for airplane lovers [Archive]

kreinke

03-18-2010, 12:20 PM

I was at home working on Mom's Eulogy. Kept hearing a big turbo prop going overhead. Looked out the window and saw a Basler DC3 conversion doing a slow pass banked over my house. I'm thinking "Cool. Don't see one of those every day." Ten minutes later it flies over again...then again. It turns out that he was practicing take-offs and landings on the grass runway at Adams Airport.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs015.snc3/12324_1359693148836_1126740734_1085460_712181_n.jp g
Our air force and CIA pilots get re-qualified to fly Basler conversions because Columbia and other countries still use them as transports. So I go to the airport with digicam in hand. There's a small contingent of local airplane owners parked with their cars out by the runway as amazed as I am. I get permission from the airport director. "Yeah go ahead. Ride the bike out there just stay off the runway." So I do some dual sporting on a VFR and here she taxis right by me heading to the tarmac where I was when I talked to the airport guy.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs015.snc3/12324_1359693228838_1126740734_1085462_957618_n.jp g

They allow me to park my bike next to the plane for a photo. One of the most iconic airplanes of all time with arguably one of the world's most iconic motorcycles.
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs015.snc3/12324_1359693268839_1126740734_1085463_7233061_n.j pg
Not only that I get to hear all kinds of stories and get to walk up inside the thing!
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs035.snc3/12324_1359693428843_1126740734_1085467_5777429_n.j pg
Trust me. The 6000# winch in the floor may seem strange but it's a very long uphill walk to a big taildragger's cockpit. Imagine trying to push cargo up to the front.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs015.snc3/12324_1359693508845_1126740734_1085468_630863_n.jp g
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs015.snc3/12324_1359693548846_1126740734_1085469_6724664_n.j pg

cheesewhiz

03-18-2010, 12:40 PM

Yep, thats their corporate plane.
The converted model is actually labeled the BT-67. (Basler-Turbo 67)
It's pretty amazing to see the before and after when they convert these things. They'll do everything from full luxury to gun ships. And I mean gun ships. Some of their customer work ups for Columbia included reinforcements for machine gun mounts and side windows to shoot out of. These planes are used in their war on drugs.
BTW, I've had a few white knuckle landings at that airfield in a Cessna 172 with a crosswind. My parents had a house on Friendship Pond (Lake) :bolt

:laugh

wayneswan

03-18-2010, 03:29 PM

Schweet....I love the sound of the old big radials....ever been to the air Races in Reno....it's rumblicious!:laugh

RTFlyer

03-19-2010, 10:15 AM

Nice. They did those conversions at Oshkosh, right? No doubt, that's one of the sturdiest airframes ever.

We've got two converted C-47's based here. I hopped a low and slow sunset champaign flight along the Mississippi with a couple cuties on one of them a few years ago. It has a complete corporate interior along right up to the 24K gold plated fixtures. Imagine a G-5 interior in a DC-3.

...Sometimes, it's who you know!

r11rs94

11-24-2010, 12:32 PM

Taken at the Bradley Airport Museum, Summer 2010

B1Pilot

11-24-2010, 06:48 PM

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs015.snc3/12324_1359693548846_1126740734_1085469_6724664_n.j pg

The real porn for me is that cockpit photo... there's a nice 75 year spread of technology in this picture.. what a cool plane, I would love to fly one of these.

mfifer

11-25-2010, 10:21 PM

This is one of my Fav's.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/mfifer/ST1300/IMGP512120Dux0720Fokker20DR1.jpg

Mike

rinty

11-26-2010, 12:58 AM

Nice shot.

tourunigo

11-26-2010, 07:01 AM

that is so cool! I have been doing some writing regarding my father's career in the RCAF and post-war. He died a test pilot in 1949 while testing a beat off BT-13 trainer. Anyway, after the war he flew the DC-3 for Rimouski Airlines in Quebec. PM sent to you. Thanks for posting.... and the background story about the current use is especially interesting. - Bob

flymymbz

11-26-2010, 10:16 PM

:clap:clap:clap

Very cool, THANKS!!!

deanwoolsey

11-26-2010, 10:39 PM

The only thing I've found that smells better than my motorcycles.....

aviation machines.

NikonGSA10

12-22-2010, 08:08 PM

Though the days of flying low and fast over Germany have long since past... riding a Bimmer is a close second:thumb

rinty

12-22-2010, 08:15 PM

Looks like an F4 wing...

gregfuess

12-22-2010, 08:54 PM

Just when you think someone invented something new... this very stealthy looking plane was invented by the Germans, but not until it was too late for them, at the end of WWII.

