B is for Boeing B-17

From the airshow.

A is for A-26 Invader

Saw a couple this past week-end.

First one was at the airshow.

Faster than most fighter planes when it first came into service, this medium bomber and attack plane flew in World War Two, Korea and Vietnam. Additionally the CIA used them during the Bay of Pigs and in Africa in the 1960's. In the 1970's, drug smugglers sought them out on the surplus market because they were so fast ans maneuverable. Many were also used for forest fire suppression.

In my opinion, there has never been a more useful or graceful warbird. But that's just me...and anyone else with good taste.

Twice in my life I almost bought one. One was a basket case that an A&P whom I asked to check it out called me an idiot for even considering, and the second was a retiring firefighter that was--barely--within my financial means (goodbye, IRA) but I let it go when I started calculating operating costs, hangaring, inspections and insurance. Still shed a tear over that one.

We saw another one at Jackson Barracks' Louisiana National Guard museum.

This one needs a little more work to get it back in the air, but if they gave it to me tomorrow I'd give it one hell of a try.

More from the Air Expo.

More airshow stuff, because I'm still basking in the glow. Here's a nifty C-47.

I had my lunch on my folding chair in front of this nifty plane. Italian sausage and peppers. Yum! But if I wasn't keen on supporting the museum, I wouldn't have paid $8.00 for it.

Then it was a blast from the past with the "Japanese" contingent--the planes from "Tora, Tora, Tora!" Here we have a Japanese Val Dive Bomber and two Zeroes...sort of.

These aircraft were some of those made for the epic movie Tora, Tora, Tora!. Back then, there were no real Jap warbirds left flying so several were built from T-6 Texans and BT-13 and BT-15 trainers, which were cheap and plentiful back then. (Sigh...) After the movie was finished, they were sold off to collectors, some flying in other movies and TV shows. Several still fly today on the airshow circuits. Here are three.

And fly they did.

Are we at Lakefront Airport, or Hickam Field?

But sure as art imitates life, just like in 1945, the Japanese aircraft all went away, and the hero of the day arrived overhead.

Back then there were thousands of B-29s. Now there's one. (Soon to be two...oh, Joy!)

And then, after FiFi landed, we got a surprise addition to the airshow--an unscripted visit from the Louisiana Air Guard--maybe some of Juvat's pals.

Hey look! F-15s!

They flew over a couple of times, and then jumped in the pattern and shot three approaches, each time coming in gear down then pulling it back up and flying the length of the runway fast and low before pulling back up again.

Look--an F-15 flying cover for a B-29. How many times you ever going to see THAT?

Now he's just showing off. And yeah, I was impressed.
I talked to the airshow narrator afterwards. He had no idea they would be there. He said they just showed up and contacted the tower for clearance, which they got.

Too bad they didn't arrive on scene five minutes earlier. Could have been like that great scene from The Final Countdown.

One of those Zeroes look familiar?

Great day to watch planes.