Figured she was going to North Tampa Aero, so I called 'em up.
"Did you just land a old B-17 warbird?"
The guy said, "Nope. She flew past, I went out to take a look tho. She must be heading to Zephyrhills.
So I called Zeph Municipal. They said she's going to be there until Wednesday.
I saw her sisters (a B-24 and B-25, same company) about 2 years ago. She's flying to Clearwater from Wednesday thru Friday. I think Thursday calls for a long lunch. I might have to drive over to Clearwater to have an oggle.
Cheers.
-F-
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"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me
Figured she was going to North Tampa Aero, so I called 'em up.
"Did you just land a old B-17 warbird?"
The guy said, "Nope. She flew past, I went out to take a look tho. She must be heading to Zephyrhills.
So I called Zeph Municipal. They said she's going to be there until Wednesday.
I saw her sisters (a B-24 and B-25, same company) about 2 years ago. She's flying to Clearwater from Wednesday thru Friday. I think Thursday calls for a long lunch. I might have to drive over to Clearwater to have an oggle.
Cheers.
-F-
They are such cool looking planes...until they lower their landing gear. Then they look rather frumpy.
Yammas from The Apo-Tiki Lounge. Future site of WITP AE benders! And then the s--t hit the fan
I love it when that kind of stuff comes by. I live about 100 yards off of the landing pattern of the airport in Livermore, Ca. In march there is an airshow every year, and I get to watch a B-17, B-24, and a couple of P-51's flying around from my back yard. About six months ago I was coming home from work, and when I looked up there was an F4F Wildcat going in for a landing. I also saw a P-40 Warhawk some while ago, of course with Flying Tigers paint job, teeth and all! Just yesterday morning I had two guys flying what look like WW II trainers (kind of like Dauntless divebombers) practicing formation flying over my house.
I use to hate all of the noise that comes with being by the airport, but that was before I got WitP. [8D][:D]
I love it when that kind of stuff comes by. I live about 100 yards off of the landing pattern of the airport in Livermore, Ca. In march there is an airshow every year, and I get to watch a B-17, B-24, and a couple of P-51's flying around from my back yard. About six months ago I was coming home from work, and when I looked up there was an F4F Wildcat going in for a landing. I also saw a P-40 Warhawk some while ago, of course with Flying Tigers paint job, teeth and all! Just yesterday morning I had two guys flying what look like WW II trainers (kind of like Dauntless divebombers) practicing formation flying over my house.
Probably SBJ trainers ?
ORIGINAL: Redd
I use to hate all of the noise that comes with being by the airport, but that was before I got WitP. [8D][:D]
Hmmm, in fact, you're probably deaf now so the noise is no more a problem. Ho, and you don't have Parkinson, in fact your hand is the only thing that is not shaking regularly in the area.
I live in Tucson, AZ and about 2 or 3 months ago we had about 10 or 12 Japanese marked aircraft fly over in formation. I was in my car without a camera. Shame. If anyone is from this area maybe they remember or know where they were going. They didn't stop at the AF Base so I'm still clueless as to their destination.
Those Japanese aircraft were highly modified Texans used for the movie Tora Tora Tora and then remodified to make them even more historically appropriate looking for the movie Pearl Harbor. They come to Davis Monthan every early summer as part of the AZ Aviation Days celebration. If it was a couple months ago they were probably staging through to Sky Harbor in Phoenix on their way to San Diego or something.
I live on the DM flight path but (fortunately not too close so the planes are still reasonably unintrusive). I've had a really good look at the undercarriage of the most interesting stuff. Five years ago the noise level really was unusual so I went outside to see what was the racket.... two B1Bs on manuevers. Same year we had the batplane (B2) come in for AZ AvDays as well.
Show me a fellow who rejects statistical analysis a priori and I'll show you a fellow who has no knowledge of statistics.
A few years ago (mid-90s) a B-17 and B-24 came through Pangborn Airport in Wenatchee, WA. They were on a fundraising tour to gather money for restoring other aircraft. Don't remember if they were from the CAF. Anyways, they were open for tours ($20) and were offering a few seats on a 45 minute flight to Paine Field in Everett, WA for $250 bucks. How I wish I had the money at the time!
I did get to climb into the ball turret on the B-17 and came away shaking my head. How anyone could ride into combat that way, I'll never know! It was claustrophobic enough just being a foot or two off the ground! I was also quite surprised at just how little room there was at the side gunner's positions. They had to be bumping into each other all the time.
I was less impressed with the B-24. The B-17 had the appearance of ruggedness all the way through. The B-24 seemed fragile by comparison, though somewhat roomier (definitely a relative term!).
I've got the pictures buried in a box somewhere. I'll have to dig them out.
Chez
Ret Navy AWCS (1972-1998)
VP-5, Jacksonville, Fl 1973-78
ASW Ops Center, Rota, Spain 1978-81
VP-40, Mt View, Ca 1981-87
Patrol Wing 10, Mt View, CA 1987-90
ASW Ops Center, Adak, Ak 1990-92
NRD Seattle 1992-96
VP-46, Whidbey Isl, Wa 1996-98
last summer a B-17 was at a nearby airport giving 20 minute rides for one or two hundred dollars a passenger. They would fly over Marblehead harbor a couple of times every hour, it was great.
Chez, those two bombers came to Olympia airport for a few days that year as well. I was leaving the downtown post office when the B17 flew over. All the other post office patrons thought I was a total wacko, considering how excited I was to see a Fortress flying. I did visit the planes at the airport later that week, and saw the B17 take off as it headed south to Oregon. The B24 had engine problems and its departure was delayed until after I had to leave for work.
It was just a couple of years later that the Olympic Flight Museum got it's start. Now we get a pretty decent "Warbirds" meet every June.
Now we get a pretty decent "Warbirds" meet every June.
Do you know exactly when the warbird meet is? I think I will go this year, assuming the date doesn't conflict with any of my Mustang car shows. I've heard that they have one of the "Tora, Tora, Tora" Zeros there but have never seen it.
Chez
Ret Navy AWCS (1972-1998)
VP-5, Jacksonville, Fl 1973-78
ASW Ops Center, Rota, Spain 1978-81
VP-40, Mt View, Ca 1981-87
Patrol Wing 10, Mt View, CA 1987-90
ASW Ops Center, Adak, Ak 1990-92
NRD Seattle 1992-96
VP-46, Whidbey Isl, Wa 1996-98
I just checked their website. It looks like their airshow will be June 17-18 this year.
The quality of the show is okay - it depends upon who shows up. I was disappointed when the promised P40 didn't make it last year (I have yet to see one of those in the air), but they had a couple of Wildcats to make up for it. One year there was a beautiful red Yak-11, very well cared for... It generally has a good percentage of WW2 aircraft, and not just Texans (but a lot of those, as always).
