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Dug some pics out of the box this week. Spent the summer before 7th grade working on this with my Dad. Originally Blind Man's Bluff. Heavily modified Hawker Sea Fury. It was entered at Reno as Wana Play Too in 87, if my memory is correct. Bellied it at Reno on arrival day. It later raced as Critical Mass and now is back to its original configuration.
There is nothing like that big 3350 radial running. Feel it in your chest.
There is nothing like that big 3350 radial running. Feel it in your chest.
The A-26 belongs to the Commemorative Air Force, but all the others are privately owned and are airworthy (a few of them are down for long term maintenance projects currently).
We were storing the A-26 in the maintenance hangar I worked in at the time because the left engine had failed. Later, I helped them install a new engine and do the inspection to get it flying again. That same hangar was used to convert A-26s to corporate aircraft, known as the Monarch 26, in the 1960s by Rock Island Oil and Refining.
I've been pretty fortunate to be around these aircraft and a lot of other warbirds in the course of my career. So far, I've been able to work on six F-86s and six T-33s, all privately owned. This is the other T-33 and two more F-86s that I have worked on over the years.
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That F-5 in your first picture is for sale on Controller right now.
1968 NORTHROP F-5A For Sale in Rockford, Illinois
1968 NORTHROP F-5A For Sale in Rockford, Illinois at Controller.com. This is a rare chance to own a true classic fighter: An F-5A! N685TC is a beautifully-restored, well-equipped example of Northrop's versatile, lightweight supersonic fighter that's still in use in several nations around the...
www.controller.com
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Yep, that's the same one. The same guy owned the MiG-17 in the second picture also, but it recently sold. He is looking to purchase some other neat aircraft.That F-5 in your first picture is for sale on Controller right now.
1968 NORTHROP F-5A For Sale in Rockford, Illinois
1968 NORTHROP F-5A For Sale in Rockford, Illinois at Controller.com. This is a rare chance to own a true classic fighter: An F-5A! N685TC is a beautifully-restored, well-equipped example of Northrop's versatile, lightweight supersonic fighter that's still in use in several nations around the...
That's bad ass.....talk about a big money hobby. There's flying......then there's warbird flying.
A buddy of mine recently got a 70% scale carbon fiber P51 and it had me seriously considering one. Closest I’ll ever get to owning a real one.
Started out in helo's 23 years ago and after the R22, amassed quite a few hours in the B412EPs and MD530s. Moved into airplanes (CSEL, CMEL) and have been flying a host of different pistons and turbines. Still flying and hope to be for some time to come....
MB
MB
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Some of those are really cool!! Really tough for a big guy to fit in height wise. Well width wise to I suppose...lol.
Guy on YouTube had a video series on one with the Walter turbine. Plane was kind of a basket case....lots of problems but a cool concept. Wasabi flight test was the channel.
These ones have a rotax engine. And yeah they don’t have a ton of room.
I would do dirty, DIRTY things to get time in a 412EP and an MD530! Just recently got my PIC sign off in the R44 and really digging it so far. Autos in it are like normal approaches in the 22 or 269C, lol.
Dude, I have time in a 44 and love doing max glide config. Basically straight and level (at/near sea level) with just a VSI wiggle and you’d never know it if the low RPM horn weren’t screaming at you.
The 412EP is incredible and 530 is as well, but gets old after about three hours. Did a XC in one from Quantico to Houston and was so glad to walk away from it after landing.
MB
Which one, the 412 or the 530 (or both
)? I’ve heard Bell seats are less than stellar.As for the R44, we did several max glide autos during my PIC checkout and I honestly struggled with them. The automatic response to the low RPM horn was so deeply engraved in my psyche that I’d fight myself through the whole thing. And at the bottom of those autos I ballooned BAD the first 2-3, lol. I eventually got that under control, but man, that horn… 275hrs in an R22 will teach you to fix that ricky-frickin’-tick! So while I consider myself good to go, advanced autos in that thing are on my list for the next time I get a chance to be in the student seat again!
