Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:00 pm
(double post deleted)
Last edited by Mike on Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:03 pm
That's about as cool as it gets.
Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:40 am
Mike wrote:Ray Melikian, former 49th FG pilot who flew Chris' P-40 during 1944, visited Schellville today along with his family. He was re-united with his old mount (which Chris had suitably marked up for the occasion - a nice touch) and went flying in the back of the P-40.
Looking very sprightly for his age, Ray obviously enjoyed the experience, and took the controls for part of the flight.
P-40 vets rock!!!
What a great day for that wish I was there! Thanks. 
Mon Apr 13, 2009 8:52 am
Chris took me for a ride in the P-40 yesterday. I was out at Schellville putting the cotter pins in the Curtiss Jennys spar pins (I hope to test fly her with her new babbit bearings this week). I heard the P-40 running, and went out to watch it fly. When he got back from that flight, he asked if I would like to go for a quick trip.
I got in the back seat, and Chris fired up and got us in the air. The visibility from the rear seat is very good even in the three-point attitude, and landing the airplane from back there I don’t really think would be that hard. I was surprised by this, and several other things about the airplane. He let me fly it a bit, and I was delighted by the opportunity. I did some turns, some Dutch rolls, and then he sat patiently through one of my rolls. He then did some acro, including a nice half Cuban eight, and then a nice landing.
The chance to fly in an airplane like this should not be passed up. Our grand kids will probably not get such an opportunity, so I highly recommend that you contact Chris if you are in the Bay Area, save up you cash, and get a ride with him while you still can.
To answer the next question that will probably come up, My cameras were in my airplane, which was over at Sonoma Skypark. So, no pictures to post.
I got in the back seat, and Chris fired up and got us in the air. The visibility from the rear seat is very good even in the three-point attitude, and landing the airplane from back there I don’t really think would be that hard. I was surprised by this, and several other things about the airplane. He let me fly it a bit, and I was delighted by the opportunity. I did some turns, some Dutch rolls, and then he sat patiently through one of my rolls. He then did some acro, including a nice half Cuban eight, and then a nice landing.
The chance to fly in an airplane like this should not be passed up. Our grand kids will probably not get such an opportunity, so I highly recommend that you contact Chris if you are in the Bay Area, save up you cash, and get a ride with him while you still can.
To answer the next question that will probably come up, My cameras were in my airplane, which was over at Sonoma Skypark. So, no pictures to post.
Mon Apr 13, 2009 6:15 pm
does chris sell rides in the P-40 ?
?????
Mon Apr 13, 2009 7:06 pm
That's extra very cool because Ray Melikian flew in same flight has my friend Don Lee in the 7th FS.
In fact when Don was shot down and wounded off the coast off New Guinea Ray saved his life
Don Lee by his P-40K just before he was shot down and wounded.
In fact when Don was shot down and wounded off the coast off New Guinea Ray saved his life
Don Lee by his P-40K just before he was shot down and wounded.