Warbirds Over The Beach 2013 (aka "Mudge Was Right")
Mon May 20, 2013 11:28 am
Well Mudge, you were right- it rained on the weekend. Thankfully, we also had Friday, and those of us who were there were treated to some beautiful aircraft in their element.
Short version: Friday was capital-G GORGEOUS, half of Saturday was rained out, and Sunday was almost a complete wash with all flying being canceled after 2pm because of thunderstorms and a field which had become a muddy sponge. I'm incredibly thankful I was out there Friday, though, not just to witness the brief but awesome display by the CWH Lancaster (on the 70th anniversary of Operation Chastise, no less!) and to see and hear the Mosquito fly. How two Merlins can be so much louder than four, I do not quite understand, but when the Lanc took off, it sounded majestic and powerful. When the Mosquito took off, it sounded like an entire building full of angry panthers or something.
CAF Helldiver... need to fix the color on this one, I had things on the wrong setting. :-/
Jerry Yagen's "other" De Havilland twin:
This was a surprise... the CAF C-46 "Tinker Belle" made an appearance, and she's seen here in the midst of a fantastic beat-up job of the airfield. These boys made a helluva impression, and I confess a new appreciation for the old Commando!
Squadron Leader Guy Gibson roars aloft in G-George on the afternoon of May 17, 1943... oh wait. It's 70 years later to the day, and the CWH crew is roaring aloft for a brief but awesome display.
They kept her at about 50 feet the entire length of the runway as the gear came up, then pitched up sharply to the left in a gorgeous climbing turn. These guys REALLY know how to work this baby.
And then, they came back around, dove for the deck and gunned it. Gave me goosebumps the size of nickels.
She was going so fast, this was the only clear shot I could get of her, and I was shooting at 1/125 sec. I cannot imagine what a rush it must be to be in this gorgeous beast in the midst of such a run.
Jerry Yagen then took up his prized P-51D "Double Trouble Two" for a little fast work in the circuit.
Oh, and there were pin-up girls.
Several T-6s were in attendance; here's a nice shot of one trying to imitate the Lancaster, sucking up the gear at minimum altitude before pitching steeply up and to the left.
The Focke Wulf got a bit of airtime on Friday as well.
Of all the pics I took on Friday, this one might be my favorite.
Scott Bregi will want to beat me with the lens of my camera, but I did get to shoot the Mossie... unfortunately, I should've stepped up my shutter speed, 1/125 just didn't cut it for this thing. This was one of the few clear shots I got.
Mike Spalding brings the Mossie back in for a landing. What you can't see here is the Bell Jet Ranger hired by the BBC which followed the thing everywhere.
This beautiful little Ryan got a bit of air time as well.
The P-40E went up for a late afternoon flight.
See all that dust around the wheels? Yeah, that went away pretty quick on Saturday. :-/
On an airfield near Minsk, a German flak unit sets up shop next to a pair of captured Polikarpovs.
Oh, and this showed up on Saturday.
The sky just wasn't cooperating at all for Saturday's flights; this is the best I could muster with the FM-2.
This guy was amazing. His name is Max, and he is the only IJN living historian I've ever met. I dearly wish the Blayd Zero could've made it down as his kit is every bit as authentic as that Zero recreation. I saw him later at the hangar dance in his IJN dress whites... very sharp. And he was a helluva nice guy to talk with as well.
Saturday afternoon, the CWH decided to relocate the Lancaster and their support DC-3 to the hardstands at Norfolk Int'l Airport so they wouldn't get bogged down and unable to depart on Sunday... a wise decision. Here, the DC-3 executes a "standard Canadian departure" by holding minimum altitude the length of the field prior to a steep port climbing turn.
She was followed shortly thereafter by the Lancaster... what an amazing and graceful beast she is.
The last display that was able to get up on Sunday was the airborne paratrooper team which jumped from "Tinker Belle"... I believe there were 11 total, 8 of whom landed successfully. The other three wound up in the trees next to the runway due to fluky winds near the surface. They're all ok, but I'm sure their canopies are likely jacked up something fierce.
