Nose Art for Randy
Thu Jun 21, 2007 3:01 pm
P-47D "GAL-O-MY DREAMS"
Lt Staryl Austin who commanded the 492nd FS 48th FW in 1952-54.
Thu Jun 21, 2007 3:49 pm
Jack,
Request: P-47N photos.
Request: P-47N photos.
???
Thu Jun 21, 2007 4:11 pm
check the other post i made for 318th FG
Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:27 pm
Dang it, Photobucket strikes again. I can't see it 
???
Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:30 pm
Photo on the way via email..............
Sun Jun 24, 2007 9:05 am
Not sure Jack if that would even be PC for today's audiences. How about "Person-O-My-Dreams??? 
Something of an aside...do you always fly the same aircraft Randy? Are you assigned one that stays with you until you transition into another type of aircraft or is there a pool in each squdron you are assigned to?
Something of an aside...do you always fly the same aircraft Randy? Are you assigned one that stays with you until you transition into another type of aircraft or is there a pool in each squdron you are assigned to?
Sun Jun 24, 2007 9:47 am
No, there are simply a number of assigned squadron jets, and the maintenance folks pair up tail numbers with scheduled flights. Maintenance really "owns" the jets and controls when they fly and when they are down for scheduled maintenance.
As a flyer, I am given a tail number to go fly on each mission.
Now...I am "assigned" an aircraft -- name on the side of the jet and all -- but that's really only for administrative purposes. If I fly that aircraft it's just because the stars aligned and the maintenance schedule matched up with the flying schedule to make that happen.
As a flyer, I am given a tail number to go fly on each mission.
Now...I am "assigned" an aircraft -- name on the side of the jet and all -- but that's really only for administrative purposes. If I fly that aircraft it's just because the stars aligned and the maintenance schedule matched up with the flying schedule to make that happen.
Nose Art For Randy
Sun Jun 24, 2007 11:50 am
Randy, is there much difference between aircraft of the same type these days? I've read that back in the day pilots might fly one tail number more than any other because they had become used to the flying characteristics of that particular aircraft. Thanks.
Sun Jun 24, 2007 1:10 pm
I've seen jets that flew up to 10 knots slower then another of the same type. It really depends on the individual airframe.
Sun Jun 24, 2007 2:48 pm
Yes, there are definite differences between airframes. Some are straight and some are bent. Some have chronic issues with avionics or engines or spurious warning lights. Some shoot straight and others may have the gun slightly mis-aimed. One jet might have a little extra power than another. One might have a stronger radar than another.
We even have what we call a "bird board", where we put up little notes next to each tail number to tell how it's been flying lately or how the systems have been working on it. We look at that right before we go fly just so we'll know what we're in for.
They all have individual personalities, and we recognize (and respect) them as such.
We even have what we call a "bird board", where we put up little notes next to each tail number to tell how it's been flying lately or how the systems have been working on it. We look at that right before we go fly just so we'll know what we're in for.
They all have individual personalities, and we recognize (and respect) them as such.
Mon Jun 25, 2007 12:07 am
Merci, Fouga23, and thanks, Randy, for your replies. I'll no longer wonder if modern production and maintenance didn't make all the birds of a feather pretty much all the same.