[hurryinhoosier62]

Jim,

We had alot of problems with new pilots in the P-51D I crewed. More than once, a
"ham-fisted" pilot nearly "ground-looped" her from opening the throttle too fast. "Honey's" engine was built by Mike Nixon @ Vintage V-12s. Nothing special...
-3 bottom end,transport banks and heads and a shaved supercharger that developed
120ins of manifold pressure. Mike said if you could get it on a dyno, the engine would
put out in excess of 3,000hp but the rod and main bearings would probably fail if you
ran the engine for more than five minutes. We also had a P-47D. That bird was a trip!!
Mr. Osborn, the owner, sold a beautiful -5 Corsair to obtain the -47 from France.
It took 5yrs for hard work to restore her. The day we started the engine for the first
time, "BigAssBird" pulled her tiedown out of the ground at half-throttle! We didn't even
reinstall the turbo. No one would overhaul it!!

[hurryinhoosier62]

Bill,

Kemit used to own the Hurricane of which you speak. Weeks is an INTERESTING fella!
I've been involved with warbirds since 1983.

[Cobrabill]

Originally Posted by hurryinhoosier62

Bill,

Kemit used to own the Hurricane of which you speak. Weeks is an INTERESTING fella!
I've been involved with warbirds since 1983.

The 'Cane was on it's way to Chino(i think)with the Mark X.They had a fuel stop at Avra valley airport.They twisted my arm to assist.I didn't relaize who owned it untill you told me.Interesting is a mild term.

I almost forgot one lady.I flew on her last flight in the states.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVVQW...om=PL&index=22

[Mark C.]

Mike, I watched the series and the repeats whenever possible.

"Also, check out the little "dash" that appears in each of the two engine's nosecones. For years I wondered what those were. They are pull handles to manually start the jet engine, just like a pull start on a lawnmower."

The little rings started "starter motors" then the jet engines were started from them.

Bill,

I'm with you, give me 909 anyday. I flew on her from Greeneville, SC to Cahrlotte, NC. I was privledged to fly with Robert "Dusty" Hoffman, the pilot who flew her in the ET back in 45. When they gave him the yoke, I could see him lovingly caressing it, like you would your best girl (get your minds out of the gutter guys). In the sense he was very gentle with her.

He in the back row third one fron the left.

[Mr. P-Body]

I am fully aware it's AIR FORCE museum...(:- I just like a bit of "varitety". I missed the German planes, though. No literature or displays were pointed out. Perhaps my visit was before that display was complete?

I believe many of the planes from the old Ontario museum (gone so they could expand the airport...) went to the Chino museum. At one time in Ontario, they had three functioning B-17s, which were used filming the TV show "12 O'clock High". I remember seeing a "G" model there once, too.

Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona, is another great place to see old planes. The "Confederate Air Force" is based there. They sell "rides" in a B-25 Mitchell. They HAVE a B-29, and "word" is they're trying to get it "flight ready". I would LOVE to hear that thing take off!

P-38? Awesome plane, too! Fast, but took "3 states" to make a turn "at speed"...

Any Air Cobra fans? Black Widows? The "list" of old planes that are beyond "cool" can go on for hours...(:-

F7F was mentioned. I've seen Wildcats, Hellcats, Bearcats and Panthers, what was the "7"?

Jim

[Lightfoot]

Originally Posted by Mr. P-Body

F7F was mentioned. I've seen Wildcats, Hellcats, Bearcats and Panthers, what was the "7"?

Jim

Grumman Tigercat. It's a twin radial job with a narrow fuselage.
Kalamazoo Air Musium has one that is airworthy.
When they have air shows, they have a feature called "Six Cats" all in formation:
Wildcat, Hellcat, Tigercat, Bearcat, Panther, Tomcat.

I like the Air Cobras for their unique layout. I've heard they have balance quirks with that mid-engine though.

[455HOGT37]

Originally Posted by Lightfoot

Grumman Tigercat. It's a twin radial job with a narrow fuselage...

The only thing better than a P&W R-2800 on a airplane is TWO of 'em!

...pure sex.

[MikeNoun]

I always liked the P-39 and P-63. What's not to love about a WWII Warbird that uses a car door to get into the cockpit? The Dayton Museum also has a P-63 Black Widow, a very rare sight nowadays (it's been in their collection for decades now). They still have a Ju52 sitting outside (also been there forever), and it still looks like it's flyable (no way it is, but it appears as if it flew in about 3 years ago, curtains on the windows, engines intact). One nice thing about the Ju52 "Iron Annie", the rain sure washes off that thing wel with all the corrugated panels! They also have a V-1 and a V-2, although the V-2 is on its side on the transport carrier, not standing up. The Dayton Museum also still has "Bockscar" (the Nagasaki B-29), and you can do a walk-thru of a B-29 fuselage.

