Vulcan bomber.....Bombs away !

[New2meCB]

Re: Bombs away !

At Oshkosh each year there are usually a dozen or more P51s and a few really interesting other planes. The year my GF's dad passed we went up there and in front of us were the two planes he flew in WW2. F4F Wildcat and F4U Corsair.

The Corsair was really impressive as it folded its wings while running the engine up.

Hats off to you GF's dad.

Corsairs are nice indeed. Very cool. Very distinctive shape for the enemy to spot and be certain of identity though I always thought. Good pilots could wip these things around good though.

As a side note, I watched a Hawker Sea Fury like the one just to the right in the background stall in a heavily banked turn, roll over, and plunge straight into the ground years ago. It was awful. The pilot did not survive and, unfortunately to make it all worse, his young son was in attendance. It was a fully restored retired war bird with it's original engine still intact. It was a perfect specimen. One of very few that had it's original whirler and not converted to a racer. It was crazy nice.

The pilot was an experienced pilot and avid collector of vintage aircraft. It was sad indeed. Really wish I didn't see that.

 

[New2meCB]

Re: Bombs away !

A couple other shots.

One for MotorbikeBruno...........There's the spinner for you

Another nice pistoned flyer (P-47) and the infamous (and creepy to look at) Enola Gay in the background (the B-29 that dropped the first nuke for those who don't know - a real dark day in history IMO).

And of course, not piston engined but still wickedly stellar, the SR-71 Blackbird. Sheesh......cool beans.

 

[DrJ]

Re: Bombs away !

Another nice pistoned flyer (P-47) and the infamous (and creepy to look at) Enola Gay in the background (the B-29 that dropped the first nuke for those who don't know - a real dark day in history IMO).

What? Don't tell me you're one of those historical revisionists? That bomb ended the war and save countless American lives. The world would've turned out far worse if there was a land invasion instead. Anyway don't soil the memories of the these great aircraft and the men who flew them that changed the world for the good.

 

[New2meCB]

Re: Bombs away !

Absolutely did NOT want this to seem like a politically charged (either directly or through undertone) post. The entire war was a dark moment in history, not just the bomb. That's what I meant by that.

The plane was "creepy" because it singlehandedly took so many lives in the blink of an eye. Right or wrong depends on which side of the fence one stands and I'm not interested in debating all that jazz.

I enjoy the history and respect all who serve (past and present). Not just the U.S. btw.

It's all good.

Just a photo, not trying to sling mud, bro.

Peace.

 

[teazer]

Re: Bombs away !

They are all incredibly cool planes that to me, represent a different time when people had different values and recognized that they had a responsibility to each other and to strangers and not just whining about their "rights".

Not everyone that flew believed that war was the only solution or even the best solution, but all did so because they knew it was the right thing to do. Military aircraft are basically designed to kill people and much as we enjoy their incredible presence and admire those who flew them in those dark days, we shouldn't forget that.

War is something we should all work hard to avoid as a society and it should, in my opinion, be the last option - not the first.

The planes are incredibly moving though. The way they look and sound and feel is simply amazing and an enduring reminder of the sacrifice others were prepared to make on our behalf.

That's just my opinion. Yours may vary.

 

[New2meCB]

Re: Bombs away !

They are all incredibly cool planes that to me, represent a different time when people had different values and recognized that they had a responsibility to each other and to strangers and not just whining about their "rights".

Not everyone that flew believed that war was the only solution or even the best solution, but all did so because they knew it was the right thing to do. Military aircraft are basically designed to kill people and much as we enjoy their incredible presence and admire those who flew them in those dark days, we shouldn't forget that.

War is something we should all work hard to avoid as a society and it should, in my opinion, be the last option - not the first.

The planes are incredibly moving though. The way they look and sound and feel is simply amazing and an enduring reminder of the sacrifice others were prepared to make on our behalf.

That's just my opinion. Yours may vary.

Well said.

I enjoy them for what they are and have ALWAYS remembered the sacrifices made by many on ALL fronts. This history is too strong in my family to forget. It won't happen.

My entire life, I was surrounded by classic cars and hotrods under restoration (my dad and his V8 breath buds always working on them - still to this day on the cusp of 70 years old) and I can soooooo appreciate that side of classic birds too. The work that goes into these things is incredible and to fly them would be a dream come true.

They sound, smell and look so very awe inspiring. I never get enough of it.

 

[DrJ]

Re: Bombs away !

Didn't mean to ruffle any feathers but I'm constantly surrounded by lefties who don't know their history. They don't seem to be aware the Japanese were the bad guys back then. The machines of war, although created to destroy, advances technology by leaps and bounds.

 

[stroker crazy]

Re: Bombs away !

'Good guys' and 'bad guys' only exist in cowboy or gangster movies - the real world is a little more complicated than that.

Let's not continue fighting old wars; we have enough to deal with here-and-now.

