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bczoom
10-08-2005, 10:02 PM
So many nice ones to choose from but I'm going to pick 2.

The F-4 and the A-10. So much "bang for the buck" (pun intended).
Good hearty aircraft that were tried and proven and have served well.
Kind of funny since one is so sharp looking and the other so darn ugly.

I worked on EA-6B's, AH-1T's (Cobra attack helicopter) and UH-1N's (Huey's). All great planes and in my book probably belong with my first 2 selections.

I also think strapping into an A-4 (basically a big engine with 2 little wings and a seat) would be a riot to take for a spin.

johnday
10-09-2005, 08:47 AM
A1 Skyraider, Navy/Marine version ofcourse. :a1: Did a tremendous job in Viet Nam in S&R and close air support. Very manueverable. First aircraft that could carry it's own weight in arms, cargo, whatever.

Then we get into the countryclub airplanes.;) C-130, gunship/bomber/transport, one bad ass machine in it's own right.
F/B 111, too bad it didn't work out for the Navy/Corps. Did an excellent job during the first Gulf War, and one of the best looking planes around in my opinion.

bczoom
10-09-2005, 10:56 AM
Great selections.

Just thought of another one but this one is something I would just like to ride on (not in)

Dargo
10-09-2005, 11:45 AM
If you look closely, you can see that there are some F18's flying a little close to my barn. You want to talk about rattling the hell out of a barn! My gosh, these things were LOUD! :eek:

johnday
10-09-2005, 02:41 PM
Took off this morning over to Custer Airport. I remembered they had a bunch of planes there for a benefit for the Yankee Air Force. I thought it was still on today, but WRONG!! There were a couple planes still there, an A-10, a TBM, and a A/T-6 came in while I was there. Check out the photos.

johnday
10-09-2005, 02:45 PM
And a couple more. And to keep it Tractor related, that 'bota is one of the tugs at Custer.

bczoom
10-09-2005, 02:56 PM
And to keep it Tractor related

Ahhh, John. Old habits hard to break? We're in the avation section of a non-tractor forum. You don't have to quality your post any more... ;)

johnday
10-09-2005, 03:55 PM
Aahh geez Brian; It is a habit!! Sorry about the lousy photo of that A-1, if ya can clean up, it's a beautiful snapshot!:wave:

bczoom
10-09-2005, 04:05 PM
No problem with the A-1 Photo.

What I can't figure out is that newfangled fuel probe sticking out the top of the A-10...

johnday
10-09-2005, 04:15 PM
No problem with the A-1 Photo.

What I can't figure out is that newfangled fuel probe sticking out the top of the A-10...
You weren't supposed to see that. It's one the Martian spacecraft from War of the Worlds. We've had that hiding behind that hangar for years. Don't tell anyone, Okay?:toilet: :smileywac

Av8r3400
10-09-2005, 10:03 PM
I like the F-18 shots! Two of them did a "Fly-Over" of Lambeau Field before the Packer game today, right at the conclusion of the National Anthem! Goose bumps were had by all 70,000+ people!

However, my favorite military aircraft has to be the P-51. Untill you hear one of those for real, you can't appreciate the sound of that beautiful Merlin Engine!


:a1:

JayC
10-09-2005, 10:13 PM
Hmmm... This is a tough question. There are SO many I like. The A-10 is really cool. I love that big cannon on the nose. It's so ugly yet so functional. I love the way it looks. The A-6 was nice, too. I loved hearing about that old warbird. Before I ramble on too much, I guess I would have to say my favorite aircraft is the MiG-29 Fulcrum. Yes, it is Russian but it looks so cool. It doesn't fly-by-wire so it isn't constrained to that. It has IRST (Infra-Red Search and Track) range finding. It tracks the heat signature of a target aircraft and can home and fire without its prey even knowing. The MiG-29 can perform the Cobra maneuver and the Tailslide. Both are really cool to see. I remember some years ago at an airshow, the MiG-29 was supposed to be there. I was bummed when I didn't see it. They did have a mock dogfight between the F-86 and MiG-15, though. That was awesome to watch.

http://www.aviapress.com/book/plg/plg009/plg009_8.jpg

Ricochet
10-09-2005, 11:28 PM
So many nice ones to choose from but I'm going to pick 2.

