't remember which airport, then on to Oshgosh for the yearly gathering of War Birds They won't fly unless they are booked full though. But they did both fly here today. The 24 I got stick time in in 1994, got to fly it from Phoenix to El Toro. 17's I flew with Evergreen back in the late 70's on the 17, as a tanker, then it got parked and Del completely restored it. it's up in McMinnville now, after that I was on P2v's the -5 model tankers. My boss at that time, one hell of a guy and friend, went west three years ago now. Good times and good memories. Shot the bull with the new crews of the 17 and 24 while they were in town this morning, The little gal, (and she is typed in the 24, and can't weigh 100 lbs soaking wet) and cuter than a bug, is the pilot on the 24 with her hubby, What a life!!! But I keep my feet on the ground now, most of the time, except next month, got to go to Ala and get re-current in the turbo-prop stuff. You guys down there, how do you stand the humidity??
Warbird Digest says that there is an upcoming show in Columbus OH where they are shooting for 100 Mustangs! Holy ****, that is unreal. I want to go pretty bad, and anything over 10 would be more than I've seen in one place.
that P51 show is gonna be amazing... i think it's gonna be next year. ohio guys, be sure to look into the lancaster air show in september or october. ALWAYS have several WWII fighters. saw a B25 year before last, P51 too. this last year there was an F6F and an F4F. one of the years i saw a corsair and a catalina. simply marvelous.
Well man thats it - I had laready decided that when I head Stateside next time Im gonna take a ride in that B17, now - I cant wait that long !! Thanx for doing my head in man.....AAAARRRGHHHH! !!! Love that B17. Rat
HellRaiser, was that the same B-24 that had a landing gear problem here in Phoenix about 10 years ago?
Many years ago...I was in Kodiak, AK - out at the muni field, fueling up my Maule...I hear a great sound and as I turn around...a Beech Staggerwing is landing...some attorney from Anchorage, just out for "sea trials". Totally restored....had the 450hp in it...big chrome spinnner. There's one out here in Las Vegas at VGT (N Las Vegas) that used to belong to Walter Beech - talk about PLUSH!!!! Hangar just down from that guy houses a stunning P-51 that was used by NACA to test airfoil designs just after WWII. Warbirds are more fun than almost anything else. dj
Propwash, I got to see the NACA Mustang at Oshkosh. Its cool that they didn't try to re-do the P-51 with fake colors. They were smart to leave history alone. And yes, Staggerwings are the cat's ***!
Im with you on that...I hate air travel. but I would jump in one of those in a heartbeat! What a sight
FYI, an F-86 just crashed down south on it's way to Oshkosh. Pilot was killed. Took this pic this weekend. See my Open Wheel Reunion Pics thread for the rest.
Got a link? I don't see anything on the EAA site yet. http://www.eaa.org/communications/eaanews/pressreleases.html
Hell, just watch your local news. I saw the wreak around lunch. Weird thing is it looked like it burnt on the ground. The fusalage separated from the wing. The wing still had it's gear down. Somehow, i had a gut fealling that it was on it's way to Oshkosh. here is a link: http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=5196487
That B-25 is a Replica of R.T. Smiths 1st air commando plane. The crew that flew it in to the 128th's Air refueling wing open house were very nice and let me check it out last year. R.T. Smith was an Ex-Flying tiger(AVG) and when they disbanded or got absorbed he stayed on to help command that unit. The plane is named after his wife. That is one sick plane and his wife was hot as hell back in the day as well equally as stunning I would say. Jerome of the Cheaters
This plane was in Orlando, a few years back. Got to sit in the ****pit and talk with an old geezer whom was a WWII B-29 pilot, as well as, one of the current mechanics. His tales of yore gave me goosebumps. Made me feel glad to be an American but also realize most of these pilots where in their early 20's Can't even imagine some of these snot nose punks of today, bein' responsible enough to command one of these ships. JT
Last Sept my brother Laurie (RatStu), myself and our Dad went to Holland to help in the recovery of our Uncles Halifax bomber LV905. All 7 crew were killed on impact but only one body was recovered. 60 years later we were informed that the crash site was located and there was a chance we could recover the remains. To keep a long story as short as possible, We went to Holland and were there when the remains of the aircraft and crew were recovered. Here is a shot of LV907 in England (built from many parts of other recovered Halifax) Our plane was LV 905 only two away from the now famous Friday the 13th LV907. Here is a shot of one of the engines that were recovered, the engine oil is as fresh as the day it went in! The plane sunk in to a marsh and then into the clay. Many parts were just as new, even smoke damage could be seen on parts (it was on fire when it crashed, shot down by a ME110) and a shot of my brother and I with one of the prop. A great article can be read at this link. http://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/article/397A7195-DFF8-49A1-AD6B-6324C04B2240.asp?bhcp=1 more info can be found here. http://home.hetnet.nl/~pdw34/OHHalifaxEN.htm
that B-25... izzat one with the 75mm cannon in the nose??? RT smith wrote a damned good book, i think it is called "A Tiger's Tale." damned good read.
Yankee Lady went over just before the thunderstorm hit a couple hours ago. I tried to take a pic with my camera phone but it didn't come out. I heard it over the monsoonlike downpour... and my neighbors behind me musta thought me a lunatic, cuz I stood out there until it was outta sight, even in the rain. Goes over the house several times a week, but you just hafta run out and see it EVERY time! FYI, Thunder over Michigan is August 5th. That's where the B17's were last summer, plus a ****load of Mustangs and other old stuff. Should be well worth the trip. Jay
You say that like it's a bad thing! Just funnin withcha. I get goosebumps when Yankee Lady flies over, solo, and can only imagine the sounds of hundreds of them at once. Jay
Just back from Oshkosh. 3 B-17s, a B-24, and a Lancaster(!) were on the main ramp. If you Mustangs sound cool, imagine what the Lancaster sounds like with four in very close formation. I didn't know that Aluminum Overcast's paint scheme is patterned off a real B-17. Everything is the same exept the nose art. Col. Weekly was the pilot, and I got to meet him at the fly-in. The B-25s are louder because unlike the exhaust colecter ring on most radials (acts like a mufler) many 25s had short, direct stacks. I also got to meet Flying Tiger Legend "Tex" Hill. We also got to see the new F-22 Raptor. The vectored thrust nozzles made it dance-I'm not kidding! It did **** that no jet should be able to do. I'm no jet fan, but that thing was bad ***!
The Jalopy Journal
