TORA practice 2012
Sun Apr 15, 2012 10:04 am
Every year TORA TORA TORA group of the Commemorative Air Force requires their particpating pilots to attend their practice if they want to fly in the upcoming season.
This year's practice was at Conroe, TX (CXO)
Last year Col. Buddy Cooksey came up with the inspired idea of re-integrating the B-17 into the act as needed, which gave the Gulf Coast Wing an excellent excuse to dust off the B-17 and fly with some of the greatest pilot's you would ever want to meet.
I wish I was a better photographer and that these pictures could convey just how impressive it is to see these guys fill the sky with planes at different altitudes, moving different directions in front of an Airshow box.
TEXAS RAIDERS will be making some appearances this year!
Low pass
and break
This year they presented Samurai Swords to some of their long-time members... They do the BEST job of recognizing dedication of any unit I've seen to date.
Missed us by THIS much!
Nose Art on her leg- How cool is that?
PS- MUDGE- they know how you hate seeing gallons of petrol immolated so they spared the pyro at practice and used the BTUs for cooking the steaks and chilling the de-briefing fluids.
SPANNER
This year's practice was at Conroe, TX (CXO)
Last year Col. Buddy Cooksey came up with the inspired idea of re-integrating the B-17 into the act as needed, which gave the Gulf Coast Wing an excellent excuse to dust off the B-17 and fly with some of the greatest pilot's you would ever want to meet.
I wish I was a better photographer and that these pictures could convey just how impressive it is to see these guys fill the sky with planes at different altitudes, moving different directions in front of an Airshow box.
TEXAS RAIDERS will be making some appearances this year!
Low pass
and break
This year they presented Samurai Swords to some of their long-time members... They do the BEST job of recognizing dedication of any unit I've seen to date.
Missed us by THIS much!
Nose Art on her leg- How cool is that?
PS- MUDGE- they know how you hate seeing gallons of petrol immolated so they spared the pyro at practice and used the BTUs for cooking the steaks and chilling the de-briefing fluids.
SPANNER
Re: TORA practice 2012
Sun Apr 15, 2012 6:48 pm
So is Conroe the new home for Tora Practice, one of my favorite events of the year? KLBX is sure a lot easier for me to get to. TR ..... and now Tora ..... migrating north on me is getting hard to take.
Pyro .... heh. I was offered an "apprenticeship" on the pyro team last time it was at B. County, and we managed to cook a certain passing Val wing. I learned one of the more valuable lessons about timing that day: namely, to make one's self scarce before others might have a chance to land and find out who dunnit, and put 'em on a Brillo Pad detail.
That kind of amusement is difficult to find elsewhere.
Pyro .... heh. I was offered an "apprenticeship" on the pyro team last time it was at B. County, and we managed to cook a certain passing Val wing. I learned one of the more valuable lessons about timing that day: namely, to make one's self scarce before others might have a chance to land and find out who dunnit, and put 'em on a Brillo Pad detail.
That kind of amusement is difficult to find elsewhere.
Re: TORA practice 2012
Mon Apr 16, 2012 3:01 pm
Kurt,
I know last year they moved it to Conroe because of LBX was being re-paved.
I am only speculating, but a lot of the out of town pilots found it easire (shorter) to get into Conroe and that might have had something to do with them leaving it at CXO.
But don't worry- It will probably migrate back down to Lake Jackson- Brazoria in the future.
SPANNER
I know last year they moved it to Conroe because of LBX was being re-paved.
I am only speculating, but a lot of the out of town pilots found it easire (shorter) to get into Conroe and that might have had something to do with them leaving it at CXO.
But don't worry- It will probably migrate back down to Lake Jackson- Brazoria in the future.
SPANNER