Can’t concentrate- a B17 keeps fying over my neighborhood! The travelling Fort and it’s sister Lib are at the Hawthorne airport this weekend- lucky joes with $400 for ride keep going over- wait - here it comes again! (chuk runs out into driveway, trudges back, smiling) . I went through both planes yesterday- awesome! seeing these warhorses only deepens my respect for the men who fought in them, and for the people who built 'em.
Those two are probably the ones from the Collings Foundation. It is definately a treat to get a close up look at these or any other of the WW-II birds. The crews on the bombers or fighters either one had to have a lot of courage and devotion to duty to do what they did.
Darwin, O.F. [alien]
I,m afraid I wouldn’t be able to go inside. I’d stay out there and never get tired of seeing those spectacular birds fly over. And the sound… that awesome sound of those engines is truly remarkable. It’s something everyone should witness. I saw, and heard “Sentimental Journey” once, and I’ll never forget it.
Jerry
That’s great Chuk! (where’s the pictures?) [:D]
It’s always been a reoccurring dream of mine, to hear a vintage sounding airplane outside, run out to look, and behold a staggering formation of practically every type of WWII airplane built!
Take care,[:)]
Frank
Wow! That’s one distraction that’s most welcome. I wouldn’t mind running outside every time I’ll hear the drone of the engines no matter how often.
Man, I wish one of those warbirds would come to Nevada! Anyone know of any warbird shows in the Reno/Vegas area? I’d love to get in one and try to fit in the Ball turret that my Dad spent so much of his time in! - Calvin
Last year sometime I heard the familiar sound of a multi-engined recip flying over. It was about 70% overcast and then out popped a B-17 for a few seconds. A few minutes later I heard another one but couldn’t find it. I surmised it was the B-24 when I read in the paper the next day they were in New Orleans. I get goose bumps when I remember my flight in the CAF’s B-17 way back in Apr of 79. Amazing aircraft! It’s overcast and raining a little this morning. Same as the morning of day I got my ride.
It isn’t like a tour through the real thing, but if you check out the 390th Bomb Group’s site, they have some sound videos of their new G-model, “Liberty Belle.” The takeoff video is especially great! Turn your speakers up to “nosebleed,” then back 'em down 2%. There’s nothing like round moters, although I will never forget the time a flight of 4 Mustangs ripped over my house at about 1000 feet. It was a week before I could walk right.
Wess
I had them same two aircraft (I think, anyway) come to the humble little airstrip in my “backyard”. My whole family went for a couple days (it’s just down the road) to check 'em out. We never saw the B-24 move, but they were offering rides in the B-17. Unfortunately the most we got to see of a B-17 takeoff was the engine startup and a taxi. It was overcast, about to rain, and an actual takeoff never happend. [:(]
Still, it was the closest I have ever been able to get to a Flying Fort, even to the point of touching it. It was an experience, I tell ya what.
I was able to see the two of them in flight a few months later flying over a lake I was at in formation with another (modern) aircraft. It was beautiful.
Saw the same birds about 2 weeks ago. Sat in the shop for five days and every 45min ran outside to see one fly over. One of the days we had some bad winds here and when they flew over they were crabing in the wind, it was neat to see.
Thad
The Yankee Airforce is only a few miles from my home & their B-17 flies over 2 or 3 times a day, on weekends, when the weather is good. It’s a pretty awesome sight, especially when it’s joined by a P-51D or P-47.
Regards, Rick
Any houses up for sale in your neck of the woods Rick?? [8-]
I think you’re lucky… at least in you country there are a lot of preserved WWII birds… here in my country there are none … I know that Fuerza Aérea del Perú (FAP) had some P-47D’s, A-20’s and B-25’s… and even Caproni bombers, but there are no survivors (I mean aircraft that can fly, not like a museun piece)… not even one, I think…