Warbird

[jinx]

The boys and I were eating outside yesterday when a B-17 flew right over the yard.<br /><br />I could not help but think that that may be the last time I ever see one of those airborne.<br /><br />Truly an inspiring sight!<br /><br />Have a good weekend, everyone, and take a moment to remember what it is all about.<br /><br />Jinx

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Warbird

Naah, just hit up an airshow and you'll see all the oldies up in the air!

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: Warbird

When was the last time that they dropped bombs in combat?

 

[jinx]

Re: Warbird

I believe it was World War II. They were a design from the late '30s, and the B-29 had a pressurized cabin, which they did not. By the Korean War, I believe that wierd Consolidated B-36, with 6 pusher engines, was also on line.<br /><br />As an aside, 2 years ago a B-17 was nearby and they allowed Stanley Caulkins, a local pilot who had served in the 8th Air Force, to take the controls. He had not been behind the stick of a 17 since 1945!

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: Warbird

I've seen several documentaries on them. The pilots and crew had some mighty huge huevos to fly them. There was a pretty high mortality rate among crews in Europe.

 

[delta breeze]

Re: Warbird

Nothing like the sound of those radial engines overhead huh.I love em.Being in the aviation industry its still nice to see them.I was working in the shop the other day and heard one hell of noise shake the hanger.I knew it could only be one ol' bird to make that much noise.It was a P51d model I believe.The flew in just to get a burger at the resteraunt on the field.Talk about a 1000.00 burger.Any way sorry to get off on the planes but if it goes fast and low to the ground or water I love em'. See ya at the lake.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Warbird

We have some old war birds fly into town yearly, about the same time as the Charlotte County airshow. The B-17 "Fying Fortress", B-24 "liberator" ,and some others use Page Field in Fort Myers as a base. They do a few promo flights out of there. I allmost got in trouble for pulling my werk truck over to watch one take off. A day later, I recieved an apology from my boss, after he did the same thing, and I busted him....A truely awesome sight!<br />They were very safe aircraft for the stanrds of thier era. The B-29, which replaced it in the fleet,was a death trap in comparison, as it's engines needed to be run flat-out WOT all the time...And they often overheated.<br />You won;t see many B-29's flying around,as they are very finicky,and need a constant, expensive ground-support team, and are downright dangerous.<br />The local mosquito control deptartment uses the venerable DC-3 goonies for aireal blanket fogging. They are based at Bukingham airfield a mile north of my home. The B-17's sound like two DC-3's flying formation. I realize Douglas aircraft built the DC-3, and Boeing built the B-17, but they must use the same Cyclone radial engines.<br />

 

[mercrewser]

Re: Warbird

 

[mercrewser]

Re: Warbird

About a month ago one belly landed. Saw it on the news. Broke my heart. I love old radial engines. We have a T28 that frequents our field (Doylestown PA DYL). Reading PA has a World War II day and they have some of the best warbirds there at once, including cheap rides in a T6.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Warbird

Had the opprotunity to see a B-17 take off from PBIA not too awful long ago.. <br /><br />Wish I could have got a close up look at that machine, maybe even a ride even tho i'm about scared to death of flying.. Them big ol' piston pump'n radials, woooooweeee... Made the hair on back of my neck stand up.. Awesome sounding machine...<br /><br /> I think it was the memphis belle on a tour, or something too that effect, if memory serves..

 

[neumanns]

Re: Warbird

when I lived in S Texas the Confederate Air Force CAF was stationed in harlingen. Every year they put on a monsterous airshow with the old birds as well as an occasional new craft. They even did a Pearl harbor reanectment that inluded lots of ground based explosives. I looked forward to it every year. That was alwys an awsome weekend. Thanks for the smile you brought me remember them.

 

[JRJ]

Re: Warbird

My uncle Jim was a B-17 pilot, and what a neat guy he was. My dad was a Sea-Bee on Tinian and cleaned up after a lot of B-29 crashes. He never got in a plane after the war. I wish they were both still around.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Warbird

took a tour of the memphis belle, one time.<br /><br />there was an ole'guy dressed in an old fight suit.. he was the 'greeter' of the tour..<br /><br />i got to talk to him..<br /><br />he told me he was a troule shooter in the army air corp.. said when the B-17 was first built,, they be fyin' along an all a sudden ...<br /><br />B O O M ..!!!!!<br /><br />the sucker just blow up..!!<br />an this happend repeatly.. to where they'd be afraid to fly 'em..<br /><br />it was his job to go up in one an find the problem before it blow'd..<br /><br />they all blew at different times but none sooner then an hour..<br /><br />before the hour mark he assertained the problem an promptly landed..<br /><br />the reason...<br /><br />the plane was all open inside.. an in the middle of the fusladge where the wings connected was the radio room..<br /><br />the engines in the wing.. big startin' battery packs in there ,too..<br /><br />after the plane flew for a hour or so,, the gasses flowed inward to the radio room .. vac tube ,reostats, morse code clickers ... i.e. SPARKS...<br /><br /><br />B O O M...!!!

