B-24, B-17, B-25, P-51 At RDU this weekend

tod0987

tod0987

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I'll be there tomorrow. I believe it has been 20+ years since a B24 made it to NC. B17s and B25 have made regular trips and a 29 came down this summer to ILM. The Confederate Airforce's 24 is undergoing an engine overhaul. I'll be there tomorrow taking pictures and maybe a ride. My grandfather was a flight engineer and waist gunner on a 24 of the 461st.

http://www.collingsfoundation.org/event/raleigh-nc/
 
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Hey thanks for the heads up. Might just head on over Friday. Cool.
 
If you ever get to Wilmingtons airport there is a A-26 Invader there (black with red tail). I grew up in San Antonio in the late 70s/early 80s and loved going to the airshows then. I still call them the Confederate Air Force and not the PC new name.

similiar to this one
1280px-Douglas_B-26C_%28A-26C%29_Invader_USAF.jpg


There was a B-25 that was called the "Yellow Rose of Texas" that was getting re engined as I landed a Piper Commanche out at Hondo airbase. That was the summer of 82' between my junior/senior year of high school, also the only time I took off and landed with an instructor. Decided on a different career path of jumping out of airplanes in the Army instead of flying for the Air Force, LOL!
Yellow Rose
CAF_Centex_B-25_rides.jpg


CD
 
Made it out there today and took a ride in the B-24. It went by too fast it seemed, but once up in the air after takeoff +2mins we had the run of the plane for 20 minutes or so. "Don't touch anything red and don't fall out the windows or the bomb bay" were the basic rules... along with a few minor others. I couldn't say much for about 30 minutes after the flight and I'm still not sure how to put it in words. mouth goes dry. I guess to sum it up, if I can, is to say "They are the greatest generation" we'll have.

If you go, get there early. Expect to wait an hour or two to tour the planes. They're not built to be crawled through so it takes time to do so. It is at the NC DOT hanger which is near the UPS cargo. Bring water with you as well to drink.

I think they are in Burlington next weekend I think I heard them say.

I have some pictures/videos anyone know a good hosting site since photo bucket crapped out?
 
tod0987 said:
Made it out there today and took a ride in the B-24. It went by too fast it seemed, but once up in the air after takeoff +2mins we had the run of the plane for 20 minutes or so. "Don't touch anything red and don't fall out the windows or the bomb bay" were the basic rules... along with a few minor others. I couldn't say much for about 30 minutes after the flight and I'm still not sure how to put it in words. mouth goes dry. I guess to sum it up, if I can, is to say "They are the greatest generation" we'll have.

If you go, get there early. Expect to wait an hour or two to tour the planes. They're not built to be crawled through so it takes time to do so. It is at the NC DOT hanger which is near the UPS cargo. Bring water with you as well to drink.

I think they are in Burlington next weekend I think I heard them say.

I have some pictures/videos anyone know a good hosting site since photo bucket crapped out?
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My FIL was there today too taking a ride. He loved it!

For pics, just hit the "upload a file" button next to post reply.
 
BurnedOutGeek said:
My FIL was there today too taking a ride. He loved it!

For pics, just hit the "upload a file" button next to post reply.
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Did he fly on the B-24 or the B-17 (2 or 3 flights I think)? He'd probably recognize the younger guy in a white shirt and camera. I paced all over haha.

Yea that is only an option to members, etc. For the other folks it is just "insert link here" which I understand. Support the site etc and get more privileges.
 
tod0987 said:
Did he fly on the B-24 or the B-17 (2 or 3 flights I think)? He'd probably recognize the younger guy in a white shirt and camera. I paced all over haha.

Yea that is only an option to members, etc. For the other folks it is just "insert link here" which I understand. Support the site etc and get more privileges.
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I'll ask him in a bit got to give the old man time to get up. I'm not sure which one he was on, I know it wasn't the $3400 ride he wanted to take. Lol
 
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He got up early. Lol

He rode on the B-24, said he got lots of pictures. I'll see if he can send me some...
 
I thought this thread was going to be about playing bingo.
 
screw it...I'm going to fly on the b17 sunday. Worth the money in the long run. How many people my age said "yea I flew in a B17" haha.
 
Djstorm100 said:
screw it...I'm going to fly on the b17 sunday. Worth the money in the long run. How many people my age said "yea I flew in a B17" haha.
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They said the planes do not fly during tour times 10:00-4:30. They will fly after 9am Sat/Sunday and after 4:30. We preflighted at 415-430ish and there were 2 flights in the B17 and 1 in the B24 before it got dark so that is around 30 people flying roughly. I heard people scheduling flights through the weekend into early Mon morning when I was at the table. If you want to go I'd try to call the number tomorrow or swing by and sign up for Sunday. Should be a clear weekend. It was an amazing experience. They kept telling us as long as you have the stamp on your hand they'll let you back in the next day, but I'd double check that with them at the gate.

Good luck and if you have a gopro type camera rig it up to your chest or hat, I wish I had brought mine and just let it run. In looking back, I think I spent too much time worrying about pictures/video.
 
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B17 flew over my house yesterday. Saw a B17 in Greensboro years ago and a B24 in Raleigh just a few years back. Very cool. Living history.
 
What a day!Spent the day flying in a museum with such great history and talking to people who had first hand knowledge. They really were the greatest generation! I can't imagine the bravery needed to do what they did. I am in awe. . I flew in the B25. What a rush! Those radial engines spit and sputtered and spit oil all over the side of the plane. It was a rush. I understand that these guys will be in Burlington next weekend. If you can make it and have an appreciation for history, do it. You will be glad.
 
I have video of the 12 cylinder Merlin in the P51 but can't seem to post. When that thing flew by I had chicken skin every time! Awesome!
 
Midliferally said:
I have video of the 12 cylinder Merlin in the P51 but can't seem to post. When that thing flew by I had chicken skin every time! Awesome!
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I'm jealous. The 51 was just arriving at RDU just as we were loading up and I never heard her rumble. I hung around until the Sun set on Thu hoping they would fire her up but it got too dark for the flight and it was canceled. Might try youtube and link it here for the video.
 
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I got to see 3 take offs and taxis to it's hanger. Trying to upload video's. Chicken skin every time.
 
Will someone host a vid for me? It's crude, but I'm thinking some will appreciate it.

Reply or pm me. I'll try to get it to you.
 
This thing flies over my house occasionally. I need to get better footage.

 
I wasn't able to make it to RDU, but as luck would have it the ride-along flight path went right over my house, so we got to see more than half a dozen passes of these awesome planes today - the sight (and sound) was just such a time warp that it couldn't help but grab everyone's attention.

On my most recent visit to see my grandmother in eastern PA, I had the honor of meeting a new friend of hers who was a B-24 nose gunner in the war. He had been shot down twice, and was captured after the second downing. He'd just shared his story with the local paper, which printed it in these two segments:
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/naz...rld-war-2-burning-bombers-20151111-story.html
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/nazareth/mc-veterans-day-world-war-2-black-march-20151112-story.html

I feel so grateful to Lenny for sharing his experiences and for the teams that have restored and maintained the flight capability of these craft - they are incredible reminders of an incredible part of our history.
 
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