airplane geeks

[imref]

The Commemorative Air Force is at Manassas Regional Airport this weekend.  Among the featured planes is the world's only still-flying B-29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFI_(aircraft)  We were over there this morning, they had about half a dozen WW-II era aircraft available for rides (at costs ranging from $65-$1,250).  They will be there tomorrow as well.

We arrived just before the B-29 returned from a flight, we got to see it land and then got to climb aboard.  Admission is $10 per person age 11 and older, or $20 for the entire family.  The Freedom Museum at the airport is worth an hour or two of your time if you are into military aviation history.

More details:
http://www.airpowersquadron.org/#!manassas-va/c1hf

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

That is really amazing.  Wish I could make it.  Any B-17s? 

The Commemorative Air Force is at Manassas Regional Airport this weekend.  Among the featured planes is the world's only still-flying B-29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFI_(aircraft)  We were over there this morning, they had about half a dozen WW-II era aircraft available for rides (at costs ranging from $65-$1,250).  They will be there tomorrow as well.

We arrived just before the B-29 returned from a flight, we got to see it land and then got to climb aboard.  Admission is $10 per person age 11 and older, or $20 for the entire family.  The Freedom Museum at the airport is worth an hour or two of your time if you are into military aviation history.

More details:
http://www.airpowersquadron.org/#!manassas-va/c1hf

[imref]

That is really amazing.  Wish I could make it.  Any B-17s? 

No, they had three fighters (one was a P-51) and a C-45.  Details on all the planes at the show are here:
http://www.airpowersquadron.org/#!manassas-va/c1hf

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Wow.  That's great.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

In one of those, "who'd win, a Tiger or a Lion?" kind of a debate, I always wanted to compare the capability of the 3 best US fighters - the Mustang, the Hellcat, and the Corsair.  Corsairs were beautiful and were supposed to outfly anything in the sky, while the Hellcat was supposed to be a better blend of speed, punch, and survivability.  The Mustang is the classic, though, and had the escort mission.  the Thunderbolt was also cool.

I think I read that Corsairs and Thunderbolts could dive faster than the speed of sound and survive.

[Copecwby20]

They were doing a tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen at Turner Field this weekend and they've had flyovers with a P 51D Mustang with red painted tail.

[Terpfan76]

P51 pretty much won the air was in WWII. Coolest plane in the air today is the A10 and I really don't see how it can be debated.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

P51 won the Euro theatre but wasn't much of a factor in the Pacific.  I guess it pulled some escort duty for B29s from Iwo once the airfields were open.  The Hellcat (F6F) was the key carrier fighter at the Turkey Shoot and Okinawa.

[imref]

Any of you ever been to the Air Force museum in Dayton?

[Copecwby20]

P51 pretty much won the air was in WWII. Coolest plane in the air today is the A10 and I really don't see how it can be debated.

The only problem with the A-10 is that it's flown by the Air Force and they have a habit of going blue on blue. It is probably one of the most unique airplanes with a very specific and well defined role, but not the coolest.

Of the old warbirds I think the F4U Corsair is one of the most gorgeous machines ever. The Mustang is my second favorite and the P-38 Lightning is pretty cool too.

[Slateman]

They were doing a tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen at Turner Field this weekend and they've had flyovers with a P 51D Mustang with red painted tail.

That was cool as freak to watch on TV.

[Terpfan76]

I'll still take the A10 all day everyday. A late co-worker built the when he worked for Fairchild in Hagersburg. A cousin of mine was a nav on an F14 in the 80s-90s.

I also have a soft spot for the AC130 Specter.

[Slateman]

I'll still take the A10 all day everyday. A late co-worker built the when he worked for Fairchild in Hagersburg. A cousin of mine was a nav on an F14 in the 80s-90s.

I also have a soft spot for the AC130 Specter.

