My first B-25 Flight - B-25H Barbie III

[Ryan Keough]

Well, it finally happened... I got a ride on a B-25. It only took 19 years

Thanks to the great folks at the Warbirds Unlimited Foundation, operators of B-25H 43-4106 "Barbie III" I got a ride in the back of the plane yesterday on a local flight around Mesa, Fountain Hills, Canyon Lake, and Apache Junction, AZ. What a fantastic flight!

Contrary to the rumors of the plane just sitting around, waiting to be sold, the plane is very much alive! Flights aboard the B-25 are being offered out of Falcon Field in Mesa, AZ through May 30 then beginning again in September (way too hot to fly in AZ over the summer). Flights are a full 30 minutes and are $375 per person. Call 800-357-6561 for reservations!

Speaking with Jack Fedor and the pilots, the plane is only for sale as a formality, available for a motivated buyer willing to pay the premium for the last flyable H model in the world. The Warbirds Unlimited Foundation is growing and thriving and is striving to be a presence in Mesa for many years to come!

Look for a new website for the organization coming soon!

[Jack Cook]

Now Ryan are you amazed how good visibility is from the tail turret!
Sitting facing forward is like riding in the rumble seat

[Ztex]

Cool!

I took my B-25 ride this weekend too!

I see the glass on the tail position is much higher than on Tondelayo. I couldn't see forward at all on my ride...Is this a model difference or a restoration difference?

Curios.

Thanks for sharing the pics!

[Jack Cook]

There shouldn't be any difference at all.

[AIRIC]

Congrats Ryan. You picked a sweet machine to fly in for the first ride. Got to love the tail gun position.

Eric

[K5DH]

Congratulations to both Ryan and Zane! Your photos were great!

Hmmm. . . we have a very nice B-25 living in our Museum's hangar, and I still haven't had a B-25 ride yet. . .

But a few days ago I did manage to add a certain B-24 to the list of warbirds that I've flown aboard. . .

Cheers!

[warbirdguy]

Ryan, congrats on our ride!

I've ridden on both the 24 & 25 and I have to say the B-25 takes the cake. I rode "Tondelayo" last summer and I had the aft section to myself and spent almost the entire ride in the tail-gunners position.

Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me!

Last edited by warbirdguy on Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Jack Cook]

Not bringing your camera could result in missed opportunities.

[JimH]

Very cool! Did they fire the cannon?? That is one of the nicest 25's going, I'm glad Jack got her up and running.

jim

[Ryan Keough]

Very cool! Did they fire the cannon?? That is one of the nicest 25's going, I'm glad Jack got her up and running.

jim

I only wish! I'll have to get into YOUR B-25 to do the Consumer Reports comparison! I really like Barbie III's front seat position set-up... they are jumpseats literally behind the pilot and co-pilot seats... fantastic view of takeoff and landing as well as all other pilot operations. Their back seats are great too and take-up a lot less space than the ones on Tondy...

[Forgotten Field]

Wright R-2600's. Two of the best reasons in the world to lose your high frequency hearing...

[Tigercat]

Wright R-2600's. Two of the best reasons in the world to lose your high frequency hearing...

Wright R-2600's = mandatory hearing protection (ear muffs) or just ear plugs for the daring.


Ted

[Jack Cook]

Both times Brad flew with us he refused hearing protection the crazy Texan

[Ryan Keough]

Wright R-2600's. Two of the best reasons in the world to lose your high frequency hearing...

Wright R-2600's = mandatory hearing protection (ear muffs) or just ear plugs for the daring.


Ted

I only went without on this run to drink it in for the first time... but after not being able to hear ANYTHING for a full hour after, from now on out, there will be an old David Clark on my head at all times the short stacks are purring.

[Jack Cook]

the short stacks are purring.

See your hearing is already affected.
Short stacks don't purr, they bark!