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THE LOBBY A gathering place. Introductions, sports, showin' off your ride, birthday-anniversary-milestone, achievements, family oriented humor. |
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#21
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Dennis, I'm in shock too. As the links states Mac had many hours flying 9O9. He did what he could but just could save it and it cost him and others their lives. I first me him in 2004 up in Massena, NY. The Chamber of Commerce set up them coming in for a weekend and I volunteered to help them out. I have to admit I sucked up big time by providing the crews with a 20x30 canopy to set up under, and get everything they needed for that weekend. It was 3 days of fun, laughs, and just a great time. In the end their ride manager Jim... you know who I mean... said come on you're going for a ride..... and what a ride it was. The following year they were back, I did the same setup and got a ride in Witchcraft. When we moved to Delaware, a friend and I got into being the local Tour Coordinators for Collings. My next ride gave me a hat trick... a ride in Betty Jane, their TP-51C from Lancaster, PA to KILG in New Castle. I even got to fly her from the rear seat for a bit. What a ride that was.
So if you get lucky enough to hook up with someone or some group to volunteer with, you could get free rides as we do. All of my volunteers get a ride if there is a space for them in the bomber of their choice. Down here at KILG I even got to sneak in my GTO early one morning for photos of it next to all 3 of their aircraft.
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Gary Get in, ShuT Up, Hang On! Member of the Baltimore Built Brotherhood MY GTO built 4th Week of March 1966 "Crusin' Is Not A Crime" Keep yer stick on the ice. |
#22
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I think 909 was flying around Peoria earlier this year. I stopped what I was doing and watched it for as long as I could. Awe inspiring just to see one fly over. Always been a dream of mine to help restore one to flight worthy status.
My condolences to the families and friends of those that we injured or lost.
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1969 TA RAIII M40 Auto Cameo White/ Std Blue Int 1970 TA RAIII M21 4-spd Lucy Blue/Std Black Int 1971 TA 455 HO M22 4-Spd Lucy Blue/Deluxe White Int |
#23
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A misfueling would be evident nearly immediately. ANY amount of Jet-A introduced into Avgas lowers the octane of Avgas dramatically. I’ve seen the inside of engines that have had trace amount of Jet-A introduced; they’re junk due to severe detonation. If all the engines were on the same cross feed, it would have affected all the engines not just one.
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“It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance.” Dr. Thomas Sowell |
#24
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Quote:
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“It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance.” Dr. Thomas Sowell |
#25
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These aircraft, and the people who maintain and fly them are a rare breed;
This is a tragic loss on many levels. My condolances to anyone reading this who was affected by the loss. I would chance a guess that these planes, when in flying condition are maintained better that your average aircraft, and I would jump at the opportunity to fly in one... assuming I could afford it. I remember years ago being in absolute awe as a Heinkel HE-111 flew overhead (they have a VERY distinct shape/silhouette); I learned that a short while later it crashed; As far as I know, that HE-111 was the last flying example of it's type.
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1970 Formula 400 Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car. Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left. 1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing) 2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs) |
#26
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#27
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I was able to fly in "Aluminum Overcast" probably 8-10 years ago. What a thrill! A neighbor of mine was a radio operator on a B-17 over Europe during WWII. Seeing what those brave men went through was very sobering. I have a picture of me standing at the side gunners position during flight.
A few years before that there was a B-17 in town that damaged it's landing gear and had to be repaired here. It took weeks to get the parts and I forgot that the plane was still here. One morning I just happened to be working close to the airport and heard a rumbling that kept getting louder and louder. then over the trees this beautiful bird appeared. They must have done a dozen takeoffs and landings that morning to make sure things were "right". At that time I wondered what it must be like to actually ride in one.
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1969 Firebird 350 convertible, t-5, Carousel Red 2008 Solstice GXP 5speed manual, Sly 2008 Grand Prix, Ink Slate, Winter daily driver 2009 G8, Switchblade Silver, summer daily driver |
#28
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However, it's a 4 engine combat aircraft operating MUCH lighter than it's designed weight so a single engine failure shouldn't be a major issue at face value. Its reasonable to look at a system wide failure mode (like bad fuel) to explain this crash. Fortunately, the FE/CC survived so that should provide answers. I'll bet there were more than a few GoPro cameras on board too. |
#29
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News last night (ABC) said that one of the guys flying (I think) texted his wife that they had turbulence. Last thing she received.
I think they also showed the engine slammed against a building
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John Wallace - johnta1 Pontiac Power RULES !!! www.wallaceracing.com Winner of Top Class at Pontiac Nationals, 2004 Cordova Winner of Quick 16 At Ames 2004 Pontiac Tripower Nats KRE's MR-1 - 1st 5 second Pontiac block ever! "Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts." "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." – Socrates |
#30
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They flew over my property a few times last weekend. Relatively low too, cool to watch. RIP
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#31
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"However, it's a 4 engine combat aircraft operating MUCH lighter than it's designed weight so a single engine failure shouldn't be a major issue at face value. Its reasonable to look at a system wide failure mode (like bad fuel) to explain this crash. "
This was my thought as well, maybe that thing could have flown on 2 engines? I expect one or more were Studebaker built. And lastly, if I am lucky enough to retire in the next 6-8 years, I can see spending a couple months each Winter volunteering at a warm weather Warbird museum.
