Quote:
Originally Posted by Platapus
I went to Fulton County Alabama to enroll in Air Warriors. There I got to fly a T-34 (Post WWII trainer) equipped with laser tag equipment. Yes, fricking lazers baby.
I had the coolest former RAF pilot in the rear seat. There was another tourist in another T-34 and we were going to do some laser tag dogfighting. They taught us the "High Yo Yo" maneuver.
It was expensive, I almost got sick, I almost passed out from the heat, but it was pretty fun.
If you do go, my advise would be to avoid visiting Fanny's All Famous All Nude Show Bar and Grill. I stopped there for "one beer". Not a smart idea when you are going to be pulling "G"s the next morning. 
I don't know if Air Warriors is still in business (this was about 20+ years ago). But if you can scrape up about a grand for all the expenses, it is a good time.
But I was able to get the school to annotate my log book with T-34 time!  |
That place is totally on my bucket list; has been for years since I first heard about 'em - I've never flown outside the traditional civilian GA flight envelope, other than a mock strafing run in the B25 one afternoon (Whee! Other riders were a bit green, though) so that program sounds like a total blast. The only "combat" stick time I've ever had was in simulations - good one, but sims nonetheless.
Ever since I discovered that I wasn't able to fly military (eyesight) I had fallen off that wagon - until that ride in the Billy.
Got to say, though... takeoff run in a Mitchell is short, sweet, and to the point. BANG and you're up. For a twin-engine, she felt like a fighter. And the sound of those engines is VERY different when you're a few inches away from the end of the props! I think part of me is still aloft over the Appalachian foothills out here with a stupid grin on my face.
Collings Foundation's B-25 - Tondelayo - hasn't made it back up here in awhile; last I heard, she's in Florida, making money on short hops to help support their other A/C. Did have their Fortress, Liberator, and Mustang up here this year; didn't go up this year since I couldn't afford to be out of the loop with mom in the hospital. Next year, hopefully, I'll go up in one of the heavies.