My US Trip

[Wuzak]

Hey guys.

Just writing to tell you that I have had a great time in the US.

On Friday we toured the Wright Patterson Airforce Base museum. I took many pictures, which I will share with you as soon as I get home.

Also did the Battle Creek Air Show which was fantastic. Part of the display was a P-51 and F-15 fly past. I got plenty of pictures there too, and a few videos.

Unfortunately our schedule did not allow for a visit to the Air Zoo - I will have to do that another time.

I will see you all again soon.

[GregP]

Wuzak,

Really glad you had a good time over here in the States. It would be pretty sad to go all that way and experience a big disappiontment.

You are welcome back anytime. Looks like I'll be in California soon. Maybe next time, we can visit. If the new job is good, maybe I'LL visit!

Hope you have some pics ... :)

[Wuzak]

I have around 400 pics from WPAFB...hopefully some of them will be worth looking at.

I have about 170-200 pictures and videos from the air show.

I will be posting a few in the coming weeks.


PS Good luck with the job.

[GregP]

Thanks! :)

[Lightning]

Hi Wuzak,

I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed your trip. It sounds like you had a very good time.

About three years ago, I visited the museum at Wright-Patterson AFB. It was GREAT! My only problem was that the film in my camera was too "slow" (400 ASA), so all my indoor photographs turned out on the dark side (like Darth Vader :)). You probably used a digital camera, but for those die-hard 35mm fans, I recommend, at the very least, 800 ASA film.

Regards,
Lightning

[Double T]

Wuzak:
It sounds like you really enjoyed yourself, and got some great photos.

One day I've GOT to visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo... and Wright-Patt for that matter. I've been told you can't take in everything at Wright-Patterson in one day. It sure would be fun to try however!

In the meantime, I'll look forward to seeing some of your photos posted-up.

Tim

[Wuzak]

You definitely cannot see all of WPAFB in just one go!

We were there for about 4 or 5 hours (lost track). We went through the WW2 section first, before we headed off to the Presidential and Experimental hangars - this requires ID and takes a bus trip to a different (more secure) area of the base. That lasts an hour.

There is also the restorations area, which we missed. To get into that you need to pre-book, which we didn't know. They are currently restoring the Memphis Belle.

We ran out of time to go into the Hall of Fame.

They also have the I-max theatre, which we also missed.

Incredible value for money I must say!

[Groggy]

quote:Originally posted by Lightning

Hi Wuzak,

I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed your trip. It sounds like you had a very good time.

About three years ago, I visited the museum at Wright-Patterson AFB. It was GREAT! My only problem was that the film in my camera was too "slow" (400 ASA), so all my indoor photographs turned out on the dark side (like Darth Vader :)). You probably used a digital camera, but for those die-hard 35mm fans, I recommend, at the very least, 800 ASA film.

Regards,
Lightning


Hi Lightning,
Do they allow Tripods or are they banned?

[Ricky]

Hi Wuzak, that sounds like a great trip - I can't wait for the pictures!

Just make sure you edit their brightnes first or RT will have words with you...;)

[Lightning]

Hi Groggy,

Quoting you:quote:Do they allow Tripods or are they banned?
I don't really know, but I would think that tripods would be allowed. Time exposures would definitely help, but most people have "point-and-shoot" cameras and don't carry tripods with them. For example, I only had an auto focus/exposure Minolta with me. Someone with more advanced equipment would probably have no trouble with 400 ASA film. Its the "duffers" like me who should have the 800 ASA film on hand.

Regards,
Lightning

[Wuzak]

Hi Guys....

Just a couple of shots from the air show in Battle Creek, Michigan, to begin with.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/1576/airshowp51f15003trimei4.jpg

[Wuzak]

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/5198/airshowwingwalker002trimzh6.jpg

[curmudgeon]

quote:Originally posted by Lightning

Hi Groggy,

Quoting you:quote:Do they allow Tripods or are they banned?
I don't really know, but I would think that tripods would be allowed. Time exposures would definitely help, but most people have "point-and-shoot" cameras and don't carry tripods with them. For example, I only had an auto focus/exposure Minolta with me. Someone with more advanced equipment would probably have no trouble with 400 ASA film. Its the "duffers" like me who should have the 800 ASA film on hand.

