Posted on 05/05/2017 4:10:33 PM PDT by DAC21
I have the privilege of watching A10s, B2s and KC 135s, C130s and CH47/UH 60s on a regular basis, occasional AH64. I live under the flight path/approach to Fort Wood MO, Cannon Air Range the fixed wings come from Whiteman and Kc, the rotary from Wood, usually toting Sapper school classes to Lake Ozark for helocasting.
After a few close encounters with A10s in other environs, it took a few years to be comfortable with their tree top antics. I painted a “go Hogs” banner on my steel roof-one day a USAFR pilot drove up to the house and introduced himself. He appreciated the banner- and we had a good chat.
wonderful experience
Something about how the planes handle in turns, bleeding airspeed, hard to hold altitude precisely, IIRC.
Eric, we may be neighbors.....
Back in ‘80 or ‘81, the Iowa Air Guard had an airshow at their side of the airport in Des Moines. The star of the show was to be a Vulcan bomber from the UK.
The airplane and crew had been at SAC near Omaha earlier and Omaha radio and local radio covered the take off for the 20 minute flight.
As the big green bomber approached Des Moines, the air traffic controller ordered the plane to switch to the shorter cross-wind runway.
Unprepared for this, the pilot overshot the runway and took off seconds after wheels touched the runway.
Four massive contrails of black smoke belched out of the airplane as the pilot circled downtown and sat down perfectly on his second try.
That afternoon, a Brit officer arrived from Omaha by car and we heard him ask the pilot about the landing.
“No problem sir...no problem,” was the pilot’s reply.
ping
I had the National Geographic special on that recovery. Kudos on your summary.
Nice! I saw a plane fly along the coast at Huntington Beach yesterday and it may have been a P-51. The cockpit canopy seemed a bit longer so I may very well be misidentifying it. Regardless, it was cool.
The 38 is a south pacific combat veteran.I remember when it was pulled out of the jungles back years ago.It was a hell of a lot of work to rebuild.
Kewl!
I really regret not talking to him about it now. For me it was always the airplanes. Even as a Marine, I was sent to the air wing.
And then a P-80 killed him............
That looks like it’s over Rancho Cordova
Not long after 9/11 I saw three flying delta, heading south bound just above the cliff-line at Sunnycove Beach in Santa Cruz CA...heard them coming...those engines are unmistakable...it was absolutely amazing.
Years ago while I was building my house a friend and I were standing in the driveway (long driveway). We heard two coming, they came right up the driveway at about 250’ so we started waving our arms. We heard them fly off and turn. about 30 seconds later they came right back directly over us, one on a knife edge to the right and one a knife edge to the left just above treetop. We could clearly see both pilots. Coolest thing ever.
I’ll bet it was cool as all get out lol...love that plane...a few of my high school chums are still breathing due to those guys.
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