I saw something cool yesterday, July 4th......

[larman]

I am at my Mother-in-laws house in Rockledge, Florida. On the 4th, I was fishing in the lake behind the house when I heard the engines of an old plane. I look up and it was a WW2 era dual engine, medium size. I am not an expert, but I am almost positive it was a B-26 Marauder. Unfortunately, I left my phone inside and didn't get a pic, but I googled it and I think that is what it was. It turns out, the only one that is still in flying condition is/was not too far from here. That one is or was at the Fantasy of Flight Museum in Polk City. The color scheme is different than the one I saw, but most of the stuff online was from a number of years ago. The one that flew over had the black and white "invasion" stripes on the wings and fuselage, the pics online didn't, but I think the plane may have changed hands or got a repaint. Anyway, the sight and sound of it were awe inspiring and I felt really lucky to have seen it, especially on the 4th of July!

Edited July 6, 2021 by larman

[Ace-Garageguy]

A rare bird, for sure.

[TonyK]

Any of those old WW2 planes have a sound like no others. Happy for your experience.

[BlackSheep214]

If the tail had twin rudders it’s a B-25 Mitchell, A B-26 Marauder has a single tail rudder.

[Snake45]

Not saying it definitely wasn't, but I'm kinda doubting you saw Kermit Weeks' B-26. AFAIK it hasn't been flown in several years, and I don't think Kermit would put invasion stripes on it, as it's a much earlier version that they wouldn't be appropriate for. And I don't know of any other flying B-26s right now (but I would love to be proved wrong!). 

My guess is that you saw a B-25 Mitchell, a Douglas A-26 Invader, or maybe even a C-47. There are quite a few of each still flying, some with invasion stripes (even though they're not correct for a US B-25). Was the rest of the airplane bare metal, or olive drab and gray, or perhaps some kind of camo scheme? 

I'll do some looking around and see what I can find out about what you saw. 

ETA: Did some googling and turns out a C-47 (with invasion stripes!) from Titusville was flying yesterday. Google-image "C-47 Tico Belle" and see if that looks like what you saw. 

https://spacecoastdaily.com/2021/07/city-of-melbourne-to-host-4th-of-july-fireworks-at-front-street-park-watch-it-live-on-space-coast-daily-tv/

Edited July 5, 2021 by Snake45

[larman]

Yeah, I think I was WAY off, looking again I am betting it was a C-47, The color scheme was the olive drab with a gray belly. There is at least 1 in the area and it has the invasion stripes on it.  I am no expert with planes, as anyone who is would be able to tell by the fact that I probably misconstrued a common plane with a very rare one. Perhaps wishful thinking on my part?  When I was googling I saw that the only B-26 that can still fly was pretty close to what I thought I saw, so I though I might have gotten lucky. I really wish I would have had my camera, then someone would be able to say for sure, but most likely it was the C-47. I think my memory was distorted and I was thinking the cockpit was further back and the nose a little longer, but when I look at underside photos of the C-47, I think that is what it was. 

[larman]

2 hours ago, Snake45 said:

Not saying it definitely wasn't, but I'm kinda doubting you saw Kermit Weeks' B-26. AFAIK it hasn't been flown in several years, and I don't think Kermit would put invasion stripes on it, as it's a much earlier version that they wouldn't be appropriate for. And I don't know of any other flying B-26s right now (but I would love to be proved wrong!). 

My guess is that you saw a B-25 Mitchell, a Douglas A-26 Invader, or maybe even a C-47. There are quite a few of each still flying, some with invasion stripes (even though they're not correct for a US B-25). Was the rest of the airplane bare metal, or olive drab and gray, or perhaps some kind of camo scheme? 

I'll do some looking around and see what I can find out about what you saw. 

ETA: Did some googling and turns out a C-47 (with invasion stripes!) from Titusville was flying yesterday. Google-image "C-47 Tico Belle" and see if that looks like what you saw. 

https://spacecoastdaily.com/2021/07/city-of-melbourne-to-host-4th-of-july-fireworks-at-front-street-park-watch-it-live-on-space-coast-daily-tv/

Yup, that is exactly what it was. And would make sense with the direction it was going. Thanks Snake!

[RSchnell]

Like Snake pointed out, C-47. Tico Belle flies pretty regularly over the Space Coast area. Owned by Valiant Air Command based in Titusville, FL, the same outfit that recently had an Avenger that ditched in the Atlantic during the Cocoa Beach Air Show earlier this year.  

Here is a photo of Tico Belle I took at Sun N Fun Airshow a few years ago.

[NYLIBUD]

Very cool,I saw six fighter jets fly loud and low over my friends house.Not sure what kind they were,but they super dam fast and looked great in formation.Zooooommmmm!!!!

[Snake45]

An A-10 just flew over my house. Didn't even have to look out the window or leave the computer to know it--nothing else in the sky makes that distinctive whistle/whine. 

[JollySipper]

I live about a mile from a small airport that houses small Cessna-type planes..... The Marines use it for touch and go operations with the Osprey aircraft. I get to see them at least twice a month, and I see at least one personal craft a day when the weather is nice....

I won't dare call the Osprey a "plane", it's a VTOL Aircraft.....

[Snake45]

I saw my first Osprey last week. Thought it was a helicopter, close, and went out to look. Osprey. What it was doing around here, I have NO idea. 

[Tom Geiger]

There is a helicopter museum and airport in Westchester, a few miles away. We see interesting copters in the air. Never got any pix!