The F-4 and the A-10. So much "bang for the buck" (pun intended).
Good hearty aircraft that were tried and proven and have served well.
Kind of funny since one is so sharp looking and the other so darn ugly.

I worked on EA-6B's, AH-1T's (Cobra attack helicopter) and UH-1N's (Huey's). All great planes and in my book probably belong with my first 2 selections.

I also think strapping into an A-4 (basically a big engine with 2 little wings and a seat) would be a riot to take for a spin.

F-4 & A-10 rate high in my book as well. I probably like the F-14 Tomcat the most. :thumb:

Ricochet
10-09-2005, 11:34 PM
If you look closely, you can see that there are some F18's flying a little close to my barn. You want to talk about rattling the hell out of a barn! My gosh, these things were LOUD! :eek:

I don't remember your barn looking like that...maybe that is some other land. The Blue Angels are awesome but I actually thought the Thunderbirds were better at the Dayton Air Show 2 years ago. My son actually slept through the Blue Angels performing right over us!

Dargo
10-10-2005, 05:18 AM
I don't remember your barn looking like that...maybe that is some other land. The Blue Angels are awesome but I actually thought the Thunderbirds were better at the Dayton Air Show 2 years ago. My son actually slept through the Blue Angels performing right over us!

That was before I added on and concreted all of the gravel areas. We have been fortunate enough to have the Blue Angels here 3 of the last 4 years. My house is directly in the path of a "turn around" to their "show box" since I'm in a fairly rural area. After literally feeling the downblast from them while out in my yard, I am in awe of those machines.

I've gotta say though, the Harrier (sp?) Jump Jet that hovered over my yard doing a 360 degree turn while hovering sure impressed the hell out of me!! That thing gave a whole new meaning to LOUD! :eek: He blew the fountain in my lake over when he did that! I didn't have my camera at that time, but I could swear the pilot gave me a salute when he took off and I was just standing there like a dope watching him! :o

nixon
10-10-2005, 06:56 PM
I worked on about 20 different acft. during my time in the AF . My 2 favorites are the C-130 (any model except the A , as it was a hog to work on ) ,and the A7D. Least favorites... T37 , The sound of those things was just about unbearable . T39, Just plain Pigs for such a small airframe . Last but not least, The f117. Great at what it is designed for. But , You couldn't get at anything easily . And if You walked into anything like a gear door, leading edge or trailing edge ,You were going to need stitches .
Don't even get me going on Helicopters :) They really don't fly , it's all done with smoke and mirrors :) John.

bczoom
10-10-2005, 08:38 PM
Hey John,
I've been waiting for you to chime in...
(everyone else - everytime I've met John, we always end up discussing military aircraft and what's the best. It always ends up with us discussing not what's the best, but who's the best and then him conceding that Naval Aviators are significantly better than anyone in the USAF).
Don't even get me going on Helicopters :) They really don't fly , it's all done with smoke and mirrors :) John.
Helicopters exist to show that a controlled crash can be maintained for a significant amount of time before hitting the ground. Gotta' love an auto-rotation to expedite the experience. :eek:

nixon
10-10-2005, 09:32 PM
Brian , You are absolutely right on the fact that Naval Aviators ( to include Marines ) are without a doubt the finest I've ever worked with .
But there are times they seem to push their luck ,or just have brass balls .
I was On temporary duty with the Ohio Guard on an A7 conversion . Any way a Navy A6 comes in going cross country . The pilots go to lunch, or where ever. In the meantime , we have a C141 come in ,and needs to park where the A6 is . Noone knows how to get into the Cockpit of this thing. So We just Crack the Brake lines ,and tow it . 3 hours later the Crew Shows up .When We tell them what We've done, and that We need to bleed the Hydro sytem , they just say" We've got a Tail hook !!!!
Anyway , the naval aviators I worked with didn't sweat the "small shit ".
If they had a gripe , it was real . AND, You'd best fix it ! ! John
PS But the AF had Better Maintainers!!!! :)

bczoom
10-10-2005, 10:07 PM
or just have brass balls

Nuff said :D :D :D

Dargo
10-11-2005, 07:43 AM
I worked on about 20 different acft. during my time in the AF . My 2 favorites are the C-130...