26250

gregfuess

12-22-2010, 08:56 PM

But retirement and the time required for this project are years away...

26251

Raptor02

12-23-2010, 12:23 AM

Raptor on display during visit to the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

http://raptor02.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Raptor-Visit-BFI/977775798f22pan02X/982754644_9Ljx9-XL.jpg

tourunigo

12-23-2010, 06:56 AM

Mary and I had the great opportunity to go flying in this 1942 Vultee BT-13A while traveling through Florida last April

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/DSC00885.jpg

.... Mary's self picture while flying. The look sums up what many feel while flying.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/DSC00871.jpg

jdubick

12-23-2010, 10:15 AM

Just when you think someone invented something new... this very stealthy looking plane was invented by the Germans, but not until it was too late for them, at the end of WWII.

26250

Hate to break it to you Greg, but that is a Northrup flying wing built in California. Note the insignia on the engine.:dance

DARRYL CAINEY

12-23-2010, 10:36 AM

This is the Horten Flying Wing that was in the development stage at the end of WWII

NikonGSA10

12-23-2010, 04:37 PM

Photo of West German RF-4 from Bremgarten AB (35 Squadron) taken during summer '84.... US - German Air Force orientation flight

Looks like an F4 wing...

Though the days of flying low and fast over Germany have long since past... riding a Bimmer is a close second:thumb

mfifer

12-23-2010, 05:15 PM

This was a year or so ago and we were on a military run and were invited out on the field by the General for the photo op.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/mfifer/r1100rt/DSCF1789.jpg

Mike

gregfuess

12-23-2010, 05:42 PM

Hate to break it to you Greg, but that is a Northrup flying wing built in California. Note the insignia on the engine.:dance

Jim, I agree with the insignia, but where do you think Northrup got the idea? I am only repeating what I read on Wikipedia, admittedly. I was not in Germany when the original was supposed to have been invented, nor in California when Northrup supposedly copied it. No claims made or challenged!

gregfuess

12-23-2010, 05:44 PM

Daryl seems to have more specific information above...

warredon

12-24-2010, 11:43 AM

The pic of the F-4 earlier in this thread brought back memories when I worked in maintenance in an F-4 squadron (VF-31) back in the 60s. This is a shot of me at work inside the nose of one of our planes.

rinty

12-25-2010, 11:18 AM

...what I read on Wikipedia...gregfuess

According to Wiki, Hugo Junkers patented the design in 1910, but the French, Soviets, Americans, and Germans were all working on the concept prior to WW II, and a number of wings and "near" wings were developed and flown.

DARRYL CAINEY

12-31-2010, 12:35 PM

I learned to fly in the summer of 1969 on a scholarship in St. Catharines Ontario
Canada and my Chief Flying Instructor was Leon Evans.

Here is a picture of Leon at his new job flying 1 of 2 Lancasters still flying in the world.

Not a bad retirement job eh!

mfifer

12-31-2010, 06:07 PM

Krazo

01-01-2011, 07:24 PM

PP of the Tri-wing. Nice.

DARRYL CAINEY

01-05-2011, 07:51 AM

B1Pilot

01-05-2011, 10:47 AM

I wish I had one with both my bike and my plane, but I'll settle for a B-2 and A-10. I was getting my flight physical the same day the Whiteman AFB was having an open house...

http://i51.tinypic.com/213ht9j.jpg

mfifer

01-05-2011, 07:09 PM

2beers

01-05-2011, 09:54 PM

While at a seminar in Rockford I looked out the widow of the conference room and yell (yeah, it was embarassing) "there's a effing MiG-17!!!""

r11rs94

01-13-2011, 05:32 PM

Summer of 03 outside of Bagdad

Voni

01-13-2011, 07:15 PM

On my birthday this year I got to fly in a two seater. A 1946 LUSCOMBE Model 8A Fixed Wing Single-Engine

Loved it!

http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn335/Glaves/2010%20Voni%20Birthday%20Flight/P1030555.jpg

http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn335/Glaves/2010%20Voni%20Birthday%20Flight/P1030799.jpg

More pictures here:
http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn335/Glaves/2010%20Voni%20Birthday%20Flight/?start=all

Voni
sMiling

henzilla

01-15-2011, 01:38 PM

Just got this fun hi speed clip of assembly line of Florida 1, a SW Airlines tribute painted Boeing liner. Talk about some intensive mask & tape paint layouts!