Regards,
Lightning


If tripods are banned (compete with commercial postcards, get in the way of other visitors) then try a monopod. With practise these work pretty well,

curmudgeon

[Ricky]

[:0]Awesome photo!

More!!!

[Wuzak]

quote:Originally posted by Ricky

[:0]Awesome photo!

More!!!


Soon. I have a lot of sorting and resizing to do!

For now I will leave you with a pic I saw on a motor racing tech forum...

http://www.pbase.com/image/63782702.jpg

[Groggy]

[/quote]quote:Originally posted by Lightning

Hi Groggy,

Someone with more advanced equipment would probably have no trouble with 400 ASA film. Its the "duffers" like me who should have the 800 ASA film on hand.

Regards,

Lightning



Hi Lightning,
Thanks, Never ever thought of you as a "duffer" of any sort. Your postings are far to interesting.

Hi Curmudgeon,
Monopod, thanks, good idea. Time passes and one shakes a little bit more when clicking with out knowing untill one gets the reults back.

[Mark J]

Hey Wuzak, thats one scary looking Fiat Topilo drag car! What sort of engines are they?

cheers

[Wuzak]

Allisons, I believe...all four of them!

[Wuzak]

Part of the P-51 display...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBhFQFXpji4

[Wuzak]

Some more P-51 and F-15 photos.

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5268/airshowp51f15001ev0.jpg


http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/5903/airshowp51f15002lp6.jpg


http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/7758/airshowp51f15004pa8.jpg


And some P-51 solo pics

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/8413/p51001qv4.jpg


http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6179/p51003vi4.jpg

[Wuzak]

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/4346/p51004wq9.jpg

Sorry about this one being so wide....

It is actually about 1/3 of full size!

[Wuzak]

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/2829/p51005py0.jpg


http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/7737/p51006qn7.jpg


http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/3912/p51007vf7.jpg


http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2373/p51008er4.jpg

[Wuzak]

Some precision flying from teh Canadian Snowbirds

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/8935/canadiansnowbirds001xj1.jpg


http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2262/canadiansnowbirds002su7.jpg


http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/135/canadiansnowbirds003bc0.jpg

[Wuzak]

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/7870/canadiansnowbirds004qe0.jpg


http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7567/canadiansnowbirds005vt0.jpg


Not to be outdone...The Thunderbirds are Go!

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2726/usafthunderbirds003sa9.jpg


http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4102/usafthunderbirds005wi8.jpg


http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2523/usafthunderbirds006nm7.jpg

[Wuzak]

Some aerobatics...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YRYyq6TOgg

[Wuzak]

I'll upload some more tomorrow.

[Wuzak]

A-10s fly past...

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/8412/a10thunderboltiiflypast001nd5.jpg



The better end of an A-10 if you are the enemy!

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8651/a10thunderboltii004qp0.jpg



And the thing you want to avoid if you are the enemy...

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/4957/a10thunderboltii020aa3.jpg

[Wuzak]

Another angle...

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/4530/a10thunderboltii019tz7.jpg


The Office

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/7927/a10thunderboltii015nh7.jpg

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/9682/a10thunderboltii016ne2.jpg

[Wuzak]

The AT-6 Trainer (I think)

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/6666/at6trainer001tr5.jpg


Trainers old and new...

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/949/trainers001bx5.jpg

[Wuzak]

Waiting their turn....

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9053/aerobaticsplanes001fm1.jpg


During their display

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3692/aerobaticsplanes002np9.jpg


http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/4161/aerobaticsplanes003dz0.jpg



Three planes formation flying

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/3707/aerobaticstrio002eg4.jpg


And doing loops

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/8682/aerobaticstrio004pe3.jpg

[Wuzak]

Not sure what this move is called...