I'd love to actually see one of those. About 12 years ago or so, one landed (nose down) on a Jo-Jo's restaurant while is was sitting in my car about 1/4 mile away. :eek: It was a terrible disaster just outside the airport in Evansville, IN. I'm sure you can most likely look up that accident on the internet; I've never tried. I was sitting at an intersection and the crash was just to my right and slightly behind me. Out of shear panic, I simply floored it and ran the light, thinking were were under attack and that was the first bomb. Several people died in the restaurant, everyone on the plane, as well as several in a hotel next door (from the fireball). I still have flash-backs to that crash. I was interviewed as a "witness", but I saw nothing but a huge flash and the earth shook.

I am just now getting curious as to the size of a C-130. Also, I have now come to understand that they are actually a relatively safe aircraft. The crash by me was a training pilot error, from what I've read about later reports. They were doing "touch and go" landings.

nixon
10-12-2005, 02:14 PM
Brent , Working from memory Here as to the specs on the 130 . Wingspan 132 ' , length 100and a bit . Engines t56- 15 (On H and later models ) 4900 shaft hp . Max TO weight is around 175 k Pounds . It's a very safe machine . About the only way they crash is Pilot error , or gun fire . In fact the first one purchased by the AF (53-3129 ) is still flying as a gunship out of Duke Field in Fla. John

DaveNay
10-12-2005, 02:42 PM
Dargo, is that the JoJo's right next to the Drury Inn near the airport? That's the hotel I usually stay at when I'm there!

Dave

bczoom
10-12-2005, 02:44 PM
Here as to the specs on the 130

You didn't even mention the JATO option??? :eek: Now that's cool. ;)

nixon
10-12-2005, 03:28 PM
Brian , thats one of those things that was rarely used . It seemed like a great idea at the time . But the damage it caused from the heat ,and the occasional hang fire from one or more of the Jato units tended to dicourage it's use. We had one plane overseas that was also "modded " so that the prop condition levers could be put into reverse before the plane was on the ground . It was intended for very short fields . It worked , but really beat up the plane and crew . John

bczoom
10-12-2005, 03:53 PM
It seemed like a great idea at the time

Wasn't it developed as a way to get the hostages out of Iran? I thought I recall that they needed a C130 to be able to land, then take off from something the size of a football field. I thought I also recall that of the 2 planes they were testing it on, someone engaged the braking JATO's when still in the air. It fell like a rock.

nixon
10-12-2005, 04:15 PM
The Jato fixtures have been on every model of the C130 I've worked on . They mount on the Air deflector doors (4 per side ) .They produce about 1000 pounds of thrust per motor . Depending on fuel load , runway surface You could get airborne in less than 1500 feet of runway . The 130's You are referring to were EC130 E's "combat Talon ) out of the !st SOS at Hurlburt field in Fla. They were somewhat madded for their purpose . But what it was specifically I'm not sure . Anyway the mission was compromised when one of the helicopters collided with one of the 130's at the refueling area in the desert. That was a black day . John

Dargo
10-12-2005, 04:55 PM
Dargo, is that the JoJo's right next to the Drury Inn near the airport? That's the hotel I usually stay at when I'm there!

Dave

That's the one!! I bet you can look up the crash somewhere on the internet. I was sitting at that intersection on Hwy 41, headed north. :4_11_9:

johnday
10-12-2005, 05:40 PM
At an airshow at Willow Run here in Michigan, the Blue Angels Fat Albert demonstrated a JATO. Man , very impressive. They rotated at a 45 degree angle they said, leveled off around 500', killed the JATO, and it looked like it was just hanging in mid air. Other that tractors and big trucks, airplanes rule!:a1: :coolshade

Deerlope
10-22-2005, 08:20 PM
The C-130 is a great workhorse for the military. It can be set up to do so many things. But I like the P-51 and the SR-71 Blackbird.

bczoom
10-22-2005, 08:26 PM
But I like the P-51 and the SR-71 Blackbird.
2 excellent choices. So many aircraft to choose from...