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=zKnsyYbfC60&feature=popular

rinty

01-15-2011, 02:48 PM

...got to fly in a ... Luscombe...Voni

The /2 of airplanes, Voni. :)

That's real stick and rudder flying! Some of the pics were of the homestead, I take it?

mfifer

01-15-2011, 07:03 PM

tourunigo

01-21-2011, 06:25 AM

Because of an opportunity that I had last April I wrote a little article regarding it and why that opportunity was important. A Warbirds historical organization was interested in it and decided to publish it and a 'rough' little video that I did of the event on their site. Thought some folks might be interested in the tale and the site itself.

http://bt-13.org/newhome/?p=697

- Bob

-CRASH-

02-05-2011, 11:24 AM

While at a seminar in Rockford I looked out the widow of the conference room and yell (yeah, it was embarassing) "there's a effing MiG-17!!!""

LOL ... man after my own heart. :clap

enfoman

02-05-2011, 09:50 PM

I had this link sent to me today of a STOL plane in Alaska -- experimental with some NOS to burn. Neat stuff in that Video.

92 foot take off!! I guess it's nice to have up thare!

http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=96946806001

B1Pilot

02-06-2011, 10:29 AM

It's painted "EXPERAMENTAL" on the side... classic.

Amazing what they can do with a Piper Cub.

2beers

04-04-2011, 09:41 PM

LOL ... man after my own heart. :clap

After I got to the Hanger floor to see the MiG-17 Irealized just on the other side of the -17 was a MiG-21. Both were fully operational and quite clean. As a former USAF Crew Chief I figured I would never get that close to either aircraft. It was an interesting day!!!

alzyck

06-05-2011, 07:17 PM

Came across this monument on a back road while riding today. The field looks like it would have made a great runway.

http://alzyck.smugmug.com/photos/i-7JLnmXQ/0/X2/i-7JLnmXQ-X2.jpg

http://alzyck.smugmug.com/photos/i-cDV6xTp/0/XL/i-cDV6xTp-XL.jpg

R184

06-05-2011, 10:53 PM

While you can't read the names here, this the International Aviators' Shrine, at the Mission Inn in Riverside CA. The wall and chapel have been visited by a lot of the giants in Aviation. People like Yeager, Douglas, Lindbergh, “Hap” Arnold, Earhart, John Glenn, Rickenbacker; well you get the picture. Not an airplane in sight, just the people who made flying great...

GSteve

06-07-2011, 02:14 PM

Bien Hoa Air Force Base, Vietnam, March 1968

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/Family/Vietnam/Vietnam/i-XK9wnNz/0/L/Scanned-Image-46-L.jpg

mfifer

06-07-2011, 07:58 PM

Bien Hoa Air Force Base, Vietnam, March 1968

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/Family/Vietnam/Vietnam/i-XK9wnNz/0/L/Scanned-Image-46-L.jpg

Oh man the F100 is one of my favorites!!!!

Not so much Viet Nam.

Mike

GSteve

06-07-2011, 09:54 PM

I spent a few years working on the F-100 before moving on to the F-111.

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/Family/Vietnam/Vietnam/i-bRZ7hKX/0/L/Scanned-Image-9-L.jpg

mfifer

06-07-2011, 11:20 PM

I spent a few years working on the F-100 before moving on to the F-111.

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/Family/Vietnam/Vietnam/i-bRZ7hKX/0/L/Scanned-Image-9-L.jpg

Thanks Steve , I have never worked on any aircraft but saw these up close as a friend of my fathers was in the NM air guard when they had them.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/mfifer/f-100-4.jpg

Mike

GSteve

06-08-2011, 06:28 AM

Air Force Museum, Dayton, Ohio

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/Travel/Motorcycle/EAST-meets-WEST/MG4955-copy/171737713_q7uLC-L.jpg

GSteve

06-08-2011, 06:32 AM

Thanks Steve , I have never worked on any aircraft but saw these up close as a friend of my fathers was in the NM air guard when they had them.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/mfifer/f-100-4.jpg

Mike

When I came back from Vietnam in 1969 I was assigned to Cannon AFB in Clovis, NM. The Air Force (and Cannon AFB) was phasing out the F-100 and transitioning to the F-111.

mfifer

06-08-2011, 06:56 AM

When I came back from Vietnam in 1969 I was assigned to Cannon AFB in Clovis, NM. The Air Force (and Cannon AFB) was phasing out the F-100 and transitioning to the F-111.

