[WaltGraham]

I was home at lunch today performing my primary function as a dog bed when I heard a droning outside approaching from the NE.

Knowing most of the AC \ Train \ Vehicle signatures that occur in my neck of the woods I knew it was something uncommon, large and low.

I got out on the front deck just as a B-17 flew over the house inbound to Weyers Cave International Airport.

Way cool.

I will be going off grid for a spell on Friday.

 

[Snake45]

Olive Drab one, named Nine-Oh-Nine? I just saw it off today.

It's being escorted by a 2-seater P-51B, a very rare bird.

 

[WaltGraham]

Olive Drab one, named Nine-Oh-Nine? I just saw it off today.

It's being escorted by a 2-seater P-51B, a very rare bird.

Yep, I just wish I could justify the 2200 bucks for a check ride in that P-51.

There's a nice panoramic cockpit view on the website.

 

[Charlie Petty]

There is an outfit that comes through here yearly with "Warbird Flights". They have a dual control 51D for only $3500/hr.

I did fly their T-6 a couple of years ago... great fun

 

[Skeptic49]

Amazing how something built for 25 missions has lasted over 70 years...
Geoff
Who is suddenly fascinated by the wargaming term "aerodynamomancy"

 

[Diamondback]

Yeah, but that was 25 missions with everything Nazi Germany could fill the skies with coming at you... get past the end of the threat, and the most demanding civvy apps the B-17 faced were like a prize racehorse living out retirement at the stud farm by comparison.

 

[WaltGraham]

I had no idea Ike rode in the backseat of a P-51 over the beaches during the Normandy invasion...

 

[stand watie]

To ALL,

In "the for whatever it's worth department", my father (ex-8th Bomb Group, USAAF) once told me that GEN Ike had a 'really fancy' B-25 'tricked out' as his 'personal plane' in 1942."
(He evidently saw the B-25 in the UK.)

I'd always presumed that that was the aircraft that he took to observe the Battle of Normandy.

yours, sw

 

[Snake45]

I had no idea Ike rode in the backseat of a P-51 over the beaches during the Normandy invasion...

IIRC, the airplane was called Stars Look Down.

 

[SpecialEd]

I've probably mentioned this before but when I was a kid, the local private airfield (very small) had yearly open houses and demonstrations. One year they had two Mustangs and after they did their stunts they did an extremely low-level flyover the runway. Those prop engines can roar!

Living within five minutes of the local Air National Guard field and within 45 minutes of Dover AFB, we get a lot of interesting fly-bys.

 

[SpecialEd]

P.S. A friend of mine works at Mid Atlantic Field in Maryland and he said the A10's were swarming all over the base today, maybe getting ready to head out...

 

[Snake45]

P.S. A friend of mine works at Mid Atlantic Field in Maryland and he said the A10's were swarming all over the base today, maybe getting ready to head out...

Maybe, but to war, or to the Davis-Motham boneyard? :duh:

 

[WaltGraham]

IIRC, the airplane was called Stars Look Down.

Yep.

Coors used to have a mini jet that came to a show right after they opened the brewery here. Did a low level pass about 10 ft. off the runway. Got the pix somewhere.

Went to a show at NAS Norfolk a long time ago and watched a Tomcat do a hammerhead then dive straight down at us. That was a bit of a pucker up moment.

 

[Charlie Petty]

I knew about the B-25 but what is the source of the P-51 story?

I didn't know any of the WWII birds had a back seat?

 

[Snake45]

I knew about the B-25 but what is the source of the P-51 story?

I didn't know any of the WWII birds had a back seat?

Charlie, see here:

Historic Fourth of July Flight - Part One

This was a 9AF outfit but the 8AF had quite a few two-seat P-51B/Cs, converted from "war weary" airframes after the new D models appeared. Theses were used for operational training and other utilitarian tasks. Some of them carried very colorful paint jobs, such as overall red.

 

[Charlie Petty]

Thanks for the link Snake... I'm ashamed to admit I didn't know about it.

My only experience with two seaters was the D model