And as if to highlight how muddy the field had become, have a look at the port mainwheel of Tinker Belle here upon her return.
So, there ya go. A quick overview of what was overall a terrific show, even if we couldn't get as many aircraft up as we had hoped. Our USAAF living history camp had a ton of enthusiastic and appreciative visitors, and a large time was had by all.
This should be obvious, but I'll say it anyways- no reuse or republication without contacting me first, no publication for commercial gain, etc.
Cheers,
Lynn
Short version: Friday was capital-G GORGEOUS, half of Saturday was rained out, and Sunday was almost a complete wash with all flying being canceled after 2pm because of thunderstorms and a field which had become a muddy sponge. I'm incredibly thankful I was out there Friday, though, not just to witness the brief but awesome display by the CWH Lancaster (on the 70th anniversary of Operation Chastise, no less!) and to see and hear the Mosquito fly. How two Merlins can be so much louder than four, I do not quite understand, but when the Lanc took off, it sounded majestic and powerful. When the Mosquito took off, it sounded like an entire building full of angry panthers or something.
CAF Helldiver... need to fix the color on this one, I had things on the wrong setting. :-/
Jerry Yagen's "other" De Havilland twin:
This was a surprise... the CAF C-46 "Tinker Belle" made an appearance, and she's seen here in the midst of a fantastic beat-up job of the airfield. These boys made a helluva impression, and I confess a new appreciation for the old Commando!
Squadron Leader Guy Gibson roars aloft in G-George on the afternoon of May 17, 1943... oh wait. It's 70 years later to the day, and the CWH crew is roaring aloft for a brief but awesome display.
They kept her at about 50 feet the entire length of the runway as the gear came up, then pitched up sharply to the left in a gorgeous climbing turn. These guys REALLY know how to work this baby.
And then, they came back around, dove for the deck and gunned it. Gave me goosebumps the size of nickels.
She was going so fast, this was the only clear shot I could get of her, and I was shooting at 1/125 sec. I cannot imagine what a rush it must be to be in this gorgeous beast in the midst of such a run.
Jerry Yagen then took up his prized P-51D "Double Trouble Two" for a little fast work in the circuit.
Oh, and there were pin-up girls.
Several T-6s were in attendance; here's a nice shot of one trying to imitate the Lancaster, sucking up the gear at minimum altitude before pitching steeply up and to the left.
The Focke Wulf got a bit of airtime on Friday as well.
Of all the pics I took on Friday, this one might be my favorite.
Scott Bregi will want to beat me with the lens of my camera, but I did get to shoot the Mossie... unfortunately, I should've stepped up my shutter speed, 1/125 just didn't cut it for this thing. This was one of the few clear shots I got.
Mike Spalding brings the Mossie back in for a landing. What you can't see here is the Bell Jet Ranger hired by the BBC which followed the thing everywhere.
This beautiful little Ryan got a bit of air time as well.
The P-40E went up for a late afternoon flight.
See all that dust around the wheels? Yeah, that went away pretty quick on Saturday. :-/
On an airfield near Minsk, a German flak unit sets up shop next to a pair of captured Polikarpovs.
Oh, and this showed up on Saturday.
The sky just wasn't cooperating at all for Saturday's flights; this is the best I could muster with the FM-2.
This guy was amazing. His name is Max, and he is the only IJN living historian I've ever met. I dearly wish the Blayd Zero could've made it down as his kit is every bit as authentic as that Zero recreation. I saw him later at the hangar dance in his IJN dress whites... very sharp. And he was a helluva nice guy to talk with as well.
Saturday afternoon, the CWH decided to relocate the Lancaster and their support DC-3 to the hardstands at Norfolk Int'l Airport so they wouldn't get bogged down and unable to depart on Sunday... a wise decision. Here, the DC-3 executes a "standard Canadian departure" by holding minimum altitude the length of the field prior to a steep port climbing turn.
She was followed shortly thereafter by the Lancaster... what an amazing and graceful beast she is.
