Oshkosh 1970's Slides

[garbs]

Back in the day, the warbirds would start up and taxi to airshow center. Later, they would restart and taxi out to do their flybys. Anyone could fly anything, just no aerobatics unless you had the FAA card. So it was quite easy to put all the Navy or British aircraft together, or Grummans and create some neat photo ops. Miraculously no one ever got hurt and there weren't any mid air collisions. No formation card, type ratings, proof of insurance, or any other requirements.

In '74 I remember they fired a Very pistol as the sign to start engines. The flare landed in between two of the P-51's. After the show, they landed in one long line, not always single file:



Poor image, but you never see formation landings of tailwheel fighters on purpose anymore. That's probably a good thing. I also remember there were guys with carrier-type landing paddles stationed along the east side of the runway. If someone on rollout was getting close to the guy in front of him, the flagman would frantically wave the paddles to get the first guy to speed up. One of the three ex-FAG Mustangs did some pretty aggressive tail wagging just before touchdown (to avoid contacting the plane in front) and ran off into the grass.

Variety was excellent - at least 2 each Bearcats, Hellcats, P-38's, P-40's & Kingcobras.

[Red Tail]

The ground atmosphere at Oshkosh is much as it always was. I am always amazed that 99.9% of the airplanes are still not roped off. I was shocked to see Sierra Sue II sitting in the the Mustang Row with nobody around it one morning, no canopy cover, no ropes.
As for Airshows, I long for the days of Max Hoffman doing flybys. I also recall on several occasions back then a Bearcat, Mustang, and Sea Fury getting into an impromptu climb competition at the end of each lap that got progressively higher, faster, and louder. Good times.

Thank you for your expressed concern for what appears to be neglect of Sierra Sue II. Of course, this simply is not the case. In fact, because of her historical value, we are exceedingly protective of her.

We’ve never had any issues with people tampering with or climbing on any aircraft we’ve ever brought to Oshkosh. In our experience Oshkosh attendees are quite different than the typical airshow attendee who generally doesn’t have a clue when it comes to airplanes and thinks nothing of climbing, pulling, tugging, etc. We are much more careful at typical airshows while still remaining as inviting as possible. We invite people to get next to Sue and look her over closely without touching. I think you would agree this is much more rewarding to the show patron than having to look from afar.

If there is no threat of poor weather overnight, we choose to leave the canopy cover off for two reasons: 1) No matter how carefully it’s done, pulling the cover on and off of the airplane leads to scratching and scuffing of the canopy which requires polish to remove. Anybody who has polished a canopy knows it’s quite a job to get it “Perfect”. 2) The period correct canopy cover is made of canvas and takes quite a long time to drive the evening dew from it. If it’s rolled up damp/wet, the buckles and hasps rust and it runs the risk of mildew.

Interestingly enough one of us is never far from Sue throughout the day and even when we do leave for a period of time, her wellbeing is never out of thought…trust me on that!

John
SSII Crew

[glider90]

John, I want to thank you for your reply, and your attitude. If my post came off as concern for neglect, it was quite the opposite. I am thankful that the airplane is accessible. I was REALLY happy to find it without a canopy cover and alone in the grass that morning. I know last year was the debut and it was on the ramp area understandably. I have spent many a morning in the Oshkosh warbird area hoping someone would come over and remove the canopy cover before the masses arrived to get some decent photos. I also agree, that the Oshkosh crowd is not a typical airshow crowd. I hope it stays that way and we continue to be rewarded with unfettered access to these birds. I am very appreciative, and quite sure SSII is being well tended to. If you ever need a mustang sitter while you need to step away I would be happy to fill in. I am always happy to remind people looks are free, but touching is not!

[steve dickey]

In the second photo, I believe the plain polished metal P-51 was owned by Don Plumb.(Later destroyed flying into a thunderstorm).

I was also wondering about that. Especially since it is parked next to the 51 I think is Max Hoffman's "Boomer". There are however anomalies from photos of CF-USA both prior to and after this Oshkosh convention. Notable are the air vents on the lower cowls, RR badge on the cowl piece behind the vent, gun ports which I've never seen on CF-USA, and the lack of three digit serial on the gear door. The aerial protruding on the lower part of the cowl between the clam shell doors is similar though.




Also if it hasn't been noticed it has the Aeroproducts prop on it so maybe that will narrow it down some? Rare prop even now let alone back in the 70's!!

[JohnB]

Did BoB Hoover own his yellow Mustang?
A small piece on the latest FlyPast magazine says it was privately owned.

[maxum96]

Did BoB Hoover own his yellow Mustang?
A small piece on the latest FlyPast magazine says it was privately owned.

I believe Rockwell (successor to North American Aviation) owned the P-51. Hoover talks about North American buying the plane in his book. Hoover was a test pilot and later a manager for North American.

[JohnB]

That's what I alwas understood, that it was owned by NAR....but then I saw the magazine which claimed otherwise.

[Badman]

That's what I alwas understood, that it was owned by NAR....but then I saw the magazine which claimed otherwise.

I'm not a Bob Hoover expert, but I think there were at least 3 different Mustangs flown by him with the yellow paint job. The first one which I think is the one he writes about in his book being purchased by NA for him (N2251D). Then there was the last one he flew which I always thought he owned personally and sold it to John Bagley in Idaho (N51RH). Then there was the Leroy Penhall Mustang that he flew for a short time after the oxygen tank explosion in his first Mustang (I think it was the first one) that NA owned. He of course flew other people's Mustangs at shows throughout the years when his were down for repairs - but none of these were painted in his NAR colors as I recall. So, it is my understanding that both claims are true - he flew one Mustang owned by NAR and one that he owned personally.

Here's a photo of N2251D after the oxy tank explosion - http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=p-5 ... ajaxhist=0

[Cubs2jets]

Four pictures to the right is a picture of N6519D in the bushes. Rockwell International down the side of a yellow Mustang (pretty obvious a Hoover machine) What's up with that?

C2j