Anyone else like Birds AND planes? (1 Viewer)

[string boozel]

You're right MJB I should have said DH Devon, as you rightly pointed out all the RAF's Doves were Devons. Have to say I've always liked the Pembroke, wish that I could have had a flight in one.

James.

 

[crazyfingers]

The Collings Foundation https://www.collingsfoundation.org/ is doing their tours and they came to the local municipal airport today with their B24J, B-25 and P51. Unfortunately their B17 had engine problems and was stuck at Burlington Vermont. It will hopefully arrive to be here tomorow. It's a 10 minute drive so we'll go tomorrow just to check.

Anyway, here are some photos first of their P51. It's a 2 seater.

 

[crazyfingers]

Here is the B25

 

[crazyfingers]

And the B-24J

 

[crazyfingers]

30 minute rides on the B-24 and B-17 are $450 /person. Rides on the B-25 are $400 for 30 minutes. A ride in the back seat of the P51 is $2200 for 30 minutes or $3200 for an hour.

I think that if I was made of money I'd take the kids on the B-17. But I think my wife would kill me if I shot $1800 to take my kids on a 30 minute ride. But it sure would be a thrill.

These planes visit our local municipal airport every couple years. They fly by our house on landing approach. I tell you that there is no mistaking the roar of the 4 engines of a B17 or B24 flying by the house.

The kids love it. Nothing like walking in them and under them at a low stress location like the local municipal airport. And watching them take off and land.

I am sure I posed some photos of this even from a few years ago in this thread.

 

[Bird_Bill]

30 minute rides on the B-24 and B-17 are $450 /person. Rides on the B-25 are $400 for 30 minutes. A ride in the back seat of the P51 is $2200 for 30 minutes or $3200 for an hour.

I think that if I was made of money I'd take the kids on the B-17. But I think my wife would kill me if I shot $1800 to take my kids on a 30 minute ride. But it sure would be a thrill.

These planes visit our local municipal airport every couple years. They fly by our house on landing approach. I tell you that there is no mistaking the roar of the 4 engines of a B17 or B24 flying by the house.

The kids love it. Nothing like walking in them and under them at a low stress location like the local municipal airport. And watching them take off and land.

I am sure I posed some photos of this even from a few years ago in this thread.

Those old birds still get around.
I recognize "Witchcraft" the B-24J as the same bird below. B-17 on its baseleg, in the background.

Just hearing the sound of those radials thumping along, and closing the eyes, invokes history I didn't see otherwise.

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Over Gravesend this morning. Any ideas?

 

[PYRTLE]

Mother hen and her chicks. Interestingly, the tanker has its refuelling boom in the down position. I didn't think they undertook fuel transfers overland. The K135R tanker would be out of RAF Mildenhall and the F15 fighter bombers out of RAF Lakenheath.
There is a high chance that these 6 are for the Saudi Royal Air Force on delivery. 2 were already at the base awaiting the next batch of 4 from the USA which arrived during last week. The flight of 6 F15S (designated as Saudi spec) took off this morning so you did well to capture them going over.
The flight of 6 was coded Retro 61, the tanker Gold 13.

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Thanks Pyrtle. I hadn't even clocked the refuelling boom! I wondered if it was some head of state with a security escort, but it's much better to have a well informed opinion, as well as plenty of background gen.

 

[Snappercool]

I'm new to this site but these are my 2 main interests.
I went to RIAT this year and found it a wonderful experience.
Fantastic displays and lots more besides.
F35 was my favourite, but as ever the F16's are spectacular.

 

[MKinHK]

Any thoughts on what these two Chinese helicopters that flew over my head at my San Tin patch in Hong Kong might be?

Cheers
Mike

 

[Hauksen]

Hi Mike,

Any thoughts on what these two Chinese helicopters that flew over my head at my San Tin patch in Hong Kong.

The smaller one probably is a Harbin Z-9, a license-built variant of the Aerospatiale Dauphin. (Note the shrounded tail rotor the Aerospatiale designers loved so much.)

Regards,

Henning

 

[Farnboro John]

Any thoughts on what these two Chinese helicopters that flew over my head at my San Tin patch in Hong Kong.

Cheers
Mike

I think - and I'm not 100% on this - that the larger chopper is also an Aerospatiale clone, this time of a Super Frelon.

John

 

[Owen Krout]

I think - and I'm not 100% on this - that the larger chopper is also an Aerospatiale clone, this time of a Super Frelon.

John

Looks to me like you and Henning are correct on both John. The Super Frelon would be a Z-8 both manufactured under license in Harbin.

 

[Owen Krout]

An interesting one from yesterday while birding is that I was overflown twice yesterday by a Y-5, the Chinese copy of the Soviet AN-2 biplane! Original design dates from 1946. When living in Shenyang 15 years ago I used to see one make a daily run out of a military airport every late afternoon, but I hadn't seen one since 2003. That one was a dark green. This one was painted up in bright red and looked quite spiffy! From the direction, it could have been on the same run as what I used to see, maybe Shenyang to Jinzhou.

I didn't snap a picture out of habit from when I was teaching at the Shenyang Aeronautical/Aerospace University where I was told not to take pictures of aircraft in flight coming out of the production plant, which commonly overflew the university.

 

[Hauksen]

Hi Owen,

Looks to me like you and Henning are correct on both John. The Super Frelon would be a Z-8 both manufactured under license in Harbin.

Entirely accidental on my part ... I meant to write "Z-9", as I commented on the smaller helicopter.

I had no idea these two types were just one typo apart!

Regards,

Henning

 

[MKinHK]

Many thanks gents - they were a nice addition to a decent morning's birding at San Tin.

Cheers
Mike

 

[Hauksen]

Hi Owen,

This one was painted up in bright red and looked quite spiffy! From the direction, it could have been on the same run as what I used to see, maybe Shenyang to Jinzhou.

The Antonov An-2 is a popular aircraft for hauling skydivers. I've seen one brightly painted one doing that at an airshow of the Polish Air Force, and I suppose that was a service aircraft.

Maybe the Chinese Antonov version you saw has the spiffy red paintjob so it can show off at airshows, too?

Regards,

Henning

 

[Andy Adcock]

What's this then fellas?

Very high over my patch in St Petersburg and taken on full zoom with my pocket digi so apologies for poor quality. Thought it was the regular 'Coaler' that we get over until I got it in the bins.

Looks like a Russian equivalent of the C-130.

 

[Hauksen]

Hi Andy,

What's this then fellas?

"Cub", not "Coaler"

Antonov An-12, a few years younger than the C-130.

Regards,

Henning