Old birds flew over today

[killdeer43]

I heard these guys coming for a while before I saw them....

...and boy, they're loud! :shock:
...and they don't make 'em like this anymore.

*I'm pretty sure they were ours. 8)

Joe

 

[Stephen5]

wow,...that is amazing pick....!
both are lo0king gorgeous ,...wish could fly the silver one,...!

 

[AlohaJoe]

AT-6 Texans?

 

[zulu]

^ That would be my guess

 

[killdeer43]

Here's a closer look at "the silver one."

I'm open to a positive ID....I like to know my birds! :wink:

Joe

 

[zulu]

Yes, Grumman AT-6, I'm quite sure

 

[killdeer43]

Thanks for the confirmation, zulu.
I'll keep 'em on file! :wink:

Joe

 

[Graham]

This one is always a special treat. The throaty sound is unmistakeable.

 

[West R Lee]

Dad flew an SBD Dauntless, very similar to the AT-6.

West

 

[CA-35]

Dad flew an SBD Dauntless, very similar to the AT-6.West

On the list of my favorite planes along with the F4F Wildcat and the TBD Torpedo. Did he fly off a carrier?

 

[AlohaJoe]

This one is always a special treat. The throaty sound is unmistakeable.

A Lancaster? I'd love to see one of those in the air!

 

[frailer5]

Another aircraft nut here. Yes, 4 Merlins gives quite a note. When we had a trip to western Canada in '97, (the kids were 7 and 9), we were driving south from Calgary towards the border when up comes a sign... 'Lancaster Museum'. I'm thinking "Can't get this lucky...". But yes. A hangar with a pretty much complete Lanc with it's nose poking out the open doors. Place was Nanton, Alberta, where they did much of the heavy bomber pilot/aircrew training in the day. This one had been hauled through several properties, with great effort, to end up on display at Nanton.
We were able to clamber through the thing, an unforgettable experience. Am guessing most up-market museums would be stand-behind-the-rope.
There was a vet's ceremony just winding up, as we'd turned up on some sort of remembrance day. Just the most friendly folk you could imagine. Bought up big at the souvenir shop.
Must scan those pics and post.

Thanks for sharing those pics, Killdeer43. 8)

AlohaJoe, there's an airworthy one in the Battle of Britain Flight, in the UK. You'd have to be in London on the right day though. :wink:

 

[AlohaJoe]

Of the planes my Dad piloted, this was always his favorite:

 

[Graham]

This one is always a special treat. The throaty sound is unmistakeable.

A Lancaster? I'd love to see one of those in the air!

Yes. Hamilton's Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum has 1 of 2 flying Lancaster's in the world. Always a joy to see.

 

[Ravon]

Kind of an interesting WWII story- My great uncle was a bomber pilot shot down by fighters over Germany, with the crew all safely landing in Germany. The towns people were going to kill them but were rescued by the Wiermacht at the last moment and were subsequently interred in a POW camp. The Russian Army then freed them after several months of captivity . But whats really interesting was in the '80's Uncle Junius received a call from the actual German fighter pilot that shot him down! They set up a reunion and both met soon after in the States. I was always in awe of that man and a couple years before passing away, he allowed me to fire his Remington Rand 1911 .45. How cool was that!?

 

[6L6]

No doubt about it, WWII aircraft are my personal favorites!

Thanks to a wealthy friend I've logged about 30 hrs in a P-51D Mustang. GREAT plane to fly but I can assure you that the Rolls Merlin does NOT sound as good inside the plane as it does from the ground...

Those 12 short exhaust stacks point right at your ears and the NOISE is deafening. How our guys flew 7+ hr missions in the Pacific listening to that NOISE is beyond my comprehension.

My all-time fav plane is a Spitfire Mark IX. Best looking plane ever built IMO.

http://static.rcgroups.net/forums/attachments/8/8/9/2/0/a3787516-75-SPITFIRE Mk IX.jpg?d=1297131352

Bill

 

[skinny]

There's nothing like the sound of vintage aircraft :mrgreen:
This one flew over the house a couple of summers ago.
I think it's a B-25 Mitchell.

skinny

 

[AlohaJoe]

There's nothing like the sound of vintage aircraft :mrgreen:
This one flew over the house a couple of summers ago. I think it's a B-25 Mitchell.
skinny

Yes, it is a B-25... beautiful!

 

[AlohaJoe]

Thanks to a wealthy friend I've logged about 30 hrs in a P-51D Mustang. GREAT plane to fly but I can assure you that the Rolls Merlin does NOT sound as good inside the plane as it does from the ground.[/url]
Bill

:shock: What a great opportunity! I hope you didn't have to buy the gas!

 

[evenkeel]

On the list of my favorite planes along with the F4F Wildcat and the TBD Torpedo. Did he fly off a carrier?

Very cool thread. Thanks for all the great pics.

My dad was a Navy carrier pilot. Served between WWII and Korea, never saw combat. He mostly flew the F6, which was the follow up to the F4. Also got a few hours in the F8. Dad went on, to a long career at TWA, winding up a 747 captain. He's 84 and still flys. These days in a Piper Cub.

Oh and +1 on the comments re: the Spitfire. Beautiful plane.