Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: leonid on June 17, 2000, 03:33:00 AM
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I live in Seattle, Greenwood to be exact. It's a Thursday late afternoon, early evening, and I'm in the backyard with my little boy in my arms. I hear the drone sound of prop engines, which isn't unusual here with all the floatplane traffic from Lake Union. But this sounds deeper, more to it. So I look up, and whaddaya know, it's a damn B-17 flying without a care in the world at about 1-2k feet! Looks just like the one in AH too, with the red tail and all. Cool.
I watch it for a while trying to get my 4 month old to look too, but he's still marvelling at things like leaves, so no go. After it fades away into the distance I go back inside the house, where my wife is putting dishes into the dishwasher.
"Guess what I just saw?" I say.
My wife doesn't look up, putting some cups in the top rack. "What d'you see?"
A smile comes over my face. "A B-17."
Finally, she stops and looks up, saying, "A what?"
"A B-17," I say. Her face is drawing a blank, so I quickly add, "It's a WWII bomber. Looks just like the one in Aces High - that game I play."
"Oh." My wife returns to putting some dishes in the bottom rack. "Cool."
Well, I thought it was pretty neat (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
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(http://www.adamfive.com/guerrero/5GIAP.jpg)
leonid, Komandir
5 GIAP VVS RKKA (http://www.adamfive.com/guerrero)
"Our cause is just. The enemy will be crushed. Victory will be ours."
[This message has been edited by leonid (edited 06-17-2000).]
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Yup, that is cool.
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Oh yeah, well a Stealth (B-2 Sprit) flew over my house about a year ago. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
I'd trade 10 Stelths (half the US fleet (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif) ) for a b17 flyover though.
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bloom25
THUNDERBIRDS
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Awesome tale! I wonder which one it was... possibly Sentimental Journey? I know the Confederate Air Force has a B-24 and B-17 on their current summer tour. The local SF Bay Area news had a spot on the B-17 when it was at Moffit Airbase a few weeks ago, and they showed a walkthrough of the entire plane. One of the very cool things the story demonstrated(or at least attempted to) was how hard it was for the pilots to bail out. From the pilot's seat, the cameraman got up and made his way down to the lower level where the hatch is, while the reporter's voice-over said something like "and imagine attempting this, possibly wounded, with the burning plane spinning and hurtling towards the ground"... they faded in to a real film of a Fort going down in flames, then cut back to the extremely somber-looking reporter, who then signed off. It was deep! I was bummed I wasn't taping it, but I thought it was going to be lightweight, as most local news reporting on WWII-related events usually is. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
<S>
-goob-
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Saw that report too Goob..
Watched a B-17 flyover my girlfirends place a year ago. About 600ft up. (she lives under the landing path of local field) next day a couple F4u's, and a P-51 flew in together.
the sound is totally breath stopping.
Unfortunately they didn't have walkthroughs when it was here. But got some cool pic's at sunset of it.
There's a B-17 that sits beside HWY 99 in central Calif. Believe it's an F model (think it's down around Castle) I'm guessing it's a static display since I've never seen it gone..
Keep meaning to stop everytime I pass it, but just don't seem to have the time, or it's too early or too late.
Gotta make the time one of these days. If nothing else, just to wish it well, and give it a SALUTE.
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GreyBeard, Squadron Leader
Commander, "E" Flight, Aces High
Senior Staff Council
"The Skeleton Crew"
"Fly with Honor"[/i]
"Keepin' the Faith"
[This message has been edited by SC-GreyBeard (edited 06-17-2000).]
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I've been inside 3 B17s, one of them had an actual top turrent (very rare) and the other had a working ball turret (also very rare). The names of them were Thunderbird (the one with the working top turret), Fuddy Duddy Buddy (with working ball turret) and the Confederate Air Force B17.
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The touring B17 and B24 are from the Collings Foundation, a wonderful group of folks. I am with the Collings Foundation West, based out of Hobby airport in Houston TX. Every once and awhile we hook up with our big brothers from the NE with our planes. Right now we have an A26 undergoing restoration after and airshow accident, a B25 which I am doing some more cockpit work on today, and The only civilian owned F4 Phantom II flown by Gen Steve Ritchie. The F4 has a packed schedule this year so ya might get to see it near you. B25 will be in Rockport TX for the July 4th airshow. Dunno yet if I will be making the Alliance airshow during the con. Think we are also looking to get and A4 soon, although seems the Bronco deal has been put on the back burner.
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Dnil
JG-2
Part time aircraft restorer. www.kingwoodcable.com/jheuer (http://www.kingwoodcable.com/jheuer)
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The guys at the AW Con this year arranged for a B-17 (Collings Foundation I think) to come to the Con and give rides for $350.
Just might shell out the bucks if the live in girlfriend will release the funds (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"
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At Melbourne, FL, I was flying at 1000 feet to fly back for the traffic pattern. Just about to contact Melbourne tower, I saw 2 close dots co-alt on my 11. Hummmm... those are big for a bunch of flight school kids goofing around in form flying.... HEY!! WOW!!! a B17 and a B24... ehhhkkkk!!!!
As we were passing each other, I admired my self-control: the only thing I had in mind was to 90 deg bank, dive to 500 fts and zoom back to their belly yelling Tatatatata. What? I would had scare the S%$# of my student and probably make a fool of myself (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif) (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif) (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif)
imagine this, a piper cadet pilot going wacko on flight of buff hehehehe, no sweat, no way I could had caught back with them anyway 112 kts for cruise speed, tell me about a threat! (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
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Olivier "Frenchy" Raunier
(http://home.cfl.rr.com/rauns/gabby.gif)
[This message has been edited by SFRT - Frenchy (edited 06-17-2000).]