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"At no time did we exceed 175 mph.” Dan Gurney's truthful response to his and Brock Yate's winning of the first ever Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining Sea... Still have my 1st Firebird 7th Firebird 57 Starchief |
#32
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Sorry for the loss of life and condolences to the families. It's unfortunate about the loss of another WWII plane. I was just in Normandy and visited Omaha and Juno beaches and the American and Canadian cemeteries. The whole experience was very sobering, thinking of what all of those young men went through.
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#33
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I got ahold of the Collings Foundation this afternoon. I didn't ask or try to get any info on what is happening now. But I was told that all Tour Stops have been cancelled for the rest of the year. I was told everyone up there is in utter shock... as are all of us Tour Coordinators, and those associated with the Tour Stops. My guys are dumbfounded beyond belief.
I'm trying to get a donation fund going for Mac. He loved dogs and disappeared at any Tour Stop that had a dog shelter nearby. He walk as many dogs as he could in about 3 hours time each day. He couldn't have a dog of his own because of flying for the Foundation. So... I'm trying to raise money for a stone dog memorial to lay at his grave site to honor what he did for all of the dogs he walked. Like the one in England where the Vet's dog used to lay at his grave until it died and was then buried next to him. They then placed a stone dog memorial there just as his real dog did guarding his master. One of the guys in the main office up in Mass thought it was a great idea. Someone will get in touch with me when things quiet down a bit. Hopefully this can be done. If it does, all money donated will be done thru their off in up in Massachusetts. I'm crossing my fingers.
__________________
Gary Get in, ShuT Up, Hang On! Member of the Baltimore Built Brotherhood MY GTO built 4th Week of March 1966 "Crusin' Is Not A Crime" Keep yer stick on the ice. |
#34
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My dad attended Auburn University and enlisted in the Army Air Corp. While he never saw active duty, he worked his way through the ranks and became a Flight Officer stationed at Maxwell Field AL, which was initially a B-24 flight training center and transition to the B-29 later in the WWII. He was the flight engineer on B-29 training flights.
We attended a local air show years ago which featured a B-17. He pointed to it as it flew overhead and said "That's the plane that won the war. The B-29 just happened to be the plane that ended it." My heart goes out to all those affected by the 909 tragedy.
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Triple Black 1971 GTO |
#35
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Damn shame
was just a few years ago that I got to see "909" out at Sundance.
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Buzzards gotta eat... same as worms. |
#36
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I rode up and saw the Memphis Bell in August . Just beautiful . A B25 made some passes over the neighbor hood back in 15 . The sound of those radials is exhilarating . I think I’d take the chance and hope to ride in a 17 or 29 .
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When I wore a younger man's clothes |
#37
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Sorry for the loss of your friend Gary. Such a terrible loss. Keep us post on fund me.
Dave |
#38
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Will do Dave. Hopefully I'll hear back from the main office soon. If not soon I do know they will be in touch. Any monies they receive I'm sure will be used for those lost on the flight and to help those injured. When I hear something I'll let everyone know.
As I said before these WWII aircraft are maintained to the nth degree. Even better than everyday aircraft flying.... to the same degree as airliners. I don't believe there was bad fuel involved. Any 100LL sold at any airport is of the highest quality and is checked daily. Besides, it's sold rather quickly and doesn't sit in the tanks for very long. What happened had to be catastrophic. As in one malfunction causing other systems to fail. But then again it's only a guess on my part. I wasn't there and have heard nothing from the Foundation. The NTSB will find the cause and causes in time. But seeing that the airframe was completely destroyed that could take a long time. There has been nothing said on the cause of crash here at KILG in August that killed another friend of mine. The "Why's" of the crashes won't happen over night.
__________________
Gary Get in, ShuT Up, Hang On! Member of the Baltimore Built Brotherhood MY GTO built 4th Week of March 1966 "Crusin' Is Not A Crime" Keep yer stick on the ice. |
#39
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A bit of more info. The Collings Foundation was to take 9O9 off the tour for a total go-thru for maintenance and repaint. They've been working on another B-17 to fill in while the work was done. My thought now is the 2nd B-17 could be the replacement for 9O9. Only time will tell as to what actually will happen.
Tho 75 years old, give or take, these B-17s are far more than well taken care of. It's as tho they just came out of the factory. That's how well they've been restored and taken care of, or they wouldn't be in the air today. I'd ride in one tomorrow if it was here.
__________________
Gary Get in, ShuT Up, Hang On! Member of the Baltimore Built Brotherhood MY GTO built 4th Week of March 1966 "Crusin' Is Not A Crime" Keep yer stick on the ice. |
#40
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I don't know if there's enough left to figure out the exact cause, but I sure hope they can. So sorry about the loss of life and the loss of history. I flew on the Liberty Belle in 08 with my dad who was a C46 pilot in WW2. It was lost in a crash a few years later in a field in IL but I don't believe there was any serious injuries. I took my family on the Aluminum Overcast last year, and they were thrilled! I believe the historic experience is well worth the small risk on these planes. To fly on these and just sit there and think that it was 18-22 year olds that were operating these back in the day is really a surreal experience.
John |
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