My first airshow flight
Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:45 pm
Hi gang! I gotta share this! I made my first B-17 flight and my first flight to an out of town airshow last weekend when Lone Star flew five aircraft to Randolph AFB in San Antonio.
It was great show, nice weather, lots of comeraderie and the USAF treated us first class. I personally have never experienced that level of VIP treatement. They're the best!
I got to ride in the nose of the Thunderbird most of the trip though my first landing from the front seat was a bit hair raising. Not the biggest show in terms of total numbers but Glacier Girl was there!!!! It didnt' fly and we didn't even get to hear it run, but just seeing it up close was a rush.
A few WIXers were there and in conversation with a warbird pilot somthing sounded familiar. It was O2Lady. Ryan Short didn't make it but at least a few of us got together.
Pix will follow soon. I have DSL now and Yahoo mail's glitch-ola is sorted out so I'll have another go at PhotoBucket.
Blue skies,
Doug Ratchford 'Canso42'
It was great show, nice weather, lots of comeraderie and the USAF treated us first class. I personally have never experienced that level of VIP treatement. They're the best!
I got to ride in the nose of the Thunderbird most of the trip though my first landing from the front seat was a bit hair raising. Not the biggest show in terms of total numbers but Glacier Girl was there!!!! It didnt' fly and we didn't even get to hear it run, but just seeing it up close was a rush.
A few WIXers were there and in conversation with a warbird pilot somthing sounded familiar. It was O2Lady. Ryan Short didn't make it but at least a few of us got together.
Pix will follow soon. I have DSL now and Yahoo mail's glitch-ola is sorted out so I'll have another go at PhotoBucket.
Blue skies,
Doug Ratchford 'Canso42'
Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:47 pm
Congratulations Doug! Sounds like a great experience.
Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:50 pm
Hey Doug,
That sounded awesome!
You're lucky to still be having airshows at this time of year. Up here in the Great White North, things are slowing down and cooling down fast.
It seems to be IFR weather, Marginal IFR at best. Not the best weather airshows.
All I can do is stay glued to WIX through the winter, and wait until next summer.
Cheers,
David
That sounded awesome!
You're lucky to still be having airshows at this time of year. Up here in the Great White North, things are slowing down and cooling down fast.
It seems to be IFR weather, Marginal IFR at best. Not the best weather airshows.
All I can do is stay glued to WIX through the winter, and wait until next summer.
Cheers,
David
Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:09 pm
Doug....it was very nice to meet you and have a bit of a chat. Funny how things come together.....we were saying Hi at the various functions all weekend and took all weekend to figure out who the other one was... 
Glad you had a bunch of fun on your first out of town sortie......hope there will be many to come in the future.
See ya next year
Glad you had a bunch of fun on your first out of town sortie......hope there will be many to come in the future.
See ya next year
Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:11 pm
lucky dog.... good for you!!
Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:47 pm
Welcome to the club Doug! 
CONGRATS!
CONGRATS!
Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:40 pm
Doug;
I must have missed you!
I was at the DAV Tent that was sponsoring LSFM's "B-25 "Special Delivery"!
My wife and I flew into Randolph in the B-25. (she's the good looking blonde!)
Maybe we actually met and didn't know it!
I spoke with Stu and Gumby quite a bit and every time the 25 took off, I was out there moving barriers back.
Glad you enjoyed you're first "real" trip to an airshow!
It's a lot more fun being on the inside!!!
For those of you who've never had the opportunity to visit Randolph AFB, it is a real time capsule. It looks almost like it did when it was first built. They've made great efforts to keep the original architecture, design new ways to reuse the old buildings, and integrate new buildings into the style of the old. A real honor to visit the base my father called home for a while in the 1950's!
Blue skies,
Jerry
I must have missed you!
I was at the DAV Tent that was sponsoring LSFM's "B-25 "Special Delivery"!
My wife and I flew into Randolph in the B-25. (she's the good looking blonde!)
Maybe we actually met and didn't know it!
I spoke with Stu and Gumby quite a bit and every time the 25 took off, I was out there moving barriers back.
Glad you enjoyed you're first "real" trip to an airshow!
It's a lot more fun being on the inside!!!
For those of you who've never had the opportunity to visit Randolph AFB, it is a real time capsule. It looks almost like it did when it was first built. They've made great efforts to keep the original architecture, design new ways to reuse the old buildings, and integrate new buildings into the style of the old. A real honor to visit the base my father called home for a while in the 1950's!
Blue skies,
Jerry
Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:09 pm
Jerry,
I think we did at least say Hi in passing. There were at least a couple of folks on the 25 that I didnt recognize who were in LSFM garb. Im the tall skinny guy with the short beard and I was at the front door selling tours on the 'Bird. At any rate, pardon my manners. I was kinda on overload with so many new friendships that weekend.
blue skies,
Doug.
I think we did at least say Hi in passing. There were at least a couple of folks on the 25 that I didnt recognize who were in LSFM garb. Im the tall skinny guy with the short beard and I was at the front door selling tours on the 'Bird. At any rate, pardon my manners. I was kinda on overload with so many new friendships that weekend.
blue skies,
Doug.
Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:28 pm
Doug;
I think we did say hi when we first shut down. I only wish I knew you were on the WIX. I spent most of the time across the way in the tent.
Oh well, better luck next time!
Jerry
I think we did say hi when we first shut down. I only wish I knew you were on the WIX. I spent most of the time across the way in the tent.
Oh well, better luck next time!
Jerry
Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:08 am
Hey Doug- Now you just have to get Harry to set you up with a vintage Uniform and Flight gear.
Sorry I missed teh Show, heard the weather was perfect, but Kristin and I are coming in to town for Fly Day.
Steve S
Sorry I missed teh Show, heard the weather was perfect, but Kristin and I are coming in to town for Fly Day.
Steve S