WIX Archives
Re: What Gets You into the Warbird Spirit?
Posted by LARRY SMIGLA on Tue Nov 11, 2003 04:52:22 PM
In reply top What Gets You into the Warbird Spirit? posted by Tom Royal on Tue Nov 11, 2003 09:34:36 AM
: I've sort of been in a warbird slump this year. I think i
: t started back in March when the Tico airshow got cancelle
: d because of some bad weather moving in. That's usually t
: he first airshow of the season for me, and I make a big ev
: ent of it by camping out near the airport for 3 days to fu
: lly enjoy the sights and sounds of the various warbirds fl
: ying in and out.
:
: Due to work, family commitments, etc. I didn't have much o
: pportunity to do any aviation photography over the summer.
: Since American Aero Services is near my house, I'd stop
: by often on my way home from work to check on the progress
: of the Collings Foundation F4U-5NL, something I've been d
: oing ever since it's been here in New Smyrna Beach.
:
: Out of sheer luck I happened to drive past AAS one day on
: my way back to work during my lunchbreak, and saw the Cors
: air taxiing onto the tarmac. I watched Dale Snodgrass tak
: e her into the air, her 2nd flight since the re-restoratio
: n. Following takeoff Dale came around for an impressive l
: ow pass, something that will sit in my memory banks for a
: long time. I left the field and drove back to work, my wa
: rbird spirit renewed. Hours later I hear the news that a
: wheels up landing was made. A minor setback all in all, b
: ut still not good news. Back into the slump I fall.
:
: A catch wind of a free airshow to take place in Daytona Be
: ach. I'm excited. An airshow is just what I need I figur
: e. Family engagements on Saturday make me reschedule my a
: irshow visit for Sunday. The weather is beautiful on Satu
: rday. Sunday greets me with 30mph winds, rain and no airs
: how. The slump continues.
:
: Sitting at home on Sunday afternoon, I hear the unmistakea
: ble sound of a large radial engine. I rush outside just i
: n time to see Michael Schloss fly directly overhead in his
: Skyraider. Ahhhhh, I love that sound. A few more passes
: over the house and he touches down at New Smyrna Airport.
: There is light at the end of the tunnel.
:
: Yesterday, I decide to stop by American Aero Services on t
: he way home after work. Something is different. Cars are
: parked along the street, there is a buzz of activity. As
: I walk onto the field, with camera in hand, I'm greeted b
: y a familiar site. The Collings Foundation B-17 "909" is
: back in town for her annual inspection and maintenance. T
: his time is different however, this time she flew in with
: a friend. The EAA B-17 "Aluminum Overcast" sits on the gr
: ass nearby.
:
: Standing there on the grass, the sun setting to the west,
: the sky lit up with blues, oranges and reds, flanked by B-
: 17s on either side, I'm transported back to 1944. It is a
: magical moment.
:
: As I sit here and type, I hear the sounds of radial engine
: s overhead. I can only imagine the view those lucky passe
: ngers are enjoying as they take to the skies in a piece of
: aviation history. I'm also happy to say, the slump is ov
: er.
:
: My apologies for such a lengthy post, but it does ask the
: question... What gets you into the warbird spirit?
my spirit just got lifted immensely to the sight and sound of a c-47 in aluminum colros with early aaf markings flying over my work place in california, dixon, to be exect, 30 miles wet of sacramento