WWII Weekend

AVGWarhawk · 02-02-09, 10:40 AM

I drove 3 hours in 98 degree heat....I would do it all over again...it was that good.

Truly, this is the best show I have ever been to. You can talk to the pilots and inspect each aircraft like you are the chief mechanic. That is how close you can get. When they fire them up to fly, you only need to stand back 20 feet. Smell the exhaust, feel the prop pushing the air. Really, up close and personal. Last year was the first time I went and I was blown away by it all because it was all close up and personal. Not like a museum were everything is roped off. It is in your face cool.

AVGWarhawk · 02-02-09, 10:44 AM

Nikki.........you bet! I spoke to the pilot for over a half hour. He flew it in from NY. He flew it for the show. My most favorite bird was there in front of me bigger then sh!t. I looked the whole plane over, up close and personal. The pilot was just as friendly as hell. I was a kid in the candy store.

I will post some more pics from last year shortly.

AVGWarhawk · 02-02-09, 10:48 AM

nikimcbee · 02-02-09, 11:12 AM

okay, you win!

That looks totally cool.

I wonder if southwest flies out there?

AVGWarhawk · 02-02-09, 11:22 AM

Some video. Hope they work for you. Note how close I am with my camera. Right next to these planes! These pilots/owners love sharing their toys

http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q...Weekend114.flv

http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q...Weekend107.flv

http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q...Weekend123.flv

http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q...Weekend092.flv

nikimcbee · 02-03-09, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

okay, you win!

That looks totally cool.

I wonder if southwest flies out there?

This looks very temptng to do... How close is it to Gettysburg?

AVGWarhawk · 02-03-09, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

okay, you win!

That looks totally cool.

I wonder if southwest flies out there?

This looks very temptng to do... How close is it to Gettysburg?

123 miles. That is about as far as I have to drive.

UnderseaLcpl · 02-03-09, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

******* me sideways! Is that a Stug III Ausf. G? The Saukopf (or whatever the German word is for Pig's Nose) looks a little different, maybe it is an Ausf. H, but I will be damn sure to go if they have a Stug of any variety. One of my favorite afv's of all time, that one

NealT · 02-03-09, 06:30 AM

Just to make you jealous, when I was in the military, I used to run airshows and got to meet/greet/mingle with ALL of the pilots and ground crews...and during the airshows themselves I was on the 'front lines' all the time. My favorites? The WWII crowd. Loved it when the CAF would fly in from all over the country. Never really realized how big some of the fighters were and how small the bombers were of that time...

The most fun? Sitting in the cockpits...listening to the old time fighter/bomber jocks tell their stories...

CaptainHaplo · 02-03-09, 06:59 AM

AVG - don't forget to visit the one at Ft. Eustis VA (its at the main entrance onto the post, cant miss it) - they have the only remaining RAH-66 that I know of. While they don't have much on WW2 equipment - they do have some. *Its focus is rotary wing - some of the original helos!*

They also have the flying saucer that was designed as a 2 man transport! Weird!

AVGWarhawk · 02-03-09, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

AVG - don't forget to visit the one at Ft. Eustis VA (its at the main entrance onto the post, cant miss it) - they have the only remaining RAH-66 that I know of. While they don't have much on WW2 equipment - they do have some. *Its focus is rotary wing - some of the original helos!*

They also have the flying saucer that was designed as a 2 man transport! Weird!

Fort Eustis is close to me. I'm in Baltimore. Is this a museum?

AVGWarhawk · 02-03-09, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NealT

Just to make you jealous, when I was in the military, I used to run airshows and got to meet/greet/mingle with ALL of the pilots and ground crews...and during the airshows themselves I was on the 'front lines' all the time. My favorites? The WWII crowd. Loved it when the CAF would fly in from all over the country. Never really realized how big some of the fighters were and how small the bombers were of that time...

The most fun? Sitting in the cockpits...listening to the old time fighter/bomber jocks tell their stories...

