WWII Weekend

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

I miss The Spruce Goose not being here anymore.

Those dumbass Longbeach, Ca. powerbroker/ idiots.

That was one of the things I'd take friends to see when they came to visit.

And I would tell them the Howard Hughs story too.

don't worry, you can come up and visit any time .

[UnderseaLcpl]

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]

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]

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]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

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

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

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

******* 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.

[AVGWarhawk]

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]

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?

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Actually my retirement plans are to visit each and every air museum no matter how big or small. I just need to tell my wife my plans

There's a not-to-shabby one at Hill AFB here in Utah. If you get out this way let me know.