When I was 17, I saw her fin sticking up over a hangar at LBB. No 1 engine sprung a leak after the Reese AFB open house and they parked her on the west side of the intergalactic airport.
I was drooling at the fence when an old guy came rolling up in a VW. He unlocked the gate and told me to "bring that stuff" he piled up by the fence.
I got to climb up in there thru the nose wheel and sit in the pilots seat. The Norden sight was donated by Col. Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Man, I was in hog heaven. I will never forget that. Next time I saw her was at Wings Over East Texas in the late 80's, sitting on the ramp at GGG. She hadn't aged in 10 years, but I sure had.
Oh Lordy what a mix of good and not. As historic beasts these things really should be on the ground and stay there; no sense in getting someone hurt and destroying a piece of history.
I believe that one shows up every year at Hillsboro (Oregon) air show. Since we live in the hills S of there, for several years I got to hear it come overhead at low altitude. The sound is unbelievable, they just don't make motors like that any more. Your hair stands on end, trust me.
If I'd known you were here, I'd have got you into a great spot to see them. Let me know next time.
ReplyDeleteI missed them too... dammit...
ReplyDeleteA wonderful plane. They should park it before it breaks.
ReplyDeleteThe donation I make each year to the CAF is marked "For Fifi".
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 17, I saw her fin sticking up over a hangar at LBB. No 1 engine sprung a leak after the Reese AFB open house and they parked her on the west side of the intergalactic airport.
ReplyDeleteI was drooling at the fence when an old guy came rolling up in a VW. He unlocked the gate and told me to "bring that stuff" he piled up by the fence.
I got to climb up in there thru the nose wheel and sit in the pilots seat. The Norden sight was donated by Col. Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Man, I was in hog heaven. I will never forget that. Next time I saw her was at Wings Over East Texas in the late 80's, sitting on the ramp at GGG. She hadn't aged in 10 years, but I sure had.
Oh Lordy what a mix of good and not.
ReplyDeleteAs historic beasts these things really should be on the ground and stay there; no sense in getting someone hurt and destroying a piece of history.
I believe that one shows up every year at Hillsboro (Oregon) air show. Since we live in the hills S of there, for several years I got to hear it come overhead at low altitude. The sound is unbelievable, they just don't make motors like that any more. Your hair stands on end, trust me.
ReplyDeleteMissed it too, sadly... but I did get to see a 4(?) Lancaster bombers fly over Buckingham Palace back in the '90s.
ReplyDeleteWith Bonneau, "Your hair stands on end."
Quite a thing.