Operation Bolero II

[steve dickey]

Maybe this has been asked and answered in a previous post or over on Airshowbuzz, What will be the longest leg of the flight in terms of distance and time wise? Also does anyone know what drops those are off of on Miss V? Also will their route take them over the place they originally went down?, I know the ice has shifted quite a bit since then, but in general?
T.I.A.

[Robbie Stuart]

75 gallon drop tanks on Miss Velma.
Robbie

[JohnTerrell]

From what Steve Hinton has stated, the longest leg is 3:45 and both Glacier Girl and Miss Velma have 7hrs. of fuel for an extra safety margin. From my understanding Glacier Girl will be flying over the place she was found and if the German expedition team which is searching for the remaining aircraft is there, Steve will buzz them which will be a very unique and amazing sight I'm sure, from both in the air and on the ground.

Last edited by JohnTerrell on Tue Jun 26, 2007 4:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Warbird Kid]

What an amazing sight that must be. It probably would also be a boost for the German team; seeing the possible end result of what could be.

[Bill Greenwood]

In the video, it said they were flying at 180? Could the P-38 cruise that slow or was that necessary to maximize range or allow the filming plane to stay with them? I think this in what Ed said.

[steve dickey]

Thanks for the info John, and here I thought they would have a couple 5-6 hour legs!
Robbie, in the pictures they don't look like 75 gal. drops but something bigger, 110 maybe? Unless they changed them and I haven't seen a current photo!

[steve dickey]

Hey Bill when G.G. was here for a day and a half we did a quick photoshoot from a Mooney on her way out west, we were flat out at 160! and Steve had her hung right next to us with NO flaps out!! So I would imagine 180 would be no prob.

[JohnTerrell]

I was thinking the same that 180 is rather slow. Shipley said that on that leg the power settings for the Mustang were something like 31 inches and 2100 rpm, which is rather low for cruise in a Merlin powered Mustang.

The tanks are indeed 75 gallon capacity types, but are late models, more steam-lined, making them look bigger than they are. I know they fooled me when I first saw them.

[steve dickey]

Thanks again John, sure had me fooled!
Sorry for doubting you Robbie!

[Bill Greenwood]

I did not word my post very clearly. What I meant is did the P-38 normally cruise that slow or did it need to for range? I didn't mean that it would have a hard time flying as slow as 180. I once flew with a P-51 with large drop tanks and even empty it slowed it down a lot. I did not see any external tanks on the 38 in the video. Some very brave guy once ferried a Spitfire non stop from the Azores? across the S Atlantic to S America. No GPS, no escort plane, no survival suit back then.

[PeterA]

Some very brave guy once ferried a Spitfire non stop from the Azores? across the S Atlantic to S America. No GPS, no escort plane, no survival suit back then.

Bill,

'Captain' James Storey.

Now that is what I call a ferry tank!

PeterA

[global111]

Changing the topic slightly, but staying with Bolero II, Miss Velma is currently broke at Goose Bay, needing a new coolant pump, thankfully one is on its way, as you can see in the video!

http://www.airshowbuzz.com/videos/view.php?v=b3817fba


Hope this is interesting!!

[Bill Greenwood]

To paraphrase, Coolerige?, The Rhyme of The Ancient Mariner; "Water, water, everywhere and nary a drop will pump." Can you fly a P-51 as aircooled if the air is really, really cool?

[Trey Carroll]

Yes, but not very long

To paraphrase, Coolerige?, The Rhyme of The Ancient Mariner; "Water, water, everywhere and nary a drop will pump." Can you fly a P-51 as aircooled if the air is really, really cool?

[Bill Greenwood]

Peter. aren't you due for a trip to the colonies soon? And I'd love to read or hear more about that ferry flight!