This is the Me262A-1a/U4, with the big ass 50 mm cannon in the nose that I referred to earlier. I can't imagine being in the chin turret of a B-17G over Berlin, flak all around, Fw190's and Me109's all over, crewmen screaming out where bandits are coming in, and then seeing this thing coming at you, at 500 mph, with no propellors....



The Greatest Generation saved the world, and they never complained. Today, whiny little Liberals cry when they see a video of a terrorist having their cookie taken away, forced to drink water without a lemon twist, and don't have cable TV.

For any WWII veteran reading this, thank you again for saving the world. We will never forget....

[MikeNoun]

By the way, check out the ordinance hanging from under this F-4 Phantom at the Dayton Museum.

[mike nixon]

Originally Posted by Mr. P-Body

Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona, is another great place to see old planes. The "Confederate Air Force" is based there. They sell "rides" in a B-25 Mitchell. They HAVE a B-29, and "word" is they're trying to get it "flight ready". I would LOVE to hear that thing take off!


Jim

DO you have any idea which '29 they have?

My Dad was a crew Chief on Saipan. 29's are great birds, huge for a prop plane tho.

When they first put the 29 exhibit in at Dayton we went down with him and took the tour. That was a good day, Dad enjoyed it immensly. The POCI eventwas the first time since he died that I've been back. The boys loved it, Bock's Car brought back a lot of good memories.

Mike

[SJMule]

I could never afford the real deal. Any of you folks collect the old control line stuff?
Cox, comet, Wen Mac, Aurora?

Here's a small part of my total collection. Also an unrestored Wen Mac P-38 twin .049 for Hogt. My fav. of them all. I really like the ol' Wen Mac birds. Air Cobra etc.

[Mark C.]

For those that might be interested, on The Military channel at 7pm (EST) tonight Wings of the Luftwaffe, Me 262 and AR 234.

[lighthouseman]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RARE-...=p4506.c0.m245

This is for cobrabill . . . thought he would like this listing.

[Cobrabill]

Nice car.But gonna be a boatload of work for somebody.

[blackadder]

Hav'nt logged on this site for along time. But Thought I would contribute to the topic of warbirds. These were taken at a local museum that my dad works at. He started on Sabre's in the early 50's when he joined the R.C.A.F.

[MikeNoun]

Originally Posted by blackadder

Hav'nt logged on this site for along time. But Thought I would contribute to the topic of warbirds. These were taken at a local museum that my dad works at. He started on Sabre's in the early 50's when he joined the R.C.A.F.

Blackadder, that's a very cool Lancaster you posted a pic of! Flying condition or static display?

[blackadder]

Here's somemore. When he joined up he was saying he could have bought an ex R.C.A.F P-51 for $500 as the Govt was phasing them out. Also another museum about an hour south of me has an airworthy Mk X Hurricane,but they never fly it.

[Old Man Taylor]

"Back in the olden days" my Aunt worked at Wen-Mac. I was able to buy any of the planes they made for 25% of the retail cost. That P-38 you showed was one of the models I had. I think I quit flying them around 1958. I was never at the Wen-Mac factory, but I believe it was in Culver City.

[SJMule]

Hey Jim.

Wen Mac was on Tennessee Ave. in LA.

What a treat for a kid getting a discount like that! Wen Mac was dropped by AMF in 1968.

Here's some more stuff. I'll try and stay on the Warbird theme.

You have the Corsair and a 1958 Pusher called 'Cutlass.' The other is a Boeing P-26 Pursuit Plane., and a Turbo-jet.

The 2cd. pic I threw in for fun to jog your memory. All Wen Mac's. You have the Corvette Hydro, I/O Aquamite, Hiller Flying Platform, and the Automite cars including a rare Johnnie Parsons Indy Special. Fun Stuff! Got any parts? (Laughs) I can use 'em dead or alive.

[Old Man Taylor]

The three Wen-Mac's that I remember having were the Beachcraft Bonanza (aqua), the SBD5 Dauntless (blue) and the P-38 (gray). The P-38 was the most expensive, and I think I paid either $4 or $5 for it.