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XcYZ
07-19-2009, 04:10 PM
Went for a ride in a B-17 on Sunday. It was nothing short of incredible. Here are a handful of pics.


http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/B-17_01.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/B-17_02.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/B-17_03.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/B-17_04.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/B-17_05.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/B-17_06.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/B-17_07.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/B-17_08.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/B-17_09.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/B-17_10.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/B-17_11.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/B-17_12.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/B-17_13.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/B-17_14.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/B-17_15.jpg

LateNight72
07-19-2009, 04:16 PM
Very cool! The B-17 is one of my favorites. :thumbsup:

BBC71Nova
07-19-2009, 04:25 PM
That's awesome. Great pics too. So how'd it shoot :unibrow:

John

TreySmith
07-19-2009, 04:48 PM
Lol it has t-tops!

Stuart Adams
07-19-2009, 05:12 PM
Very cool.

Steve1968LS2
07-19-2009, 05:31 PM
Too cool!!!

How much extra to get to ride in the lower ball turret? :unibrow:

70rs
07-19-2009, 05:52 PM
Wow! That would be incredible! Thanks for posting. I can't help but think of the guys that had to use that equipment in battle. Awesome.

ironworks
07-19-2009, 05:59 PM
Super cool stuff Scott :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

camaro2nv
07-19-2009, 06:11 PM
Just wow! Thats awesome!

Autokraft
07-19-2009, 06:32 PM
Hey Scott thanks for the wakeup call this morning. As soon as you fired up your car I sat straight up and was like :hail: Time to go to Como Zoo:lol:
lol I was gonna text ya and ask you about your flight but saw this thread and figured out right away it must have been cool:thumbsup:

Spiffav8
07-19-2009, 06:46 PM
Very, Very Cool! I was lucky enough to go up in the Texas Raiders B-17 years ago. Even got to fly it from the right seat for about 5 min. I can only imagine what it would be like to be flying in a formation of B-17s with ME109s or Flack all over the place. :_paranoid

James OLC
07-19-2009, 07:25 PM
Awesome Scott - very cool!

caper150
07-19-2009, 07:34 PM
Cool, I saw that flying around...didn't you see me waving

Tom.A
07-19-2009, 08:29 PM
Cool :thumbsup: Hope your son got to go with you.

skatinjay27
07-19-2009, 09:10 PM
man that must have been real fun!!!!
sweet pics:thumbsup:

DEIGuy38
07-19-2009, 09:49 PM
That is a cool deal. I love old war planes. Just to hear the sound of those engines is music to my ears.

awr68
07-19-2009, 10:00 PM
That's way cool Scott! Great pics too! :thumbsup:

Rick Dorion
07-20-2009, 04:55 AM
Great pics, thanks Scott.

There was a fly-in a few years ago at Stewart and I went with my Dad who was a navigator on one. He never talked much about it but that day he kept everone spell bound with his stories. It was also very sobering to hear some of his tales.

XcYZ
07-20-2009, 05:39 AM
The men who flew those things in combat were real men. Taking that flight really puts those WWII books I've read in perspective. It was thrilling and sobering at the same time.

Here's a quick little HD video looking out over the bombardier's seat, but since the HD file sizes are huge, I edited for length to keep it's resolution.

www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/B-17.wmv

It's 5mb, so saving it first might work best.



I have a ton of pics and could post more if you guys would be interested. :thumbsup:

Bowtieracing
07-20-2009, 05:48 AM
Thanks for the intresting pics!! How was the engine sound?

XcYZ
07-20-2009, 05:56 AM
Thanks for the intresting pics!! How was the engine sound?

The engines sounded awesome. It was music at WOT, and was really loud inside the plane.

WicKeD_SS
07-20-2009, 06:43 AM
Thats WiCkEd! Would love to go up in that.... Great pics too! :thumbsup:

Spiffav8
07-20-2009, 09:41 AM
The engines sounded awesome. It was music at WOT, and was really loud inside the plane.

Like riding inside a beer can? :lol:

Musclerodz
07-20-2009, 10:17 AM
Nothing like the sound of 4 Pratt & Whitney radials churning. gets my blood pumping everytime. We use to have a family friend who was left seat captain for FIFI, the B-29 Superfortress, retired airpleine captain that flew for the Confederate Airforce

I grew up with old airplanes and have restored quite a few of them as well. One of these days I will get my pics put on the computer and post a few of them up

Spiffav8
07-20-2009, 02:35 PM
Nothing like the sound of 4 Pratt & Whitney radials churning. gets my blood pumping everytime. We use to have a family friend who was left seat captain for FIFI, the B-29 Superfortress, retired airpleine captain that flew for the Confederate Airforce

I grew up with old airplanes and have restored quite a few of them as well. One of these days I will get my pics put on the computer and post a few of them up

Do you know Bill Klares out of Realto, CA?

