Big Warbirds vs. Small Warbirds

[TimAPNY]

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]

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.

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.

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.

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

Jim

[O.P.]

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]

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]

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.]

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!