Well , sorry you had to be in Clovis. Always windy there.

Mike

GSteve

06-08-2011, 07:09 AM

Well , sorry you had to be in Clovis. Always windy there.

Mike

As I remember, I didn't mind the wind so much...as long as it blew from the right direction. There were feed yards on three sides of town, so if the wind blew from any direction, other than prevailing, the smell would knock you over.

B1Pilot

06-08-2011, 09:55 AM

Clovis is miserable... and that smell is still there. The F-16 guys were happy to get out of there, but now the AF special forces are there getting to enjoy it.

GSteve

06-08-2011, 10:06 AM

Moving along.

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/photos/i-VjQLDSR/0/XL/i-VjQLDSR-XL.jpg

toooldtocare

06-08-2011, 10:52 AM

GSteve

06-08-2011, 10:56 AM

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/photos/i-T5L7Xhd/0/XL/i-T5L7Xhd-XL.jpg

toooldtocare

06-08-2011, 03:17 PM

GSteve

06-08-2011, 04:17 PM

"Puff, the magic Dragon" working between Bien Hoa AFB & Long Bien Army base in 1968 (less than five miles total distance).

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/Family/Vietnam/Vietnam/i-xmLZnv6/0/XL/Scanned-Image-1-XL.jpg

toooldtocare

06-09-2011, 08:18 PM

Where I volunteer.

GSteve

06-09-2011, 10:02 PM

Where I volunteer.

Looks like a great place to hang out when you're not riding!

GSteve

06-09-2011, 10:14 PM

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/photos/i-NRqghH8/0/XL/i-NRqghH8-XL.jpg

toooldtocare

06-10-2011, 12:47 AM

Thanks Steve. It is a great place.

Wayne

SeabeckS

06-10-2011, 12:22 PM

So, curious where the F-100 in the Thunderbirds livery is located?

Love to see that one someday.

Sort of an odd link to that bird for me...as a youngster in Phoenix our neighbor was a F-100 jockey at Luke AFB. And he took me for my first ever ride on a motorcycle, a BSA Rocket. Sorta changed my life...LOL

Cheers!

GSteve

06-10-2011, 01:54 PM

35634

06-11-2011, 10:33 PM

Great video of 2 of my favorites, check out the torque reaction when he revs up the Sopwith Camel...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6PnKUEFX8g&feature=related

GSteve

06-12-2011, 06:30 AM

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/photos/i-zvmRhjc/0/XL/i-zvmRhjc-XL.jpg

rinty

06-12-2011, 11:09 AM

That's Rickenbacker's squadron insignia, isn't it?

Sit

06-12-2011, 11:28 AM

That's Rickenbacker's squadron insignia, isn't it?

Yes

GSteve

06-12-2011, 01:38 PM

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/photos/i-zVvx9rH/0/XL/i-zVvx9rH-XL.jpg

Raptor02

06-12-2011, 06:07 PM

http://raptor02.smugmug.com/Airplanes/USAF/AKJCKad87Bor/803289361_thiwJ-L.jpg
I am on the left with my brother-in-law at Kadena AB on Okinawa in the summer of 1987. I was never one to carry a camera until my assignment to the Thunderbirds. Since then, I always carry one in my bag. By the way, great pics Steve.

GSteve

06-12-2011, 07:10 PM

Thanks Raptor02. I noticed that you liked the Udar-Hazy Museum also. By the way, I'm envious of your assignment. It had to be a memorable experience.

Raptor02

06-12-2011, 08:53 PM

Thanks Raptor02. I noticed that you liked the Udar-Hazy Museum also. By the way, I'm envious of your assignment. It had to be a memorable experience.

Steve,

Yes, I had a fantastic visit to the Udar-Hazy facility and would like to return to see how they have progressed with their exhibits.

As for the assignment, it was a life changer. The people you meet along the way and my teammates made every day special. As a youth we lived on Nellis AFB and my neighbor, who was on the team during their F-4 days, took me to their hangar for a tour. That visit and the influence of my father, set in motion a goal for me to try to become a member of the Thunderbirds. It was a dream come true to become a team member myself.

Take care,
Joe

GSteve

06-13-2011, 12:38 PM

Unfortunately, this proud bird crashed today. The upside is that all seven passengers survived.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chibrknews-crews-responding-to-incident-involv-002,0,5965003.photo

From last year.

