Well, I’ve been chased enough to have to put this up.
Thanks to Steve R Patterson, and the rest of ‘Hopper Flight’ (Aero L-39 Albatross) I was taken up as a back seat ballast for a practice flight with Dave ‘Mildred’ Mills and our own SRP, out of a quiet little rural airport at a place called Oshkosh. I had hoped to fly with Steve (another day) but Buck was backseat with Steve, so I got to fly in the back of lead’s a/c; I think Steve had a cunning plan, as he wanted some”I love me” pics for his office wall, and I had been noted not to get jam on the lens, 8 times out of 10.
I got meself a flightsuit (at Oshkosh I suspect you can get ANYTHING aviation) an Aussie flag for the patch (can’t fly with ‘Old Glory’ on…) Parachutes were swapped over, between a/c as I din’t fit the original one. I was strapped in, and here’s the ‘ready to go’ pic…
By: JDK - 18th August 2004 at 17:04
Hi Steve,
Hope you’ve got a big office wall. There’s about 500 pics…
By: srpatterson - 18th August 2004 at 17:03
Thanks for posting the “I Love Me” photos James, and yes I did want a shot for my office wall.
There are a few airplanes floating around that are painted in the Egyptian desert camo. Lud Corraeo in Carson City has one, so it may have been his that was seen back west. The Red star and White 20 were the original insignia when this airplane was in the Soviet Air Force.
I’m in Breckenridge today, we’re preparing for a flight or two this afternoon. I’ll check in again later this week.
Cheers,
Steve
By: Andy in Beds - 18th August 2004 at 16:06
If you’ve not been to Oshkosh, and you like flying… Go. You’ve got to.
James,
You’re starting to sound like Patty now!!
Maybe next year.
Myself and Mrs AIB are actually off to the ‘New World’ at the end of September.
A week on the east coast then moving into the dark hinterland later–Kansas City way.
Cheers
Andy
By: JDK - 18th August 2004 at 15:57
Thanks Andy,
As an Oshkosh virgin, I went with the highest expectation and even then had those exceeded. The flight was icing on a multi-layer cake!
If you’ve not been to Oshkosh, and you like flying… Go. You’ve got to.
By: JDK - 18th August 2004 at 15:55
MOTF,
I have never been sick in an a/c.
Yet.
Like running out of fuel, or making a fool of youself, or groundlooping a T-6, there are only those that have and those that are going to. 😉
By: Andy in Beds - 18th August 2004 at 15:54
James
well done mate.
Both on the piccies and the flight.
Glad you enjoyed it.
All the best
Andy
By: JDK - 18th August 2004 at 15:53
‘Desert Camo’ number 20. Would anyone know if it was this machine or not? Bit of a long shot I know!!!
Er… Steve ought to, it’s his. I’m sure he’ll be along shortly to make a few comments…
The Hoppers (four, sometimes five) meet up to do formation work around, so it’s possible. It’s Egyptian colours originally (though I think the Star is an addition), and I looked had for a ‘Pierce Brosnan’ scratched into the panel.
There’s about 200 on the US register I believe, 100 or so flying. There was a good dozen or so at Oshkosh.
Cheers
By: B70780 - 18th August 2004 at 15:51
it looks like an f-5.
By: Manonthefence - 18th August 2004 at 15:50
Cracking shots James.
Make use of the gloves did you?????
Mr P , first shots of you L39 I have seen. Its a very smart looking aircraft.
By: Yak 11 Fan - 18th August 2004 at 15:48
Looks very interesting JDK, as a matter of interests whilst I was in California in March there were a few L39’s operating on occasion out of Gillespie Field one of which looked very much like the ‘Desert Camo’ number 20. Would anyone know if it was this machine or not? Bit of a long shot I know!!!
By: JDK - 18th August 2004 at 15:45
And here we are back down. Yes, there were about 1,000 other air to air shots, a few of which came out, but it might be a bit repatative.
That’s Mildred on the wing telling me “it’s over, time to get out” and that’s his a/c in the final pic.
Wizard show. Many thanks to Steve, the other ‘Hoppers’ and all the many people that made the flight, and the whole Oshkosh experience such a stunning one.
Cheers!
By: JDK - 18th August 2004 at 15:39
The previous shot was the Oshkosh approach – we’d called ‘Bingo’ for fuel and they had a controller who wasn’t on top of things, which is the only place you want to have control at Osh. A minor, minor point, but we were therefore landing late, and the sun was on it’s way down.
Even on taxi, Steve was in position.
By: JDK - 18th August 2004 at 15:36
And we do Formation. Don’t tell Steve, but aparently he dun good. I just relaxed and enjoyed the flying. Despite the hand on the stick, I did NOT ‘have control’ at any point.
‘Mildred’ was a great pilot – very smooth, and a barrel roll just because.
By: JDK - 18th August 2004 at 15:33
Off we go… Neat shadow the L-39 makes. OK, I’m biassed, but it’s a lovely looking a/c.
Soon after this I wondered how bizarre can it get. I mean, here I am, an Australian living in Britain, on holiday in Canada on a visit to the world’s biggest aviation event in the USA, behind a BIG bloke called ‘Mildred’, flying in a Czech jet trainer, in Russian markings, over Winsconsin, practecing military type formation flying for a bunch of civilians. Er. Not in the script really.
By: JDK - 18th August 2004 at 15:32
It’s all his fault, Guv.
Steve with his L-39
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August 18, 2004 at 3:31 pm