Have you flown in a vintage aeroplane?

Stearmen · Nov 15, 2013

John J said:
My step fathers friend owned the BF108 Typhoon , He found it in a barn and restored it. My stepfather has an A&P License (Taylor award recipient). I did some work on it as well.

The plane was Painted in western front colors (sold to an air museum a few years ago) It was flown in the northeast airshow circuits for a few years, The aircraft had 2 original 300 HP engines One of the engines was built in France at a Renault factory during the German occupation.

the original engines were always breaking down (poor metallurgy) My stepfather (the A&P mechanic) always tried to convince Bob to install a lyacoming engine for reliability and keep the originals for display.

My stepfather and his buddy went to France to find parts for it. (found an engine and a prop).

Wanting more info on the aircraft they had word of a gent in Vancouver BC that had a BF 108 that was flying. They contacted the owner in Canada and he invited them to see his aircraft.

The BF 108 owner was Col Franz Stigler (ret) Luftwaffe ace and author of this Book

http://www.amazon.com/Higher-Call-Incredible-Chivalry-War-Torn/dp/0425252868

here's the Wikipedia account

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Brown_and_Franz_Stigler_incident

what a time My stepfather and his friend Bob had with the Col. Not only did they get lots of info on the Typhoon but became friends with the Col.

Col Stigler gave them both an autographed print of the famous Incident that the book was based on (well known WWII story) . the prints are signed by Franz Stiglar and Charles Brown.

The Col had some interesting stories, IE when he stole an ME262 (Adolf Galland put him up to it) or the time he was shot down in the med several times in the same day. I guess at a WWII event in the USA some years ago The Col met a P47 pilot that shot him down over the Med (the Col bought him a drink)

A Note: I asked the guys what the col said about American Fighter aircraft in WWII. The Col said (his opinion) the P47s were the hardest plane to combat as they were so tough and were very hard to escape from if they were high above and could dive on German fighters . the P47 dive rate was very fast and the airframes didn't suffer any noticeable compression or control problems as a result of high speed dives. not to mention (8) 50 cal guns.

"John"

Wow! That is great, fun times.

cw3pa · Nov 15, 2013

What a great story. At a local airshow many years ago a B17 and a B24 were flown in. We were allowed a walk-through. What really amazed me was how small both bombers were compared to modern fighter/bombers. You don't get the feeling of how close everyone was watching "12 O'clock High. Considering several tons of bombs and a crew of 10. All protected by a few millimeters of aluminum, skill and alot of luck. Have to take your hat off to those aviators.

BillJackson · Nov 23, 2013

Last vintage flight was many years ago in a Dakota in Grahamstown. Felt like I was in a wheelbarrow with an outboard motor!

One Bullet Barney · Nov 24, 2013

A few years back my wife gave me an early birthday gift! I was able to fly around my base on the B-17G "Sentimental Journey". My base was Kingsley Field, an Oregon Air Guard base named for a Portland fellow who rode his B-17 "Opissonya" to the ground after giving up his 'chute to a wounded gunner! I've been to his crash site in Bulgaria. I hold that visit responsible for bringing me back to the study of vintage planes and vehicles! My library is now full of Air Force books! I'm currently reading "A Higher Call", another gift from my wife! I love the old planes! The only jet ride I enjoyed was the flight back from Afghanistan! I take it back! I only enjoyed the landing!

OldGreyBird · Dec 2, 2013

My first fixed-wing flight was in a WW2-era North American SNJ (Navy designation for the AT-6 advanced trainer). It began a long-term love affair. I went on to fly a restored Travel Air biplane and a Super Stearman, as well as 40's-era taildraggers...but the T-6 still resonates for me.

tecolote · Dec 7, 2013

My first flight was at age 8 in 1957 aboard a Delta Airlines DC3 from Atlanta to Augusta, Ga. Since the DC3 has always been my favorite.
The next year my Grandmother took to La to visit my cousins; that was aboard a DC7 or DC6.
In 1977 I flew from Trinidad to Tobago on a DC6.
Does a Cessna 172 over Belize in 1994 count?

Regards,

Tecolote

Earl Needham · Dec 7, 2013

I've been very fortunate in regards to vintage planes. Some years ago, a For Tri-Motor was travellng the country selling rides around town to people. Being a pilot, I bought the CO-PILOT'S SEAT! Logged .3 in a Ford Tri-Motor!

Back around 1979 or so, we were privileged to skydive from a Cessna -- I think it was a 185??? Very classic.

While stationed on Okinawa in the Marine Corps, we flew all one day and part of the next in a C-117, from Okinawa to Misawa. The C-117 is the Navy/Marine Corps version of the Super DC-3. While at Misawa, we skydived from that airplane, and then flew back to Okinawa.

