Warbird Information Exchange

For those wondering about the On Mark logo on our t shirts..... the team is now wearing these in anticipation of the A26 vets reunion. We rather feel like we are one with the On Mark Engineering guys of the past as we work on the airplane. For those just tuning in, this K model was not an On Mark civilian executive transport. It was in the AF inventory when rebuilt by On Mark and stayed in the AF until 1971. It was never a transport although the wing tip tanks might lead you to think so at first. The bomb racks under the wings, the gun nose and the bomb bay should convince you of this. If that doesn't do it, sit down in the old military seat for a few. The CEO would never have ridden on that thing. Doesn't even have a potty, galley or place for a flight attendant. JR

Good to see Happy Jack flying along side of you. That C-47 probably had to throttle way back for him to catch you. Happy Jack is supposed to be at our Fly-in May 19 in Hondo.

Well, they don't call it the "Douglas Racer" for nothing!! What's up at the Hondo flyin? Haven't heard about it? JR

Well, we have made it to the level of a "sticky" on page one thanks to everybody's interest in the K. Many thanks everybody from the K restoration team! JR

Check out the Hondo Fly-In on the Upcoming Events page.

Greetings Earthlings from the Oklahoma Territory. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. AAAAAAHHHHHHKKKKkkkk, somebody save me. I keep hearing this over and over in my mind as I travel thru the Territory. My only hope is to make it back across the Red River without being detected. War broke out this morning between the Okies and Texans.... the Okies were throwing dynamite sticks across the river and the Texans were pickin it up, lightin it and throwing it back. So far the Okies are losing, but they are getting very retaliatory against any Texans found on their side of the Red. If I can get back home with what's left of my poor ol scalp.... it will be a miracle. I wonder if any of the A-26 guys up on this side of the River are Texans who might rescue me?? JR

On the road again, just cain't wait to get on the road agin.... cmon Willie, get me home!!! Planning my return across the Red River tomorrow... think I will wait for night to see if I can make it in stealth mode. In other news, the reunion of the A26 vets is still on for Saturday, May 5th. We are still thinking of a burger cookout around noon that day with a chance to meet and talk with this great bunch of guys. Anybody like to join us? If so, we need to have some sort of response if you are going to want to have chow. Either reply or PM me so we order enough stuff. BTW, the GGA C-47 is planning a BBQ run to Stephenville that same day for members if anybody is interested. There will also be rides open to the public in the afternoon around 2:30 PM, BUT you need to sign up with Dana at our website numbers if you want to go. www.gga1.org The Air Commando motto... any time, any place.... JR

How young is too young to start your kids thinking about aviation and these special airplanes we call warbirds?? NEVER!! is our answer!! JR's boy at age one is already catching on as to what is important in life!! Unfortunately, his daddy didn't know that bombers are better than fighters when he gave him that model. Everybody knows that bombers have a bigger bang, right? In other news, we are having a good response from the A26 VN vets who want to attend our mini reunion on Saturday, May 5th. We have about 20 folks so far. It will be great to see some of our new friends from the reunion last Oct at Eglin AFB, but there are others coming who we have not met yet. Looking forward to it. If you would like to join us, please let me know via posts here or PM so we can plan the food for the cookout at lunch on Saturday. The other JR PS, you can email Dana to schedule a ride on the C-47 on Saturday, May 5th at 2:30 pm, at greatestgeneration@yahoo.com

.... Unfortunately, his daddy didn't know that bombers are better than fighters when he gave him that model.

====Yup, that's the way it is, those darn Mustangs get the glory!! Since almost all of the flying I have done is radio controlled models, I always found it amusing that when a newcomer showed up at the field and wanted to get involved in RC, we would try to persuade them to start simple, with a good, forgiving trainer type. But, if they walked down the flight line, they would invariably point to a P-51 and say, "That's the one I want!" Bad move!! Fortunately for them, our hobby, and thanks to technology, they now have an actual P-51 "Trainer". In our RC hobby, bad mistakes are limited only by the depth of your wallet!!
Go for the Mustang, Kid! (although I personally prefer the "D" model to the "B"!)

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Randy Ryman
Project Big Eagle
NKP Thailand 1966
http://www.coastcomp.com/av/florence/florandy.htm

Yes, it is funny! I, too, was afflicted with P-51-itis... until I flew bombers. They are the coolest cause you can take a lot of friends with you. The airshow circuit is a tough thing to do by yourself and not nearly as much fun. Our team has it down cold. We hit the ramp and everybody knows what to do to set up the airplane for tours, start selling rides or PX stuff and putting pans under the oil drips. Ahhhh, the smell of P & W smoke.....sexiest perfume ever made. On another note, it is rather strange being on the front page with the status of a sticky. Not sure everybody has figured out that this is not the elephant grave yard for defunct threads?? We are still in business and looking for comments or questions. Went past the 52,000 views mark so there must be some kind of interest in our project. What else would anybody like to know about GGA or the A26??? And yes, we do allow "fighter jocks" to join us!! Heck, why not, we let a broom rider in the hangar! Well, yeah, I know that was an accident in more ways than one, but still.......... JR

I beg to differ !!!!!!!!!!!

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Well, O2 Lady, you just helped me win a bet. The guys said I couldn't ever make you beg, and you just proved them wrong!!! "You beg to differ" .... counts!!! Hey, besides, you don't go by yourself that much, if the truth be known. You have some back up crew I know. Now about your airplane, it sure seems to be on fire with all that smoke coming out of the rear engine. Did you leave the oil cap off again or something?? Or is that just your hair on fire as usual?? Gosh, you sure have raised our curosity levels here. Fess up. The other JR PS Nice shot!!

You ought to see that fire coming out of the rear engine sitting on the ramp!!

LOLOL don't remind me.......I haven't told that story in years, Ober. Added item on pre-flight checklist.....CHECK.

And to The Other JR, Ober can attest to me having back up crew on the ground but rarely does said crew get to actually share in the inflight experience.

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By inflight experience, I assume you are referring to actual flying during an airshow where only min crew is allowed as opposed to X country to get to the show and back or to get into the Mile High Club? That might be more fun if the crew consists of more than one. See, that is what is so cool about a bomber or transport, you can take all of your friends. And if an engine is on far, they will alert you faster than the little flashy light on the panel. For those needing translation, "far" is Texan for "fire". For years we thought the Three Wise Men were firemen cause they come from a far. I guess it lost something in the translation from the ancient languages? Anyway, the restoration team should be out in full force this morning if anybody wants to drop by the hangar to see the K. Later, the other JR