Jim_HarleyAce’s aircraft
Mustangs
George Preddy is well represented Cripes 3rd and Cripes
John Meyer Petie 2nd and 3rd
Don Blakeslee
Don Gentile Shangri La “D” model(s)
William Halton
Joe Mason
Bill Whisner Moonbeam and Princess
Chuck Yeager
Bud Anderson
John Landers
Claiborne Kinnard Man O War
Angels Playmate
Pierce McKennon Ridge Runner
Edwin Heller Hell er Bust
Kit Carson Nooky Booky
Don Bockhay
Pete Peterson Hurry Home Honey
Bob Goebel Flying Dutchman
Bill Bailey Double Trouble
Doc Watson Sparky..(original airframe)
P-47
Bud Mahurin Spirit of Atlantic City
Just off the top of my head…
Jim
Jim_HarleyB-17’s
Operationally active -17’s that I know of
“Nine O Nine”
“Sentimental Journey”
“Thunderbird”
“Sally B”
“Yankee Lady”
“Aluminum Overcast”
“Memphis Belle”
“Pink Lady”
“Texas Raiders” (CAF) Down for the count…for awhile
“Shady Lady” Not an active flyer
“Miss Angela” Very limited flying schedule
“Killer Bee” One more flight scheduled to the MOF
“Chuckie” recently made Airworthy but no activity
“Fuddy Duddy” Airworthy but no budget
Kermit’s airplane is nowhere near flying
Planes of Fame is seeking funding for the restoration of Piccadilly Lily
Tom Rielly is nearing completion of “Outhouse Mouse”
The restoration of “Desert Rat” is progressing slow but sure
The “Lacey Lady” is seeking funding
I’m no expert…but I do have the honor of being on the full time crew of “Nine O Nine” …we BS about B-17 activity all year
Cheers,
Jim Harley
Jim_HarleyFlying P-38’s
Jon Maguire’s machine is supposed to be airworthy…although it probably won’t be flown any time soon. The same can be said for Yanks Airmuseum’s -38. The MoF machine was traded/sold to the CAF in exchange for the P-82…don’t know the details. The remains of Scatterbrain Kid are out there as well for possible rebuild…again not sure of the details.
Jim
Jim_HarleyAs the rumor mill turns….it was reported on another board that the Paul Allen P-40C is being fully outfitted to combat specs somewhere in CA. Project Tomahawk is also underway in california and substantial sections of fuselage are completed from airframe(s) recovered from Hawaii. Do a google search for Project Tomahawk. There was also a plea in a recent air classics for P-36 parts…this would make a great addition to the current warhawk population as its closest kin.
Jim
Jim_HarleyCrazy Horse…long
Gary,
Just for the heck of it I rewatched the tape last night to make sure I didn’t have a lapse in memory. As Lee Lauderback went through the start up checklist he primed her and called over the r/t to “help” him cover the brakes as he engaged the starter. All through the taxi phase he emphasized the need to “S” turn the fighter to see over the long nose. The brakes are key in controlling the speed…but not to be overused. The runup was incredible. Lee called over the r/t that he was going to roll the canopy shut and that I had the controls, and that he would watch me on the brakes. He instructed me on the various power settings whilst he handled the mag checks. When the power was up to around 25in. the whole airframe rocked and strained against the brakes. Never in my life have felt anything like that from an a/c. I cycled the prop and mixture control and then it was on to the active. Lee had me run the engine up to 25″ and hold the brakes as I was to follow him on the controls through takeoff. At brake release the plane literally lurched forward and seconds later he called 55IAS and to ease the stick forward to get the tail off. The plane flew itself off and pulled the gear up less than a propspan from the runway. Lee held her down the entire length of the runway and at the end we went nearly vertical well past pattern altitude. During the climb he once again called over the comm “your airplane” and put his hands up in the air to show me he was no longer flying 😉 ….I can’t say enough about this experience…I still get goose bumps.