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/photos/i-QCzkgVH/0/XL/i-QCzkgVH-XL.jpg

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/photos/i-HDHHwrf/0/XL/i-HDHHwrf-XL.jpg

SeabeckS

06-13-2011, 11:22 PM

The F-100 in Thunderbird trim is at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. Interesting that you mentioned Luke AFB. I was stationed there in 1967 working on F-100s prior to being shipped off to Vietnam in January 1968. Luke was also the first place I had the opportunity to watch the Thunderbirds.

Thanks for the info, that's one museum I'd LOVE to see...just don't get east of the big Muddy very often. But some day...

I was an impressionable young lad in those Phoenix days and would really have loved to become an Air Force jet jockey. Alas, having been partially blind in one eye for a year in my younger days prohibited that from ever happening. Sure loved to watch those guys fly those hot birds. A couple of years after that we moved to Fallon, NV. Watching the Navy and Marine pilots doing target practice on those remote bombing ranges was pretty fun too.

Thanks again! Cheers!

GSteve

06-14-2011, 01:06 PM

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/photos/i-PT8vCwX/0/XL/i-PT8vCwX-XL.jpg

toooldtocare

06-14-2011, 02:49 PM

GSteve

06-14-2011, 04:28 PM

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/photos/i-xkHct54/0/XL/i-xkHct54-XL.jpg

B1Pilot

06-14-2011, 05:28 PM

Hey steve, got any pictures of the army guys getting blown all over creation at last years Little Rock AFB Airshow? I was there and it was something to watch.....

GSteve

06-14-2011, 05:33 PM

Hey steve, got any pictures of the army guys getting blown all over creation at last years Little Rock AFB Airshow? I was there and it was something to watch.....

We missed that. We went on Sunday and my neck injuries got to barking and we had to leave before the Thunderbirds started. Hopefully, this year will be better. But, in any case it sounds like a good story. What happened?

GSteve

06-14-2011, 06:22 PM

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/photos/i-gZ8k33V/0/XL/i-gZ8k33V-XL.jpg

R184

06-15-2011, 01:11 AM

Old Soviet I-16 Fighter. Very short range, only had 30-60 mins flight time. This one is still a flyer. Here it's in Riverside, but shortly after this picture was taken, was flown (in a lot of short hops) to it's home in Midland Texas.

B1Pilot

06-15-2011, 08:10 AM

We missed that. We went on Sunday and my neck injuries got to barking and we had to leave before the Thunderbirds started. Hopefully, this year will be better. But, in any case it sounds like a good story. What happened?

The jumpmasters from the C-130Js got the drop point wrong and half the paratroopers landed in the trees...

http://kitup.military.com/2010/10/thanks-for-nothing-jumpmaster.html

Since this is a minor thread hijack here's a cool plane pic:

http://i52.tinypic.com/sncwol.jpg

GSteve

06-15-2011, 06:50 PM

Chris, is that an action shot of you at work?

GSteve

06-15-2011, 06:52 PM

This guy probably wasn't one of those that landed in the trees.

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/photos/1237131856_79Ywm-XL.jpg

Raptor02

06-18-2011, 05:03 PM

http://raptor02.smugmug.com/Airplanes/USAF-Thunderbirds/i-R3266Gr/0/XL/SlotAAR001-XL.jpg

GSteve

06-18-2011, 08:07 PM

I like the flag in the cockpit! :thumb

Raptor02

06-18-2011, 09:51 PM

http://raptor02.smugmug.com/Airplanes/USAF-Thunderbirds/i-vVZcHj9/0/XL/SlotAAR007-XL.jpg
Better view of the flag. We kept flags in the map cases and presented them to people on the road. These images were taken while cross-country from Boston to Nellis AFB.

http://raptor02.smugmug.com/Airplanes/USAF-Thunderbirds/i-tCmnsGd/0/XL/SlotAAR004-XL.jpg
#2 on the boom.

http://raptor02.smugmug.com/Airplanes/USAF-Thunderbirds/i-6nb5XZd/0/L/SlotAAR002-L.jpg
Homeward bound.

http://raptor02.smugmug.com/Airplanes/USAF-Thunderbirds/i-HxMQr2G/0/XL/SlotAAR006-XL.jpg
#6 Headed for the barn.

Sorry folks, got a bit carried away with the scanner today.

GSteve

06-19-2011, 06:19 AM

Great stuff, thanks for sharing!