Melensdad
10-25-2005, 04:16 PM
For no particular reason that I can justify, but I like the Navy Sea Knight (despite its marginal safety record)

http://www.history.navy.mil/planes/ch-46e.jpg



A sentimental favorite from my childhood when I used to make models of planes would have to be the venerable Sopwith Camel

http://www.russellsformen.com/03imagesrfa03/asa-ap402.jpg



And for some reason, the DeHavilland Mosquito has always been a favorite of mine. This is a plane that was built in secret, was never supposed to have existed because it was not considred viable, but ended up being used in great numbers (something like 7700 of them were produced in at least a dozen variants).

http://www.angelfire.com/fm/compass/Mosquito.jpg

waybomb
10-25-2005, 07:36 PM
B1 is way cool. And I wonder what it's real mission is. I really don't think it was intended for bombing. I'm thinking fairly large missile launching from near space altitudes? It sits way high off the ground, as if intended for large underbelly payloads.

I had the pleasure of being at the 50th aniversary air show at Edwards. We got there before sun-up, so we could watch the SR71 take off (oh man, is that simply mind-numbing!) We also witnessed the B2 take off as well, along with a representative of every other USAF machine in service. At that show, you could walk up to any aircraft there, including an SR71. They also had the proto YF22 and 23 right there that you could walk up to and touch. But the B1? It was across the field, all by itself, with armed guards around it. What's with that?

The formation fly-by of one of every USAF machine was simply too cool.

frank_f15
10-26-2005, 08:16 PM
kind of late to this thread , but as you can tell from my name the f15 is one of the best in the world and has been for some time, although the new boy on the block the f22 Raptor looks interesting, course i am partial to fighters.

Doc
11-01-2005, 06:38 PM
Frank, did you fly an F15? Sure wish I could've.

Doc
11-01-2005, 06:51 PM
angle decoys

johnday
11-01-2005, 07:52 PM
Doc; Great photos. The C130 is one "H" of a machine!!:tiphat: :beer:
Looks like the angel of death!:applause: :loser: :thumb:

frank_f15
11-03-2005, 08:12 PM
Doc never did fly the F15 or for that matter any airplane, but i sure wish i would have been able to, airplanes are just a love of mine, and can only imagine the feeling of flying one, can not begin to wonder what it would be like to catapult off in a tomcat off the deck of a carrier.

Doc
11-03-2005, 08:37 PM
I get a thrill just imagining that Frank. I've never had the chance either. Darnit!

humor_me
11-21-2005, 09:28 AM
I like the Harrier.

Archdean
12-10-2005, 08:15 PM
I have always liked this one perhaps it's why I spent so much time in it!!:wave:

Ch47,A,B,and C

Archdean
04-18-2006, 10:07 PM
See some of you occasionally at TF and have the oppurtunity to drop in and say hello! Plus share a small vid with you about Beavers in Alaska!!

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v517/Archdean/?action=view&current=Dolleytakeoffweb3.flv

lilnixon
05-18-2006, 01:24 PM
http://www.444thbg.org/676thbombsq.htm

FU-Kemal is the coolest airplane. My Dad flew on this plane until it crashed. It was his favorite B-29.

Michael
05-18-2006, 02:32 PM
Well lets see, I have worked on these Air Force birds before I retired from the Air Force (12 years active and 11 in the Reserve)

1. F-4
2. T-38
3. F-15
4. F-16
5. C-124
6. C-130
7. C-141
8. C-5
9. C-17
10. C-9 (the C-9 was the medical evac plane used by the Air Force for critical injury patients)

My favorite aircraft to work on was the first aircraft that I had the pleasure to work on even tho it was a beast the F-4 that the Air Force had.

lilnixon
05-18-2006, 02:49 PM
I just found out from my brother that my Dad actually was responsible for getting the Fu-Kemal named. :a1:

bczoom
05-18-2006, 03:02 PM
I just found out from my brother that my Dad actually was responsible for getting the Fu-Kemal named. :a1:
And a fine name that is!!!:applause:
I almost pasted it into a google search to see it's meaning until I change the pronunciation (and then it made perfect sense) :whistle: :thumb:

nixon
05-18-2006, 03:13 PM
And a fine name that is!!!:applause:
I almost pasted it into a google search to see it's meaning until I change the pronunciation (and then it made perfect sense) :whistle: :thumb:
My FIL recounted a ttale to Me about a very senior officer asking about the name . He told Him it was pronounced FOOCAMEL. Then proceeded to tell Him it was a Chinese term wishing good luck :)
Another time when He was asked by an arrogent officer what the "pee tubes were , He told Him it was part of the intercom system . He'd always crack a smile when He described how that guy tried talking into it ,and waited for a response from the cockpit :yum: :yum:

Snowcat Operations
05-20-2006, 02:20 AM
A-10 Warthog!

