B-17 Lost at CT Airport

[Diggin It]

Some where, i know not where now, I have a picture of an F4 flying at about 50' above the runway just as he kicks it into AB and pulls almost straight up. Yeah, the noise made it seem like the ground was shattering.

Same guy came across the runway and parted the tops of some large pine trees.

 

[Diggin It]

... an accident involving a great group of people and some unfortunate passengers on a vintage aircraft that helped end a world war.

I'd probably agree these need to be grounded, but for a different reason. There aren't that many left and their legacy is too important to be risked for show.

 

[Diggin It]

Ernest McCauley, 75, had 7,300 hours of flight time on the B-17, according to NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy. That made McCauley the most experienced B-17 pilot in the nation.

He’d been flying for Wings of Freedom for 20 years, Homendy said, and was also the safety officer for the Collings Foundation, which runs Wings of Freedom tours on the historic planes.

Reaction to McCauley’s death was swift in the tight-knit community that flies vintage aircraft.

“An organization like this is even tighter” than the wider community of pilots, said Eric Whyte, a fellow Wings of Freedom Tour pilot and a friend and protégé of McCauley’s.

State police release names of victims, survivors of B-17 plane crash at Bradley International Airport

 

[ovrszd]

Not the exact one they fly. But this F4D was in the same squadron ( 13th TFS ) I was in, at Udorn RTAFB Thailand during Vietnam. I was a crew chief on the D model 65-0796. Here is a link to this F4D of the Collins Foundation.....Collings Foundation's F-4 Phantom II Takes to the Skies Again! I love the smell of jet fuel in the morning !!

I was on the ground, it was Napalm.

You guys saved me a couple times. Thanks!!

 

[stuckmotor]

I remember I think it was Alaska, a restoration group found I think a B17. they got it running, and on their last test before a flight, it burned completely, the cause?. they didn't replace the rubber fuel lines to the APU in the back of the plane!!.. you can't trust rubber that old!.. maybe that's what happened here?.

A crew came to Lake Greenwood some time in the 80's and pulled out a B25 that had gone down in the 40's. The part that amazed me is that there was still air in one or two tires. When I found out now many layers of rubber go into aircraft tires, I knew.

 

[fried1765]

A winky face or rolling eyes might have been appropriate. Without them, to the unknowing, you lied about him as well.

Call it what you will.
Many are aware of Blumenthal's Pinocchio history.

Sorry,....I don't do those cute little emoji thingys.

 

[fried1765]

The Collins Foundation is a outstanding group that takes these WWII and other military aircraft from being a pile of rubble to being restored to the the aircraft they once were. Will be interesting to see and what is found that caused this aircraft to go down. They fly the F4 Phantom I worked on during the Vietnam war. Takes big bucks and expert maintenance to keep these birds airworthy. Accidents happen and more so with vintage aircraft. So sad to see lives lost and may they all Rest in Peace !

Close...... Collings Foundation

 

[check 6]

THE exact plane, or the type/series?

I messed around with radios on F4s and F106s, but not enough to remember much.

Guys thanks for your hard work keeping big ugly (that's the F4, to the uninformed) flying. I flew almost 400 missions in that great bird in Viet Nam and thanks to great Maintainability. was able to bring every one back

 

[ovrszd]

Guys thanks for your hard work keeping big ugly (that's the F4, to the uninformed) flying. I flew almost 400 missions in that great bird in Viet Nam and thanks to great Maintainability. was able to bring every one back

An unmistakable appearance. Once identified you'll always recognize it.

Thanks for your contribution.

 

[fried1765]

An unmistakable appearance. Once identified you'll always recognize it.

Thanks for your contribution.

The appearance was certainly great, but the howling sound while taxiing was absolutely unique and delightful.
I did not fly it, but many of my Navy flight training friends did.