Jim
Jim_HarleyMustang Checklist
When I flew her in ’94 there was no mention of brakes either…when that fan starts turning you just automatically move your feet to the tops of the rudder pedals and push. Once you begin taxi it takes a fair amount of coordination of brakes for speed control …no so much for directional guidance. The run-up phase is incredible. The entire airframe shudders and shakes as if it wants to launch straight off. At the completion of my flight my legs felt like mush…it is a very “rudder active aircraft” and at speeds over 250 the pedals feel as if they are set in concrete. Don’t let this fool you though…it is a delight to fly and very docile. Another deviation from the stock checklist is the 9 degrees of right rudder trim added before takeoff compared to 6 of a stock airframe. A fair amount of right rudder is held from brake release through cruise climb. “step on the ball” echoed through my headset as we departed Latrobe airspace….what a machine!!!!
Jim Harley
Jim_HarleyRE: Airshow Irritations!
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 07-01-03 AT 08:33Â PM (GMT)]This says alot for having a press pass…maybe its time to start a warbirds internet news site and aquire a pass. The differences between US shows and European shows are remarkable. The restrictions placed on British shows are much more stringent than over here. If you get to a show early enough in the states you are surely garuanteed unresticted viewing and photo taking…with no ropes or boundaries. One memorable show in Louisville,KY…at 8 in the morning…strolling down a lineup of no less than 25 Mustangs…unrestricted and no charge $$… maybe it is my age showing but the last show I went too…the Gathering of Corsairs…I took less than 30 pictures. It was nice to sit back and just enjoy the sights and sounds…not to mention the low blood pressure of not worrying about photo interference…and getting the perfect shot. More and More I am leaving this to the magazines. I will never complain about any airshow irritations…given the expense and time it takes to organize these events.
Jim
Jim_HarleyRE: So flight-sims are for kids right? Wrong! Zerstorer anyone!!!
Ok…this is going to sound like a shameless plug…and it is. Go to edimensional.com they have a wonderful pair of “plug and play” 3D glasses that bring Flight Sims ALIVE. The graphics in MSFS2002 are breathtaking…as are MSCS2 and 3 …IL2 is supposed to be better than the graphics enhancment on the microsoft sims (IL2 is a christmas present this year!) With a big enough monitor I would gather that a slight motion sickness could be had depending on your settings level. It is impossible to get a screen shot…but I assure you, you will be astounded. Flying MSCS3 in a Mossie with those Merlins humming outside the cockpit look as though you can reach out and touch them. Tracers spray way out in the distance and make gunnery sooo much more realistic. Winter in Ohio makes flying the real thing sporadic at best…and I have found a great way to save on Avgas!!! http://www.edimensional.com have a look…it is amazing $100
Jim Harley
Jim_HarleyRE: Take a look at this!!
This airplane was built primarily in Canada by the Blayd Corp. . They manufactured enough parts for 3 a/c …I think only 3, I could be wrong. Gerry Beck from Tri-State Aviation and his crew completed this, the supposed first machine at his base in the midwest U.S.. Gerry is best known for his Mustang scratch building capabilities, and is very well known “over here”. He is also building a P-51A replica which is at least 50% completed, as noted on the MustangsMustangs site.
Jim Harley
Jim_HarleyRE: A tough question about real pilots in fictional films.
Here are a few that I know of…
John Travolta…accomplished private Pilot
Bob Barker…SBD Pilot WWII
Ed Macmahon…Navy Pilot WWII
Tom Cruise…Mustang owner and Private Pilot
Charleton Heston…B-25 Crewman WWII
Jack Webb…B-26 Instructor WWII
Harrison Ford…accomplished Private Pilot
a couple I have heard rumors about, but not sure about thier service careers.