 

[cajun555]

Re: Warbird

This story is kind of off the beaten path but involves B-17. I saw a program on PBS about James Stewart an his life in the military. He flew all his missions during WW 2 in a B-17. The story is basically about his military carear.After see this speacial I have much respect for this man.

 

[ehenry]

Re: Warbird

My Daddy was a B-24 pilot. He was based in Australia. Several years back there was an airshow here in Jackson and they brought in a B-17, B-24 and a B-29 that you could tour. My dad and I went in the B-24. Pop sat in the pilot's seat while I stood behind him. I was hoping he would tell me about the different things in the aircraft but he didn't. He just sat there silent. I could tell he was remembering some things that were very emmotional to him so I just stood there. The guy that brought the plane in was in the cockpit with us and he asked if Pop was alright I told him that he was and that Pop had flown a B-24 during the war. The guy said that we could stay as long as we wanted until Daddy was ready to leave and he left us. I've only seen my daddy get emotional 3 times.....that was one of them.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Warbird

This plane is the most awesome sight ever to see fly. The air show in Houston has some. Plus there is one at the museum in Galveston.<br /><br />I would love to fly in one.<br /><br />Ken

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: Warbird

Warbirds, ahhhh.<br />Those old birds have a sound of their own don't they be it a Radial or any of the V12 variants.<br />My wife and I went to Biggin Hill Airshow in 74 when we were living in London UK and they had a 'Battle of Britain Memorial Flight' go overhead. <br />In that formation there was at least one example of most types that flew in Battle of Britain. The sound was an absolute symphony to hear.<br /><br />We have the largest Warbirds Airshow in the Southern Hemisphere here in New Zealand every 2 years called "Warbirds over Wanaka" Warbirds over Wanaka website that is attended by aircraft and people from all over the world. Chuck Yeager was their special guest 2 years back.This has all come from one mans dream and passion to preserve history.<br /><br />I was there in 2000 and will go back again soon.<br /><br />If any of you get the opportunity to come out here this is definately an event not to miss.<br /><br />Take care.<br /><br />Peter

 

[JoeW]

Re: Warbird

Jinx,<br />I've had a similar experience. I was looking out the kitchen window into the back yard when a giant shadow was cast across the entire yard. I ran outside just in time to see a B17 with two P51 mustangs flying escort. They were doing a fly over the local airport across the street. It was a very impressive sight. <br /><br />The Confederate Air Force brings their vintage bombers around about once a year for a local air show. I've been on FiFi, the only flight worthy B29 left. They also have a B17 and a B24. The early B24s were known as flying coffins. You could not fly in one of these and be clostrophobic.

 

[kd6nem]

Re: Warbird

There is a fabulous museum at the former Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, Ca. (now open to general aviation) Great burgers for lunch, and a most impressive display of warbirds. The have all sorts of bombers including the B17, B24, B25, A26, B36, B47, B52, FB111, Vulcan (british jet) and much, much more. There are a number of trainers, tankers, fighters and utility types also. Even an SR-71. There are even a couple open cockpit days during the year. The two P51's on the field are not actually part of the museum, but you can watch and listen to them most weekends! That Merlin V12 sounds so completely and wonderfully musical to me when they whiz by! The pilots love to show off, and when you stand at the fence on the approach end they can't resist an opportunity to show what 300+ mph looks and sounds like. Awsome! There is a flying MiG onfield as well. That sucker is LOUD. I grew up near a fire fighting air tanker base which mostly ran b-17's and s-2's when I was a kid. I miss those B-17s! Those four P&W's all rumbling in harmony- wow! Some weekend when you're not boating take the kids/grandkids to an air museum for a truly memorable time. Take your camera! I have many great memories taking Dad and my kids out to Castle. Lots of great war stories were told- we all got some great history lessons from Dad and the volunteers. Dad is gone but we still have the pictures and memories.