Warbird Adventures...

wendovertom · **Posted:** Tue Mar 19, 2013 8:59 am

You know, 98% of the time I am quite happy with my life, wife and kids; of course I could do with more $$ but who couldn't use more help in that department?

Then I look at this thread and think, 'man I should of figured out how to make a much bigger pile of cash so I could go warbirding like this!'

Great shots Jim - they really convey how much fun I am sure you are having!

Tom

Ken · **Posted:** Tue Mar 19, 2013 9:20 am

Not to drift OT, but the Pensacola AD-5 had sat outside a long time accidentally wearing the markings of the AD-5 at Pima. Did they just bring it in and hang it with no further restoration?

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Tue Mar 19, 2013 9:53 am

Took our C-47 to Tyler Friday to see the 262. Was surprised by how large it is, and how loud it is. We arrived about an hour before it showed up and we were greeted by about 400 people who had gathered to see it and the other Collings Birds. Great weekend.

JimH · **Posted:** Tue Mar 19, 2013 12:16 pm

Sorry we didn't cross paths Ober...saw you guys out flying. This is all pretty incredible to be apart of...believe me I pinch myself everyday.

jim

JimH · **Posted:** Tue Mar 19, 2013 12:35 pm

And from the Mustang...shot by our mechanic Chris Dancik

K5DH · **Posted:** Tue Mar 19, 2013 1:34 pm

Hey Jim,

How's the fuel burn on the Me-262? What's the typical unrefueled range? Just curious. geek

Are you going to be at the D/FW area tour stops? I'm planning to volunteer for a day, but not sure which stop I'll show up at. Denton is only about a 15 minute drive for me, but Dallas and Fort Worth are 45+ minutes away. It will be nice to say "Hello" in person. It's been a couple of years since I've seen your smilin' face!

redvanner · **Posted:** Tue Mar 19, 2013 1:51 pm

Just incredible pictures, thanks for posting. When you fly in the 3 ship formation, has the 262 always to be flown flaps down, or is that just for the photos? Thank you again,

Michael

mike furline · **Joined:** Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 2629

When you transition from one city to another do all aircrafy fly together (loose formation) or does each aircraft fly at its best cruise speed?

Thx

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2923

JimH wrote:

Field trip to the Navy Museum...

Is it just me or do the main wheel tires on the 262 seem like they would be right at home on an SUV? Maybe it is just the angle of the photograph, but the ones on the Collings bird seem narrower...

k5083 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 19, 2013 3:27 pm

It isn't just you.

August

kmiles · **Posted:** Tue Mar 19, 2013 3:43 pm

Normally the Me-262 will be off on its own during the transition flights. It only has 50-60 minutes of fuel on board, so it can not cruise along at 150 knots for very long unless they are only going a short distance. It does not do well at less than 200 knots which is why it has its flaps down. The P-51 also has its flaps down a bit so that it can fly with the formation. The B-24 is the only one in the photo that is close to it's ideal cruise speed.

We are flight planning for 200-225 miles between fuel stops for the Me-262 at the max with good weather. It climbs at 6000 feet per minute at 220 knots, so it will spend most of its time at much higher altitudes and speeds than we typically travel with the other tour aircraft. On some of the moves (Santa Fe to Scottsdale as an example) the 262 will have to make a fuel stop or two that are not on the tour schedule just to be able to cover the distance between stops.

The main tires on our Me-262 are 32x8.8 That is the same size as the B-52 outrigger tires (that is what the current tires were made for). Those tires in Pensacola appear to be a lot wider than that. They do not have to worry about the fitting into the wheel wells, so I wonder if they used something different because of availability/price. I am not sure what size was "original". Typically jet tires tend to be more on the narrow side, so the tires in Pensacola do not look "correct" but who knows what they were thinking in 1943 and 1944 when the 262 was designed.

262crew · **Joined:** Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:24 pm **Posts:** 877

kmiles wrote:

The main tires on our Me-262 are 32x8.8 That is the same size as the B-52 outrigger tires (that is what the current tires were made for). Those tires in Pensacola appear to be a lot wider than that. They do not have to worry about the fitting into the wheel wells, so I wonder if they used something different because of availability/price. I am not sure what size was "original". Typically jet tires tend to be more on the narrow side, so the tires in Pensacola do not look "correct" but who knows what they were thinking in 1943 and 1944 when the 262 was designed.

IIRC? VERA's tires were changed due to the poor condition of the original's. The new ones almost look like super swampers. Looks like they still haven't attached the lower main gear doors. Perhaps the new tires will not accommodate them?

mike furline · **Joined:** Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 2629

Not White 35, but represents original tire size.

kmiles · **Posted:** Wed Mar 20, 2013 9:38 am

mike furline wrote:

Not White 35, but represents original tire size.

We could really use that drop tank setup on White 1.

redvanner · **Posted:** Wed Mar 20, 2013 12:26 pm

Warbirdnerd wrote:

JimH wrote:

Field trip to the Navy Museum...

Is it just me or do the main wheel tires on the 262 seem like they would be right at home on an SUV? Maybe it is just the angle of the photograph, but the ones on the Collings bird seem narrower...

Below is the pic of an original Me 262 wheel. Tiresize is 840 x 300 (mm) (see lower left part of photo). If I converted it correctly, it is roughly 33 x 11.8 inches.

Michael

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