2010 Heritage Flight Conference

[Hal B]

The Proud American is looking mighty slick with a full array of ordinance on her hard points.

Well, almost all the hard points... The drop tanks stayed home due to something called drag

[Ztex]

The Proud American is looking mighty slick with a full array of ordinance on her hard points.

Ain't nothin "slick" about it...

[Warbird Kid]

The Proud American is looking mighty slick with a full array of ordinance on her hard points.

Ain't nothin "slick" about it...

good point

[bilwor]

Does anybody know the N numbers of the warbirds attending. I have
P-51D February N351MX
Cavalier TMk 2 N20TF (now has Y WZ on side)
P-51D ??
A-1D The Proud American N965AD
P-40 ??

I did not see any other warbirds yesterday.

bill word

[K5DH]

Great photos, Bill! Thanks for sharing them.

The Skyraider is showing exactly how the type earned the name, "The Flying Dumptruck".

[CrewDawg]

Just a side note, the "drop tanks" on the F-16's/F-15's that are so nicely painted are actually travel pods. Once upon a time they were napalm canisters, but since they don't let us use that stuff anymore, they install a hatch on the side and use them to carry thier luggage, crew chiefs toolbox, gear pins, golf clubs, beer, etc, in, since there's no other place to put that stuff on fighters when they go TDY.

[L2Driver]

Once upon a time they were napalm canisters, but since they don't let us use that stuff anymore, they install a hatch on the side and use them to carry thier luggage, crew chiefs toolbox, gear pins, golf clubs, beer, etc, in, since there's no other place to put that stuff on fighters when they go TDY.

Well, they might not call it napalm anymore but the current Mk 77 Mod 5 is pretty much the same idea with a different name. I think they replaced the evil benzene/gasoline part with Jet A. Probably doesn't smell as good in the morning but at least we're doing our part to be environmentally friendly.

Great photos of the inbound aircraft. Thanks for posting them!

[mlenoch]

Here are a few from the ground:

[wendovertom]

On the travel pods - there are some great shots on the "aerial events" facebook page - those Viper East guys have a heck of a artist on the team - BLU-32 napalm canisters if I remember right - wow they are incredible up close.

Tom P.

[Randy Haskin]

Cavalier TMk 2 N20TF (now has Y WZ on side)

Note: there is no such thing as a "Cavalier TMk2".

It is a Cavalier TF-51.

[TAdan]

I am so happy to see the Phantoms still flying with the heritage flight. I was afraid that they had been cut from the program. I hope they have many more successful years of airshow flying ahead of them.

Thanks to the Heritage Flight program I was able to see a Phantom flying for the first time two years ago in Atlantic City.

[Rajay]

The Proud American is looking mighty slick with a full array of ordinance on her hard points.

Everything but the kitchen sink! What an awesome airplane.

Many years ago, I flew into Charlottesville VA on business and while I was there, a guy (don't remember his name) was pre-flighting his Mig-17 (bright red - and he also had a DH Vampire in the hangar, too) because he needed to test out the afterburner after some maintenance. Since that time, I've considered it the ultimate statement of financial freedom (aka "wealth" or even "conspicuous consumption") just to be able to say that you own something with an afterburner - the implication being that you can afford to put fuel into one! Now, I'm thinking that being able to afford to fly an A-1 around with all of that "stuff" hanging off the hardpoints may actually fall into the same category!

Great pix - thanx for posting! We just don't get a chance to see stuff like that around here very often - although the F-15's did come from Seymour Johnson (SJ) AFB in Goldsboro NC.

[6trn4brn]

Vlado...where are the pix of Moonbeam??? Did you not take her out there?

[Hal B]

Since that time, I've considered it the ultimate statement of financial freedom (aka "wealth" or even "conspicuous consumption") just to be able to say that you own something with an afterburner - the implication being that you can afford to put fuel into one! Now, I'm thinking that being able to afford to fly an A-1 around with all of that "stuff" hanging off the hardpoints may actually fall into the same category!

Actually, with the load shown at the HFC; you do lose a little speed but the fuel burn is not appreciably higher at cruise power settings. However, with the drop tanks installed its a different story

[Holedigger]

Some very nice pics there! Thanks! 4 Phantoms flying together!!!! VERY COOL (and loud I would assume!) How often does that happen anymore?