B1Pilot

06-20-2011, 11:09 AM

Two quick stories you guys will get a kick out of...

1. The B-1 inverted pic I posted was from deployment to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in 2001, right after 9/11. The guy who was flying did a high speed pass and roll across the runway, as a mini airshow and way of saying thanks to all the hardworking maintainers and loaders who were busting their asses pulling 12-16 hour shifts daily to make the combat sorties happen. Needless to say, they all loved it, but the O-6s grounded the guy for a week or so (and he was in a position of authority in the squadron).

2. For the past year at work, I sat 6 feet from a fellow officer who was the opposing solo on the the thunderbirds. She has many, many awesome pics like the ones raptor posted, but the best part was that we were classmates at the Academy 14 years ago.

another obligatory cool pic... coming up to the tanker over the indian ocean.

http://i56.tinypic.com/2eebrxh.jpg

OfficerImpersonator

06-20-2011, 01:43 PM

I live not far from the south end of RWY 16R/34L at KPAE (Paine Field) in Everett, WA. This is the home of Boeing's "double-aisle" aircraft manufacturing (747/767/777/787). We always see interesting and unusual aircraft flying overhead.

A few weeks ago, we decided to drive around Paine Field and see what we could see. As the father of a six year old, looking at airplanes is a great way to kill a weekend afternoon!

Boeing uses these modified 747s (called "Dreamlifters") to transport sections of the 787 to Everett for final assembly. Parts of the 787 are made in Japan, South Korea, Wichita, Kansas, Charleston, South Carolina, France, Italy, and India. http://dvandkq.net/images/20110522-145.jpg

Boeing must obtain FAA approval before they can deliver these 747-800 freighters to their carriers. Once Boeing completes their test flight program and the FAA signs off, these brand new aircraft will be delivered to their new owners.
http://dvandkq.net/images/20110522-146.jpg

These are the new 747-800 "Intercontinentals" that Boeing is currently test-flying in order to obtain certification. They are developing passenger and freighter versions, but they have way more orders for freighters than they do for the passenger version.
http://dvandkq.net/images/20110522-147.jpg

I don't know the story behind the B-52 currently parked on the tarmac.
http://dvandkq.net/images/20110522-167.jpg

Mothballed airliners (like this 767) have the engines replaced with weights so that the airframe is properly stressed at all times.
http://dvandkq.net/images/20110522-168.jpg

http://dvandkq.net/images/20110522-195.jpg

While we were looking around, an unpainted 737-NG was doing touch-and-go landings.
http://dvandkq.net/images/20110522-203.jpg

Billionaire Paul Allen has a large hanger at Paine Field where he keeps the WWII aircraft he's collected. All of his aircraft in the "Flying Heritage Collection" are operational, and the museum has "flight days" where observers can watch these museum pieces take to the air. We'll be visiting a few of those this summer, and I'll post the photos I take.

SeabeckS

06-20-2011, 02:41 PM

OfficerImpersonator

06-21-2011, 04:58 PM

Nice pics of Paine Field and some of Boeing's biggest...watching those Dreamlifters lumber down the runway is sort of interesting. As in, "is that monster EVER going to get airborne?"

Mr. Allen's collection is small compared to some museums, but it is very high quality. I never expected to ever see an Me 163 Komet anywhere but on cable TV. Well worth the trip to this exhibit for visitors to Seattle area.

Current schedule includes a "Luftwaffe Day" on August 6 with the intent to fly a Storch, a Me 109, and a Focke-Wulf 190.

Cheers!

As my post mentioned, we live about 10 miles south of Paine Field. When the wind is blowing from the north, most traffic to KPAE flies overhead - including the Dreamlifters. While we see plenty of large aircraft in the skies overhead - including lots of the new 747-800s - there is no doubt when a Dreamlifter is overhead. They are much louder than any other aircraft that routinely visits Paine Field - I'll presume because of their need to keep the engines at a relatively higher thrust to overcome all that aerodynamic drag. They are a very impressive sight flying low and slow on final approach.