A-10s are great because of their TOS. You'll never get a AC130 pushed to you unless you're specops. They're pretty frugal with them.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

I love the Catalina flying boat.  Those things were still in use all around the world in the 70s (maybe even 80s). 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Rumor has it that there's a Catalina still in the sky over the Bermuda triangle looking for a flight of Avengers.

By the way, I went to Texas A&M for a conference right when the GHWB Museum opened.  Did not go into the exhibits because there was not enough time during the day, but on a break I went into the lobby.  Hanging above you is an Avenger. 

I love the A10 concept - let's build a kick-butt gatling gun and design a plane around it to get it into the air.

This is getting phased out, right?  What is taking its place? 

[imref]

i flew on a new 737-900 last week, it has the new Boeing interior designed to mimic some of the designs of the 787, including soft "mood" lighting like the Virgin A3xx's, recessed center aisle lighting designed to look like sky lights, and larger, fold into the ceiling overhead bins like you see in 777s.  Overall it provides a more airy cabin.  It had power outlets on either side of the middle seat in each row, but now WiFi nor entertainment system of any kind.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Those are sweet.  We flew a Garuda 737-900 from Denpasar to Jogjakarta last November that was on its 2nd or 3rd commercial flight...cleanest, newest, nicest plane I had ever been on.  Which made Thursday's United flight from Houston feel like third class on a third-world train.

i flew on a new 737-900 last week, it has the new Boeing interior designed to mimic some of the designs of the 787, including soft "mood" lighting like the Virgin A3xx's, recessed center aisle lighting designed to look like sky lights, and larger, fold into the ceiling overhead bins like you see in 777s.  Overall it provides a more airy cabin.  It had power outlets on either side of the middle seat in each row, but now WiFi nor entertainment system of any kind.

[Copecwby20]

I love the Catalina flying boat.  Those things were still in use all around the world in the 70s (maybe even 80s).

My grandpa on my Mom's side was a radio man on a PBY Catalina.

[Slateman]

Rumor has it that there's a Catalina still in the sky over the Bermuda triangle looking for a flight of Avengers.

By the way, I went to Texas A&M for a conference right when the GHWB Museum opened.  Did not go into the exhibits because there was not enough time during the day, but on a break I went into the lobby.  Hanging above you is an Avenger. 

I love the A10 concept - let's build a kick-butt gatling gun and design a plane around it to get it into the air.

This is getting phased out, right?  What is taking its place? 

The Air Force has been trying for two decades to phase it out, but the Army won't let it happen. In all honesty, the Army should simply take over its use. They've had fixed wing aviation in the past. No reason for them not to keep it. The Comanche was a dud, and nothing the AF is getting will do the A-10's mission as well as the Warthog. With the upgrade to the Apaches to get rid of the Kiowa scout helos, they would work well in tademn with A-10s.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Dumb question - Can the Marine version of the F35 operate at low speeds for combat support?  Are Harriers used that way?

[Slateman]

Dumb question - Can the Marine version of the F35 operate at low speeds for combat support?  Are Harriers used that way?

F35 B can't even fly yet, so no

[Terpfan76]

The Air Force has been trying for two decades to phase it out, but the Army won't let it happen. In all honesty, the Army should simply take over its use. They've had fixed wing aviation in the past. No reason for them not to keep it. The Comanche was a dud, and nothing the AF is getting will do the A-10's mission as well as the Warthog. With the upgrade to the Apaches to get rid of the Kiowa scout helos, they would work well in tademn with A-10s.

according to Wikipedia, the a10 is currently in service until 2040. We'll see how that goes.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Well, how old are B-52s?  Must be 60+ years on those things by now.

[Terpfan76]

Well, how old are B-52s?  Must be 60+ years on those things by now.

been around since the 50s. They are still pretty badass for what they do.

[Slateman]

according to Wikipedia, the a10 is currently in service until 2040. We'll see how that goes.

They can cancel them at any time. I can't imagine them staying in service that long. I'm going to go ahead and assume that by then, we'll have perfected rail gun technology, making the A-10's cannon obsolete