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/2513/aerobaticstrio005ff5.jpg


Super Hornet

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/8205/f18superhornet001mm6.jpg


http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/7867/f18superhornet002pa4.jpg

[Wuzak]

One brave lady...

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/420/wingwalker001qk9.jpg

Getting ready for take off. Note that she is between the starboard wings...


http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8546/wingwalker002kn5.jpg

[Wuzak]

Look Ma...no hands!

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6797/wingwalker003yo2.jpg


http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/9514/wingwalker007ca7.jpg

[Wuzak]

F-15 ready for take-off...

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1811/f15eagle001zo7.jpg


And in the air...

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8436/f15eagle004oc6.jpg

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/2143/f15eagle007cn9.jpg

[Wuzak]

Just starting on my pictures from WPAFB

Piper Enforcer from the Experimental Hangar...

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6999/piperp48enforcer001lr9.jpg


And what is this Japanese thing again? I forget..

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4427/p1040384nd0.jpg

[Kutscha]

Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka. Also known as the Baka.

There was also a COIN Mustang that used a Rolls Royce Dart 510 turboprop. This was the Cavalier Mustang.

[montanamotor]

Wuzak, Kutscha,

this one big, fat, beautiful thing with it's INCREDIBLE prop is a PIPER?????

Now I now, why I always was so fond of those neat'n colorful tube, wood'n fabric-birdies. "Chirp, chirp!" - It's the family-resemblance, ya' know.

Although - the voice ot this big, bad bird may have been just a little deeper and, more pronounced than "Chirp, chirp", only...

Great stuff!

Cheers,

Montanamotor [:o)]

[Ricky]

[:0]

Beautiful pics... many thanks for sharing.

I might start planning a US trip myself! Now, how do I convince my wife...;)

[Wuzak]

quote:Originally posted by montanamotor

Wuzak, Kutscha,

this one big, fat, beautiful thing with it's INCREDIBLE prop is a PIPER?????



Yes.

I called it a P-48, but in fact it was known by Piper's number of PA-48.

An explanation from Joe Baugher, on how the P-51 Mustange evplved into the Piper.

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p51_14.html

[Lightning]

Hi Wuzak,

Very nice photos. I really miss being able to go to all the airshows in the Baltimore-Washington-Philadelphia area. I used to attend them all.

The photos you post that bring back memories are those of the wing walker. I have seen Gene Soucy fly that airplane (it's some kind of a hybrid) many times. It's loud, smokey, and woderful!

Thanks for the memories; I envy you.

Regards,
Lightning

[GregP]

Thanks for the photos Wuzak!

I love the pics and wish I could have been there.

Gene Soucy's biplane (named "Sampson") is really LOUD isn't it? The prop tips get slightly supersonic and can be heard for miles.

I think Montanamotor is right, the turboprop Mustang looks like a Piper Enforcer. I could be wrong but it sure LOOKS like one. I also may be wrong, but I think the Enforcer used an Allison turboshaft that came from a helicopter. Kind of ironic that the Mustang started life with an Allison and went back to one over 20 years later.

[Wuzak]

I think it was Soucy guys.

But I never did get a program.

btw, did you enjoy the videos I put there?

[Wuzak]

Just for Lightning...

http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/8224/p38001jl8.jpg


The plaque next to the Piper...

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3128/piperpa48enforcer002va9.jpg

[Wuzak]

The biplane doing some of its stuff...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpjEuNc9xPw

[Wuzak]

MOre piper pics

http://img347.imageshack.us/img347/762/piperpa48enforcer003jk4.jpg


http://img476.imageshack.us/img476/2954/piperpa48enforcer004dh7.jpg


http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/3267/piperpa48enforcer005os3.jpg

[Wuzak]

quote:Originally posted by GregP

Thanks for the photos Wuzak!

I love the pics and wish I could have been there.

