Big Warbirds vs. Small Warbirds

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:59 am

Rob
IFF?
What does a 1950s IFF system look like/ /work? I'd like to talk about this more Saturday. I hated IFF in the Navy, what a pain in the tushy.

AirJimL2 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:43 am

This is a topic close to my heart as I am a huge L-bird fan. (I've owned L-2 and L-16 projects (neither were ever finished) and I really want to find a nice flying L-2.) Heavy iron is sexy and sells. L-birds don't seem to, but honestly how many can afford to fly and maintain the heavy iron. L-birds are a much more reasonable proposition for most pilots. On the other hand, I think the public needs to be educated on just what L-birds have done. There are great stories there that never get told about the feats of the L-birds and their pilots. One of my long term goals is to try to start an flying L-bird Museum to educate the public about L-birds and the pilots who flew them. Just think I could probably buy a whole Museum of aircraft for the price of a TBM and/or T-28! I can’t count the number of aviation people I’ve met that have never hear about the roll the L-birds undertook in wartime. I think with more publication and interest, you will see more people pay attention to the light planes.

Quote:

Who will be the first to spot the Boeing L15 when it flies again? Who will line up when a Curtiss Owl taxis in?

Well I will. I can't wait to see an Owl in the air and look forward to see the L-15 flying. But I wonder if I need help.

Steve T wrote:

Bit surprised AirJim hasn't shown up here as he's an L-bird fan. Talking again of installing oversized engines, Jim also likes Furies (as do I), so I once drew him a "racing L-2" cartoon...of the only Centaurus-engined, RCN-liveried Taylorcraft anyone will ever likely see. He made it into a T-shirt. Time will tell whether he builds it for real. :roll:

Steve - RENO 06 Look for the Taylorcraft Unlimited Racing Team!!!

Jim

O.P. · **Posted:** Wed Apr 27, 2005 3:45 pm

AirJimL2 wrote:

This is a topic close to my heart as I am a huge L-bird fan. (I've owned L-2 and L-16 projects (neither were ever finished) and I really want to find a nice flying L-2.) Heavy iron is sexy and sells. L-birds don't seem to, but honestly how many can afford to fly and maintain the heavy iron. L-birds are a much more reasonable proposition for most pilots. On the other hand, I think the public needs to be educated on just what L-birds have done. There are great stories there that never get told about the feats of the L-birds and their pilots. One of my long term goals is to try to start an flying L-bird Museum to educate the public about L-birds and the pilots who flew them. Just think I could probably buy a whole Museum of aircraft for the price of a TBM and/or T-28! I can’t count the number of aviation people I’ve met that have never hear about the roll the L-birds undertook in wartime. I think with more publication and interest, you will see more people pay attention to the light planes. Jim

That would be a very cool idea. Don't discount the T28 though. You're going to be needing a "Guppy" for the flying collection. That would be cool. I don't think there is one Guppy in existance. Get a T28B or F project for the museum, and us volunteers can start making a guppy outta it.

AirJimL2 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:59 am

O.P. wrote:

That would be a very cool idea. Don't discount the T28 though. You're going to be needing a "Guppy" for the flying collection. That would be cool. I don't think there is one Guppy in existance. Get a T28B or F project for the museum, and us volunteers can start making a guppy outta it.

Oh I'm not discounting the T-28. I'd love to have one. Its just I could buy 5 or 6 L-birds for the price of one T-28. What is a T-28 Guppy?

Jim

Randy Haskin · **Posted:** Thu Apr 28, 2005 12:13 pm

AirJimL2 wrote:

What is a T-28 Guppy?

I found this on Google:

Several versions were converted to RT-28 and carried three cameras in the bagage compartment, they forward oblique camera had an extremly large format and required a large wetal faring under the fusalage, giving it the nickname of Guppy.

O.P. · **Posted:** Thu Apr 28, 2005 2:03 pm

Hi Jim!

There is a picture of a Guppy on this page.

http://www.aircommandos.org/BobAndDon/Episode0003.htm

Also, The Bob and Don Aircommandos story is a great one!

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