more for airplane buffs

[Rusty]

http://home.comcast.net/~bzee1a/Edwards ... rds09.html

Edwards AFB open house

[C. Cash]

Wow!!!!!!!!!

[pdentrem]

Beautiful! If one has the chance, go to the US Airforce Museum at Dayton Ohio. Be ready to spend the day!

[adirondakjack]

There was a time when I thought I wouldn't care if I ever saw another B-52 take off. But 33 years after I left the USAF, and long since have chased the smell of JP-4 and hydraulic fluid from my nose, it's good to see em still at it. A few new mods to the H model, but still the same old Buff we used to crew chief I was there when the first Buff's got the "eyes" under the nose, and designed maintenance cradles for th newly modified downward egress hatches. I was 19.

[Grizz]

Some of the best flight fotos I've seen. Thanks for the heads up.

[jeepnik]

I do believe there was an error in the identity of the P-40. Seems to me that is a P-40 Tomahawk, the export variant.

[RIHMFIRE]

AWESOME POST!

[Cast Bullet Hunter]

I do believe there was an error in the identity of the P-40. Seems to me that is a P-40 Tomahawk, the export variant.

Th English called it the Tomahawk, the US Army called it the Warhawk.

[Hobie]

[gak]

Yes, wow! Some great
photography there - thanks for the air show! Loved especially the final banking shots of the B-17, B-25 etc.

I just got back a few weeks ago from my first visit to the Dulles wing of the National Air & Space Museum. Much more space - as in room, as you'd guess - than downtown. But speaking of more space, tTey have one of the Shuttles there. Talk about huge! Enola Gay there as well as the final 707 prototype. The B-29 was bigger than I had recalled, even by today's standards not a small plane. Pics next time (our camera goofed! Always its fault ) ...but another must-see air museum for y'all to visit.

[jeepnik]

I do believe there was an error in the identity of the P-40. Seems to me that is a P-40 Tomahawk, the export variant.

Th English called it the Tomahawk, the US Army called it the Warhawk.

There were differences between Warhawk and the Tomahawk. The Tigers flew the Tomahawk, as did the Brits. Interesting note is that the P-40 in either it's Warhawk, Tomahawk or the later KittyHawk version is the only aircraft flown by all of the allied nations. While not as "modern" as the P-38 or the P-51, it had the virtue of being able to be put into mass production sooner that either of those. The reason, much of the airframe is the same as the P-36. To a large degree, the P-40 was a P-36 reengined with an inline instead of a radial engine.

I believe, but can't tell from that photo, that this is the aircraft owned by Planes of Fame at Chino Airport. If it is indeed the same aircraft, the restoration was started by a group at Torrance "Zamperini Field" Airport. Squabbles developed amongst the restorers, and the project came to a halt. The plane was sold to Planes of Fame who completed restoration. I was a financial supporter of the original group.

[GonnePhishin]

Rusty, Awsome pictures and sounds. Thanks for sharing!!!

[olyinaz]

Early model Tomahawk:





Late model Warhawk:





The late model had better performance but the early model was much better looking in my opinion. What I've always disliked is late model Warhawks painted up in early model colors ("Flying Tigers" etc.) but that's just me.

Finnish P-36 Hawk:





The Finns used the "swastika" since 1918. The Nazis adopted a similar symbol and after WWII the Finns were prevented from using it any longer by treaties with the West and the Soviets. Those treaties have lapsed and the symbol is no longer forbidden, but there is still so much pain in the hearts of people over the Nazis that I'm doubtful the Finns will ever get their pretty blue Air Force swastika back in use.

Cheers,
Oly

[JDL]

Most Excellent!! Fantastic pix! Thanks for sharing.

[jeepnik]

Olyinaz, I think folks paint all P-40's like the originals as flown by the Tigers simply because it seems to be what folks expect. I know a number of outfits used the mouth design because it did evoke a certain aggressiveness. The P-40 has, likewise, always been my favorite WWII fighter. An underdog in performance when compared to many of the aircraft it faced, the skill and guts of those who flew them made the difference.

As the aircraft was improved with more horsepower, addtional weight from things like self sealing fuel tanks (a really great idea), heavier armament, and of course the weight of the more powerful engine pretty much kept its performace about the same. Still, it proved itself in many rolls from figher to escort to reconnisance, and ground attack.

It's interesting to note that after WWII, a number of smaller air forces flew them for a number of years. And this was even though aircraft like the P-51, P-47 and P-38 were made available to them for essentially nothing.

[olyinaz]

P-36 was my favorite of the lot!

Best,
Oly

[COSteve]

Beautiful! If one has the chance, go to the US Airforce Museum at Dayton Ohio. Be ready to spend the day!

And be prepared to shoot a ton of pictures! I stopped by there last October and shot 334 pictures. Looking through them in the hotel, I realized that I missed some shots I wanted so the next day, I went back again and shot another 288 pictures! (Don't ya just love digital cameras?)

[BAGTIC]

The P-36 Hawk had a few firsts of its own.

First AAF kills of WW2. First American plane to get kills in WW2 (Pearl Harbor).
Several French and Finnish pilots became aces in the Hawk before America's entry into the war.
Also, I believe, it was the only plane to serve on both sides, Allies and Axis.