Classic Airplanes

[BFaucett]

There is a bizarre movie.

I was always fascinated by this "Art Deco" looking craft.

If anyone can identify, I really like it.

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Chris Issac ..
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Chet Desmond’s Airplane from Twin Peaks – Fire Walk With Me
August 31, 2018
https://twinpeaksblog.com/2018/08/31/chet-desmonds-airplane-from-twin-peaks-fire-walk-with-me/

Cheers! Bob F.

 

[F. Vaccaro]

I think Bob Johnson had 27 confirmed kills in the Thunderbolt.

 

[Flewis]

A P47 squadron had a German army surrender to it.

 

[HankBuck]

p38, The Gene Tiereny of Ships.

That documentary showed the aftermath of "Carpet Bombing" in Germany .. surreal.

The cold! Just One Pilot could get radiant heat from the motor on the B17. One pilot took his glove off, touched the window & they had to amputate his fingers as it stuck to the glass.

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@Daniel Cary - You’ve got to be kidding: GENE TIERNEY !!! Forget the plane, that’s the hottest actress to ever hit Hollywood — stared in “Laura” and “Ghost & Mrs. Muir” to name a few. A classic Beauty by any standard and in any era. I would go on Safari with her anytime

 

[MS 9x56]

German Stuka dive bomber.

 

[Franco]

Growing up it was the P-51 but as I’ve gotten older my vote goes to the PBY Catalina.

I flew quite a few different PBYs over the years. I maintained and flew 1 for a client for about 15 years, flew some of the water bombers out of Canada when they were purchased by Gary Larkins of the Air Pirates, did a tour of eastern Australia and then flew back to the US across the Pacific, flew several PBYs in Central and South America - including 4 that had been used by the Brazilian Army to patrol the Amazon, and a half dozen other PBYs belonging to museums or private owners.

PBYs are not fast and they carry a lot of fuel - 1750 gals, so if you fly them with any regularity, you accumulate a lot of hours. Sitting in a blister compartment watching the world go by low and slow was always a treat, but the real fun was water operations.

The PBY played a vital role in WWII, Google the "Black Cats" and the "Double Sunrise", if you haven't already - you will be amazed.

 

[Franco]

A superb aircraft for it's day. Most of us love the fighters, but the transport's like the DC-3 were the reason others could do what they did.

I flew the DC-3 at Pope Valley back in the 70s, hauling skydivers - perhaps you were one of the jumpers. In the aftermath of Katrina I flew Glen Hyde's 3, transporting supplies and medicine into Slidell, LA.

 

[Franco]

Does anyone remember the 94th Aero Squadron restaurant chain. We loved the little, dark nook and crannies areas and tables you could find. Maybe next to a fireplace.

94th Aero Squadron Restaurant - San Diego - About

94thsandiego.com

I remember them well. Dave Tallichet, the founder, was a good friend and had quite a collection of WWII airplanes.

 

[CJW]

I've spent months of my life at Airventure Oshkosh and the Reno air races as well as other air shows. My observations are that both the Mustang and Spitfire are obviously beautiful to listen to. BUT there is no more graceful and glorious airplane in the sky as the Supermarine Spitfire. The elliptical wing pulled by the RR V12 is pure art in the sky.

The Corsair's sweet blue paint, gull wing and baby butt smooth Pratt and Whitney are a very close second.

I'm a huge biplane fan. The Waco is the king of biplanes. This gentleman is selling the new Waco for $450k. Had the pleasure of talking to him and photographing this gem.

This is likely the most important C47 of all time. This very plane lead the D-day invasion and was discovered in a junkyard in Oshkosh and subsequently restored.

 

[Franco]

Quite a few of the small milk run airlines in South Africa into the 80's operated DC3's. Airsick famous. Air Rhodesia operated Vickers Viscounts, two of which were famously shot down in the bush war. They also had a few 707's and a 720. I flew all of them and liked the 707's comfort.

One of my early jobs was flying Viscounts. There was a company based in Burbank, CA who used them to fly bands on tours throughout North America. The Viscount was well suited for the operation.

 

[skydiver386]

I flew the DC-3 at Pope Valley back in the 70s, hauling skydivers - perhaps you were one of the jumpers. In the aftermath of Katrina I flew Glen Hyde's 3, transporting supplies and medicine into Slidell, LA.

Most of my jumps where Military out of C-130, C-17, Casa-212, etc.

I did quite a few Civilian skydives from DC-3's, and they're a great jump platform. Easy to spot from as a Jump master and easy to exit from, especially for students.

 

[4570bruin]

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The Vought F4U and FG Corsair pilots claimed 2,140 air combat victories against 189 losses to enemy aircraft, for an overall kill ratio of over 11:1. This airplane was the coolest looking in my opinion. It was the first single engine fighter to exceed 400 MPH. It sported six 50 caliber guns, three in each wing.