But it was a really fun 5hrs (all done in a day!). We covered EVERYTHING in the PTS in great detail numerous times, then threw in hydro failure, stuck pedals, zero airspeed autos, numerous throttle chops on takeoff and from within the shaded areas on the H/V curve. LOTS of good stuff, and it was a blast!
The 530. The first three or so hours on a XC is cool, but it starts to wear on you in rough wx. No autopilot and although you can set power at 48% torque and take your feet off the pedals, you're on the cyclic the entire time. The 412s I flew were pretty plush and with autopilots. I never flew the 22 and 44 longer than a couple hours at a time and actually missed flying them when I stepped up to the larger helo's.Which one, the 412 or the 530 (or both
As for the R44, we did several max glide autos during my PIC checkout and I honestly struggled with them. The automatic response to the low RPM horn was so deeply engraved in my psyche that I’d fight myself through the whole thing. And at the bottom of those autos I ballooned BAD the first 2-3, lol. I eventually got that under control, but man, that horn… 275hrs in an R22 will teach you to fix that ricky-frickin’-tick! So while I consider myself good to go, advanced autos in that thing are on my list for the next time I get a chance to be in the student seat again!
But it was a really fun 5hrs (all done in a day!). We covered EVERYTHING in the PTS in great detail numerous times, then threw in hydro failure, stuck pedals, zero airspeed autos, numerous throttle chops on takeoff and from within the shaded areas on the H/V curve. LOTS of good stuff, and it was a blast!
My favorite training scenarios for helo were settling with power and 180 precision auto's. I struggled with the low rpm horn at first during max glide, but learned to focus on airspeed and tune out the horn. I'm due a BFR for helo and will be back in a 44 pretty soon.
For the airplanes and below FL180, I never minded long XCs without an autopilot. More than 400 hours in Archers and Seminoles (combined) and didn't miss the autopilot but sure learned to appreciate them in the Saratoga style airframes (6X and 6XT).
MB
Flying XC's without autopilot is the equivalent of shooting unsuppressed. its so uncivilized, especially in IMC and/or rough air.
Without a single doubt. It's funny how we think it's so cool in the beginning only to realize later how uncivilized we've been.
MB
Waiting in-line today to depart KPBI 28R. Thunderstorm delays as arrival and departure gates closing rapidly. In the pic I believe we were #8 to go as AA and SW were on the terminal side waiting as well. I hate WX delays 
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No weather here....unfortunately. Just a few of the ugliest Blackhawks ever. Powder blue.Waiting in-line today to depart KPBI 28R. Thunderstorm delays as arrival and departure gates closing rapidly. In the pic I believe we were #8 to go as AA and SW were on the terminal side waiting as well. I hate WX delays
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Owned by Pacific Gas & Electric. Operated by a contractor.
Daughter had a college Basketball Tournament in Southern Comifornia this weekend. Hit Planes of Fame museum in Chino.
Good timing for sure. Bearcat demo flight. Apparently this Bearcat and Corsair are in the new Devotion movie. Great collection!!
Also, Tom Cruise's Mustang from the new Top Gun Maverick.
Good timing for sure. Bearcat demo flight. Apparently this Bearcat and Corsair are in the new Devotion movie. Great collection!!
Also, Tom Cruise's Mustang from the new Top Gun Maverick.
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Drag race to the airport yesterday to beat the weather. PNF took the pic. We won 
. However, I didn’t care for the big wind change while I was in the box on speed . To be expected I guess. Don’t gig me on my mismatched N1’s...I was busy 
. However, I didn’t care for the big wind change while I was in the box on speed . To be expected I guess. Don’t gig me on my mismatched N1’s...I was busy 
Drag race to the airport yesterday to beat the weather. PNF took the pic. We won
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What is this a dadgum 747?
Kind of a cool coincidence.....I sent a friend of mine the above Bearcat and Corsair pics I took. He replied with this pic. Among other things he flies for the Erikson museum at Madras. One of his cohorts landed at our home strip this week in this sexy bitch. On its way to Santa Monica to be towed through Beverly Hills (
) for the Devotion premiere.