This is what make this show unique Neal, you get to talk with the pilots and crew. You get to walk right up to the planes and put a finger on it. Of course respect for the craft and the owner is the better part of valor but if asked to look inside, the pilots and crew will let you. Heck, I was poking my head inside the bomb bay of a B-25 to take pics of 500# bombs. The owner of the Warhawk I spoke with for 30 minutes. He was from NY and the third owner of the aircraft. He completed the restoration. That Warhawk posted above originally was on top of a bar out west. It had so many coats of paint that preservation was excellent. His biggest concern were the props because at $125,000.00 each, bending one is no fun and they are very hard to find. For a few bucks(upkeep of craft) you can get right in the B-25 and few others. Front line is excellent...20 feet away is the rule. You are right there with the smell of oil, exhaust and prop wash blowing your hat off. $425.00 get you a good 30 minute ride in a B-17 and for lesser money, WW2 trainers, bi-plane open cockpit. Really, these guys loved sharing their toys. It was unbelievable.

AVGWarhawk · 02-03-09, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

******* me sideways! Is that a Stug III Ausf. G? The Saukopf (or whatever the German word is for Pig's Nose) looks a little different, maybe it is an Ausf. H, but I will be damn sure to go if they have a Stug of any variety. One of my favorite afv's of all time, that one

Actually, this tank was from the movie Band of Brothers.

. A few of the real BoB were there and some of the actors from the movie.

HunterICX · 02-02-09, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

The pilot was just as friendly as hell. I was a kid in the candy store.

I would be too, World War II has the best War equipment IMO.
especially the warbirds and tanks of that era.

HunterICX

AVGWarhawk · 02-02-09, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterICX

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

The pilot was just as friendly as hell. I was a kid in the candy store.

I would be too, World War II has the best War equipment IMO.
especially the warbirds and tanks of that era.

HunterICX

Really, I have not been to a show like this. Normally you are a million miles away. Can't see crap, can't hear crap. Not here. You are right up on everything. I was astonished they had the 20 foot rule when the aircraft are operating. You are right there...simply amazing watching and hearing a P-51 fire up and run....not to mention flying! I never thought in a million years I would be able to witness that. So, this year I checked early and posted for others to come out if they can.

See my videos a few posts back.

02-02-09, 10:40 AM	#1
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,287 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	I drove 3 hours in 98 degree heat....I would do it all over again...it was that good. Truly, this is the best show I have ever been to. You can talk to the pilots and inspect each aircraft like you are the chief mechanic. That is how close you can get. When they fire them up to fly, you only need to stand back 20 feet. Smell the exhaust, feel the prop pushing the air. Really, up close and personal. Last year was the first time I went and I was blown away by it all because it was all close up and personal. Not like a museum were everything is roped off. It is in your face cool. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

02-02-09, 10:44 AM	#2
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,287 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Nikki.........you bet! I spoke to the pilot for over a half hour. He flew it in from NY. He flew it for the show. My most favorite bird was there in front of me bigger then sh!t. I looked the whole plane over, up close and personal. The pilot was just as friendly as hell. I was a kid in the candy store. I will post some more pics from last year shortly. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

02-02-09, 10:48 AM	#3
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,287 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	__________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

02-02-09, 11:12 AM	#4
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	okay, you win! That looks totally cool. I wonder if southwest flies out there? __________________

02-02-09, 11:22 AM	#5
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,287 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Some video. Hope they work for you. Note how close I am with my camera. Right next to these planes! These pilots/owners love sharing their toys http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q...Weekend114.flv http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q...Weekend107.flv http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q...Weekend123.flv http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q...Weekend092.flv __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

02-03-09, 06:30 AM	#9
NealT Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 2 Meters Below Jimbuna Posts: 1,060 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Just to make you jealous, when I was in the military, I used to run airshows and got to meet/greet/mingle with ALL of the pilots and ground crews...and during the airshows themselves I was on the 'front lines' all the time. My favorites? The WWII crowd. Loved it when the CAF would fly in from all over the country. Never really realized how big some of the fighters were and how small the bombers were of that time... The most fun? Sitting in the cockpits...listening to the old time fighter/bomber jocks tell their stories... __________________

02-03-09, 06:59 AM	#10
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	AVG - don't forget to visit the one at Ft. Eustis VA (its at the main entrance onto the post, cant miss it) - they have the only remaining RAH-66 that I know of. While they don't have much on WW2 equipment - they do have some. Its focus is rotary wing - some of the original helos! They also have the flying saucer that was designed as a 2 man transport! Weird! __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

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