Crazy

 

[xxxotiknightz]

Re: Bombs away !

i've gained a lot of respect for the old props. I recently got out of c-130 maintenance and though they didnt come into service til 54' the 130 was designed in the late 40s with WW2 tech. I love those old birds. My plane was 51 when it got retired.

 

[koolio]

Re: Bombs away !

Eh!. Dakota = civilian version of C47 middleweight transport aircraft. Lancaster = heavy bomber. US equivalent was probably the B17 Flying Fortress which isn't quite the same design philosophy.

Why would Generals from the Army be flying in bombers? Squadron leaders etc perhaps. It would have been unusual to have an Army officer along on a bombing raid.

I think that perhaps the stories have become mixed up over time - as happens.

General Carton de Wiart was in a Wellington when it lost both engines and crash landed. That guy was one tough MoFo. was shot in the face, head, stomach, ankle, leg, hip and ear; survived a plane crash, tunneled out of a POW camp, and bit off his own fingers when a doctor wouldn't amputate them. According to a Wiki, so it must be true!

I read his book "Happy Odyssey" I also did some round about reading, it's all true, he is also always complaining about British Bomber/Transports. I stand corrected it was a Wellington bomber he crashed in (not once), they were replaced by the Dakotas as transports. The British flew their Generals around in long range bombers in transport variations so did many nations the Russians for example, among the allies in the beginning only the US had the luxury of a dedicated transport, Dakotering their Generals around. The Germans also used dedicated transport planes as opposed to variations of bombers which were also sometimes used.

US equivalent was probably the B17 Flying Fortress which isn't quite the same design philosophy.

Except for the Lancaster was a Medium Tactical/Strategic Bomber and the B-17 a massive heavy purely Strategic bomber!

 

[koolio]

Re: Bombs away !

What? Don't tell me you're one of those historical revisionists? That bomb ended the war and save countless American lives. The world would've turned out far worse if there was a land invasion instead. Anyway don't soil the memories of the these great aircraft and the men who flew them that changed the world for the good.

Agree! I am not American btw so don't think I'm defending the States. The bombs saved countless lives against a brutal & fanatical enemy, how many Japanese were done for war crimes? They'd have had to take maybe 70% of all the Jap armed forces and put them in prison.

Lovely planes btw, drool!

 

[Titan performance]

Re: Bombs away !

Too much politics, and not enough pics of fabulous WW2 aircraft guys.
Those were horrid times for everyone, and the people responsible are pretty much mostly no longer with us.
Let's appreciate these fantastic aircraft....from either side, just as we do our bikes.

More pictures please !

 

[CafeRacer650]

Re: Bombs away !

I live about a half mile from an air strip, and every so often we get something interesting show up.
This is the last one of these still flying !

That is the ultimate WW2 war plane. Have you seen the old movie "Dam Busters"? It's a must see. Thanks for sharing.

 

[New2meCB]

Re: Bombs away !

How about a P-38? Love these as well.

Always LOVED the next photo. It's a low pass from in a Dehavilland Mosquito. I love it because no matter what generation you're from, adrenaline, is always a motivator for excitement. What a rush to fly low like this at just under 400mph!! Now THAT is adrenaline. 8) Not to mention the possibility of being caught and the repercussions that would follow. That would peek the adrenaline as well.......

 

[Titan performance]

Re: Bombs away !

A couple of awesome pics there New2meCB.

The area I live in has a rich history of WW2 goings on, largely due to the proximity to the French coast, which we can see clearly weather permitting. As stated earlier, Short Bros. built their famous flying boats on the river Medway just 40 miles away, and coincidentally, the bouncing bombs as used in the famous Dam Busters raids, were extensively tested along the shores at Whitstable, which is 15 miles from my house. Some of the tests were carried out using Mosquitos, (as above) to drop the proto-type bombs.

 

[AgentX]

Re: Bombs away !

How about a P-38? Love these as well.

Oh hell yes.


Edit: of an earlier generation, but I figure you guys might like this:

http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/

Did you know director Peter Jackson builds/restores WWI aircraft?!

 

[phxtoad]

Re: Bombs away !

My girls:

See more: www.azcaf.org

Keep 'Em Flying!

Todd

 

[Titan performance]

Re: Bombs away !

Superb pictures toad......

For a war bird that Fortress is beautiful !

Is that a slabbie on your avatar?

What's the bike above? Engine looks like a TL1000.........

 

[phxtoad]

Re: Bombs away !

Thanks! The inflight images are just screen grabs from the H5 production: http://vimeo.com/18135369

My bike is an SV650. My avatar is one of my old bikes from back in the day. It was a '86 GSXR-750. I had from '87 to '91. Wish I still had her...

 

[New2meCB]

Re: Bombs away !

Very nice vid.

Keep them flying indeed......

I'd love to take a ride in a Fortress.