FHC Fly Day 6-20-09 (P-40C & I-16)

Sat Jun 20, 2009 11:12 pm

Today was a strange day. I had it in my head all week that I was going to the Olympia Airshow today and on my way there I turned around and went to Everett instead for the Fly Day. I think I made the right choice. Besides, I can go to Oly on Sunday. I've never heard a Rata before and it sounded sweet! I hope these pics look okay. My monitor seems f'd up and dark so i'm not sure if they're really dark or washed out.

Last edited by spookythecat on Sun Jun 21, 2009 10:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

Sun Jun 21, 2009 12:17 am

Photos look great, but what happened to the paint on the P-40?

As I remember that was just some primer that was tinted different colors for expediency, not supposed to be the final paint job. Nonetheless, it has been on there quite a while.

Sun Jun 21, 2009 1:09 am

bdk wrote:Photos look great, but what happened to the paint on the P-40?

As I remember that was just some primer that was tinted different colors for expediency, not supposed to be the final paint job. Nonetheless, it has been on there quite a while.

It's some temporary water-based movie paint. There was some coolant overflow that caused that big patch. I believe at the end of the flying season it's going into maintainance and will be put in a Russian paint scheme. This is all based on things i've heard over a few years so take it as it is.

Sun Jun 21, 2009 1:25 am

Great pics Spook. One at least looks like it could be A2A!

spookythecat wrote:I believe at the end of the flying season it's going into maintainance and will be put in a Russian paint scheme. This is all based on things i've heard over a few years so take it as it is.

Hoo-bloody-ray. About time we had one in Russki colours.

Sun Jun 21, 2009 7:57 am

Dang good shootin Al

, What kinda camera did you say you had again :?:

WOW

Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:47 am

Really nice shots

I just love those early P-40's. I have always liked the fact that this P-40 was in the AVG scheme (even though it was temporary paint) and would like to see it in a more permanent AVG scheme. However, I do understand that it was recovered from Russia and the desire to go for a paintscheme accurate to the airframe. I'll still enjoy looking at it either way.

Sun Jun 21, 2009 10:47 am

steve dickey wrote:Dang good shootin Al , What kinda camera did you say you had again WOW

Thanks! I finally upgraded from my trusty point-n-shoot and got a Canon XSi. If you're interested in a DSLR I highly recommend it.

Mon Jun 22, 2009 1:11 am

I always liked the way it was painted. Probly because he was the only A.V.G. Pilot I knew personally.

Mon Jun 22, 2009 1:32 am

I appreciate people like the AVG schemes, and it was at least appropriate to that model of P-40 (more than most) but P-40s in AVG schemes aren't exactly rare, while I can't think of one in Russian colours - and remember, that's why that one survived.

It's funny that the 'temp paint' actually looks like the temporary wargames paint used around this period.

Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:36 pm

Great shots, Al!

That's an interesting pair to fly together. You don't see that often.

Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:07 pm

Great shots!... It's funny, but I remember seeing that P-40 arrive at Duxford in a couple of crates from Russia. The guys were even speaking Russian. I remember being so fascinated, as I knew there were no other small-mouth P-40's around (at the time). I took several photos, and have them stored somewhere... it was remarkably complete!

Cheers,
Richard