Aircraft

[Texas Lawdog]

I told you guys how beautiful she is. One picture says it all! It just goes to show what a small world this is. Who would have ever thought that a B17 that had been in Fort Worth for 30 years would wind up in a Museum in Virginia that you guys visit.

[Arcey]

'Course I'm tickled to have 'er here 'n I agree, tiz a small world. Just that I want 'er inside when they ain't out joy ridin'.  They got it they're gonna fly it. In my head, I see 'er in the new hanger with a few 'friends'. Some scaffoldin' beside 'er so folks can climb up 'n look inside.

Tex, just let yer friends know what I wrote. She couldn't be in better hands. They gottah sense of humor too. Somewhere, they found two old, rusty dinosaur statues 'n they stuck 'em out front next to the sign.

[Leo Tanner]

That's a gorgeous plane Pop.  You don't see many pictures of the late war fuselage in stainless.  I'm with Arcey, I would love to be able to give 'er a good lookin' over.

[Texas Lawdog]

I got a couple of e-mails from Mrs. Hospers, who is the former owner and the namesake for the aircraft. Her husband, Dr. Hospers called her that and it stuck. When he acquired the aircraft, he decided to name it after her, "Chuckie".  She is really a neat lady and she really appreciated the info that I forwarded to her about "Chuckie".  They are in the process of gathering up all the B17 stuff in the hangar and getting it ready to send to Virginia.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Leo/Tom - Chuckie is polished aluminum, not stainless.  SS would be waaaay too heavy.

It'a a VERY high grade of aluminum, of very high strength, then coated with an anti-corrosion solution and later polished, if not painted.

[Leo Tanner]

Leo/Tom - Chuckie is polished aluminum, not stainless.  SS would be waaaay too heavy.

It'a a VERY high grade of aluminum, of very high strength, then coated with an anti-corrosion solution and later polished, if not painted.

I should pay more attention when I am typing.  Thank you for correcting that. 

[Texas Lawdog]

One of the CAF units disbanded and returned their assigned aircraft(an A26) back to the HQ in Midland. There is a rumor that the plane could be hangared at the Vintage Flight Museum and another CAF outfit could take over the sponsorship. That sounds interesting and there are a dedicated group of volunteers at the Museum that are anxious to start a new priject.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I (personal opinion) think the A26 is the second coolest twin-engine plane that was used in WW-twice; the coolest being (again IMHO) the Mosquito.

My FAVORITE wasn't used, the war finished before the 2 or 3 units that were in training, but not assigned to combat status:  the Grumman F7F Tigercat.  There are several flying these days but they never saw combat until Korea.  That F7F in fighter configuration was an awesome beast!  4 caliber 50's concentrated in the nose (like the P38, also a VERY cool twin) and 4 20 mm's in the wing roots!  That's a $h.tload of destructive power, put in a machine that would go damn fast for a prop plane - over 400 knots!

[Texas Lawdog]

SHB, I wonder if there are any of those Tigercat's left in world to restore. The CAF needs one for the collection. I don't  think we have any P-38's anymore either. That Tigercat was the first twin engine fighter that the Navy adopted, if my feeble memoery is correct.

[Russ T Chambers]

SHB and TL

In 3008 there were three flying Tigercats at the Reno Air Races.   Alas I didn't make it to the races that year to see them in person, here's a link to a video of it:

[Texas Lawdog]

Russ T, That was a great video. Yep, the CAF needs one of those Tigercat's and to get another P-38.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I'm a little late on the draw here, but TL - there are 6 or 7 in the world at this time - but I don't know if there are any "loose" ones waiting for re-build.  There are a handful here in the States and one in Duxford, England.  I know how we feel about them (Wiki) but Wikipedia has them listed by owner and where they are as of recently (or) as recently as the piece was written for Wiki.

I'm sure that it'd take amazingly mucho dinero to keep one flying, let alone restoring one.

[Texas Lawdog]

SHB, That sounds like a project for Mr. Cavanaugh. Spent 3 million on rebuilding the engines on "FIFI". The video was cool. Did you see the video of the 3 Bearcats flying with 2 of the Hornets of the Blue Angels flying in formation?

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Yep, saw the video.  And I saw others where the jets had be be at full flaps-down to get enough lift to make the "slower" flights happen!



That in itself is funny since we tend to think of P 51s, Bearcats, etc. as "Hot Rods" but the jets have "issues" flying SLOW enough to make a good flight!  Just a matter of perceptions, I guess!  That ... and physics & the principles of lift!

[Texas Lawdog]

It was incredible to see the guy that was one of the first group of Blue Angels pilots.  He looked great to be 90 years old. It looked like he really enjoyed climbing back into the cockpit of that Bearcat.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I'll bet!

[Forty Rod]

Here's one to check out.

http://www.twaseniorsclub.org/twavideo/twastratoliner.html

Only 10 made and look at the leg room and amenities.

[Texas Lawdog]

That looks like the civilian version of the C 46.  The CAF had a C 46 at one time named "China Doll". It has since been sold. I think the military called the C46  "Commando"

[Leo Tanner]

Here she is getting ready to fly.

[Texas Lawdog]

Leo, I don't recognize where the video was shot. It sure ain't Midland, Tx.  We ain't got that many mountains in Texas.