I just wanted to make a post that will allow the members,especially those in the U.S. to be aware of their opportunity to see some flying history that may be coming to their area. The Colling's Foundation is touring the South and West of the United States with their B-17, B-24 and B-25 bombers until 5 July. I know I am going to try to get out and see them flying as well as tour them inside. I am also trying to think of any ways I can raise the considerable sum to actully ride in the B-17. Don't miss them like I did a couple years ago.
I looked at the tour calander a few days ago and the price of a 30 min. flight. Pretty steep for just 30 min. Your recent vacation was probably cheaper.
On balance, I don't think the cost is that excessive compared to say, just a taxi-run in Lancaster NX611 'Just Jane' over here which costs around £100. The cost of keeping these aircraft in static condition, let alone flying, is astronomical. If I lived in the USA, I'd be tempted to save up for a flight....
Trust me, my recent vacation was not cheaper! It is a small price to pay to keep these birds flying. It just may be too big for me on short notice. I cannot wait. All my viewings have been from outside.
If you go on the flight then be sure to take the video camera and a regular camera plus have someone video from the ground and make a major production out of it. What positon do you want to fly in ? I would think the nose would be fun.
I had to spend the money I was going to use to fix one of my cars. I had myself all psyched up to go on a flight. Now I have to decide if I can stand to go and just look. If I go it will be on Wednesday to the Mineral Wells airport. If I do find some more money I would hope they let us move around. If not, I would go for a waist position I think. TA, are you going to go see them? If I remember correctly you are in Texas.
Too bad you won't get to go but there is always next year. I am sure it would be nice to go and just look, hear and smell the planes. Yes I live outside of Austin in Bastrop.
damn...it really sucks when you put your money towards somethin, and the tables just seem to turn....but sometimes you have to put it towards somethin else...
That was a really great time. I went through the B17 and the B24. The B25 was not open to crawl through but I looked inside as best I could. There were even a few veterans of the planes there with their families that I got to talk to some. I was happiest to be able to get one former nose gunner forward into his old position so his family could get pictures. The area was normally restricted and they were too shy to ask the staff, so I did. I am uploading some of the pictures that I took to my on-line albums. I have to run off to work now and they are not quite done uploading so I will post a link later today.
thats pretty neat, i am surprised a veteran would go sit in his origional position, some veterans dont like to relate to their ww2 career...
Yes I know there are some people that do not want to trigger the traumatic memories that something like that can bring. Most of the veterans at the event yesterday were there with family and were showing them around their old birds. Here is a shot at putting a link to my photo album where I posted some of the pictures that I took. webshots album of warbirds I tried it on the computer here at work and it looks successful. Enjoy.
thats very cool, it is pretty interesting to see a b 17, b25, or b 24 next to a new plane...they tend to look tiny, but wingspan is longer with the old birds...
Nice pictures ! I seem to recall the B-24 was in bare metal in the past. I wonder why they painted it ? Too much work to keep it polished ? Thanks for posting them.
Business took me to the town of High Wycombe last Thursday - the weather was beautiful and as I walked into the town heard the unmistakable sound of a Rolls Royce Merlin. Looked up just in time to see a Hurricane swoop over...Someone on another forum advises that it was Peter Vacher's ex-Battle of Britain machine about to perform a private flypast at White Waltham aerodrome. Made you think that Summer's almost here ! No, I didn't have my camera, but here's R4118 in its element... http://www.targeta.co.uk/pages/051_1569w.htm
Yes, great looking picture ! I was thinking I wish I had a computer program to change the canopy from the framed type to a "blown" type just to see if it would improve the look of the aircraft. Anyone know if Hawker ever tried this on a Hurricane ?
I'm sure they never did... On the Hurricane I sat in last year, the canopy really felt like something from the 1930's ie 'it fitted where it touched'. It was more like something gardeners would use to cover vegetables than an aircraft component....
