Warbird Information Exchange

I took the day off from work today to deal with some contractors (the A/C repairman and the Dish Network installer). It was a gorgeous, sunny day, definitely a great day to be outside. I had all of the windows open to let in the nice fresh air.

"Sighting" number 1: Not a visual, but an audible. I was sitting inside when I heard the unmistakably sweet sound of a Merlin engine cruising by from southeast to northwest. I was unable to get up from my, er, "seat" at the moment, so I couldn't get to a window to check out the subject Mustang (lousy timing, but when ya gotta go, ya gotta go!).

Sighting number 2: I was out in the driveway working on Kinikia's car (she drove my pickup today) when I heard the approaching growl of radial engines... which got my attention instamatically! The engines belonged to a B-25! It was cruising along from west to east at probably 4,000 to 5,000 feet. It was bare metal with no markings distinguishable from the ground other than the national insignia under the wing. What a beautiful sight and sound! I watched until the Mitchell was gone from my sight. I couldn't turn away!

Sighting number 3: I was on the roof helping out the Dish Network installer when I heard the approaching growl of an Allison V-12, which once again immediately snagged my undivided attention! The subject aircraft was a P-40 in OD over grey finish. It was up too high for me to see any particular markings. It was traveling from northwest to southeast, perhaps on a line from DTO to ADS. This could have been Jim Cavanaugh's airplane, but I'm not sure.

I love days like this!

_________________
Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

Cool! The only thing I've seen today was a Cessna

_________________
http://www.disrudstudios.com

Yeah, everytime I walk out of the door I have to duck down to keep from hitting the leading edge of a Mustang wing and just when I get past that....BAM.........almost run into the darn rudder of a SNJ-4.......spin around and almost get oiled up from the side of a T-28.........and then WHAMO.........almost poke my head through the side of a Waco.........a side step around the cute little cub.........lookout, gotta walk around those darn jets................and then I finally make it to the coke machine...........

Work is alot of work around here!

Not exactly a warbird, but I'm pretty sure a C-5 buzzed my house this morning while I was still in bed! Man the house shook!

Your subject has been timely today!

I work right next to the Eugene, Oregon airport (KEUG) and often eat my lunch in a parking lot that overlooks the ramp and the active runways.

Today I heard the unmistakable sound of a B-17, and was treated to Aluminum Overcast coming in on final! Now that is the way to make my day!



As I was leaving, there was a very nice silver T-34 in Oregon ANG colors taxiing out for a flight.

And then of course there is the burned out MIG at the air museum:



And then we had the Oregon ANG F-15s doing touch and go's later...

Yes, it has been a VERY good day!

Michael...
Vintage Aircraft NUT!

Nothing unusual on the warbird scene here at CHS. Usual gaggle of C-17s, the occasional F-16s from Shaw AFB and F/A-18s from MCAS Beaufort. Once in a while a Harrier from MCAS Cherry Point.

Did see the Boeing 747-LCF Dreamlifter here twice in the last week to pick up fuselage sections for the 787. WOW! What a huge airplane!

Walt

I found out today that the B-25 was Jim Kelly's beautiful J-model Pacific Prowler, on her way to an air show in Kentucky. For those who don't know, Pacific Prowler is Chuckie's roommate (she shelters in the VFM hangar when she's not touring).

_________________
Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

k5dh, I am on the other side of the lake from you.

I saw what I think is a TBM on friday? Must have been going to Denton and then the return. It was my first TBM sighting.

I though I could here something on both saturday and sunday but we have too many trees to see far. It may have been a merlin, did not sound like a radial.

I was down to the hangar on Sunday. A couple of folks told me there was a TBM active either Friday or Saturday in the area. One young lady said she saw it land, taxi, and take off at Alliance (reason unknown). So, you probably saw that aircraft. I don't have any info on its identity, however. Cavanaugh Flight Museum has a nice Avenger. Perhaps it was theirs?

_________________
Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

If it was Friday morning, it was the Cavanaugh TBM.

Kevin flew it over to Alliance, to do 2 full stop landings, then back to Addison for his 3rd full stop landing, just to make sure he was current.

He then picked up a mechanic and a volunteer, and flew to an airshow in Alabama, returning to Addison on Sunday evening.

Julian