98ssnova
07-20-2009, 03:11 PM
Man I am jealous looks like you had a blast. How did you score the ride?

Musclerodz
07-20-2009, 03:30 PM
Do you know Bill Klares out of Realto, CA?

No I don't, there is a ton of people in the Confederate Airforce. The guy's name was Bill Thomas and lived here in OK until he pased away about 5 years ago. He quit flying FIFI about 10 years ago and flew the C-46 Tinker Bell for a couple years after that.

We have a bunch of other cool stuff based here locally like Miss America P-51, another P-51, Skyraider, 2 Douglas A-26's, and several others I am forgetting. Lefty Gardner's P-38 used to be kept here until it was sold a few years back. Another family friend takes care of alot of the privately owned warbirds in the area

Spiffav8
07-20-2009, 08:25 PM
No I don't, there is a ton of people in the Confederate Airforce. The guy's name was Bill Thomas and lived here in OK until he pased away about 5 years ago. He quit flying FIFI about 10 years ago and flew the C-46 Tinker Bell for a couple years after that.

We have a bunch of other cool stuff based here locally like Miss America P-51, another P-51, Skyraider, 2 Douglas A-26's, and several others I am forgetting. Lefty Gardner's P-38 used to be kept here until it was sold a few years back. Another family friend takes care of alot of the privately owned warbirds in the area

It's a real bummer that there isn't much here in Vegas. Only a P-51 and you never see it. I love the Skyraider! Big, ugly and mean! :unibrow: I've always wondered what happened to Lefty's P-38.

Man I need to go to the Reno Air Races! :cheers:

XcYZ
07-21-2009, 05:35 AM
Man I am jealous looks like you had a blast. How did you score the ride?

It's a ride along deal from www.B17.org They travel around the country and you can book 30 minute flights.

I highly recommend it. What an amazing experience.

syborg tt
07-21-2009, 06:54 AM
These have got to be the coolest pictures on the site.


Just AWESOME !!!!!:woot:

Garage Dog 65
07-21-2009, 07:22 AM
I can only imagine what it would be like to be flying in a formation of B-17s with ME109s or Flack all over the place. :_paranoid

ME109s and Flack !!! You're way to spoiled to fly one of those old beer cans jetboy... no FMS, no INS, no EFIS, and no triple AFCS with A/L ! Barely a hot cup of coffee in sight - and you have to bring that !!!!

....but it would be REALLY COOL !!! :thumbsup:

Way to go Scott and Thx !

Jim

Ricochet
07-21-2009, 09:06 AM
WOW!! Awesome pics Scott!! That had to be an amazing experience! We have a friend of our's that was in WWII. He has shared some stories that are unbelievable. He is 85 years old and still very active. We play gold together form time to time and he just a kick and a great story teller!

Spiffav8
07-21-2009, 09:49 AM
ME109s and Flack !!! You're way to spoiled to fly one of those old beer cans jetboy... no FMS, no INS, no EFIS, and no triple AFCS with A/L ! Barely a hot cup of coffee in sight - and you have to bring that !!!!

....but it would be REALLY COOL !!! :thumbsup:

Way to go Scott and Thx !

Jim

I've got a few classics in the log book. B-25, T-6/SNJ, Steerman, Beech Stagger Wing and a T-33. I spent a few years working airshows and got to know a lot of the owners. Never asked for a ride...just always there and always willing to help. :D

rogue
07-21-2009, 09:50 AM
absolutely awesome. I want to do that one day, or a P-51 ride along...

1970judge
07-21-2009, 09:55 AM
Awesome pictures man, airplanes were my first love and I am also a HUGE history person. I am sure that was a blast!

Beach Cruiser
07-21-2009, 11:58 AM
Those are great pics! Once in a lifetime ride.

There's a guy here in Va Beach that has the largest private warbird collection in existance. Check out this link http://www.fighterfactory.com/

I saw the P-40 and the Avenger chasing a Zero last weekend! and no, I'm not kidding. He flies them every weekend, not uncommon to see the Corsair or the P-51 flying in formation down the beach.

Spiffav8
07-21-2009, 01:26 PM
Those are great pics! Once in a lifetime ride.

There's a guy here in Va Beach that has the largest private warbird collection in existance. Check out this link http://www.fighterfactory.com/

I saw the P-40 and the Avenger chasing a Zero last weekend! and no, I'm not kidding. He flies them every weekend, not uncommon to see the Corsair or the P-51 flying in formation down the beach.

