The good old days of airshows...

[L-188]

All sorts of things would turn up at air shows back in the day.

This young lady was trolling for a Mustang ride. She got her ride, dressed just like this...

While I must admonish her for not wearing a nomex flight suit and proper boots, i think I'll make an exception just this once.....

[Neal Nurmi]

Just a warbird sunset. That is the Caidin JU-52 in the air.


Mi79050 by Neal Nurmi, on Flickr[url][img][url][/url][/img][/url]

[Matt Gunsch]

One thing about the old days at shows was, we could not sell rides, if you flew in a 17 it was because you earned your way there by working the show and between shows. We also could fly during the show. I was in the tail turret of Sentimental Journey during a show at Chino, had several 25s off one wing, and A-26 off the other, until the last pass when we were solo, and the pilot did a low pass with a steep climb out with a chandelle at the top. In the tail turret it was a very exciting ride. I also flew during a show in Marana AZ with Evergreens 17 which was still a firebomber, I was running the top turret and was pointing it at the other 17 and the crowd as we did our fly bys.

[sledge39]

Sledge -- That Tigercat shot #3 is a wonderful look at a working Tigercat firebomber. That tank is wild looking on such a slim fuselage. I've never seen a shot that shows the tank like that. ....

Anouther F7F ... Hemet July 1975 ... "Tanker 62" N6129C

Sledge

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[Neal Nurmi]

The Alameda Naval Air Station, 1979.

At the end of the day Tom comes around to say I should be out in the street as the guys take off to head home...

Stoney remembers this pass.

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[Lon Moer]

The Alameda Naval Air Station, 1979.

At the end of the day Tom comes around to say I should be out in the street as the guys take off to head home...

Stoney remembers this pass.

Excellent propeller stop !

[Neal Nurmi]

This was a very nice seat for an airshow...

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[Hooligan2]

The Alameda Naval Air Station, 1979.

At the end of the day Tom comes around to say I should be out in the street as the guys take off to head home...

Stoney remembers this pass.

Was John Belushi flying it?

[AG pilot]

Did the Tigercats pictured hold 800 gallons of retardant/water, or was it more?

[Larry Kraus]

The normal contract load for F7Fs was 800 gallons of retardant. For a few fire seasons they were loaded with 900 gallons for initial attack and then reverted to 800. The initial retardant tanks for the Butler Aircraft F7Fs that went to TBM Inc. would hold 1200 gallons, but it didn’t take long to realize that 1200 or even 1000 gallons was more than the airplane could safely carry.

So, the answer to your question is yes, the F7Fs carried 800 gallons of retardant.

[Stoney]

i also remember Crocker coming over the hangars at about 30' as we were walking out to the carrier. oh sh?t.

[AG pilot]

The normal contract load for F7Fs was 800 gallons of retardant. For a few fire seasons they were loaded with 900 gallons for initial attack and then reverted to 800. The initial retardant tanks for the Butler Aircraft F7Fs that went to TBM Inc. would hold 1200 gallons, but it didn’t take long to realize that 1200 or even 1000 gallons was more than the airplane could safely carry.

So, the answer to your question is yes, the F7Fs carried 800 gallons of retardant.

Thanks for the answer. It thought the tank might hold more than 800 gallons.

I am surprised it did not normally carry more, given it's size and especially the horsepower involved! I bet it could ferry fast!

The Air Tractor AT-802F can hold 800 gallons, but I am unsure what a common load normally is.

[Scott Rose]

[Neal Nurmi]

A couple from Chandler Field:

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[Neal Nurmi]

Fly With Texaco

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