Aircraft

[Leo Tanner]

I dig the turbulance on those ligher craft.  People around me are turnin green an I'm just grinnin from ear ta ear.  Buisines man next ta me asks "doesn't this bother you?"  an I tolt him "no sir, now we's flyin!"  It's in ma blood.

[Texas Lawdog]

The Moose will not fly in a small plane. We flew in a small Cessna single engine one night from Amarillo to Dumas, which is about  50 miles. We were flying low above the highway and she would not look down. It has made a lasting impression on her. She doesn't mind the commerical big planes, just no little ones.

[Leo Tanner]

That's too bad.  To me it's like bein on one of those biig cruise ships where you can't even feel the swells as opposed to the natural motion of a small boat.  But then again that makes a lot of people sick too.

[Ozark Tracker]

Back when I took flying lessons and fly on my own,  I was in a farming area,  I found out on a sunny hot day you could go over a plowed field and the thermals would push you higher as you flew over it,  when you'd go over an area that was covered in grass,  there wasn't any push.  you'd get quite a ride at a 1000 feet ,  some people don't like it at all

[Leo Tanner]

I do believe it's partly genetic.  My uncle Joe did just fine in that tail gunner's position and you know that had to be a rocky ride!  My Dad used to fly a lot too and never white knucked even in severe weather.  It's all part of the ride.

[Ozark Tracker]

the first time I ever flew was in 1962,  the local John Dealer took a bunch of farmers up to Moline,  Ill.  to the John Deere Tractor plant. 
we flew on a 4 engine prop plane,  we only flew at maybe 3000 feet  (maybe)  not very high,  we had some old farmers on there that were in their 70's and it was the first trip on a plane.  it was quite a memorable trip,  there were 2 kids on the plane, me and a friend of mine, both 13 years old,  they let us go up in the cockpit and see everything and sit in the co-piolit's seat.  they really made an impression on us.  but it made an impression on some of them farmers too.  I heard some of em tell the story of how it's a wonder we made it at all up till the time they died.

but it was a fun experience.

[Queasy Dillo]

No pictures, unfortunately, but Aluminum Overcast was in Waco today.  Got to follow it down the taxiway and take off behind that sucker. 


Mmmm....B-17...

[Four-Eyed Buck]

How was the prop wash, Dillo? Getting to see a piece of history like that is just the greatest feeling........Buck

[Leo Tanner]

The B17 was the right hand of God when it came to beating the nazis.  Sharing the tarmac with one must have been great.

[Russ T Chambers]

Back when I took flying lessons and fly on my own,  I was in a farming area,  I found out on a sunny hot day you could go over a plowed field and the thermals would push you higher as you flew over it,  when you'd go over an area that was covered in grass,  there wasn't any push.  you'd get quite a ride at a 1000 feet ,  some people don't like it at all

The small airport I learned to fly at back in '70 had a four lane freeway just off the approach end of the runway.  You'd turn from base to final out over a farmer's field, then cross the freeway.  Depending on what was planted in the field, you'd get quite a different amount of lift off the paved surface and the field.  It took a while to get used to just ride with it rather than push the nose down a dive for the runway, cause it wasn't going to last past drainage ditch just before the end of the runway!

[Texas Lawdog]

 Several years ago, I was sitting in the Charlotte Airport with a prisoner waiting on our flight back to DFW. I started hearing a bunch of OOHs and AHHs. I looked at the window and saw "FIFI" taxiing toward the terminal. The right side cockpit window was opened and an American and Texas flags were flying. I was unaware the she was to be in the area for an AirShow. It made me feel proud to be a member of the CAF. Now, I'm a member of the B24/B29 Squadron. I love those old planes, it always makes me feel close to my Dad.

[MontanaSlick]

No wonder I kuddn't reply, fergot to log in..Wadda way ta fly

[Queasy Dillo]

I like prop wash.  Wasn't too crazy about the wake turbulence from the DC-9, but tagging along behind the Fort was great.  I've also been fortunate on various occasions to share the airspace with a four-ship Mustang/Corsair/Thunderbolt formation and a B-25.  Back when I was doing line service I got a chance to tour Marine One and the little orange USCG bird that followed the Presidential entourage. 

The B17 was the right hand of God when it came to beating the nazis.  Sharing the tarmac with one must have been great.

I kinda prefer the red-headed stepchild of the heavy bombers.  Been a B-24 nut as far back as I can recall.  Carried an equal share of the air war in all theaters and wound up without a tenth of the fame.  Toured the CAF B-24 back when she was in a transport configuration;  I'm glad to see them finally getting around to putting her back into bomber shape.   Also believe Collings has one, recently repainted. 

And B-25s.  I love those.  Especially in that two-tone camouflage they wore for the Med. 

[Leo Tanner]

I like prop wash.  Wasn't too crazy about the wake turbulence from the DC-9, but tagging along behind the Fort was great.  I've also been fortunate on various occasions to share the airspace with a four-ship Mustang/Corsair/Thunderbolt formation and a B-25.  Back when I was doing line service I got a chance to tour Marine One and the little orange USCG bird that followed the Presidential entourage. 

I kinda prefer the red-headed stepchild of the heavy bombers.  Been a B-24 nut as far back as I can recall.  Carried an equal share of the air war in all theaters and wound up without a tenth of the fame.  Toured the CAF B-24 back when she was in a transport configuration;  I'm glad to see them finally getting around to putting her back into bomber shape.   Also believe Collings has one, recently repainted. 

And B-25s.  I love those.  Especially in that two-tone camouflage they wore for the Med. 

Ya fergot the 29.  Ooh what a gal.

[Queasy Dillo]

One of my friends here (also one of my classroom instructors) was an air force brat.  His dad got into the USAF in Korea and worked on B-29s, and the word is he hated the things.  Problem was, the design exceeded the available technology.  Sort of like dropping a muscle car into the 1940s. 

Lot of good ideas on that bird, just far enough ahead of its time to be problematic. 

[Leo Tanner]

That's interesting QD cause I've heard stories from vets that flew in Europe in the 17's.  They were told a new plane was coming but it never did, they were used in the pacific.  Long story short, the command on the Euro front said "no thanks".  They were being prudent and rightfully so.

[Queasy Dillo]

True.  Logistically speaking, it wouldn't have been worth the trouble sending the Superfort to Europe.  It would've been something to see, though. 

[Queasy Dillo]

Another favorite, albeit a lesser-seen bird.  I put together a bunch of these drawings for one of my countless projects (hence the fictional livery).  I need to get back to drawing one day. 

Hmm....

[Texas Lawdog]

QD, Some of the 25s in my Dad's outfit were the blue color. Axis Sally used to talk about them on the radio at night. They had some with a 75 in the nose for hunting E boats in the Med. He stated in N Africa in 42 and wound up in Northern Italy by the end of the war.  12th AF, 310 BG, 428 BS.  Ol' 927 is the new name for the B24 formally known as "Diamond Lil".  Ol 927 and "FiFi" the B29 are noemally hangared at the airport in Addison, Texas. "FiFi" is at the CAF HQ in Midland Texas for a major overhaul. I am now a member of the B24/B29 Squadron of the CAF.

[Queasy Dillo]

I've heard some about that.  At last report they were working on rebuilding the engines.  Not originals, but a kind of half-breed that looked like the factory engines but used more readily available parts.

I also understand there's an outfit in Kansas (I think) trying to get a second Superfort up.  Pretty sure they aren't CAF, though.