wings of freedom/ collings foundation

the collings flying circus hit town today. $425 is kinda pricy for a ride and the P-51 fly it at 3k is totally out of my reach. i hope they don't charge you to watch them take off.

 

Holy smokes! That is a bunch of smolians, but I guess if you sit and think about fuel burn and engine overhauls...
So that $3K is a front seat ride?

I see you are in PC - was at Tyndall first assignment 85-88 and lived at Sandy Creek with a wonderful Champ, later an SNJ. I'll bet it is pricey now....

 

When they hit my town they didn't charge anything to watch the takeoffs/etc. I think it was 5 or 10 bucks to look through the planes. I got the cheap side-gunner ride on the B-25, well worth the $325.

See this from last year

 

I shouldn't say this , I guess, but I never realized how lucky I was to have been given free rides in the big tin birds when I was in the USAAF about 2 thousand years ago. B-17, B-24, C-60, AT-7, T-6, B-25, C-47, and after i got growed up I got a back seat flight in a P-51 ( Worry Bird) and in B-29 FIFI in the bombardier's spot. Then there's all the PT's, a DC-3 ( stick time), a Lockheed Mod 12, and a BT-13 that I was allowed to fly by myself. There's a few more little ones but it gets boring. I've had a great ride.
SWITCHES

 

Three k for 1 hr back seat time in their P-51C is a deal as the guy up front is a flight instructor and you actually get to fly the thing. Their next hot deal is 11.5 k for 30 min back seat time in a F-4 Phantom. It gets better...comming next to their stable is a F-105 Thud. Plenty $$$$$$$

 

...even already toting a couple hundred flight surgeon hours in the back of F-4 E and G models, my Wild Weasel heritage has just been set a flitter by even the chance to see a 105 in the air!!!!!!!!!!

 

Question[and I'm going to google next]...does the Collins F4 go SOS with you in it? And can it be done,FAA regs wise,over say NC? Cracking the barrier may be worth 10+k[''never done a thing like that before'']...but if that's not on your bucket list what else got left off?
I'll persue this P51 ride...I wish my FIL was still ''here'' to see it happen...he drove one in ww2...out of Aviano[sp] IT...he wrote a cool account of his experiences and it was published in the local paper some years ago. I've been trying to figure out a way to post it in here buy no joy so far.Will continue to tinker.
Thanks for the heads-up...
cheers,
RE

 

I'm with you, Russ, on the F-105 ! I would love a ride in that one OR an F-104. Those are the two most incredible airplanes. I have seen many F-104's but not an F-105 and I can't wait to see one in flight. Names kill me. " Polish Glider", "Flying Anvil", and the Thud.
SWITCHES

 

Last I talked to Collins Foundation, F-4 rules were current pilot license, current flight physical, checkbook. You travel to them at Ellington Field. Weather permitting, you can go supersonic over the Gulf.

Hoverer it is not available a lot. Based on fuel and cost to maintain, it is a fair deal.

 

I'd pay money just to see and hear a Thud and a Flying Brick again. I grew up in the pattern of NAS Alameda when it was a major repair center before and during Vietnam. The F4's in the pattern made a racket nothing else did. And the engine tests could be heard for miles. I also went there to see the Blue Angles back then when they operated the Phantoms. They proudly proclaimed it "The Worlds Loudest Airshow".

Last time I saw a Thud was in an outdoor display at Castle AFB. Sad seeing one permantly tied down. After their history over Hanoi it is surprising any are left.


One of the reasons we all owe so much to people like Steve for keeping those things flying so we can all enjoy.

 

$11.5K for 30 minutes in an F-4 is not bad considering what MiG time costs.........