This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
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Re: Twilight Tear Video firing her 6 .50s

Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:09 pm

There was some back and forth in the last few years where our government decided to no longer sell cartridge brass that wasn't demilled. With the help of a couple of congressmen (don't recall which ones, I think he/they were from out west though), it is again available. Mil surp .50 once fired:
http://qsydb.uuamk.servertrust.com/100- ... -p/186.htm
Got to see TT at Oshkosh along with 17 other 51's if I recall correctly (it was Mustang overload), awesome aircraft.

Re: Twilight Tear Video firing her 6 .50s

Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:54 pm

4RG.I.'S wrote:There was some back and forth in the last few years where our government decided to no longer sell cartridge brass that wasn't demilled. With the help of a couple of congressmen (don't recall which ones, I think he/they were from out west though), it is again available. Mil surp .50 once fired:
http://qsydb.uuamk.servertrust.com/100- ... -p/186.htm
Got to see TT at Oshkosh along with 17 other 51's if I recall correctly (it was Mustang overload), awesome aircraft.


I certainly hope you are right! The source you listed is pretty expensive though. I saw it recently for 50 cents a round for the brass, and it is all once fired from the military because they don't reload.

Re: Twilight Tear Video firing her 6 .50s

Fri Aug 10, 2012 9:03 am

4RG.I.'S wrote:Got to see TT at Oshkosh along with 17 other 51's if I recall correctly (it was Mustang overload), awesome aircraft.


By my count there were at least 22 Mustangs at Oshkosh. Yes, a good year and Twilight Tear was one of the prettiest.

August

Re: Twilight Tear Video firing her 6 .50s

Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:44 pm

While the brass may be somewhat expensive (at least on that one site I listed), it is still available, the government is still selling it. I believe they also sell in bulk by the pound at times.
I was at Oshkosh on Saturday morning, with the weather, I'm sure some 51's had already left. There were 2 more at Fond du Lac as I passed on the way up, just didn't get close to them... :)

Re: Twilight Tear Video firing her 6 .50s

Sat Aug 11, 2012 12:40 am

I just looked and I think you are right. It no longer needs to be demilled.

Re: Twilight Tear Video firing her 6 .50s

Sat Aug 11, 2012 8:22 am

Don't know how far they were from the target, (Doesn't look more than 50 yds, if that.) but from past experience, tracer rounds aren't immediately visible when fired. Takes a few milliseconds for them to really "light up" and by then they could be past the target these guys set up. Just an observation from having fired a few .30-06 tracers in my "ute".

Mudge the untraceable :hide:

Re: Twilight Tear Video firing her 6 .50s

Sun Aug 19, 2012 5:26 pm

I put a bug in the ear of the Fagen museum's P-40 pilot at Oshkosh asking them to please publish this video. Thanks so much for making it happen! The same gentleman also told me that the museum itself had obtained the licensing required to purchase (or build?) the six M2 .50-calibers used in their Mustang. There are plenty of aviation museums out there with live armament on display but this is the only time I've ever heard of an American aviation museum putting the whole package together for a live fire episode. Lets hope the same guns and firing range will be used to illustrate the same process using other fighter/bomber types in the future!

Tom Bowers, its good to see the 'King BCR' visiting the WIX forum to share some full-auto wisdom with this great group of propeller heads. 8)
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