Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Cooley on May 28, 2007, 08:09:26 PM

Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: Cooley on May 28, 2007, 08:09:26 PM
Wooooooooot !!

Its been a great two days, the Collins Foundation (http://www.collingsfoundation.org/menu.htm)
WWII Bombers have flown over my house at least 40 times in the last two days, thats why i never go camping or anything this weekend :lol

Im even starting to be able to tell which one is coming by the sound,
B-25, B-24 and B-17

any one near Livermore, Ca. seeing this too?

* my nieghbors must think im nutz, cause I keep runnin in the middle of the street (best view) and jumpin around cheering like im at a football game

in fact i think i hear the B-17 coming, Cya !:aok
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: blkmgc on May 28, 2007, 09:18:16 PM
If you get a chance, and have the extra cash, I would suggest taking a ride on them. You wont regret it. :)
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: Brooke on May 28, 2007, 11:26:50 PM
They also, for about $6 or so, let you go around inside them.  When first I heard even about that, let alone that they would take anyone up for a ride, I couldn't believe it.  Especially for the B-24, since it is the world's only flying B-24.
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: Guppy35 on May 28, 2007, 11:31:40 PM
Flew in the Collings B24 with the younger brother of Al Brody, who is the guy in my avatar photo.

Very moving experience.  He flew the co-pilot seat that his brother flew.  Very powerful moment sitting there on the flight deck and seeing his eyes back in time 60 years with his MIA brother.
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: Treize69 on May 29, 2007, 02:54:26 AM
Actually theres 2 if Diamond Lil is still up. Shes the one with the greenhouse nose, but is actually a Liberator I, not the B-24D shes painted up to be.

(http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Dayton2003/Sampler/B24DiamondLil.jpg)

Which B-17 was it anyway? I heard they're touring with "Fuddy Duddy" this year but haven't seen any confirmation.
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: Brooke on May 29, 2007, 03:57:26 AM
The Collings Foundation B-17 is still painted as Nine O Nine, I believe.
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: FBplmmr on May 29, 2007, 05:09:16 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Brooke
The Collings Foundation B-17 is still painted as Nine O Nine, I believe.

yep

saw them earlier this year when they came to Fort Myers

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k45/fbplmmr/page%20field/ (http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k45/fbplmmr/page%20field/)
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: Gary26 on May 29, 2007, 06:41:57 AM
Let us not forget about the gorgeous Aluminum Overcast. Back on tour after her gear collapse accident.
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/988_1180438604_ooc.jpg)
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/988_1180438653_image004.jpg)
http://www.b17.org
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: Guppy35 on May 29, 2007, 12:21:34 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Treize69
Actually theres 2 if Diamond Lil is still up. Shes the one with the greenhouse nose, but is actually a Liberator I, not the B-24D shes painted up to be.

Which B-17 was it anyway? I heard they're touring with "Fuddy Duddy" this year but haven't seen any confirmation.


Diamond Lil is now "Ol 927" with a completely new paint job and some amazing work being done to take her back to B24A status.  The guy doing all the work has a thread on the WIX forum where he's shown folks step by step what's been done.  It's incredible how much he's accomplished to change the look of that bird.
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: Treize69 on May 29, 2007, 02:00:30 PM
SWEET, though personally I was quite fond of seeing a B-24 in the markings of a Ploesti Raider...
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: Solar10 on May 29, 2007, 04:14:56 PM
They were in San Jose weekend of 20th May.  The B17 flew over me as I drove along Hwy17.  Wife went mad as I kept looking at it.
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: blkmgc on May 29, 2007, 05:09:58 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Solar10
They were in San Jose weekend of 20th May.  The B17 flew over me as I drove along Hwy17.  Wife went mad as I kept looking at it.


Heh, try telling her that your going to dump more than a grand for some rides.:eek: :mad: :furious


:)
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: BiGBMAW on May 29, 2007, 07:22:04 PM
there is 2 B-24s..

Diamond Lil..and Dragon and Its Tail..

I have flown on Both the B-24 Dragon ..and the B-17 909..best 900$ i ever spent
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: Treize69 on May 29, 2007, 08:31:15 PM
Its no longer painted as "Dragon and its Tail" AFAIK, I think its got an ETO scheme now.
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: Brooke on May 29, 2007, 09:11:01 PM
Yep, the B-24 is painted as Witchcraft now.
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: ROC on May 29, 2007, 10:25:28 PM
Yeppers, here she is from Saturday.

(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/983_1180495399_witchy.jpg)
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: Treize69 on May 30, 2007, 02:00:32 PM
Now THAT is a sweet lookin Lib.

Makes me wanna get up and dance.

(http://www.80thfs.homestead.com/ShowLetter.gif)

Sorry, I'm getting overtired and goofy. And I haven't even gone to work yet. :O
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: Guppy35 on May 30, 2007, 02:23:11 PM
Here's Lil now that she's been transformed back to a B24A now known as "Ol 927"

If you want a step by step view of her conversion back to her original form, go here.  It's 144 pages or so now with photos galore of the adding of original parts, or the rebuilding of the tail gunners station, adding the tunnel gun etc.

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9395

(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l126/albro47n/Ole%20927/100_0362.jpg)
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: Treize69 on May 30, 2007, 02:27:16 PM
Did they lower the tail empennage? I notice they didn't "flatten" the engine cowlings, is that accurate to an A? I always thought that was a feature of the Liberator Is that didnt have the blowers like a B-24 did.

And I still want to HO it in an IAR-80 :D
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: Guppy35 on May 30, 2007, 02:45:13 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Treize69
Did they lower the tail empennage? I notice they didn't "flatten" the engine cowlings, is that accurate to an A? I always thought that was a feature of the Liberator Is that didnt have the blowers like a B-24 did.

And I still want to HO it in an IAR-80 :D


B24A is really a different bird.  The round engines are correct.  No power turrets.  Just a round opening on the top for a 50 cal, the two waist windows, set higher then the later 24s.  A single 50 in an open position in the tail and a single 50 in a tunnel gun position between the waist and tail.

The guy leading the restoration effort is hoping to get it all the way back.  Right now they don't have the top opening, but the original spot is there covered over.  He got one waist window in, but has the cargo door to deal with on the left side.  He rebuilt the tail gun position as well as the tunnel gun.  All kinds of interior work.  They have bomb bay doors to add next summer and bomb racks and they've redone the nose and the cockpit canopy.  It's a heckuva job he's done.

The tail gun postion rebuilt
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l126/albro47n/Ole%20927/100_0349.jpg)

The redone waist gun on the right
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/retroaviation/B-24A/B-24A-2/IMG_0907.jpg)

The tunnel gun
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/retroaviation/B-24A/B-24A-2/IMG_0911.jpg)
Title: Collins Foundation Bombers !
Post by: Treize69 on May 30, 2007, 03:09:49 PM
Sexy. :aok