B-29 Superfortress "Doc" startup and takeoff at Oshkosh...

[Ace-Garageguy]

This airplane was an abandoned rotting hulk in the Mojave Desert back in 1987. Now she flies.

 

[Russell C]

Video sound of course never does these things justice compared to when you are there in person. The “Sentimental Journey” B-17 is based at the little airport about 4 miles north of me, I've turned in there on random drive-bys when I see or hear them starting it up, plus more often than not I zip outside to watch it when I hear it flying overhead.

Fantasy thought I have - likely not possible to happen for some or other regulations - is for a major commercial airport and one of its airlines permitting a dual purpose gate where the usual 737s park, but that also has a provision for a Constellation or Super Constellation. Imagine the reaction of regular airport folks who never expect to see such a thing either get to watch it pull in or start up and leave.

[slusher]

Great video of a classi big plane returned to glory" thank for posting"……

[Ace-Garageguy]

8 hours ago, Russell C said:

Video sound of course never does these things justice compared to when you are there in person. The “Sentimental Journey” B-17 is based at the little airport about 4 miles north of me, I've turned in there on random drive-bys when I see or hear them starting it up, plus more often than not I zip outside to watch it when I hear it flying overhead.

Fantasy thought I have - likely not possible to happen for some or other regulations - is for a major commercial airport and one of its airlines permitting a dual purpose gate where the usual 737s park, but that also has a provision for a Constellation or Super Constellation. Imagine the reaction of regular airport folks who never expect to see such a thing either get to watch it pull in or start up and leave.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

I was lucky enough to visit this aircraft and walk through her well before her purchase and subsequent restoration, when there was still a very real possibility she'd be scrapped.

It's good to know there are people in this country who understand the importance of preserving our mechanical heritage and history, and who are willing to step up with hard work and carloads of money to make it happen.

 

[iamsuperdan]

I'm not a big plane guy, but I love these old warbirds.

One of two remaining airworthy Lancasters is here in Canada, and it's on my list to get out to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and check it out.

https://www.warplane.com/aircraft/collection/details.aspx?aircraftId=4

 

[espo]

7 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

 

The first plan I ever flew in was a TWA Constellation from SFO to O'Hare in the '50's. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

2 minutes ago, espo said:

The first plan I ever flew in was a TWA Constellation from SFO to O'Hare in the '50's. 

Cool.

A long-gone friend of mine (he drove an Alfa Romeo) had been an F-86 pilot in Korea and was a Connie captain as they were being phased out of major airline service. The engines were getting tired, oil pressure was very low on some, and the company just didn't want to put any money into planes that were about to be retired.

The "fix" was to put black tape over the oil pressure gauges so as not to worry the pilots (the flight engineers' gauges were left visible) and hope for the best, as a Connie could maintain altitude on 2 engines and the likelihood of losing three at the same time was remote. True story.

[espo]

6 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Cool.

A long-gone friend of mine (he drove an Alfa Romeo) had been an F-86 pilot in Korea and was a Connie captain as they were being phased out of major airline service. The engines were getting tired, oil pressure was very low on some, and the company just didn't want to put any money into planes that were about to be retired.

The "fix" was to put black tape over the oil pressure gauges so as not to worry the pilots (the flight engineers' gauges were left visible) and hope for the best, as a Connie could maintain altitude on 2 engines and the likelihood of losing three at the same time was remote. True story.

Sounds like something Boeing might have done. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

2 minutes ago, espo said:

Sounds like something Boeing might have done. 

IIRC...

[ChrisBcritter]

Doc made a local visit a little while back. Two things you rarely see in Palm Springs: Rain and a B-29.

[bobss396]

We have a B17 that shows up around Memorial Day for an airshow. It and other WWII planes take off from a museum that was the home of Fairchild Republic Aircraft. 

I've told my kids that this was close to you'll ever get to seeing a dinosaur 🦕. 

[ranma]

Years ago when the presidential aircraft at the then Dayton Air Force Museum were housed on the wright patterson air base. I  was thin enough to walk through them ,  and had to watch out for static electric shock! The space that one tours through them is only about 19 inches wide!

[TarheelRick]

The 'Connie', designation C-121, was used in Viet Nam as a flight control and weather aircraft. I used to have a cassette tape of Viet Nam war songs, written and sung by pilots; first wife decided to record over it. Anyway, one of the songs was from a Connie pilot. The only line I remember from that song is "I'll bet none of you other mothers can handle that much tail." They were retired just shortly after I arrived in Thailand, some of their maintenance people came to Udorn, RTAFB to finish their one-year SEA short tours.

[Ace-Garageguy]

B' bye.