Aircraft

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Whap!

[Texas Lawdog]

Somehow, I don't think one of those aluminum bats would do as good as a good old ash bat.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Somehow, I don't think one of those aluminum bats would do as good as a good old ash bat.

Yep - but it'd STILL hurt like the devil!

And it'd make a weird sound, too!  Gareth & Sam [Samantha] (my Son & youngest Daughter) both have custom bats their friends got them for a birthday present.  It's a cool tour that you can do when in Louisville.  Go to the Louisville Slugger factory - and if you get there at the right time you can even go to the top of the giant bat that stands at the front of the factory entrance.



Or not ...

[Arcey]

This one isn't about aircraft per se. I thought it a good but saddening read.

http://hamptonroads.com/2012/10/carrier-enterprise-makes-sentimental-journey

[Leo Tanner]

One of my best memories is getting to board that carrier and tour it.  Now I'm takin ma own sentimental journey, thank Arcey. 

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Sad, but that's how they end up.Her predecessor should have been saved.According to the book I had on her, some of her scrapped steel ended up in another form in the new one. Well done, Enterprise!

[Texas Lawdog]

I got to tour the Lexington at Corpus Christi several years ago. It is a WW2 Essex class carrier. I would like to tour the Big E before she is dismantled.

[Leo Tanner]

Went I was on her she was still carrying Corsair II jets.  I have to look into what became of them.

[Texas Lawdog]

Leo, They built those jets in Grand Prairie, as well as the WW2 Corsairs.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

The Navy retired them a few years back.  The USAF also flew them while I was in but has retired all (or most) after I got out in '92.

The F7 Corsair II looked remarkably like the F8 Crusader, which is also known as "The Last Gunfighter," because it was the LAST fighter built with guns (20mm cannons) as its' planned primary weapons.  Few F8s in Viet Nam SHOT down any Migs; most were taken with missiles, even on F8s.  That too has been retired from Naval service for years.  I don't think that the USAF ever flew F8s.

[Leo Tanner]

Thanks for the info guys.  Seeing those planes at 8 years old I fell in love just like ma Dad did with the original Corsair when he was young.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Boy-oh-boy, I'm with ya there, Leo!

To this day, the planes my Dad liked are still (for the most part) MY favorites!

[Texas Lawdog]

Leo, SHB and my self love old airplanes as well as CAS shooting. I guess we inherited from our Dad's as well. I am able to carry on my love of Warbirds by being a member of the CAF.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Leo, SHB and my self love old airplanes as well as CAS shooting. I guess we inherited from our Dad's as well. I am able to carry on my love of Warbirds by being a member of the CAF.

I wish I were closer to the CAF, 'specially one of the primary locations!

[Texas Lawdog]

I am lucky that I live near several of the CAF wings and I am able to see lots of Warbirds around here.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

VERY lucky!

I am lucky enough to live within 5 miles of the Mount Comfort airstrip.  Once a year there is a big fly-in (big around here) and we see many of the planes and I especially like it when the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds are practicing.  During their show, they occasionally fly near to my house and I get a good look, but most of their routines are further North of here.  When we moved here in 1996 the main part of their turn-arounds were right over my house & pool, but since the neighborhoods have grown and expanded, they moved the majority of their flight plans over less-populated areas.  We still see them, but now they're 6-7 miles away, rather than 500-1000 feet over my house!  The same was for the Warbirds - I used to get GREAT close-up views of their undersides, but now it's only the occasional flight going in to or away from the airport.

[Texas Lawdog]

SHB, I live in D/FW's flight path, so I don't get to see the T-Birds or Blue Angels, unless I go to the AirShows.

[litl rooster]

The Navy retired them a few years back.  The USAF also flew them while I was in but has retired all (or most) after I got out in '92.

The F7 Corsair II looked remarkably like the F8 Crusader, which is also known as "The Last Gunfighter," because it was the LAST fighter built with guns (20mm cannons) as its' planned primary weapons.  Few F8s in Viet Nam SHOT down any Migs; most were taken with missiles, even on F8s.  That too has been retired from Naval service for years.  I don't think that the USAF ever flew F8s.

Onlyiest one I seen were Navy or Marines.   Funny in town the Corsair was honored.    I was only there on a an official capacity I mind you.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Onlyiest one I seen were Navy or Marines.   Funny in town the Corsair was honored.    I was only there on a an official capacity I mind you.

Right.

[Texas Lawdog]

They are still building planes here for the military. I think they are still building C-17 transports here.