Vet's Day Weekend in Dallas - Day 1

[CAPFlyer]

I figured I'd turn this into a bit of a story thread since to me, it was a pretty storied day.

It started about 7:30am when I left my Apartment after starting the date debating the economy with Bill.

I'd planned on just going to Lancaster for the day to take some pictures of the B-32 Ball Turret (shameless plug). I got there about 8:45-8:50 where I saw that they were loading up the R4D and L-5 and getting ready to leave. I knew the Waxahachie fly-over was supposed to be just before noon, so I was a bit perplexed why they were leaving so early. All was revealed when I saw Marty Case closing up the hangar. They were flying to Midlothian/Waxahachie Regional (KJWY) for briefing with the others participating in the flyover. What made my day however was that Marty invited me to come along with him in his T-6! (First T-6 flight, First Formation Flight, First Flyover, etc)

So, I put on my flightsuit (always be prepared! ), strapped in (first time wearing a Chute in years), and Marty fired up since the cold morning would require an extensive warming period for the oil


Meanwhile, Charlie Wood mounted up in the L-5


The R4D got set and started



And Charlie started


We then taxied to the end of runway 31 at Lancaster and did our runups


And took off for Midway


We cruised over at 120 knots


And made sure we looked outside for traffic (which we found a few on this beautiful day)


After only ten minutes in the air, Midway was in sight


We landed and were followed shortly by the R4D


The L-5 landed a bit afterward (he was only doing 80 knots) and I didn't get a picture of him.

When we got there, I found out our formation this year would be MUCH larger than last year's flyover.

Present were:

B-25 "Pacific Prowler"


The 3 T-28 Trojans of "Trojan Phlyers"


Carl Best in his T-6G


Robert Penley in his FW-149 (N5316W)


Marty Case (with me in the back) in his SNJ-5


The CAF's R4D-6S "Ready4Duty"


Airborne Imaging's "Silver" DC-3 (N92578) & John Terry's "Southern Cross"


Once briefed, we took off and formed up. Marty was in the #2 position, so I got good shots of Carl (Lead), Steve Dean "Screaming Eagle" T-6G in the #3 position (didn't get a clean shot of him on the ground), and Robert in the #4 position. Steve had a rider in the back seat as well and he did the "Missing Man" for the flyover as his plane is the only one with Show Smoke.










The flyover was over the Ellis County Veterans Memorial - http://www.jacklummus.com/Files/Files_D ... morial.htm

We also made several flyovers of Waxahachie itself where they were holding Veteran's Day weekend events



When we got back, Chris Avery took off in the Corsair for DeRidder, LA for an event there tomorrow. I got pictures of that, but haven't uploaded them yet.

Tomorrow: Cavanaugh and the Collings UH-1E.

PS - "Ol' 927" was supposed to be part of the flight today but was forced to bow out. Next year!

[Lynn Allen]

I was eating lunch at the cafe when you all arrived back but what time did Chris take off? You were looking left and right on the roll out??

Lynn

[CAPFlyer]

Chris left just before 2pm.

As for the second question, what exactly are you referring to?

[JBrawner]

i came in on the prowler and left in the green bird. ill have to upload some tomorrow with our formation of dc-3/c-47/r4d's nad having the b-25 and t-28's over the top of us. first ride in a dc3/c47 ..... kinda fun and a chance to experience what my grandfather would have.

[Lynn Allen]

[quote="CAPFlyer"]Chris left just before 2pm.

As for the second question, what exactly are you referring to?[/quote



As you all were rolling out at the end of 31, you looked to be the one taxing the T-6 or just looking forward side to side......

Lynn

[CAPFlyer]

Oh, that. Marty wanted me to be a "good backseater" (i.e. be a second set of eyes) on the flight, so that's part of why I didn't get many pictures - I was watching around for other traffic (we had 4 or 5 "strangers" fly right through the stack during the 10 minutes we were holding for the flyby).

Jon - Sorry I missed you. I was in the briefings and didn't get a chance to really go around and meet everyone.

[JBrawner]

only one wearing the pacific prowler on back of flight jacket

[JBrawner]

oh yea almost forgot about these......

Last edited by JBrawner on Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[CAPFlyer]

Nice shots there Jon.

[Ztex]

Wow!

And I was stuck in Arlington all day long...

Did you guys see "the Defender" while you were over at JWY?

[Alan Brooks]

Chris and Jon, great shots and great weather....... Alan

[JBrawner]

thanks glad you liked them.. i have a bunch more but from the looks of it, we stood int eh same spots when taking pictures. i have more of th 3-ship(well 2 since i was in one) of the c-47's but basically the same ones over and over.

[CAPFlyer]

I didn't see the Defender while I was there, but I did see the T-33s. Aparently they have something to do with a new project with those guys, but Aubrey (the pilot of their DC-3 for the flight) was mum on further.

[Nathan]

Did anyone get pictures of the P-39?

[CAPFlyer]

What P-39?