RTFlyer

07-01-2011, 04:33 PM

<img class="spotlight" alt="" aria-describedby="fbPhotoTheaterCaption" aria-busy="false" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/269786_2038702218424_1570338453_1953984_8282068_n. jpg">

<img class="spotlight" alt="" aria-describedby="fbPhotoTheaterCaption" aria-busy="false" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/269786_2038702258425_1570338453_1953985_1597199_n. jpg">

<img class="spotlight" alt="" aria-describedby="fbPhotoTheaterCaption" aria-busy="false" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/269786_2038702338427_1570338453_1953987_2323185_n. jpg">

<img class="spotlight" alt="" aria-describedby="fbPhotoTheaterCaption" aria-busy="false" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/269786_2038702378428_1570338453_1953988_7492868_n. jpg">

A DC-4 that stopped overnight that's headed for Florida and will be standing by for oil dispersant duty. This aircraft participated in the Berlin air lift according to the pilot.

GSteve

07-01-2011, 05:22 PM

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/photos/i-nb3VXmg/0/XL/i-nb3VXmg-XL.jpg

Raptor02

07-02-2011, 08:26 PM

Fantastic shot of the A-10!

Kent Niederhofer

07-03-2011, 09:56 AM

Each year the Yankee Air Museum hosts a "Thunder over Michigan" event in July -- this year it's the 23rd and 24th -- with a range of aircraft from WWII to modern era. This aircraft was a "guest" at the event a few years back. I also had the pleasure to meet Guenther Rall who was one of Germany's highest scoring aces of WWII.

Kent

2beers

07-08-2011, 08:16 PM

I used to be the Crew Chief of this aircraft.....

Raptor02

07-09-2011, 12:21 AM

Cool to see your jet.

toooldtocare

07-09-2011, 12:48 PM

I used to be the Crew Chief of this aircraft.....

I used to repair those, Wurtsmith AFB Michigan and U-Tapao AFB Thailand. Gosh I am getting old, I forgot how to spell U-Tapao.

OfficerImpersonator

07-12-2011, 01:54 PM

I used to repair those, Wurtsmith AFB Michigan and U-Tapao AFB Thailand. Gosh I am getting old, I forgot how to spell U-Tapao.

My mom (and her Masters in Art) was briefly a draftsperson for Boeing in the 1950's. Her responsibility was drawing up the designs of the ailerons for the KC-135.

Soon enough we'll see the B767 tankers rolling off the Paine Field assembly line, heading out to replace the KC-135s.

11319

07-26-2011, 01:52 PM

Chu Lai 1968

Raptor02

07-26-2011, 10:54 PM

Like the Phantoms.

toooldtocare

07-27-2011, 11:07 AM

I like F4s too, however these are what I worked on, along with KC-135s. U-Tapao 1968.

GSteve

07-27-2011, 05:34 PM

This F-4 was due to depart Bien Hoa on 31 January , 1968 for it's home base in Da Nang. It had diverted to Bien Hoa 3 weeks earlier due to battle damage. The repairs had been completed and it was fueled an armed ready for an early AM departure.

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/Family/Vietnam/Vietnam/i-3MSPTHr/0/L/Scanned-Image-54-L.jpg

In the early morning hours of the 31st the Tet Offensive began. During the attack a 122mm rocket landed under the nose of the F-4 setting it on fire.

http://gsteve.smugmug.com/Family/Vietnam/Vietnam/i-7kWR5LS/0/L/Scanned-Image-53-L.jpg

About 50 of us spent the early morning in a bunker about 100 meters from the burning plane and hoped that no bombs had been loaded...they weren't. However, listening to the 20mm rounds cook off was a little unnerving.

toooldtocare

07-27-2011, 06:23 PM

Ouch!

Raptor02

07-27-2011, 11:05 PM

http://raptor02.smugmug.com/Airplanes/USAF-Thunderbirds/i-wW3xr25/0/XL/1988EDAFBBuff01-XL.jpg
Since retired from flight and now on display.

http://raptor02.smugmug.com/Airplanes/USAF-Thunderbirds/i-9S6hZhX/0/L/1988EDAFBBuff03-L.jpg
One word comes to mind when viewing the stencils on the side of the fuselage...history.

http://raptor02.smugmug.com/Airplanes/USAF-Thunderbirds/i-zXzNCFB/0/L/1988EDAFBBuff02-L.jpg
HiMat test vehicle.