Jack Pallance
Walter Mathau
Jim
Jim_HarleyRE: FW-190 at Manching
Ok…and American slant. I can’t wait to see Rudy Frasca’s Flugwerk 190 gracing our skies…or for that matter…whomever purchases a Flugwerk 190, I can’t wait to see it in the air either, whether I get to see it in person or not. I think it is fantastic that they are building new 190’s and new P-51’s. They sell…it is a matter of supply and demand. I’ve had the good fortune of knowing several warbird owners. Alot of them buy what fits thier personal needs…both in function and investment. The owners that I know love to fly and love to have fun flying in their machines. They also don’t want to wait 5-6-7 years for a special “one-off” machine to be built…just look at the track record of the Grummans and 262’s and how many times they have changed hands or have had backers drop out. The fact that one can purchase a new P-51 is amazing…and it will add to the immediate “fun factor” for the person that writes the check…he has earned that right. He can also paint it any color he wants. I attend at least 10 shows a year around the east coast. For the most part it is the same Mustang…doing the same show…but it never gets boring. I used to think that about watching Bob Hoover in his Shrike. Now that Bob is no longer flying shows I miss him terribly.
I honestly wish that there were more Spits and Hurricanes flying in the U.S., and everytime I see the CWH Lanc I am very greatful, not only for the history that it represents…but just enjoying the flying existence of this machine. I can tell you without a doubt that any airshow that I have attended the rare British types generate the most interest and scuttlebut among an airshow crowd. British and American crowds are not that different…we just see the war from a different point of view and our aviation bias is slanted towards our respective countries and machines. Lets face it…the growing number of Mustangs in Europe has alot to do with fun factor, bookings, personal ambition. I truely believe that if an airplane looks fun to fly…it will be built eventually. The Polycarpovs are a perfect example of this. It looks tricky to fly…it has been portrayed as tricky to fly and it doesn’t sell well. The Mustang is not hard to fly, it is available and it is easy to build…the same goes for the Flugwerk 190’s. The war in Europe was one by the Allied nations…no one country can claim a decisive action the stopped the war.
Jim
Jim_HarleyRE: One Hundred years – Five Aircraft
Moggy,
I guess I should have backed those up with some personal opinion 😉 all in fun though.
1. Piper J-3 – Revolutionized light plane flying and personal aviation for millions of people.
2. SR-71 – This aircraft was 100 years ahead of its time. We still don’t know all it’s capabilities. It set the ground work for aircraft that I am sure we have no clue exist.
3. Spitfire – No other aircraft in history has been enamored with the plight of a nation’s survival. A truely classic design that will never be taken for granted.
4. P-51 – Another classic design that laid the ground work for fighter performance and carried us through to the jet age.
5. DC-3 Modernized and revolutionized air transport in all forms, from people to jeeps, and fish to poultry. This airplane will fly well into the next century as one of the most enduring designs ever created.
IMHO
Jim Harley
Jim_HarleyRE: One Hundred years – Five Aircraft
>
Ok, I gotta put an American slant on this 😉
In no Particular Order
1. Piper J-3 Cub
2. Douglas DC-3
3. SR-71
4. P-51
5. Spitfire
Jim_HarleyRE: P-51D
I personally hope to see her returned to her 78th FG lineage. The historical significance almost needs no question. Although I do not have a link to the specific page, Mr. Grey gave extensive comments regarding this particular P-51 on the Warbirdsresourcegroup.com info exchange. He has a particular fondness for this a/c and it is great that he can make it part of his collection. It would be a great sight to see ex combat vets Miss Helen and Twilight Time roaming England after all these years. Great stuff!
Jim Harley
Jim_HarleyRE: Flying experience
I’ll have a go at this one…I’ll exclude the spam cans.
B-17 Aluminum Overcast about 20 minutes dual 1hr. total
B-17 909 about 30min. dual 1.5 hr total
TF-51D Crazy Horse 1hr dual
P-51D Petie 2nd
SNJ 2hr. dual
B-25 Gaurdian of Freedom 1hr. dual
Waco UPF-7 30hrs.
Christen Eagle
Piper Cub
Marquart Charger
Ford Tri motor (kalamazoo)
This is a testament of how generous those in the warbird world are with thier aircraft. Lots of great flying!
jim
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