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That reminds me of a story I read, that happened during the filming of the WW1 movie Aces High.
One of the other major problems occured when we were perhaps 3,000 feet, alone in the sky, in the Fokker Eindecker (maximum speed 60 knots), unable to manoeuvre, and then a modern club aeroplane hove into view over the horizon. At first he was amazed at the sight of such a frail contraption, but as his eyes lit on the black crosses and machinegun, one could almost see the transformation from Cessna to Sopwith Camel! We had no way of knowing what his skills were; he might have been a 30-hour pilot with no formation experience and no real idea of closing speeds. We could not ecape, and we could only hope to avoid his clumsy passes. For the first time we could appreciate the vulerability of the World War 1 pilot, and our opponent here was not even armed.
[This message has been edited by juzz (edited 06-17-2000).]
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hehehe nice and so true (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
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Had the same but was A Lancaster ,F4u and a Hurri all 3 about 1000' d2 from each other.What got me was the thundering pulses from their engines, I could feel a thumping in my chest, and loud holy cow.
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Man oh Man, those planes are cool.
I dont know what I like more, watching a B17 fly by, or listening to it. Same for a P51, great sound.
I bought a ride in the Collings Foundation B17, it was great. I enjoyed it immensly, and would recommend it to anyone who likes warbird aircraft and can swing the cash.
Dago
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I know the feeling. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
Nothing better than the sound of several..BIG.. round engines passing over head. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
Every little sight of a WWII aircraft flying over is a ..... gift. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
BTW: I'm very lucky here....Kay, who use to work for Braniff Airlines....knows her aircraft. She gets a bigger kick out of old WWII A/C than I....
(Don)... You do not!!!
(Kay)... Do too!!!
(Don)... Not!!!
(Kay)... Do!!
Well....back later. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
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Well, I didn't see a B-17 today :-(
But I did watch a Zero get tagged by an F4G with a P-51 close behind! The Lucky bastage that was in the backseat of the Pony, his wife was at the table full of Warbirders I was at, she's the great grand niece of Pappy Boyington.
Oh yeah 4 Russian planes, and a FW!
Tomorrow I get to do it all over again!
Mr.ED
[This message has been edited by Mr.ED (edited 06-18-2000).]
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I flew on the Collings B-24 this fall on a shuttle flight, covering the thing for SimHQ.
Beg, borrow, steal (OK, maybe not steal). Get some money through some legal means and buy that flight. Just incredible to be inside one of those things flying.
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John Sponauer
Senior Editor, SimHQ.com
jsponauer@simhq.com
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Another great place to see all those Warbirds is Oshkosh. Seeing all of those planes fly together in large formations is very cool! If you can't make Oshkosh, I believe most of the pilots who have to get rated for performing in their Warbirds at airshows do so the weekened before Oshkosh at Kalamazoo, Michigan. Home of the Kalamazoo Air Zoo, the first place I saw the flight of the Grumman Cats...totally awesome!
As for planes flying over your house, I know exactly what you guys are talking about. Whenever you hear the rumble of a radial you can usually bet it is going to be something special! When I was in High School, our house was in the landing pattern for a small airfield at Lansing, Illinois. I didn't know they were going to have an Airshow, but one morning I got up, and heard a really loud (Meaning Radial Engine) plane appraoching, so I ran outside to see what it was. It was a Grumman Avenger. The first Warbird I had ever seen in real life. Man that was awesome. Now where we live in N.W. Indiana, the local branch of the Confederate Air Force has a C-47 and Ju-52 they fly out of Gary Airport. Now when I see that C-47, it's just sort of like, `Yeah, I fly one of those in AH.' (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif) . The Ju-52 fly's so slow for it's size it looks like it is barely hovering over the treetops. Always a treat when a Warbird flys over. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif)
(http://www.devildogs.com/vmf111/sdsig2.gif)
[This message has been edited by Sundog (edited 06-17-2000).]
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Just a little FYI, July 4th here in Houston at the night fireworks display, once again our F4 Phantom will be headlining. Look for the full burner climb right over downtown.
I try not to get to involved in that beast, seats are hot and all, but played around in the cockpit today with all the power on during an INS check. WEEEEEEEEE!
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Dnil
JG-2
Part time aircraft restorer. www.kingwoodcable.com/jheuer (http://www.kingwoodcable.com/jheuer)
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hiya all,
a week ago i was at the ILA in BERLIN.
saw a p51d "big beautiful doll", a Sea fury mkII, hurrican mkI, barbiefire MkXI in PINK! :-) and of course a Bf109G6 with a DB605-b1 engine. know a f4u, spit9 and a ORIGINAL Bf109G10!!!(db605D)too.
i can only say one thing:
THERE IS NO SOUND AS "POWERFULL" AS THE
SOUND OF A 109 (DB engine)!!!.
well i thought a seafury should sound great,
but i didn't here it. only heared the DaimlerBenz of the 109. and a pony or spit..
well sounded like a screaming baby :-)
compared to a real 109.
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(http://saintaw.tripod.com/habichtnew.gif)
"Die Ta 152 war meine Überlebensversicherung in den letzten Tagen des Krieges" OFw Willi Reschke, Ritterkreuzträger, 38 Abschüsse
[This message has been edited by HABICHT (edited 06-18-2000).]
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The Seafury has a sleeve-valve radial engine. It should be relatively "quiet". The Beaufighter had similar engines, and the Japanese called it "Whispering Death".