News:

"The phone is a remarkably complex, simple device,
and very rarely ever needs repairs, once you fix them." - Dan/Panther

Main Menu

Anyone like WWII Aircraft?

Started by WEBellSystemChristian, July 31, 2016, 07:16:20 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

WEBellSystemChristian

My parents and I took a trip to Wings over Waukesha today, which showed a handful of parked WWII bombers and a P-51 Mustang at our tiny airport. They let us walk (or in my case, crawl and flop) around inside the three bombers they had there.
Christian Petterson

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" -Henry Ford

WEBellSystemChristian

Here's the B-25 Mitchell. We weren't allowed to walk inside this one, but we could view the inside through the open bomb bay.
Christian Petterson

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" -Henry Ford

WEBellSystemChristian

#2
The B-17 Flying Fortress. It was bigger than it looks in pictures, but it doesn't feel as big as it is from the inside. Most of the aircraft had such a low ceiling that I had to crouch, and I almost couldn't fit through many areas!
Christian Petterson

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" -Henry Ford

WEBellSystemChristian

#3
My favorite bomber: the B-24 Liberator. Despite the fact that it's much more massive than the B-17, the interior space isn't much better along the catwalk and near the cockpit, but the rear end near the waist guns was surprisingly spacious. The B-24 is my favorite, just from hearing some of the stories about how tough these planes were. Besides, most of them were built by Ford. I can't argue with that... ::)

This is the only B-24 in fully restored condition and flying, but it's not Ford-built.
Christian Petterson

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" -Henry Ford

WEBellSystemChristian

#4
My favorite fighter (possibly favorite aircraft of all time; a tie with the Liberator); the P-51 Mustang. I don't really have much to say about it, it was fenced off, so I couldn't get very close.

As we were leaving, we heard that unmistakable Rolls-Royce engine sound overhead; and turned around to see another P-51D landing on the airstrip behind the parked bombers.
Christian Petterson

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" -Henry Ford

Ktownphoneco

Thanks for posting the excellent pictures Christian.    I 'd have left finger prints all over those aircraft before I left.      Nice to see.

Jeff Lamb

Dennis Markham

Nice photos, Christian.  I am a fan of pretty much all aircraft but certainly the WWII planes.  I really like the Vought F4U Corsairs (as seen in the old television series Black Sheep Squadron).  But my most favorite has to be the Douglas C47, known by the civilian designation of DC-3.  There are many still flying out there.  One can hear those radial engines coming from a long way off.  I always drop what I'm doing to look skyward when I hear/see one coming.

It's good that you were able to attend the air show today.  If you've never been to Oshkosh for the E.A.A. airshow, it's certainly worth taking the time and making the effort to go.

~Dennis

jsowers

My favorite WWII aircraft is the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, said to be the inspiration for the 1948 Cadillac tailfin. I just like the looks of the plane more than anything else. It was easily recognized because of its twin boom design.

One of my favorite movies, The Best Years of Our Lives, has several good plane sequences in a Flying Fortress. Dana Andrews plays an Air Force veteran who dropped bombs from a B-17. It's well worth watching and gives you an accurate picture of the USA after WWII.
Jonathan

Dan/Panther

P-51 Mustang, in my opinion the nicest aircraft made.

Dan

The More People I meet, The More I Love, and MISS My Dog.  Dan Robinson

Dan/Panther

Quote from: WEBellSystemChristian on July 31, 2016, 07:46:45 PM
My favorite fighter (possibly favorite aircraft of all time; a tie with the Liberator); the P-51 Mustang. I don't really have much to say about it, it was fenced off, so I couldn't get very close.

As we were leaving, we heard that unmistakable Rolls-Royce engine sound overhead; and turned around to see a P-51D landing on the airstrip behind the parked bombers.

It has been said that the sound of a P-51 Mustang sent chills up the spines of the enemy.

Dan

The More People I meet, The More I Love, and MISS My Dog.  Dan Robinson

Fabius

Not as glamorous as the P-51 and the B-17 but a workhorse of WWII, Korea and the Cold War. This
C-54 SkyMaster is a veteran of the Berlin Airlift.

The first 3 pictures are from about 3 years ago at the Warsaw, Indiana airport airshow. The last picture is of a C-47 landing in West Berlin during the Berlin Airlift. (photo is in the public domain)
Tom Vaughn
La Porte, Indiana
ATCA Past President
ATCA #765
C*NET 1+ 821-9905

WEBellSystemChristian

#11
Incredible taste in planes everyone! I prefer the civilian version of the C-47, the DC-3. It looks more graceful in polished sheetmetal!

Another favorite of mine is the F-82 Twin Mustang. Something about it terrifies me. Maybe the fact that it's made from the most incredible aircraft of WWII, times two! :o
Christian Petterson

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" -Henry Ford

WEBellSystemChristian

Christian Petterson

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" -Henry Ford

19and41

Quote from: jsowers on July 31, 2016, 10:48:24 PM
My favorite WWII aircraft is the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, said to be the inspiration for the 1948 Cadillac tailfin. I just like the looks of the plane more than anything else. It was easily recognized because of its twin boom design.

One of my favorite movies, The Best Years of Our Lives, has several good plane sequences in a Flying Fortress. Dana Andrews plays an Air Force veteran who dropped bombs from a B-17. It's well worth watching and gives you an accurate picture of the USA after WWII.

You picked a good illustration.  That was the 5000th P-38 produced and they gave it a loud paint job to mark the occasion.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
— Arthur C. Clarke

Jester

#14
Quote from: WEBellSystemChristian on August 01, 2016, 07:01:36 PM
Another favorite of mine is the F-82 Twin Mustang. Something about it terrifies me. Maybe the fact that it's made from the most incredible aircraft of WWII, times two! :o

The aircraft pictured is the second prototype, and is the subject of a lengthy restoration by Tom Reilly in Georgia.  Originally designed as a long range escort for B 29s over Japan, it was developed into a night fighter to replace the P 61 Black Widow.  The prototypes and the first 20 production P 82B's are unique because they still use variants of the Packard Merlin, the engine that made the P 51 exceptional.  Some 280 aircraft were built, and five airframes survive today.  Of those, 3 are Merlin- powered machines.  Two are in private hands-- this one being rebuilt in Georgia, and a F 82e(Allison engine- powered) that is also being restored in Minnesota.  You can follow Tom's progress on his blog: XP-82 Twin Mustang Project.
Stephen