My old man, a combat veteran of the Korean War, always had a deep respect and affection for the F4U Corsair. He shared with me that more than once those gull-winged warbirds making low-altitude strafing runs and napalm strikes on the enemy had saved him and his fellow Marines from being totally overrun by the Chinese hordes attempting to wipe them out up at the Chosin Reservoir. Said he never might have made it home from that frozen hell without them.

 

[CJW]

Two airplanes that you know are pure monsters when you see them in the sky are the Republic P47 and Hawker Sea Fury. I'm not sure if I have any decent pics of the SF.

This is a recently restored P47. You know it's all business when you see it coming down the pipe.

Here's an ME 262 built from scratch from old plans and by studying museum pieces.

Here's a rare Grumman F7F Tigercat. One of my favorites.

A couple of iconic bombers. B17 and B29.

This is not my photograph but an underappreciated bomber is the B24. It gets overshadowed by the B17 and B25. Doesn't take a genius to figure out why it was nicknamed "flying box car" among other things. Flew faster and carried more load than the B17.

Found a picture of my grandpa's B24. I'm named after the gentleman on the right, William 'Bill' Cameron. One of the best and 'luckiest' pilots of the war.

My grandpa was awarded a bronze star for 26 missions without a mechanical failure or turnback. Buzzin Bear was noted for it's reliability. The men taking care of these mechanical behemoths probably had something to do with that.

 

[Ryeboy86]

Two airplanes that you know are pure monsters when you see them in the sky are the Republic P47 and Hawker Sea Fury. I'm not sure if I have any decent pics of the SF.

This is a recently restored P47. You know it's all business when you see it coming down the pipe.

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Here's an ME 262 built from scratch from old plans and by studying museum pieces.

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Here's a rare Grumman F7F Tigercat. One of my favorites.
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A couple of iconic bombers. B17 and B29.
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This is not my photograph but an underappreciated bomber is the B24. It gets overshadowed by the B17 and B25. Doesn't take a genius to figure out why it was nicknamed "flying box car" among other things. Flew faster and carried more load than the B17.
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Found a picture of my grandpa's B24. I'm named after the gentleman on the right, William 'Bill' Cameron. One of the best and 'luckiest' pilots of the war.

My grandpa was awarded a bronze star for 26 missions without a mechanical failure or turnback. Buzzin Bear was noted for it's reliability. The men taking care of these mechanical behemoths probably had something to do with that.


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I could listen to stories from pilots during WWII all day!! It's so awesome to see pictures from that time.

 

[CJW]

I could listen to stories from pilots during WWII all day!! It's so awesome to see pictures from that time.

Here's some good reading about the Bear.

https://www.b17museum.ch/newspdf/73.pdf

My grandpa who didn't talk about the war much did hold the pilot of his plane in high esteem. Unfortunately its luck did run out and no amount of mechanical perfection could hold off a swarm of 109's and it was eventually shot down over Italy.

Here's an account of it's final mission. It's first mission without Cameron at the controls.

https://www.etvma.org/veterans/gola-g-gibby-10081/

Lots of guys just couldn't deal with seeing these guys off for most of them never to return.

 

[baxterb]

I think the P-51A is the coolest mustang.

My uncle was a huge fan of the DC-3 / C-47 as he had about 5000 hours in them and survived two crashes including this one when he was running ammo across Africa for the Pan Am Africa ops in WWII.

By the way, any of you passing through Idaho be sure to stop at the Warhawk Museum in Nampa - awesome place!

 

[Safari Dave]

I've never flown a plane, but my dad flew an Ercoupe back in the late 50's and early 60's.

It's almost amazing that we had the technology back in the 1940's to develop some of the fighters planes that we used in WWII.

P-51 - 440 MPH, 42,000 ft. ceiling, 1,500 HP, 6-.50 BMG's
F6F Hellcat - 380 MPH, 37,000 ft. ceiling, 2,200 HP, 6 - .50 BMG's
F4U Corsair - 450 MPH, 42,00 ft. ceiling (air-cooled), 2,400 HP, 6 - .50 BMG's - but couldn't land on an aircraft carrier...

Does any company make a 2,400 hp gasoline engine anymore?

If so, I need one for my Land Cruiser...




A Corsair pilot shot down a Mig-15 during the Korean war.




Look into the technology back then.

We've definitely regressed...

 

[Ryeboy86]

@baxterb here are some pictures of a P-51A which is a derivative of the A36.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I remember them well. Dave Tallichet, the founder, was a good friend and had quite a collection of WWII airplanes.

@Franco Are there any independent versions of this chain left ? Same theme possibly with a different name.

 

[Scott CWO]

My old man, a combat veteran of the Korean War, always had a deep respect and affection for the F4U Corsair. He shared with me that more than once those gull-winged warbirds making low-altitude strafing runs and napalm strikes on the enemy had saved him and his fellow Marines from being totally overrun by the Chinese hordes attempting to wipe them out up at the Chosin Reservoir. Said he never might have made it home from that frozen hell without them.

Deep respect for your father! The battle at Chosin Reservoir was one of the toughest of all time.