3 B's tour

[KG_RangerBooBoo]

Just saw an ad in the Lubbock newspaper where they'll have a B-25, B-17, and B-24 parked at the Lubbock Airport the first three days of next week. Can do walk throughs for $10. Going to have to take an afternoon off next week and make that tour. Just wish I could convince the wife to let me pop for the $400 30 minute flight in the B-17.

[KG_Jag]

They had a B-17G in Reno for the air races last September on which you could book a short ride. I had to settle for watching it near the main airport (the air races are held north of town at the old military air field--Stead).

At the air races they had a commemorative military flight, with the oldest bird being a P-38.

[KG_Swampfox]

Originally Posted by KG_RangerBooBoo

Just saw an ad in the Lubbock newspaper where they'll have a B-25, B-17, and B-24 parked at the Lubbock Airport the first three days of next week. Can do walk throughs for $10. Going to have to take an afternoon off next week and make that tour. Just wish I could convince the wife to let me pop for the $400 30 minute flight in the B-17.

A few years back the Collins foundation sent the B-17 "Nine o Nine" and the B-24 "All American"to Duluth for a tour.

One of the engines on the B-24 had a bad thrust washer on an exhaust rocker arm.
I made a new thrust washer for them, they buttoned it up, it ran silky smooth.

Yea right, you ever hear a radial idling, they sound like a garbage can full of rocks rolling down a hill, however there is nothing like hearing one run. When they start, 1 or 2 cylinders fire, then 7, then maybe 16, I think there was 1 revolution that all 18 fired, but I could be wrong.

Cough, snort, bang, twist and crank, you think the engine is about to rip itself off the engine mount. They sound nothing like a Merlin, but you could tell the power was there.
Brute force at its finest. Its like the Pratt and Whitney tech rep says: "I'd rather twist and crank then suck and blow".

Well, any ways, I got a ride in the B-17. I was in the top turret at take off, yep it was me making M.G. noises as I shot down 40 ME 109's and a few 262's for good measure.

We went over Lake Michigan at 50 ft, you could see the 4 prop wash trails in the water,
For a motor head and an aircraft nut, it was pure joy.

I got called up to the cockpit and was allowed to fly the thing for 15 minutes just following a compass heading.

A wonderful experience, and a memory that will last a life time....

[KG_Soldier]

I saw the B'52s in Austin in 1978. They rocked.

[KG_Panzerschreck]

Originally Posted by KG_RangerBooBoo

Just saw an ad in the Lubbock newspaper where they'll have a B-25, B-17, and B-24 parked at the Lubbock Airport the first three days of next week. Can do walk throughs for $10. Going to have to take an afternoon off next week and make that tour. Just wish I could convince the wife to let me pop for the $400 30 minute flight in the B-17.

Take lots of pictures. You'll never know if you'll ever get another chance like this again. Ive been blessed with being able to take a walkthrough of two B-17s. While i didnt have a camera on either trip, i did vedio tape the walkthrough on the "Shoo Shoo Baby".

[KG_Jag]

I hear that the planes are in Austin this weekend.

[KG_RangerBooBoo]

Had a great trip seeing the planes today. Had all three on the flight line and you could walk through the B-24 and B-17. I stuck my head in the hatches but they those planes were not built for guys my size. Standing next to the B-24 I saw a couple a little older then me escorting an elderly gentlemen up to the plane in his wheelchair/walker and asking him what they named the plane he flew in. They came and stood next to me and I got to talking to the gentlemen. He flew the Navy version, I think designated the PB4Y (correct me if I'm wrong) in the Pacific. He got to telling me stories about flying missions off Kwajalein and Saipan against Truk and Iwo Jima. Listening to him speak and tell stories about his days flying in the PTO was fascinating. He had been a co-pilot. Also told me about his cousin who was the co-pilot on the Enola Gay! A really great way to spend part of an afternoon. Just wish I would have had time to have gone to the Silent Wings Museum right next door. It is dedicated to the glider pilots of WWII. I'll get there someday and report back on it also.

[KG_Jag]

Mark--it sounds as though you had a golden day!

Our chances of running into the World War II vet, much less talking to them about their experiences, diminish with each day.