I also have some time in a T-34A, which isn't quite so "vintage", and a 1961 Piper Comanche, which I really loved.

And, probably the most classic of all -- when I was about 10 years old, I flew from Corpus Christi to Love Field in Dallas on a Lockheed Electra.

Yes, I have been very fortunate.

Mr.Astor · Dec 12, 2013

My wife bought me a gift to fly a Texan tail dragger,quite a thrill. She got tired of me telling her about my dreams of flying all night. Also went up a lot in a T28 trainer in Milton Fl. The pilots always let you take control of the plane,those were the good old day's

Flash MacTavish · Dec 14, 2013

I've flown in the Dakota, albeit the bastardised version flown by the RCAF as the Starfighter radar trainer.

I also flew in the T-33 shown in the photo, as well as in the DHC1 Chipmunk, Tiger Moth, and the CF-104 Starfighter.
Great days back then.

Lotsahats · Dec 21, 2013

I've long loved biplanes, especially WWI-vintage planes. My wife procured a ride for me in a 1929 Stearman Travel Air, and it was a dream come true. Once we had cleared the landing and takeoff zone, the pilot asked, "You want to take the stick?" I couldn't believe it, but I said, "Sure!" He told me to keep my feet off the rudder pedals, then he walked me through some basic flight maneuvers. I realized after a few moments that I was tensing every muscle in my body; I was finally able to relax everything but the mile-wide smile plastered to my face. Talk about an amazing day!

A

Stearmen · Dec 22, 2013

Flash MacTavish said:
I've flown in the Dakota, albeit the bastardised version flown by the RCAF as the Starfighter radar trainer.

I also flew in the T-33 shown in the photo, as well as in the DHC1 Chipmunk, Tiger Moth, and the CF-104 Starfighter.
Great days back then.

I remember seeing RCAF C-47s and T-33s when I would land at Peterson Air Force Base back in the 80s and early 90s. They were so shiny next to the USAF aircraft!

Flash MacTavish · Dec 22, 2013

Stearmen said:
I remember seeing RCAF C-47s and T-33s when I would land at Peterson Air Force Base back in the 80s and early 90s. They were so shiny next to the USAF aircraft!

We did keep them shiny, any airman who found himself (or airwoman for that matter) on the bad side of the Base Warrant Officer was given a T-Bird (or if you were a very bad boy/girl a Dakota) to polish over the weekend. The practice also added a few knots airspeed to the aircraft so treated.

Talbot · Jan 16, 2014

A little off topic, but for those that have not seen them, check out some 'Kermie Cam' on Youtube.

It's Kermit Weeks taking us on walk around, flight and touchdown/splashdown of some of the aircraft owned by Fantasy of Flight.

Very entertaining.

OldGreyBird · Jan 16, 2014

Two of my uncles barnstormed the Midwest in the 1920s, in the airplanes depicted in my avatar---a Curtiss JN-4 Jenny and a Wright-built Canuck (the Canadian variant of a Jenny). For all the brave souls who coughed up the money to fly with them, a sizable number looked at these winged contraptions and reacted as you did. Given the percentage of aviation accidents in those unlicensed, unregulated times, they had a point.

Bugguy · Jan 18, 2014

1966 Miami to Quito in an Ecuatoriana Lockheed Constellation. It probably timed-out in the States and was sold to Ecuador.

Flash MacTavish · Feb 8, 2014

The Connie was just about the prettiest propdriven transport built, proof positive of the "If it looks right, it is right" school of thought.

buelligan · Feb 10, 2014

Well I've flown in a DC-3 and Ford Tri-motor and the planes I work on for the Air Force were last built in 64 the first one I flew on was a 57 model so I would consider that vintage even though the engines and most of the radios and such have been upgraded. Oh I almost forgot when I first started working this airframe around 1999 they still had a sextant on board and the star charts to use it, wish I would have procured one of those before we finally did away with them.

ALM · Feb 14, 2014

Yeah I own an Auster and a T6 Harvard/Texan.... Also have 2 hours in a Tr9 Spitfire... Its nice to wear an original Irvin or A2 whilst flying to get the real ambience of the era...

hatguy1 · Feb 15, 2014

buelligan said:
Well I've flown in a DC-3 and Ford Tri-motor and the planes I work on for the Air Force were last built in 64 the first one I flew on was a 57 model so I would consider that vintage even though the engines and most of the radios and such have been upgraded. Oh I almost forgot when I first started working this airframe around 1999 they still had a sextant on board and the star charts to use it, wish I would have procured one of those before we finally did away with them.

BUFF or KC-135? Thanks for your service.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

buelligan · Feb 16, 2014

hatguy1 said:
BUFF or KC-135? Thanks for your service.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

KC-135 I worked C-141's before that but I never had the chance to fly on one so it doesn't count. Your welcome although my time is about up and it will be time for another adventure.

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