The Collings Foundation dropped by the local airport today with their B-24, the B-17, and the B-25. I took my dad out today for a bit to look around, he really dug the planes but can't get around well so we didn't stay long. I happened to be back that way that afternoon and went back out to watch the B-17 and B-24 take off with the tourist flights. Amazing machines and an unduplicated sound. As I was leaving I asked why the B-25 hadn't flown, and they said they were just about to go and had a spot open. Pure spur-of-the-moment, but I decided to jump on the plane and got a gunner spot. Great place to experience the plane from, could see well and clamber into the back gun spot if you wanted. Lousy cameraphone pics attached for that flight, I wasn't expecting to be out there and didn't have my good camera. I'll upload the static shots later. In short -- well worth doing, even at $$$. It's hard to believe that people flew in those things for hours across hostile territory. http://www.collingsfoundation.org/tx_b-25jmitchell.htm Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Great spur of the moment decision. How long was the ride? I've seen them on low pass flyovers and you're right - the noise is unmistakable. BBS
+1 million! That is SUPER COOL! I love airplanes...that is why I live in a fly in fly out neighborhood! James Austin, TX
The Collings Foundation is a great organization. When it is operational, their F-4 is a site to see. Very expensive to operate all of the planes, but great history, and as Tillman said, well worth the cost. What a great random opportunity. FYI, the F-4 flight was $10K last time I talked with the Foundation. First day of ground, second day of pre-flight with 1 hour flight; supersonic over water if weather permits. Lots of restrictions on that one because you actually fly it. And if you are really lucky, the guy in the front seat is Steve Ritchie. http://www.collingsfoundation.org/tx_f-4dphantom.htm
I took the cheap seat option, $325 slumming in the B-25. $400+ for the -17 and -24. They're at Love Field for the next few days, check the website for more info. Gotta tell ya, these things have that same primal URRAHAAAGHHH that makes me love the Italian Rattletrap As an aside -- I was driving back from that today with the targa top off on at the end of a perfect 70 degree day listening to "Luckenbach, Texas" beamed in from outer space when I realized just how great this country is to live in. When a bum like me can own a Ferrari, ride in a B-25, listen to Waylon AND still fit in a Fivebucks Coffee fix in on a weekday, life really is GOOD All it takes is having no goals at all
Awesome Tillman. The tower looked like Denton, is that where they were? I was flying out Northwest of Alliance in an R-44 and had heard there were some classic warbirds in the area but did not see them. Great investment in a fantastic memory- Congrats!
Those 3 planes flew over the serice drive less than 400' ( guessing ) around lunch time today, the drive stopped and everyone was just looking up... wow! Last night and this morning a group of 3 Apaches <sp> have been flying in and out as well! Steve
The warbirds can be lots of fun. We were quite involved with them many, many years ago during our "airplane days". Did sponsorships on the R4D now based out of Lancaster - John has some seat time in it. Years take their toll, many of the folks involved in that are now no longer here. My dad was very active with Joe and the group with the A26 out of Waco - he went to all the shows with them. Great group of people - sorry they changed the organization name. Our kids had a great time growing up around the airshows/learing about the aircraft and it's a shame so many more kids never had that experience. Carol
I wandered through "Ready 4 Duty" at the Lancaster CAF fly-in last year. I joined the CAF there, but that has been a bust. No working web site, a rather weak monthly email, and absolutely no contact from anyone about the organization. I need to try to get down there, but y'all all know what it's like to wander into the home of a group that you technically are part of and yet you know nobody. Anyway, back to Wed, here's some pics from earlier in the day, including the aforementioned B-25 Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
And now the B-17 (Nine-O-Nine) and the Liberator (Witchcraft, in it's current guise) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
And internal shots, frankly I'm not sure which belong to which plane Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Tillman What an awesome experience,, truly amazing.. To me that was the golden era of aviation... All mechanical and brutal!