The last display that was able to get up on Sunday was the airborne paratrooper team which jumped from "Tinker Belle"... I believe there were 11 total, 8 of whom landed successfully. The other three wound up in the trees next to the runway due to fluky winds near the surface. They're all ok, but I'm sure their canopies are likely jacked up something fierce.
And as if to highlight how muddy the field had become, have a look at the port mainwheel of Tinker Belle here upon her return.
So, there ya go. A quick overview of what was overall a terrific show, even if we couldn't get as many aircraft up as we had hoped. Our USAAF living history camp had a ton of enthusiastic and appreciative visitors, and a large time was had by all.
This should be obvious, but I'll say it anyways- no reuse or republication without contacting me first, no publication for commercial gain, etc.
Cheers,
Lynn
Re: Warbirds Over The Beach 2013 (aka "Mudge Was Right")
Mon May 20, 2013 11:46 am
lmritger wrote:
This was a surprise... the CAF C-46 "Tinker Belle" made an appearance, and she's seen here in the midst of a fantastic beat-up job of the airfield. These boys made a helluva impression, and I confess a new appreciation for the old Commando!
The C-46 hasn't been owned by the CAF for several years now. The other C-46 they still own hasn't flown in about the same amount of time. It was sold during Steve Brown's downsizing of the fleet so it was in good company with the JU-52 which was also sold around the same time. The C-46 is in North Carolina now but I can't remember who owns it. Interestingly enough, the CAF has one of their C-47s up for sale now too.
Re: Warbirds Over The Beach 2013 (aka "Mudge Was Right")
Mon May 20, 2013 11:51 am
Thanks for that Ben- I heard the crew hailed from Monroe, NC, but didn't pick up on it no longer being under CAF ownership. Makes sense though, as I'm pretty sure that the ex-CAF Ju 52 is the one which now graces our skies out in Pungo.
The crew definitely had their act together- I didn't realize that big ol' bird could move like that!
Lynn
The crew definitely had their act together- I didn't realize that big ol' bird could move like that!
Lynn
Re: Warbirds Over The Beach 2013 (aka "Mudge Was Right")
Mon May 20, 2013 12:29 pm
Thank you Lynn for posting these fantastic photos! What a superb collection of warbirds (both the MAM/FF and those that came as visitors). I'd love to someday see the MAM Mosquito, Spitfire, and Hurricane chasing around the collection's FW 190 and Me 262 (and/or any of their eventual Fw 190's and Me 109's that are completed).
I know what some say about P-40's and shark mouths, but man I love Jerry Yagen's P-40 for the paint scheme it sports (authentic and correct to a P-40E, as it is) - in this case, they got the shark mouth and eye absolutely right, and I can't think of any other P-40 flying today that I like more (even the TFC highly polished P-40C, as incredible to look at as that one is).
I know what some say about P-40's and shark mouths, but man I love Jerry Yagen's P-40 for the paint scheme it sports (authentic and correct to a P-40E, as it is) - in this case, they got the shark mouth and eye absolutely right, and I can't think of any other P-40 flying today that I like more (even the TFC highly polished P-40C, as incredible to look at as that one is).
Re: Warbirds Over The Beach 2013 (aka "Mudge Was Right")
Mon May 20, 2013 1:45 pm
Groovy stuff, thanks for posting these...
Fade to Black...
Fade to Black...
Re: Warbirds Over The Beach 2013 (aka "Mudge Was Right")
Mon May 20, 2013 1:48 pm
Yes a big +1 Lynn, great shots. Peter-Four-oh good to see you check in too.
Re: Warbirds Over The Beach 2013 (aka "Mudge Was Right")
Mon May 20, 2013 1:51 pm
Red Baaron wrote: The C-46 is in North Carolina now but I can't remember who owns it. Interestingly enough, the CAF has one of their C-47s up for sale now too.
Warriors and Warbirds
http://warriorsandwarbirds.org/home/
Re: Warbirds Over The Beach 2013 (aka "Mudge Was Right")
Mon May 20, 2013 3:16 pm
lmritger wrote:
I can't believe anybody would fly an airplane like this without a helmet. That's just asking to get your head caved in or at least severely dented!