Gene Soucy's biplane (named "Sampson") is really LOUD isn't it? The prop tips get slightly supersonic and can be heard for miles.

I think Montanamotor is right, the turboprop Mustang looks like a Piper Enforcer. I could be wrong but it sure LOOKS like one. I also may be wrong, but I think the Enforcer used an Allison turboshaft that came from a helicopter. Kind of ironic that the Mustang started life with an Allison and went back to one over 20 years later.


Yes, that biplane is very load. Much louder than the P-51 which was there - and obvious from the video I just posted.

It would have been great to see you there Greg. How did you go with your interviews, btw? Are you now gamefully employed?

[Double T]

Wuzak:
Great photos. Many thanks for sharing.

Tomorrow I have an interesting day planned. I've been invited to Terre Haute, Indiana to tour facilities of the 181st FW of the Indiana AirNationalGuard based there. They fly F-16C and "D-model" aircraft.
I'm getting the VIP tour. I will see the Falcons up-close and personal, and watch some take-offs and landings. I'm also to tour the squadron-museum and meet some of the pilots of "THE RACERS."
I'm pumped.

Tim

[Wuzak]

quote:Originally posted by Double T

Wuzak:
Great photos. Many thanks for sharing.

Tomorrow I have an interesting day planned. I've been invited to Terre Haute, Indiana to tour facilities of the 181st FW of the Indiana AirNationalGuard based there. They fly F-16C and "D-model" aircraft.
I'm getting the VIP tour. I will see the Falcons up-close and personal, and watch some take-offs and landings. I'm also to tour the squadron-museum and meet some of the pilots of "THE RACERS."
I'm pumped.

Tim



Excellent. I hope you have a good time.

We drove past such a base in Springfield Ohio (not far from Dayton). Could just see a couple of bits of planes from behind buildings, but nothing else.

As an Australian it amused me that each (most/all?) US state has its own Air National Guard.

I mean who is going to mount an aerial attack on Ohio? Indiana perhaps?

[Lightning]

Hi Wuzak,

Quoting you:
quote:Just for Lightning...
WOW!!! You don't know how very much I appreciate your posting that great photo of the P-38! Thank you SO much.

Regards,
Lightning

[Lightning]

Hi again, Wuzak,

Quoting you:
quote:As an Australian it amused me that each (most/all?) US state has its own Air National Guard.

I mean who is going to mount an aerial attack on Ohio? Indiana perhaps?

The Air National Guard is also a reserve component of the USAF. ANG squadrons are serving in the Middle East right now.

A long while ago I served for several years as a parachute rigger in the 135th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) of the Maryland Air National Guard. We were always on call in case of natural and man-made disasters.

ANG planes airlift food, medical personnel/supplies, heavy equipment, building materials, etc. to areas hit by earthquakes, floods, forest fires, etc.

The individual states have control over their respective Army/Air National Guard units, but these units can be federalized and encorporated into the active duty armed forces at any time that there is a national emergency.

I was a communications sergeant on an "A team" in Company B, 2nd SF Bn, 20th SF Group, Maryland Army National Guard back in 1991. Our whole SF group was federalized and sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina prior to deployment to the Persian Gulf. Fortunately, the ground war ended before we could be deployed there.

Regards,
Lightning

[GregP]

Thanks for asking Wuzak!

The interviews went great and I am in transit from Austin, Texas to Irvine, California to work for a company called Parker Aerospace. I start next Monday and am visiting in Phoenix, Arizona with friends (using a borrowed PC to check in). I lived in Phoenix for 22 years, so it's very familiar ground.

Parker Aerospace makes electro-hydraulic actuators for aircraft control system actuation, aircraft hydraulic systems, accumulators, and other aircraft-related items ... among other things. Our actuators are on civil Boeings, Lockheeds, Airbuses, some Chinese and Russian civil planes, and some US military planes including the latest new ones. Should be fun, and is out of the electronic telecommunications industry that has been so volatile in my recent life. I wouldn't wish that on anyone ... [8)]

Anyway, I see I was wrong again about the Allison turboprop! My sources are in transit with the movers, my PC is in the car with my data files, and my memory failed me again! Go figure. [:I]

Again, thanks for the inquiry.

