Some pics from the 80's

[Eric Friedebach]

Eric, that photo reminds me of the Davy Crockett coonskin hat I used to have, or does lycanthropy run in your family?

Nope, just me! Some of ‘em are coming in grey now. Same thing is starting to happen to What’s-Her-Name too, much to my amusement. But she says “I EARNED them!”

Anyway, another picture from the 80s:



AT-11 at Lake Wales, FL in 1982. Stopped in on the way back from Sun N Fun.

[Jerry O'Neill]

Is it me, or does that AT-11's nose look longer than a standard one?
I realize the engiunes are off and that can make the nose look longer, but that appears to be an extened version of the bombadier's position.
Anybody?
Jerry

[Shay]

For comparison:



It does look longer.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[Stephanie]

The young lady wrote that she was new to Warbirds and I was just trying to give her an unbiased overview and summary. She obviously had good taste when she picked the 51 as a favorite.

Thanks! Most appreciated!

[RickH]

Be careful Stephanie ! Inside that polished polite exterior beats the heart of a lecherous old fighter pilot !

[Stephanie]

Worse might lay under my exterior!

Nah, it's all good. Everyone here has something good to bring to the table.

[RickH]

One can only imagine !

[Stephanie]

Ha ha!



. . . Typical Woman.

[T33driver]

Isn't is sorta redundant to use the words "lecherous" and "fighter pilot" in the same sentence?

[Eric Friedebach]

Is it me, or does that AT-11's nose look longer than a standard one?

Good eye, Jerry!

It was lengthened for aerial surveying work. Also notice the metal bar just forward of the windshield that was used for sighting.

[Bill Greenwood]

Stephanie, in my totally unbiased summary, I should have mentioned a few round engine planes that are also hot: DC3, B17, T-6,etc. 3 is the best plane ever made, did more, longer, in more ways, more places, and in some parts of the world still does! Ask any skydiver if they'd like to go out of one. 17 without speed or armour, carried lot's of brave young guys and many didn't return. 6, lot's of guys started in these and still have one to use when the glamor planes in the shop. Not much plastic, it was built to last. If you are real good in it you are really good. You may hear of a T-28. First don't go near with clean clothes. 2nd, you may hear "it's almost as good as a Mustang", but you won't hear Mustang owners say "it's a little better than a 28". 28s are popular for carrying photograpers and the spoils from shopping trips. If you see something huge and round, it's not a 28, it is a Trynoskyradierasorus, good for scaring natives in 3rd world countries. I'll do a pilot type summary for you one day.

[Stephanie]

I'll do a pilot type summary for you one day.

I will be looking forward to it. The B17 is probably my very very favorite. I was amazed by the one I saw at LSFM. Absolutely beautiful. I will have to study up a little more on the DC3 though.

[Taigh Ramey]

The AT-11 nose is longer than normal by about one foot. I wonder what that mod was for? Maybe more leg room for the co pilot.

Here is a shot of of the nose of one of the AT-11's in our shop:



More shots here:

http://www.twinbeech.com/at-11project.htm

[Eric Friedebach]

I wonder what that mod was for?

Taigh, I think it was for some large-format equipment.

I talked to the owner for some length back then, and he followed up with a nice letter and a B&W glossy when it was still flying with his company. That was 25 years ago, so the details are fuzzy to me right now. I’ll post more about this over the weekend in a separate thread.

I now return this thread to its previous silliness…

[RickH]

Stephanie, for DC-3 info, look for a long out of date book written by LtCol Carrol Glines Jr. and LtCol Wendell Moseley

Title is Grand Old Lady ( Story of the DC-3).