Old Airplanes, flyover Northern VA and DC specific

riptides · May 4, 2015

If you love old airplanes like you love old tractors, this could be of interest to you!

This is shaping up to be a big deal. I was hearing the distinctive rumble of the radials this weekend.

If you are in the DC area proper, including Culpeper and Manassas, and of course the mall in DC on May 8th, check this out:

About the Flyover | Arsenal of Democracy Flyover

mjarrels · May 4, 2015

When I was aboard the USS Carl Vinson, we went to Hawaii for the 50 year VJ event and took about 12 old WW2 aircraft which we deck launched for the event. No catapults. Like slow motion, launch a F8, a F4U, then fire off a F18. Amazing event. We usually have old bomber event at the local airport, you can hear then from miles away. Love the sound of radial engines.

mark

The Suburban Farmer · May 4, 2015

Thanks for the heads-up! This sounds like something my boys would LOVE to see!

Walkin Horse · May 4, 2015

We saw two flying over yesterday headed north. They sounded very rough compared to a newer plane.

gsganzer · May 4, 2015

I've had some of the old bombers fly over my house when there's an air show at Alliance Airport in Ft. Worth. The engine sound is unmistakable. When I hear one, I'm like a little kid running out the door looking skyward to see what it is. My wife and kids think I'm nuts.

Looking4new · May 4, 2015

There is no sweeter sound than that of a radial engine.

2LaneCruzer · May 4, 2015

True; but the sound of a Merlin in a P-51 is equally as sweet and as distinctive as a Packard Grill.

Looking4new · May 4, 2015

2LaneCruzer said:
True; but the sound of a Merlin in a P-51 is equally as sweet and as distinctive as a Packard Grill.

Packard built the V1650 RR Merlin for the P 51's.

PILOON · May 4, 2015

I have an aviation background and simply love old birds.
From time to time I had occasion to do service on some from PBY's to Musketo's including L4's AT6', Dehavland Beaver, Otter Chipmunk etc.
Then I also worked on just about every small civilian 'oldie' as well, from Piper J3, Stinsons, Taylorcraft,Cessnas, etc etc.
LOL, now I'm into tractors!

riptides · May 5, 2015

Bump.

Friday's weather looks to be perfect!

2LaneCruzer · May 5, 2015

Looking4new said:
Packard built the V1650 RR Merlin for the P 51's.

The reference to the Packard grill was my cryptic way of saying as much. We have a small airport North of us, and at one time there was a P-51 stabled there. I could always tell by the "growl" of the big Merlin when the P-51 was doing a fly over, even though I couldn't always see the plane. One of my biggest unfulfilled dreams is to take a ride in the jump seat of a P-51. Someone once asked me if I could do anything in the world that I wanted to do, what it would be. I said that I would like to take a ride with Chuck Yeager in his P-51. Don't know if he can still fly today or not, but he could at that time.

Looking4new · May 5, 2015

2LaneCruzer said:
The reference to the Packard grill was my cryptic way of saying as much. We have a small airport North of us, and at one time there was a P-51 stabled there. I could always tell by the "growl" of the big Merlin when the P-51 was doing a fly over, even though I couldn't always see the plane. One of my biggest unfulfilled dreams is to take a ride in the jump seat of a P-51. Someone once asked me if I could do anything in the world that I wanted to do, what it would be. I said that I would like to take a ride with Chuck Yeager in his P-51. Don't know if he can still fly today or not, but he could at that time.

Chucks website General Chuck Yeager | The Official Website

I would love a ride in a Spitfire.

2LaneCruzer · May 5, 2015

Looking4new said:
Chucks website General Chuck Yeager | The Official Website

I would love a ride in a Spitfire.

I saw a Twin Seat Spitfire in Oklahoma City about 20 years back, at an airshow, so there are a few around. They also had a Japanese Zero, a Hawker Sea Fury, a Corsair, a Hellcat and a Wildcat, to name a few.

riptides · May 6, 2015

For me, it was always the P-40 Warhawk. I have a hand built to scale r/c one hanging in my old milkhouse. She flew once, proving with enough power, anything will fly. LOL.

2LaneCruzer · May 6, 2015

riptides said:
For me, it was always the P-47 Warhawk. I have a hand built to scale r/c one hanging in my old milkhouse. She flew once, proving with enough power, anything will fly. LOL.

In actuality, the "Jug" was a marvelous aircraft; it was one of the fastest fighters of the war. I have heard accounts of it reaching 500 mph in a dive. It was fast, and one of the toughest fighters we had...difficult for the enemy to shoot down. The big powerful radial coupled with its toughness made it one of the best ground attack fighters we had also. From what I've heard, the pilots loved it, in spite of its great size. It's biggest drawback? It was a gas guzzler which severely limited its role as a long range escort.

mjarrels · May 6, 2015

I've heard the biggest problem in flying these old aircraft is the lack of high octain avgas. They were built to burn 130 octain and the best now is 100 octain thus reducing the power.

mark

riptides · May 6, 2015

2LaneCruzer said:
In actuality, the "Jug" was a marvelous aircraft; it was one of the fastest fighters of the war. I have heard accounts of it reaching 500 mph in a dive. It was fast, and one of the toughest fighters we had...difficult for the enemy to shoot down. The big powerful radial coupled with its toughness made it one of the best ground attack fighters we had also. From what I've heard, the pilots loved it, in spite of its great size. It's biggest drawback? It was a gas guzzler which severely limited its role as a long range escort.

You are correct, I fixed the designation.

The "jug" was also most impressive, and it too is to be featured!

riptides · May 6, 2015

mjarrels said:
I've heard the biggest problem in flying these old aircraft is the lack of high octain avgas. They were built to burn 130 octain and the best now is 100 octain thus reducing the power.

mark

Yeah, somewhere I read also about oil. They need that too.

The numbers have also taxed the airports in which they are flying out of. Seems fuel storage is an issue.

RobertN · May 6, 2015

My favorite is F4U with thse R-2800 radial. Of course, I was was influenced by watching Baa Baa Blacksheep/Blacksheep Squadron as a kid. Same reason I like Kenworth W900; watching how Sonny Pruitt did it on Movin' On.

2LaneCruzer said:
True; but the sound of a Merlin in a P-51 is equally as sweet and as distinctive as a Packard Grill.

Looking4new · May 6, 2015

We had a 1966 KW W900, it had a hood on it that wouldn't quit, a huge steering wheel, standard steering and it seemed like 40 turns lock to lock. I loved it.