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Gathering of Mustangs
Today started the pre-show setup, and there are already a few birds here.
Early morning shot http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs001.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...tangs002-1.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs005.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs010.jpg |
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Rickenbacker is home to the 162nd OANG air refueling wing.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...tangs004-1.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs008.jpg They have a bunch of KC130's at one end of the base, the other end of the field is FedEx and air freight. That's all for today, more to come. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif |
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http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs008.jpg [/ QUOTE ] Hey! That's my old airplane! Got 2000 hours in that beauty in both seats plus 38 combat missions during the '91 war. Man, she still looks good! One time on takeoff from Incirlik, Turkey with a new copilot, I decided to show him what the KC-135R could do with all that power. We were light-ish, about 160K gross, and I used MAX power for takeoff. I briefed my copilot to retract the flaps FIRST and then the landing gear because the jet was going to build speed fast and I didn't want to over-speed the flaps. (The gear had a higher speed limit than the flaps.) So, I lined'er up on the runway, ran it up to 70% power with the brakes on, checked all four and then released the brakes and commanded "set MAX power" to the copilot. He set MAX and we were off like a raped ape. I rotated her just off the runway and said, "FLAPS UP" and then "GEAR UP." Up they came as I held her down flat at about 50 feet off the runway. I stopped trimming nose-down at 250 knots and then jusy held the nose down with arm force as we approached 300 knots, still 50 feet off the deck. As we got to the far end of Incirlik's runway and close to the max indicated airspeed of 340 knots I saw a guy jogging on the perimter road and we were about to blow his head off. I said, "HEY, LOOK AT THAT GUY!" and the guy stops jogging and just stares at this big gray bird bearing down on him at 330 knots. My crew broke out laughing at the poor jogger and I let the nose start coming up for the grand finale: a zoom climb. The four fans were growling hard on the air and I let the nose come up and up until I had to look out my side window to confirm what my artificial horizon was telling me. I stopped her at 65-degrees nose high and let her eat as we went upstairs at 300 knots. My navigator saw the artificial horizon and said, "HOLY [censored], 65 DEGREES NOSE HIGH, WHOOOOOO!!!" As the speed bled off below 300, then 280, then 240, 220, I kept the nose coming back down and we leveled-off at about 8,000 feet above the north end of the base. As we were climbing out I heard an F-15 pilot, who had been waiting to take-off with his flight of four Eagles, say "Hey, look at that guy" on the Command Post radio I was monitoring. (Control Tower in the other radio.) I assumed the F-15 guys had never seen a fat/not sexy old KC-135 do anything like that. We roared up to cruise altitude and flew on to England for an overnight before coming home to the states. Later that evening a second KC-135R crew showed up in England from Incirlik and they said guys were running out from under airplanes and out of hangars when I was accelerating down the runway--they could tell I was doing something special--and the second KC crew was still breathless at the acceleration/climb demonstration I had performed. Ah, she was a great bird. Nothing like 88,000 pounds of thrust in a light-weight airplane and clearance for an unrestricted climb. Don't ask me about the times we played "spaceman" between refuelings over the Turkey/Iraq border. Thanks for posting that KC photo Andy. |
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"Nothing like 88,000 pounds of thrust in a light-weight airplane "
Works for cars, works for jets. Great story. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif |
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Great story Bill! That would have been a ride for sure.
Andy, you are killing me already. There was just no way I could make it with all the other trips I have made this year. Sucks as this would have been a show to end all shows. I pray that these guys stay safe and have a great week at the show and no accidents happen. Keep the photos coming. Rick |
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I wish I had hauled the 55 there..... arrgh.
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Ha!
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Ah...so that explains your last "trip" over my house...LOL https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif
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By the way Andy, my friend's P-51D couldn't make it to the Gathering because they found metal in the engine oil screens recently and the Merlin had to come out and be fully rebuilt. I think it was bearing failure on either the crank or rods but I can't remember which. He and the owner hopped on the airlines and are there spectating (and drinking beer and BSing with the rest of them).
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The planes and crews started to arrive in force today.
Here's an opening taste of the Thunderbirds, making a pass over the airfield. http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs035.jpg |
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These are some of the new arrivals
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs033.jpg P-40 Flying Tiger http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs032.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs031.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs028.jpg |
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A few more...
B-25 http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs027.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs026.jpg Rare Wing-tip tanks http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs024.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs021.jpg Trainer http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs019.jpg |
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Static display of Sherman tank. There will be a lot of stuff on display, but most of it won't be out til Thurs. or Fri.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs025.jpg Last one til Friday https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ustangs016.jpg |
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One last thing, I got to shake hands with Jack Roush, who flew in with "Old Crow". Looks different in a flight suit, but a true gentleman who loves to meet and greet folks. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif
Highlight of my day. |
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Excellent pictures. I belong the the Air Guard Unit in Mansfield and we will be bringing a C-130 to the show tomorrow. I'll be hanging out there on Saturday. Should be a great show.
I was preflighting a 737 today at Port Columbus and a P51 did a low pass. Man the sound of that Merlin still gives me goose bumps. Phil Woj. |
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Hmmm! Looks like a P-57?
Phil Woj. |
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55
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That car or whatever you would call it is just nuts Charley.
