Warbird Information Exchange

Hi All,

While I was there for Saturday's display and a FINE one it was. I have a question for those of us who are very observent. On Saturday, when the B-17's were all lining up to taxi out to the active, I noticed Yankee Lady was taxiing with her bomb doors open, like many of the others did. However, when all of the remaining B-17's got to the active they all shut their bomb doors, Yankee Lady's still remained open. All of them departed the active and were airborne, and from what I saw, and I admit I was far away, it appeared that Yankee Lady took off with her bomb doors wide open. And they remained open during all of the passes she made. Now, I admit that my eyesight isn't the best and I am getting used to a new pair of prescription lenses, which are a bear, but I don't think I saw something that didn't happen and I consider myself fairly observant, mainly because of my job requirements.

So my question is this....did anyone else notice this as well ? Yankee Lady taking off with her bomb doors open ? And if that was the case...does anyone know what, if anything was the problem with her ?

Paul

I wasn't there so this is just a guess... air conditioning?

She took off doors closed,did some passes during the display both ways,doors closed then opened,and landed doors closed of course.

Doors where most probably left open on the ground to cool down the inside as much as possible.

Speaking of observant,

How bout the Mustang flights opposing passes on Saturday. That was scary for a few minutes. Did #s 3/4 not see that the lead pair went the other way? On the 3rd pass they turned it around and followed the #s 1/2

_________________
"Hindsight is usually 20% off!"

Yankee lady left the bomb bay doors open on all of saturdays flight. The bomb bay switch did not work when they went to close them on take off, so they decided to go with them open, so not to miss the flight. (from talking to the crew it was very safe to do).

As for the mustangs I do not know, but I did see it.

_________________
Michael Luther
Yankee Air Museum's
Air Show Director
THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN

A HAH....!!!


I thought I wasn't going blind !!! But since the operation with the doors open was okay for T/O ... wouldn't the low hanging doors be a problem on landing ?? Just glad the operation was a success and it was safe !!

Thanks for letting me know I wasn't "seeing things"....

Paul

Here it is landing on saturday.