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/FactSheets/FS-025-DFRC.html

KBikeKev

07-27-2011, 11:27 PM

29033

Raptor02

07-28-2011, 07:42 AM

Unique ride you have there :thumb

drew3714

08-25-2011, 02:40 PM

I heard the shuttle was being flown back to florida and had landed at Offut AFB so me and about a million other people rode upto the fence and took pics. this was the best i could do with what I had. Incredible to see it after re-entry.
http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=252&pictureid=1376

RTRandy

08-26-2011, 09:49 AM

I've always liked this plane by Epic out of Bend OR. Very cool with turbo prop 1200 horsepower and largely carbon fiber airframe. Almost 400mph and can fly at 30,00 feet. These were kits and the plane never got certified before going bankrupt in 2009. A new company from China has since bought the remains with some of the kit builders who invested and were never able to finish their kit before the company went under.

A real head turner!

-CRASH-

08-26-2011, 10:08 AM

http://www.crenshawfamily.com/Pictures/2003/acusa/CRASH_IS_NO_1.jpg

I am in one just like this one taking a picture of my buddy Lou who I just spent an hour and a half dog fighting with. If you look closely, you can see Lou telling me I am NUMBER 1 too :laugh

Air Race Addict

08-26-2011, 10:56 AM

Took this pic at Reno 08. (My handle should give you a clue as to my passion) :p This year will be my 30th Reno National Championship Air Races. Went for the first time in 74, then I went in the Navy flying on P-3 Orions. Didn't get back until 82, been going ever since. And I have a crapload of pics.

R184

08-26-2011, 11:32 AM

Chino 2010.

Air Race Addict

08-26-2011, 12:48 PM

Love Chino / Planes of Fame. :p

Kent Niederhofer

08-26-2011, 10:16 PM

Love Chino / Planes of Fame. :p

Looks like a Fiesler Storch, doesn't it?

Kent

R184

08-27-2011, 05:29 PM

Chino Air Show, Replica of the Storch, complete with pilot in period uniform.

JavaD

08-28-2011, 10:25 AM

Picture of lead in a 3 ship low level flight

JavaD

08-28-2011, 10:26 AM

Picture of #2 and #3 in a 3-ship training flight

rinty

08-28-2011, 10:28 AM

..Fiesler Storch...

That's one of the airplanes that was used in the daring commando rescue of Benito Mussolini from the Campo Imperatore Hotel at Gran Sasso, in 1943. Captain Walter Gerlach put it into a 50 metre clearing near the ski resort, and later used it to fly out Il Duce and the famed commando, Lt. Col. Otto Skorzeny. The overloaded aircraft almost crashed.

That looks to be an exotic location, that I'll have to visit if I'm ever in Italy.

JavaD

08-28-2011, 10:28 AM

Picture of #2 in a 3-ship training flight.

That was a fun day...beautiful weather...light winds... birds well below us...

jaherbst

08-28-2011, 11:00 PM

Picture of #2 in a 3-ship training flight.

That was a fun day...beautiful weather...light winds... birds well below us...

My son is an instructor on the C-17. I have flown the simulator. Terrific airplane!

Old airline pilot,
Jack

jimbob1960

08-28-2011, 11:20 PM

In 2005 and 2006, I lived in London, doing an SAP project for my employer (Big Oil company with a pectin for an emblem..). My dad took me up in a Cessna 150 for the first in about 1970. Been mad crazy for airplanes ever since, and ended up as a flight mechanic doing search and rescue in the US Coast Guard. Pop was a CG vet, and for his 75th birthday, I flew him to London to visit, and took him to the old RAF base at Duxford, and got him a ride in a De Havilland Tiger Moth. The pilot was great, and let him take the stick for quite a bit of t29349he flight. he was seriously pumped!

pjjj3386

10-15-2011, 01:51 PM

Airplane pull. They never did get it airborne.

jimbob1960

10-16-2011, 01:31 PM

Went to an airshow back in 2006 at what was once RAF Biggin Hill outside London. There was a glider aerobatic act on the schedule. Didn't notice at first the tow plane was an Extra 300 until he rolled inverted while pulling the glider. Not long after, they were BOTH inverted....darnedest thing I have ever seen at an airshow.

tourunigo

11-22-2011, 12:56 PM

... <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/58L3m0dqVDY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Lmo1131

12-25-2011, 03:36 PM

Now that the Geoffrey DeHavilland's toy box is open, here are my favorite Wooden Wonders;

The 365 mph DH.98Mosquito (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Mosquito) fighter/bomber.
http://1000aircraftphotos.com/APS/2121L.jpg

and it's little 472 mph, single-seat brother,

DH.103 Hornet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Hornet) (often referred to as two Spitfires flying in very close formation)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/De_Havilland_Hornet_F1.jpg/798px-De_Havilland_Hornet_F1.jpg