Your videos are great! Seems like a nice airshow. The pretty lady who usually wing-walks for Gene Soucy is Theresa Stokes, an aviation artist.

Back to TGPlanes ... one thing I wonder about is that if the turboprop had over 2,000 HP, why was it slower than the WWII Mustang? I did not figure small tip tanks would be such a drag source. It is possible entire airframe aerodynamics changed due to the amount of exhaust being dumped into the boudary layer airflow, or maybe the prop was set for that maximum speed and was optimized for climb with a full load so the plane could more easily reposition for another hot pass after an attack.

Does anyone know for sure why the maxomum speed was lower for the turboprop?

[Wuzak]

quote:Originally posted by GregP

Thanks for asking Wuzak!


My pleasure Greg. I do regret not giving you a call whilst I was over there...

Good luck with the new job, and California.


quote:Originally posted by GregP

one thing I wonder about is that if the turboprop had over 2,000 HP, why was it slower than the WWII Mustang? I did not figure small tip tanks would be such a drag source. It is possible entire airframe aerodynamics changed due to the amount of exhaust being dumped into the boudary layer airflow, or maybe the prop was set for that maximum speed and was optimized for climb with a full load so the plane could more easily reposition for another hot pass after an attack.

Does anyone know for sure why the maxomum speed was lower for the turboprop?


That is an interesting question. The Piper has the wing tanks plus the hard points sticking out in the airflow, but on the positive side it does without the radiator intake on the bottom. It also has some residual thrust from the turbine, which must surely be greater than the radiator exhaust from the Mustang.

The Piper is a bigger plane than the Mustang too - it was lengthened. I think it is also massively heavier than the Mustang, both unladen and MTOW.

Then again its mission requirements did not need a higher max speed. Maybe the prop was set for the expected normal mission speeds, and it is the limiting factor in top speed.

[Wuzak]

quote:Originally posted by Lightning

Hi again, Wuzak,

Quoting you:
quote:As an Australian it amused me that each (most/all?) US state has its own Air National Guard.

I mean who is going to mount an aerial attack on Ohio? Indiana perhaps?

The Air National Guard is also a reserve component of the USAF. ANG squadrons are serving in the Middle East right now.

A long while ago I served for several years as a parachute rigger in the 135th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) of the Maryland Air National Guard. We were always on call in case of natural and man-made disasters.

ANG planes airlift food, medical personnel/supplies, heavy equipment, building materials, etc. to areas hit by earthquakes, floods, forest fires, etc.

The individual states have control over their respective Army/Air National Guard units, but these units can be federalized and encorporated into the active duty armed forces at any time that there is a national emergency.

I was a communications sergeant on an "A team" in Company B, 2nd SF Bn, 20th SF Group, Maryland Army National Guard back in 1991. Our whole SF group was federalized and sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina prior to deployment to the Persian Gulf. Fortunately, the ground war ended before we could be deployed there.

Regards,
Lightning


Thanks for the explanation Lightning.

The US doesn't have a reserve Army/Air Force/Navy? Those duties being performed by the National Guards?

Our regular and reserve armed forces do airlifts etc.

[Lightning]

Hi Wuzak,

Quoting you:
quote:
The US doesn't have a reserve Army/Air Force/Navy? Those duties being performed by the National Guards?
Yes, we do. There are the Army, Navy, Marine Corp, and Air Force Reserves. There are only the Army and Air Force National Guard i.e. no Navy or Marine Corps National Guard units.

The big difference between the reserves and the National Guard is that the reserves are a federal force while the NG falls directly under state control. This makes it easier for a state governor to utilize the Guard without having to ask for federal aid. At the same time, the Guard stands prepared for federal callup in a national emergency--such as a war.

Regards,
Lightning