South County- A couple months ago.....

[O.P.]

Hi All!

Dan D had me over for a trip to a kinda airport day/airshow over at South County a little while back. I was just going through the few pictures I took and decided to post a couple three.

As all of you know, The T-28B being the best airplane ever made, made for a totally b1chin ride over from LVK. We made a pass in and folks were digging it.

Highlights (In personal order)

1. A totally b1chin Nanchang. A very nice ride. That just made the list. I always liked the rat radial kinda sound and way they are. This one convinced me. (No, I haven't went over to the dark side. I just still need the 500 hours to get to gods country, and this would be a nice way to get there.(Besides, it ain't like it's a spitfire or something wierd like that) ).

2. Prop Shop and Museum. Wanna see how wooden props are made, this is the place for you. Very cool. The museum has a Waco 10/GXE/ inline engine ride. One of the airplanes of the gods. Very cool too.

3. A single seater Yak. What was interesting about this one is it is unpainted. But wait there is more! It looked like it was alodined, no sh1t. It was a gold alodine color. Interesting to a wannabe A&P like me.

4. An RV/Bonnaza/Lancair/WTF formation flyby. Ahhhhhhh, Ohhhhhh, hey, what the hay, they said they had been practicing, right? Jesus H.......I was waiting for one of those "Dude! I was there when it happened!" moments......NATA, think NATA for god's sake.....

5. A very tired B-25. A Rep? Or the Owner? Talked to Dan and I for awhile about the plane. One of the engines started going south on the way back from being retrieved. Using and blowing out a ton of oil. They made it back ok. They have a foundation to restore it. Thats cool. Besides having the Mark Twain phobia about groups (I wouldn't belong to any club that would have me), I just don't think I would fit into an airplane club where I don't fly, and there isn't a lot of beer involved. Thats just me though, feel free to join.

6. A very sweet Stearman. Talked to the owner for awhile. Got into the liability discussion. Boils down to one more plane you'll never ride in. I don't blame the guy. He's a Cool dude.

7. RCAF Mustang. Ain't seen that one before.

Thanks again Dan! I think I have officially passed the quarter of a zillion hours in the backseat. I am very lucky and Dan has made it possible.

Here are some of the pictures I did take.

[Eric Friedebach]

Hey, that T-28 is only 40 numbers behind one of the ones we have here!

I also think that’s cool seeing kids getting the opportunity to sit in the cockpit of that T-6.

[n5151ts]

...to use T-28 and the phrase "best airplane ever" in the same sentence....I'll check .....although they are really fun, noisy and SLOW!

[O.P.]

...to use T-28 and the phrase "best airplane ever" in the same sentence....I'll check .....although they are really fun, noisy and SLOW!

I am for separation of church and state, but, You obviously worship the devil. I have no problem with whatever god you worship, but I think god might have a couple ten problems with you dissing his perfect Airplane.

Go ahead, tell me about pointy airplane blasphemy. Or about how the T-6 is this that and another thing. Those are not right. Those are false beliefs. You should Repent, really, It's nice over here. We go fast. We have enough room for all the guns and weed, and, chicks dig us, because we rarely wear underwear, and when we do, it's something special, in a mesh.......

(Yeah, I know I didn't get the "Stripes" reference right. I'm a couple three beers into the evening, My God forgives that) heheeeee

[Roger Cain]

Hi Orvis,

The P-51 is Ken McBride's bird: http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p51regis ... 74311.html
of which he also owns the B-25 Mitchell. The Mustang was on display with the Wings of History Museum for quite a few years, but I think it may have it's own hangar at the airport now, not sure.

As there were lots of local events going on that same weekend, I went to the Hiller Aviation Museum where they had a "Trainer Day" with a dozen planes or so, and from there I went to Sonoma Skypark for the Taylorcraft fly-in before going up to Placerville in the evening for a driveby at Cameron Park.

[visaliaaviation]

Talk about dredging up old memories! I used to swim in the lakes shown in the aerial photo,. IIRC those are "Trout fishing" ponds now! Several of the exhibits at the South County Museum have a very personal connection to me. Although I didn't know it at the time , I painted a panel on the Pobjoy engine display when I was about 15 or16 (I'm 58 now). That engine and prop were once on Ole Falen's Cub, which was in our family garage in San Jose for paint way back then.
Thanks for the airplane views, too!

[visaliaaviation]

/forgot to ask about the "odd" prop blades evident on that Mustang!! Anyone know from whence they came?

[51fixer]

/forgot to ask about the "odd" prop blades evident on that Mustang!! Anyone know from whence they came?

I believe they are cut down from an Albatross?
Also the rudder looks like it has some wrinkles in the lower rear portion. With the lower cap removed I wonder if the tail wheel collapsed?
Seems odd to tie down a Mustang outside.
Rich

[cluvara]

/forgot to ask about the "odd" prop blades evident on that Mustang!! Anyone know from whence they came?

I believe they are cut down from an Albatross?
Also the rudder looks like it has some wrinkles in the lower rear portion. With the lower cap removed I wonder if the tail wheel collapsed?
Seems odd to tie down a Mustang outside.
Rich

Normally, it's in the Wings of History museum at San Martin. Ken hasn't flown the airplane in probably 7 years.

I believe they are actually Northstar blades.

[CAPFlyer]

Have any pictures of the 'Chang? I only see one of a Yak in what you posted.

[O.P.]

Have any pictures of the 'Chang? I only see one of a Yak in what you posted.

I'll admit, I'm lame in the commie airplane department, but, it had some chinese looking letters in the cockpit, so I figured Nanchang.

Just looking it it up, right this minute, Yak, Nanchang, they're kinda close.......

[Mike]

What, Tom Wathen's gorgeous Comet doesn't even make your top 7 or warrant a photo, instead of which we get to look at all these round-engined spam cans???!!!

[airnutz]

What, Tom Wathen's gorgeous Comet doesn't even make your top 7 or warrant a photo???!

I'll second that notion, Mike!

How about the golden Yak too please?

PS
OP, As to your "Mark Twain quote"...'twas a mangled Groucho Marx quote which Marx mangled from a
Forsyte Saga character...but I digress...

[Scepter]

[quote="51fixer] Seems odd to tie down a Mustang outside.[/quote]

It is very odd to see a Mustang tied down. I took this pic in May '07.

[n5151ts]

(Yeah, I know I didn't get the "Stripes" reference right. I'm a couple three beers into the evening, My God forgives that) heheeeee [/quote]