Snowcat Operations
06-06-2006, 04:22 PM
I changed my mind SR-71

Bobcat
04-02-2007, 09:58 AM
Too hard to pick one.

Classics
B-17, flew in one a few years ago, remember the 8th.
P-51, would marry your ugly daughter for a ride.
P-38, just looks cool.

Almost Classics
F-86, just looks cool.
H-1, carries more than you can cram in it, makes a lovely wop-wop.
C-130, land anywhere, carry lots-o-stuff, floats like a butterfly.

Modern
F-16, one sleek bird.
SR-71, just looks cool, heard it could fly to moon if trajectory was right.

If I absolutely had to pick one, it'd be the B-17. Maybe not so much for its art-deco looks and fighting capability. Maybe more for the memory of the men who flew those last miles in her in a straight line, unprotected, in the daylight raids over Europe, watching other ships fall around them.

Bobcat
06-16-2008, 07:22 AM
My B-17 ride...

YouTube - B-17 - Aluminum Overcast

Erik
06-16-2008, 10:42 AM
Beech model 17 "Staggerwing". (UC-43)
WWII observer and courier craft.
one of the last biplanes, one of the last cloth skinned planes, and could outrun and outfly most of the combat birds early in the war.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beech_Staggerwing

RNE228
06-16-2008, 01:00 PM
A little late to this thread, but...

Chance-Vought F4U Corsair, hands down.

The Corsair saw production through the Korean War. It was extremely versatile, and could hold its own against any other prop fighter. All other US production of fighters ended at the end of WWII. Although P51' etc flew for a long time after, the F4U was the one in production and heavy use.

The F4U easily held its own. Although it saw very limited use outside the Pacific Theatre in WWII, in US military testing late in WWII it won a large percentage of test mock fights. It was tested against other US fighters(P51, P38 etc), Japanese fighters, and German fighters captured during the war. It could easily hold its own, and usually came out on top.

It was tough enough to fly from carriers, or go land based. Yes, it had a rough start on carriers. Interestingly, it was the British that figured out how to really make it work on carriers. Only the "Cat" series could boast that too...

Those gull wings just look cool!

I am briefly acquainted with pilots who flew them off the USS-Phillipine Sea. Pretty cool stories. The pilot narrating this video, and the one making the rough landing, are the pilots I have met and talked with. The pilot who made the video, is a docent on the USS-Hornet CVS-12 museum, in Alameda Ca. This pilot also flew F9F Panther/Cougars off the USS Hornet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq61EV-FqYw

Av8r3400
06-16-2008, 01:17 PM
Classics
B-17, flew in one a few years ago, remember the 8th.
P-51, would marry your ugly daughter for a ride.
P-38, just looks cool.

Almost Classics
F-86, just looks cool.
H-1, carries more than you can cram in it, makes a lovely wop-wop.
C-130, land anywhere, carry lots-o-stuff, floats like a butterfly.

Modern
F-16, one sleek bird.
SR-71, just looks cool, heard it could fly to moon if trajectory was right.




Sorry to tell you Bobcat, but your modern choices are 'almost classics' now, too. :whistling:

fogtender
06-16-2008, 01:38 PM
The Consolidated PBY was/is my favorite militart plane, not fast, but could fly for hours and did a lot of work during WWII


PBY Catalina
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/PBY_Catalina_landing.jpg/300px-PBY_Catalina_landing.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:PBY_Catalina_landing.jpg)