) for the Devotion premiere. Extremely cool! There are very few of those left if memory serves me correctly. I’ll gladly take a F4U or P51D as a retirement gift. Fly them until the money was goneKind of a cool coincidence.....I sent a friend of mine the above Bearcat and Corsair pics I took. He replied with this pic. Among other things he flies for the Erikson museum at Madras. One of his cohorts landed at our home strip this week in this sexy bitch. On its way to Santa Monica to be towed through Beverly Hills (
They are around.....Controllers piston warbird section has 2 or 3. I think one in the U.S and the others are in New Zealand. I'd be lucky to get around the pattern before I was out of money....lol.Extremely cool! There are very few of those left if memory serves me correctly. I’ll gladly take a F4U or P51D as a retirement gift. Fly them until the money was gone
1944 CHANCE VOUGHT F4U CORSAIR For Sale in Mareeba, Queensland
1944 CHANCE VOUGHT F4U CORSAIR For Sale in Mareeba, Queensland at Controller.com
www.controller.com
Due my Marine fetish I thought of getting one of these.
I’ve checked em out on EBay and you can find some with some nice salty blond collars.
After reflecting on Veterans Day yesterday and what it means for me though I am reassessing my life of promoting having earned the title Marine.
I’m unacceptable now, fighting and policing is up to those that are acceptable….good luck to them.
All that once a Marine always a Marine is bullshit. I couldn’t even join today and it’s not so much for reasons because I’m aged out.
5% is likely to be stripped of what they earned, I will stand with them.
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I talked very strongly against my son joining the Corps last fall and he didn't.
I'm proud of him
Definitely understand how you feel.
I had the fed holiday off yesterday. I had a dental appointment to have my fangs polished in the morning and then took the girls out of school early to drive a few hours to see some family for the weekend. When I got to the school, they were having a Veterans Day ceremony and then a luncheon. It was kinda unexpected, but really nice. When people in this little town thank you for your service, they mean it. And, I accept their thanks graciously. It’s the kind of place that appreciates the Liberty we have and I’m happy to have contributed to that at some point.
This past Thursday when old Chris Wray sent out the all employee Veterans Day email which was probably written for him by some intern, it kinda pissed me off. Remembering what it was like a year ago for those of us who refused the clot shot, I wanted to reply with an all employee email of my own saying, “go fuck yourself, bitch. I didn’t do it for you.”
Public service definitely has a different flavor these days.
Lost a neighbor yesterday as he came over to see what my work project was about.
Mousy guy that has a "Meteor 2020" bumper sticker on his car.
I used to shovel the windrow out in front of his driveway because he cant move the heavy snow and he would be house bound without me doing it.
Probably shouldn't have been a dick but he came over bitching about the fact the local private way owners want to start a fund for road up keep and he mentioned the high cost of home heating oil.
I said the $150 bucks is peanuts after what Tuesdays results will cost us and those same voters are the ones that got us $6 home heating oil. I went off on everyone with their Ukraine flags in their yards yet they have yet to send their kids over. Its what they all vote for around here and they should not complain about it. I threw down the loss of my job due to them believing in a fake disease and I dont give a shit about their concerns.
He sputtered his way out of my driveway hopefully to never return.
Back on topic.............Spent some time looking at some sweet G1 vintage jackets on Ebay. I always liked the AAF A2 better for looks but the G1 appears way mo' functional for cold.
Only thing that disturbs me about the G1 is that while stationed in Geneva there was a Marine in the Det that was a "Boots, Boot" and always wore his G1 when weather allowed.
Being that "Gung Ho" while on active duty was not an attribute.
He was also the guy that wanted to choose his own call sign where as everyone else had come by theirs by detachment assessment. So his wanting to be "Desperado" became "Desperate" in real time radio use.
Saw that he retired some 4-5 years ago as Sgt Major, MCAS Miramar.....Richard Charrone had the last laugh on us and I applaud his successful career.
