WW II Air Show European Threatre

Great vids. And turned up speakers to enjoy those Alisons and Merlins and Wasps! What music!

Growing up, had a best friend down the street, we got heavily into WWII planes as a hobby. Built so many models, I even had my basement separated into Pacific and European theater as far as which models were hung from the rafters in imaginary dogfights. We could name any plane and all its specs, read so many books about aces, etc etc etc.

And we'd go to airshows (like the one in RI...Quonset)
...so...after high school, separate directions. I recall he got some job pumping gas at a local airport. He started taking private pilots lessons. Lost touch with him after that. Got reacquainted about 10 years ago via FB. He's living far away but he kept pursuing his license and building his certifications...multi engine, etc. Currently he flies a corporate jet for General Dynamics...has him flying all over the world. However he lives in a community down in VA...where they have grass runways right there. A neighborhood for pilots. And he's about 1/2 way through building his own Pitts Special stunt plane. He goes to a lot of air shows and other "meets" for pilots. About 2 years ago he had a post, someone he had met who owned a twin seater P-51....the TF-51D. Yup...he got to fly it. What a dream come true! I mean...40 years ago, when we were kids, we idolized these plans and those who flew them. And here was my buddy..actually flying one!

Great vid, thanks for posting! I'll revisit later again..with my speakers turned up!
 
I remember many years ago, I think I was in my 20's...I was out in my boat with my dad. We were just out in the middle of Fishers Island Sound...a bit towards Watch Hill....sorta near the light house. I had cut the engine and were were just drifting out there, enjoying the view and chatting.

My dad is who got me into WWII planes...as they were his hobby when he grew up, he had so many pictures of them, and had also built a few models. And he was into engines..and got me into engines. So he taught me to have an ear for certain engines and their sounds.

So...we're sitting there talking, and as we're talking, every few seconds or so we both hear something off in the distance..and start looking up in that direction. A low rumble. Getting closer. And closer. Slowly..but getting closer. Pretty soon it has the attention of both of us. An airplane for sure...but unusual. And as the it gets closer..and we hear the sound more clearly, we start wondering what it is. Nope...what "they" are! As we both see 2x specs in the sky. Each multi engine for sure. As they get closer..start making out the shape...wow..4x radials! And...holy cow..that large vertical tail ...A B-17! And..behind it..that H tails..wow, a B-24!!!
Both flying in...towards Groton Airport. And they fly overhead and start their slow spiral descent..landing in Groton.
The next day in the local paper, see an article about them, they arrived as part of a tour, fund raising, stayed as week and people could pay for flights in them..even sitting in the belly turret during a flight! We saw them arrive in Groton coming down from Quonset RI where they were giving tours back then.

Also part of this group, that come around more often, a pair of A6 Texans...see them overhead at least once a year.
 
Great vids. And turned up speakers to enjoy those Alisons and Merlins and Wasps! What music!

Growing up, had a best friend down the street, we got heavily into WWII planes as a hobby. Built so many models, I even had my basement separated into Pacific and European theater as far as which models were hung from the rafters in imaginary dogfights. We could name any plane and all its specs, read so many books about aces, etc etc etc.

And we'd go to airshows (like the one in RI...Quonset)
...so...after high school, separate directions. I recall he got some job pumping gas at a local airport. He started taking private pilots lessons. Lost touch with him after that. Got reacquainted about 10 years ago via FB. He's living far away but he kept pursuing his license and building his certifications...multi engine, etc. Currently he flies a corporate jet for General Dynamics...has him flying all over the world. However he lives in a community down in VA...where they have grass runways right there. A neighborhood for pilots. And he's about 1/2 way through building his own Pitts Special stunt plane. He goes to a lot of air shows and other "meets" for pilots. About 2 years ago he had a post, someone he had met who owned a twin seater P-51....the TF-51D. Yup...he got to fly it. What a dream come true! I mean...40 years ago, when we were kids, we idolized these plans and those who flew them. And here was my buddy..actually flying one!

Great vid, thanks for posting! I'll revisit later again..with my speakers turned up!
Get some TF-51D time here... https://www.stallion51.com/
 

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