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Don't ask me about the times we played "spaceman" between refuelings over the Turkey/Iraq border. [/ QUOTE ] Spill it or BAN. |
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Man the sound of that Merlin still gives me goose bumps. [/ QUOTE ] I have an old paperback of my dad's called "Sigh for a Merlin" about the Spitfire's WWII battle record. That title says it all. |
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[ QUOTE ] Don't ask me about the times we played "spaceman" between refuelings over the Turkey/Iraq border. [/ QUOTE ] Spill it or BAN. [/ QUOTE ] Go far away from the flight corridor so as to not be seen by other jets and to avoid possible collision. Put away anything that might fly around inside the airplane, such as flight gear, navigator's gear, cans of pop, etc. Aircraft Commander (me) remains strapped firmly in seat, everyone else heads to the back of the plane which is as empty as a bowling lane. Lower the nose and accelerate to 300-plus knots airspeed. Gradually raise nose until about 40-60 degrees nose high, full power. As speed comes down through about 280, slowly push yoke forward until you feel the G go to zero--G-meter confirms zero G. Whoops and hollers eminate from crew. Maintain weightless condition (zero G) by holding yoke forward and very gradually adjusting so as to keep G-meter pegged at zero. Any sudden moves of the yoke and someone--someone floating in zero G in back--could get slammed onto the cargo deck. Whoops and hollers continue. As nose goes through the horizon and aircraft enters dive, slowly reduce throttles to idle while maintaining zero G with very, very gentle yoke movements. (Jet makes a big upside-down U in the sky.) Squint eyes as the decades of dirt and dust are rise off of the floor of the jet. Yes, all the dirt comes out of every crack and crevice in the 40-year old airplane's cockpit and heads for the pilot's eyes. Tastes like dirt too. Whoops and hollers continue. As nose reaches about 20-30 degrees nose-low and speed begins to build back up, ease the yoke back so as to gently 'set' crew back on cargo floor without drawing any blood. Whoops and hollers from floating crew die down. Repeat by popular demand. Total time of complete weightlessness was about 45 seconds if done right, just like the NASA KC-135 zero-G trainer known as the "vomit comet." No one ever barfed when I did it. (Note: Best to run one (of four) refueling pump and open the refueling manifold valve during maneuver so as to maintain positive fuel pressure and not cavitate any fuel lines or starve an engine. Hydraulic system low-pressure lights will blink from momentary cavitation but can be ignored in this case.) That is all, over and out. |
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Charlie,
Contact the show's officials today. Show them what you have. I think that with the right people involved your car could still get there, but they would have to fly it, since the USAF is involved as a major sponsor a MAC hop to Wright Patterson or directly to Lockborne (Rickenbacker) could be arranged if the right officials are contacted. Today is the meet and greet show starts tomorrow. I am 25 minutes from the show. Would not miss it for the world. Your car belongs there. http://www.gml2007.com/ |
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That was Jack Rousch making that pass at Port Columbus.
I just happened to be there to see it. I was shuttling rental cars back to Rickenbacker. There were 2 Mustangs, Old Crow piloted by Rousch, and another Mustang that he recently sold, but I didn't catch the name or the new owner. |
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Cool stuff Bill! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif
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THE Chttps://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gifhttps://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gifLEST!!!
Any Spitfires there yet...or coming?. And great story Bill!. ~ Pete https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif |
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Great story Bill....at first I thought you were going up to SR 71 heights with that tanker !!
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I came across this that I had forgot I had if any one needs one this week out there. It is a P51B/C assembly/service manual.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...7/IMG_1774.jpg http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...7/IMG_1775.jpg |
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[ QUOTE ]
That was Jack Rousch making that pass at Port Columbus. I just happened to be there to see it. I was shuttling rental cars back to Rickenbacker. There were 2 Mustangs, Old Crow piloted by Rousch, and another Mustang that he recently sold, but I didn't catch the name or the new owner. [/ QUOTE ] The original "Old Crow" was flown my C.E. "Bud" Anderson of the 357th FG. He was a triple ace in WWII and Chuck Yeager was HIS wingman. I have met this fine American on several occasions and his stories will blow your mind. His recount of each kill is incredible. See his awesome web site . You can spend hours on it. It is very well done. BTW, he and his son flew a combat sortie together in Vietnam. His son is a retired Viper driver here in the valley. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v6...2/canttalk.jpg |
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Thursday was good news and bad news. It rained. We needed the rain, but the airshow didn't.
Today was nothing but blue skies and sunshine. Arriving at dawn, this is what I saw coming in, static displays for the show. C-130, C-17 and C-5A http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday004.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday005.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday007.jpg |
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Parked out on the tarmac, 2 F-15 Eagles
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday001.jpg Thunderbirds http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday008.jpg F-22 Raptor Demo Team http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday003.jpg |
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Big warbirds. B-17 Flying Fortress
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday009.jpg British Lancaster bomber http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday010.jpg |
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The CRAZY HORSE P-51 summer home for years was Latrobe airport. You could always tell when CH was in the air. It makes the most wonderful noise...BKH https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif
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P-38 Lightning. There are 2 of them here, one flying and this one, "Glacier Girl" that is static.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday011.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday013.jpg P-40 War Hawk, aka Flying Tiger. http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday015.jpg Starting to get real busy on the tarmac, making unobstruced pics hard to take. |
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Now for the Mustangs. Lots and lots of Mustangs. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif 100 Mustangs take up a lot of space. Here are some selected shots. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday018.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday025.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday022.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday026.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday027.jpg |
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A few more for the die hard fanatics.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday036.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday039.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday041.jpg |
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Finally, some live action parting shots:
P-47 http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday042.jpg P-38 http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday045.jpg http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday047.jpg Last one. http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...sfriday050.jpg https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif |
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