Warbird Information Exchange

I'm pretty sure the picture of Chuckie is from 1985. Lots of people got their first B-17 ride in Chuckie at Breckenridge. The going price then was $50 a head! Seems like the guy that won the ride had bought the lucky program that had the winning ticket in it. Chuckie was parked out across from the crowd and was already starting engines when he made it over there.

I remember the Stealth Fly-by. I've seen it repeated many times over the years but not nearly as effectivly!

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Brad

If it is 1985 then that is not me...Could be Ted Schmelling. It sure does look like a very familiar moment in time. I can remember us standing around in front of the airplane like that shortly after landing...tryng to figure out who was gonna take 1st shift on the tours and PX. it could get warm in there...


(I miss Breckenridge)

Oh, my Gosh! The Stealth Flyby! Lynn, I had completely forgotten about that until you mentioned it! I laughed until I felt like I was gonna puke! Hundreds of suckers got reeled in that day!

I recall one year they were selling rides aboard Chuckie for $75 a person. I wanted really bad to take that ride. I was there with three buddies. I didn't have $75 cash on me, so I asked them if I could borrow the money from them until I could get to an ATM. Well, we all searched our pockets, and between the four of us, we didn't have $75! I was about to start asking strangers for money...

Cheers!

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

I think that the Stealth fly-by "put on" by Bubba Welch was in 1986 (second choice would be 1985) and that I had flown my Dr.I Triplane to Breckenridge in some marginal weather that morning, supposedly lead by a talented young aviation artist friend, to remain unnamed, Gerry , in a much better instrumented L-5 from the old Aero Valley airport. When he climbed into a cloud I figured I was on my own with my trusty Texico road map, er, sectional. Triplanes don't do well in clouds unless one is being shot at. I obviously arrived safely after a bit.

For those who were not there, you can't imagine how Bubba convinced the crowd over at least an hour of the show that he had an F-117 that was going to make a fly by - even had faked radio chatter. As he said look to your left there was a recording of jet noise and everyone who had run to the crowd line looked from left to right - at nothing! And he brought half of them back for a second pass! No kidding. A true "Mouth of the South". It was great. I, too, miss the old days at Howard's party and airshow. Fly safe.

Randy

Randy is this you!? At Oak Grove? 1986-7









I know him...he married my neighbor...hehe

Bump for Randy...That you?

If not,can any one identify this Dr1 pilot?

Looks like Randy to me.

Brad, thanks for posting the pics of LSFM's B-25. Was neat to see that she kept her polished props a little while longer after dean sold her. I did have some wax on, wax off time into them.

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

Ztex - sorry, I just heard from Gary that you had posted the photos of my Dr.I and myself in uniform - yes, that was me. The plane is now in the collection of the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, Tx. Just a bit too windy to be comfortable after I moved from Dallas to Midland many years ago. Thanks for posting those. Fly safe.

Randy

Randy,



Gotta love West Texas!

That was a great airshow...It was close to the crowd, Bob Hoover flew a P-51, the B-52 and F-16 flyby.

I can still see you and your Dr1 doing the tightest loops I have ever seen! That was the first time I saw a Dr1 fly and you did it well.
I took the picture while you were going down the show line talking and shaking hands with the crowd. You shook my hand..it was a cool thing for you to do.

Thanks for the show!

Zane

Zane - thanks for the nice words. I really enjoyed doing shows in the Triplane and while the aerobatics were limited to basic maneuvers, I think everyone was rather amazed at the agility of the plane. It and the Wildcat were my two favorite warbird acro planes to fly. If you ever make it out to Midland for AIRSHO or other reasons, let me know. Fly safe.

Randy

One time we had the Bright Idea to stand next to the runway when B-17 Chuckie was taking off, (this is part of what made the Breckinridge shows so Cool was that we were able to even think about doing this) anyhow I am standing 1 foot from the edge of the runway and as she comes barreling down the runway we all start thinking Gee what if a tire blows etc. but nothing happened (Thank God) and as the left wingtip passed over my head I thought that was the COOLEST thing ever. Looking back with a little more age and hopefully wisdom. I think it may have been the dumbest thing I have ever done around an airplane. Live and Learn !!!