PBY-5 Catalina landing at NAS Jacksonville (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAS_Jacksonville).
Typeflying boat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_boat) patrol bomber (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrol_bomber)Manufacturer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_manufacturer)Consolidated Aircraft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_Aircraft)Designed byIsaac M. Laddon (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Isaac_M._Laddon&action=edit&redlink=1)Maiden flight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiden_flight)28 March (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_28) 1935 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1935)IntroducedOctober 1936, USNRetiredJanuary 1957, USNRPrimary usersUnited States Navy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy)
United States Army Air Forces (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Forces)
Royal Air Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Air_Force)
Royal Canadian Air Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Air_Force)Produced1936-1945Number built4,051 (est.)Unit cost$90,000 as of 1935 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_of_1935)VariantsBird Innovator (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_Innovator)
The PBY Catalina was an American (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) flying boat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_boat) of the 1930s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1930s) and 1940s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1940s). It could be equipped with depth charges (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth_charge), bombs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomb), torpedoes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torpedo), and .50 Browning (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M2_Browning_machine_gun) machineguns (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machinegun) and was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II). PBYs served with every branch of the US military (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_military) and in the air forces and navies of many other nations. In the United States Army Air Forces (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Forces) and later in the USAF (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USAF) their designation was the OA-10, while Canadian-built PBYs were known as Cansos.
In World War II, PBYs were used as anti-submarine warfare (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASW) aircraft, patrol bombers, convoy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convoy#Naval_convoys) escorts, search and rescue (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_and_rescue) aircraft, and transports (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_aircraft). The PBY was the most successful aircraft of its kind, as no other flying boat was produced in greater numbers. The last active military PBYs were not retired from service until the 1980s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980s). Even today, over seventy years after its first flight, the aircraft continues to fly as an airtanker in aerial firefighting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_firefighting) operations all over the world.
In the acronym (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acronym) PBY, "PB" stands for "Patrol Bomber", and "Y" is the code for "Consolidated Aircraft", as designated in the 1922 United States Navy aircraft designation system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1922_United_States_Navy_aircraft_designation_syste m).

http://www.warbirdalley.com/images/PBY-N287.jpg


YouTube - Pescaria - Puta susto! / Fishing - What scare! (funny)

nixon
06-16-2008, 02:22 PM
There's been some fine and beautiful acft. named here. But I'm still going with the C130 . It's still in production and at the same time a classic .
It also has done some things that other land based acft. Can't even attempt.....YouTube - C-130 Hercules on an Aircraft Carrier!!

dds
02-04-2010, 02:09 AM
guys talk about bang for the buck nothing in the invetory matches the service life of the b52 and ithink the runner up could be the hurc the hurc is likely my favorite the two sounds the turn me on is the c130 and the m35 and 51 with the multi fuel motors

Dargo
02-04-2010, 07:53 AM
guys talk about bang for the buck nothing in the invetory matches the service life of the b52 and ithink the runner up could be the hurc the hurc is likely my favorite the two sounds the turn me on is the c130 and the m35 and 51 with the multi fuel motors

I was sitting at a stoplight about 15 years ago when, tragically, a C130 landed nose first about 1/4 a mile from me on top of a JoJo's restaurant and Drury Inn. I've mentioned it earlier, but it really sticks in my mind.

Av8r3400
02-04-2010, 09:18 AM
I still say that all you need to do is sit in a chair with a blindfold on in the "War Bird" area of Oshkosh during Airventure and you will nearly die of the chills and goosebumps.

If you have never smelled, felt and heard a real warbird with a 1000+ hp radial engine, you have never lived. (The video is a very poor representation.) Feeling the vibration of the air in your lungs to the chugga-chugga-chugga of one of these huge engines is beyond explanation. A Harley is a very poor substitute. Crack cocaine is less addictive. Just watching this video brings tears to my eyes at the sound...

This is the sound of testosterone.


YouTube- Grumman F8F Bearcat Flight Demonstration - MONSTER Radial Sound !

WVBill
02-04-2010, 10:22 AM
My personal favorite from my perspective as a Naval Flight Officer (NFO) - "GIBS" for you AF guys - was the EKA-3B.

file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/wschild/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.pnghttp://www.ausairpower.net/EKA-3B-VAQ130.jpg
Big, roomy, fun to fly in, great multi-mission aircraft : Electronic Warfare, Air-air-refueling, long-range navigation lead, cruise missile simulator and all-around cargo hauler. Only drawback - no ejection seat.

Favorite aircraft to watch launch from and recover on the carrier: RA-5C
http://www.ussindependencecv-62.org/gwf/grfx/ra5c1467.jpg

This sucker is HUGE. Crew of two. You can see the pilot in this pic. The NFO is in back of him. See that little dark square above the star-and-bars? That's the NFO's window. He can't see ANYTHING when coming aboard the carrier - if things don't go right, he feels it before he sees anything... those guys had cojones.....

RoadKing
02-04-2010, 06:09 PM
My 2 cents

WWII P38 Lighting

P38 Association (http://p38assn.org/index.htm)