I want to be that guy! I would give everything I own for a P-40!! :yes:

XcYZ
07-21-2009, 02:55 PM
Here are 13 more random pics. :cheers:


http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/g_B-17_05.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/g_B-17_01.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/g_B-17_02.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/g_B-17_03.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/g_B-17_04.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/g_B-17_06.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/g_B-17_07.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/g_B-17_08.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/g_B-17_09.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/g_B-17_10.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/g_B-17_11.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/g_B-17_12.jpg

http://www.lateral-g.org/temp/B-17/g_B-17_13.jpg

Rick Dorion
07-22-2009, 04:42 AM
Those catwalks sure are small, aren't they!

At Stewart they had a P-51 where they'd give rides (expensive).

One person who bought a ride was a Luftwaffe pilot who wanted to see what they were like.

Modmach1
07-22-2009, 11:45 AM
Awsome pictures Scott :thumbsup:
Looks like a lot of fun!

Kendall Burleson
07-22-2009, 09:56 PM
Killer stuff

Derek69SS
07-23-2009, 08:27 PM
Cool! I assume that's the same B-17 I saw flying over Lino Lakes on Saturday evening :thumbsup:

Moose
07-24-2009, 01:53 PM
Great pics Scott.. I'm not a fan of riding in planes, but that to me looks like a history lesson with fun built in

Spiffav8
07-24-2009, 05:54 PM
ME109s and Flack !!! You're way to spoiled to fly one of those old beer cans jetboy... no FMS, no INS, no EFIS, and no triple AFCS with A/L ! Barely a hot cup of coffee in sight - and you have to bring that !!!!

....but it would be REALLY COOL !!! :thumbsup:

Way to go Scott and Thx !

Jim

Hey I started out old school and can do the job without all the fancy gizmoes. ;)

Seeing the photo's Scott posted sent me back a few years to when I was working on air shows. It didn't take long before I was digging in old photos recalling a great time in my life. This kind of aviation is what kicked it all off for me. Kicking around the hanger with the WW2 vets was always fun...flying with them was an honor I will never forget.

Thought I would post up this silly picture snapped just after landing in West Jordan, UT in a B-25 after a 2 1/2 hour flight with a P-47 tucked under my wing.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh191/67OZ/CAF1.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh191/67OZ/AlanP-47D.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh191/67OZ/IntheMood.jpg

V8TV
07-24-2009, 08:12 PM
Awesome stuff. Thanks for posting guys!

g356gear
07-25-2009, 01:17 PM
Wow!! Amazing Pics. Always been partial to the B-17's and P-51's as my favorites.:thumbsup:

Garage Dog 65
07-25-2009, 07:49 PM
Wow Curtis, great stuff right there, you're a lucky man !!!

There is a small antique aircraft fly in here in Indy each year (Hagerstown IN) for folks on their way to Oshkosh. They fly out the next day as a formation on their way to the show up north. About 30 aircraft stopped in this time for an over-night (Waco's, Monocoupe, Fairchild, Travelaire, Stearmans, Stinson, plus several kit planes too) and the perform a quick show (fly-bys, formations, flour sack bomb drops, ballon busting, throw a roll of TP out the cockpit and see how many times you can cut the tail before it hits the ground, etc.) Plus there is a bunch of Model A's and T's that show up. Last year it was the Model T celebration - so the field was covered with about 1000 T's and about 30 planes. Lot's o fun for propeller heads !

Jim

Garage Dog 65
07-25-2009, 08:00 PM
Oh, and most were all dope and fabric - no sheet metal allowed :)

Musclerodz
07-25-2009, 08:11 PM
Oh, and they were all dope and fabric - no sheet metal allowed :)
The Monocoupe you have pictured belongs to a customer of mine named Bob Coolbaugh. The wood prop on the front it was built by my other company Falcon Propellers. I have been manufacturing certified wood propellers for about 10 years now. Company has been for sale for a couple years, can't stomach the liability anymore
http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/attachment.php4?attachmentid=18732&d=1248577209

Garage Dog 65
07-25-2009, 08:19 PM
Beautiful work Mike !!! The props on these guys are wooden art.

David Pozzi
07-25-2009, 10:19 PM
Scott,
I flew in Aluminum Overcast a few years ago in California. Did you get up the nerve to sit in the Bombardiers chair??? I did but my buddy would NOT. :unibrow:

The top turret is removed, bubble is still there but the mechanisim is out of the way to make more room behind the pilot & co-pilot. Standing in the radio room was a bit scary since all it would take is to hit an air pocket and you'd fly right out of the plane!
David