TEXAS RAIDERS- First Flight in Seven Years- Oct. 14, 2009

[LadyO2Pilot]

Congratulations to everyone involved !!!!!!

Seven years is a long time but you have a better plane for it. I have been so pleased seeing the great work (in pictures here on WIX) being done. Y'all raise a glass to yourselves and we will too along with lots of Atta Boys !!!

TR was first CAF plane I was involved with after the Conroe planes many many years ago. Wish I was still in the area to have seen the flight today. Awesome...just awesome.

[SPANNERmkV]

:D Congrats to all that had anything to do with getting TR back in the air.
Yall should be very PROUD.

Jimmy Davis
Gulf Coast Wing Member since 1984

Thanks Col. Davis,

The more I learn about the CAF Cols. who got it started, kept it going and sadly, who have Gone West, the more intimidated I get.
That point was driven home at Midland with the Millennium Members ceremony.
I feel kind of like the replacement crews must have felt coming into a Squadron of vets. At some point you realize you don't even know what you don't know.

Anyhow... we really are trying our best and today was a good one for us.

[Steve Nelson]

WOO HOO!!!

Congrats to the whole TR crew! Raiders has a special place in my heart..she was the first B-17 I ever saw in real life.

SN

[Old Shep]

Don:

Sincerest congratulations to you and all the Raider-restorers. It was my pleasure to shake your hand and give you that award last Friday for all your hard work and the work of those you represent.

Bill Coombes
CoS

[hahnej]

First B-17 I ever got inside (Pine Bluff, Ark, about '82) and a very special bird. Great to hear.

[Dan K]

(Taking multiple hits from all the champagne corks)

Congratulations all around on this special thanksgiving day!

Pics please.

[Ztex]

To Don and the whole crew at CAF Gulf Coast, congratulations!

This is very exciting! TR was the first B-17 I ever saw back in 1972.

Great great great!

[Holedigger]

Congrats all!!!!! Wind beneath her wings!!! First Fort I ever saw, Port Arthur, 1978! She has come a Long Ways!

[Lynn Allen]

Weee Doggy and well done to all......

Lynn

Last edited by Lynn Allen on Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[warbirdguy]

Congrats to all involved!

[N3Njeff]

[tulsaboy]

Way to go, guys!!!

kevin

[Speedy]

Amongst all the Tramp Stamp bitching and Airsho being mired in bad weather last weekend...it's nice to have a good positive CAF happening!!!

Will be good to see the first B-17 I can ever remember seeing in the air again.

[warbird_patrick]

Congratulations Guys on getting her back in the air!!! I remember seeing her when I was about 10 years old, she was broken down in OH for engine problems and I had a chance to Taxi in her during the engine test but was scared and ran out the back door before engine start up, getting the nick name "Back Door Charlie" from my father, Luckily i lost that name when i flew in the Yankee Lady at the age of 16.

[WarbirdRadio]

In celebration of Texas Raiders successful test flights we're dedicating the first half of Warbird Radio LIVE to Texas Raiders Thursday morning. Don should be on...but please call in and share your own stories about TR. Hope to hear from you! Show starts at 10am (EASTERN)

V/R

Matt Jolley