WIX Archives

Re: What Gets You into the Warbird Spirit?

Posted by Ryan Keough on Tue Nov 11, 2003 06:55:55 PM

In reply top Re: What Gets You into the Warbird Spirit? posted by larry smigla on Tue Nov 11, 2003 04:56:08 PM

Larry,

Was that one the old Otis Spunkmeyer DC-3 that was at McClellan last year in a hangar. I saw it when we were there with the B-17 & B-24 I think.

Ryan Keough

: : I've sort of been in a warbird slump this year. I think
: i
: : t started back in March when the Tico airshow got cancel
: le
: : 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 summe
: r.
: : Since American Aero Services is near my house, I'd sto
: p
: : by often on my way home from work to check on the progre
: ss
: : 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 o
: n
: : my way back to work during my lunchbreak, and saw the Co
: rs
: : air taxiing onto the tarmac. I watched Dale Snodgrass t
: ak
: : e her into the air, her 2nd flight since the re-restorat
: io
: : 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 fig
: ur
: : e. Family engagements on Saturday make me reschedule my
: a
: : irshow visit for Sunday. The weather is beautiful on Sa
: tu
: : rday. Sunday greets me with 30mph winds, rain and no ai
: rs
: : how. The slump continues.
: :
: : Sitting at home on Sunday afternoon, I hear the unmistak
: ea
: : ble sound of a large radial engine. I rush outside just
: i
: : n time to see Michael Schloss fly directly overhead in h
: is
: : Skyraider. Ahhhhh, I love that sound. A few more pass
: es
: : over the house and he touches down at New Smyrna Airpor
: t.
: : 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 a
: re
: : 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" i
: s
: : back in town for her annual inspection and maintenance.
: T
: : his time is different however, this time she flew in wit
: h
: : 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 engi
: ne
: : s overhead. I can only imagine the view those lucky pas
: se
: : 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 th
: e
: : question... What gets you into the warbird spirit?
:
:
: my spirits have been lifted to the sights and sound of a c
: -47 dakota/skytrain flying overhead here in dixon californ
: ia, 30 miles west of sacramento, a/c appeared to be silve
: r and in early aaf markings/roundels
: nothing sweeter than the sounds of piston engines droning
: above you while you drive the forklift

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