Re: Warbirds Over The Beach 2013 (aka "Mudge Was Right")
Mon May 20, 2013 6:32 pm
I'm sure you meant to say - Wing Commander Guy P. Gibson.
Cheers,
Tom Walsh.
Cheers,
Tom Walsh.
Re: Warbirds Over The Beach 2013 (aka "Mudge Was Right")
Mon May 20, 2013 6:33 pm
Mudge et al, Sorry you drove so far to watch the rain come down. I can assure you no one was more disappointed than those of us who volunteer/slave at the MAM and look forward all year to the show!! Mother Nature is definitely off my Christmas card list, and is now officially on my "excremental roster"!!
She has one chance to redeem herself -- Saturday, June 1st is "Prom Night" at the MAM -- it's our third annual Flying Proms. The Virginia Symphony will be performing aviation related classical music - whilst museum aircraft fly over the stage. (sorry for the "whilst", but it seems appropriate while the Mossie flies!!)
I know it's a long hike from WVA, but I wonder how you would like to hear the opening score from "633 Squadron" while the Mossie flies overhead? Or the great piece from "Where Eagles Dare" while the JU-52 screams down the runway? I can almost see Richard Burton onboard --"Danny Boy calling Broadsword....."
After the show, there's a very nice fireworks display -- the whole event is well worth the ticket price!
Best to all, and we'll hope Ma Nature favors us next year!
She has one chance to redeem herself -- Saturday, June 1st is "Prom Night" at the MAM -- it's our third annual Flying Proms. The Virginia Symphony will be performing aviation related classical music - whilst museum aircraft fly over the stage. (sorry for the "whilst", but it seems appropriate while the Mossie flies!!)
I know it's a long hike from WVA, but I wonder how you would like to hear the opening score from "633 Squadron" while the Mossie flies overhead? Or the great piece from "Where Eagles Dare" while the JU-52 screams down the runway? I can almost see Richard Burton onboard --"Danny Boy calling Broadsword....."
After the show, there's a very nice fireworks display -- the whole event is well worth the ticket price!
Best to all, and we'll hope Ma Nature favors us next year!
Re: Warbirds Over The Beach 2013 (aka "Mudge Was Right")
Mon May 20, 2013 6:56 pm
lmritger wrote:Oh, and there were pin-up girls.
I've heard of an AT-6, but I think that's more like a T&A-6!
Gorgeous pics, Lynn!
Re: Warbirds Over The Beach 2013 (aka "Mudge Was Right")
Mon May 20, 2013 7:41 pm
T&A-6 
Good one Steve! A real boot full of right rudder
Sorry to hear the weather disappointed, folks.
Thanks for sharing the photos Lynn. I too like that shot of the FW-190 with Double trouble two. Great stuff!
Andy Scott
Good one Steve! A real boot full of right rudder
Sorry to hear the weather disappointed, folks.
Thanks for sharing the photos Lynn. I too like that shot of the FW-190 with Double trouble two. Great stuff!
Andy Scott
Re: Warbirds Over The Beach 2013 (aka "Mudge Was Right")
Tue May 21, 2013 4:59 am
Excellent photos there Lynn, what a great collection of rare aeroplanes all in one spot. that Lancaster looks fantastic.
A number of ex-NZ aeroplanes there I see, cool.
A number of ex-NZ aeroplanes there I see, cool.
Re: Warbirds Over The Beach 2013 (aka "Mudge Was Right")
Tue May 21, 2013 6:40 am
Steve Nelson wrote:lmritger wrote:Oh, and there were pin-up girls.
I've heard of an AT-6, but I think that's more like a T&A-6!
Gorgeous pics, Lynn!
It can't "Always be about nose art!"
Re: Warbirds Over The Beach 2013 (aka "Mudge Was Right")
Tue May 21, 2013 4:45 pm
Got to Virginia Beach on Wed. afternoon, went to MAM Thurs, Fri. and Sat.. As told previously , Friday was great. The Pin-up girl shown was with her Mother, and was very young, maybe because I'm getting older and they all look young. My wife even commented as to how young she looked, maybe High School age, wish I had asked her or her mother, but didn't want to come across as creepy.