Warbird Information Exchange

http://jetpilotoverseas.files.wordpress ... 4-0035.jpg

Boeing has luggage going in style .... in a military jet before the B-707 flew

Who knew it was so compacted for the ground crew to load and unload....

Nothing unusal about that. Just don't pack anything that can't stand the cold and lack of pressurization.
Remember the baggaage pods under T-33s? I think other types had modified drop tanks to hold baggage.

When my brother was an airman a Luke and my dad the maintenance commander at Duluth, dad sent my brother's golf clubs in the missile bay of an F-106, the wing commander happened to be going that way. 40+ years later, my brother still talks about his "Mach 1" golf clubs.

Later when in the AF, we had a DO who told me that a few years earlier (I don't know what rank he was at the time) he decided to bring home a case of wine from a flight to Germany. It seems there are hiding places in F-4 access panels to stach wine bottles. They sure wouldn't freeze...
Well, someone found out and the wing leadership was not amused. Somthing about illegalimportation of wine or customs violations.
He made full colonel, but that mark on his record cost him a chance to become a Wing Commander.

He could have been pulling my leg, but I don't think so.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

I've heard tales of a 'special' 350 centerline tank for A-4's that was 'hands off' @ a N.A.S. in Florida in the 70's and had never had a drop of JP near it, but, about twice a year the Squadrons C.O. would make a weekend trip to Rosie Roads in Peurto Rico with that empty tank aboard and it would return full of some sort of combustable solution.

_________________
Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

I have personally seen burlap sacks full of fresh shrimp and oysters loaded into F-4 travel pods that found there way to the New Mexican desert ! I understand that found there way to the kitchen at the Holloman O Club still nice and cold !

_________________
"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

Yeah, just remember that if you decide to fly a bowl of fresh salad that you punch holes in the Saran Wrap before putting it in the (empty) gun camera bay of an RF-86F. My great uncle (George Saylor) did that when the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron deployed from Japan to Korea at the start of the Haymaker flights. Ended up with salad all over the gun bay and a dressing down of George by his crew chief on arrival.


(USAF Official Photo)

Anyone know the real gen on Mustang made droptank icecream?

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Good point! Whenever canned or bottled sodas are flown to village stores in the Canadian or Alaska interior (absolutely NO alcohol is allowed in the interior by either Canada or Alaska law) it's shipped in sealed containers either pressurized or closed just before startup to whatever the current departure barometric reading is so it won't blow up en route, same for any type of chips or snacks in newer style packages 'want some more CHEETOS dust to go with that Dr. Pepper spray coating?'

_________________
Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

I have seen pics of a WW2 spitfire flying the channel to France with beer kegs on the bomb racks, one under each wing. The higher ups stopped the practice, supposedley the Crown was not getting the tax on the beer.

This. But.

Umm. Not really, though that's what's being reported on the internet.

The beer kegs were a publicity stunt, from the start - 'Spitfire Mod XXX' - and a good one, despite my comment. Meanwhile the real beer was sent (in greater quantity) via drop tanks. A quick internet search shows the same repeated account with the claim of the shipments being stopped - but in an obviously US originated version of the story with HM Customs & Excise given incorrectly as 'British Ministry of Revenue and Excise'.

If that doesn't show the writer has no idea what they're is talking about, another line is: "If the Spitfire flew high enough, the cold air at altitude would even refresh the beer, making it ready for consumption upon arrival." Um, no. British beer is (famously or infamously, depending on your beer culture) served at room / cellar temperature, never refrigerated / cold.


Note the obviously posed press publicity stunt nature of this shot.

Several images here (Spit1 - 4): http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f133/ ... /Spit1.jpg

There are several more reliable versions of the story in print, but I don't particularly go for Spitfires, and I don't like beer, so I'm not the person for more gen. Over to others!

Regards,

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Careful James, people have been transported to the Colonies for less!

Sadly, that would explain most of our beer, wouldn't it?

_________________
Lest Hero-worship raise it's head and cloud our vision, remember that World War II was fought and won by the same sort of twenty-something punks we wouldn't let our daughters date.

He's already in Australia,....

_________________
"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

The traditional place to send those deportees who have been extra-naughty is Norfolk Island, I believe.

If I'm remembering right, Shorty Mines in this interview mentions using RNZAF Canberras in Singapore to cool beer off with a high-altitude flight before a parties at Singapore.
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show.html#Ep16

Another illicit transport was Stringbags off MAC-ships bringing all sorts of stuff into Northern Ireland during WWII, but notably sacks of bird-seed (Bring Back my Stringbag).

Oh, man this could be a whole 'nother thread.
Things I've heard stashed from the source...

CH-46 Sea Knight, there is a space in the upper fuselage that stayed really warm. Certain crewmembers would stash their lunch in the upper knooks and crannies. Till one day, a fella forgets about his can of Pork&Beans and it exploded when it got too hot. Crew Chief made him clean up the mess.

WB-50 based at Guam. The base would get ice cream. A certain aircraft would "need" a maintenance test flight. After cruising around in the Flight Levels for awhile, back it would come with frozen ice cream.

lmao that was well put

_________________
Kind Regards,
Gary Lewis
J.A.F.O.