P-51 and B-29 AT local airport

[lm6y]

Had to be one of the coolest things I've ever experienced. At the Carbondale Il airport, a P-51, and a B-29 flew in on their way to Dallas for the night. The B-29 pilot actually graduated from the SIU School of Aviation, so this was kind of his homecoming. Seeing a B-29 during a baking turn a low altitude isn't something you are likely to ever forget. And the sound of the Mustang was just mind blowing. yep, I'm on cloud nine. When I can get some pics resized, I'll ad them if any one is interested. Just had to brag about it!

[Flieger]

Very cool. I drove by the airport once but I don't remember it being very big- or at least big enough for a B-29! I spent many summers in my childhood in Carbondale. Have an uncle that lives there and has a pontoon boat and fishing boat. The family reunion would be there. We would usually go to Lake Kinkaid or to his cabin on the Ohio River. We used to go fishing at more of the lakes around there. Caught some tasty fish at Devil's Kitchen.

[David]

Coolest planes I saw was a P-51 and F-15 flying over the house wing and wing. The P-51 was screaming and the F-15 was probably about to stall

[BReif61]

I was at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's WW2 weekends earlier this month. The list of warbirds I got to see flying, in no particular order:

P-51
p-40
Dauntless
B-25 Mitchell
AT-6
B-17
B-29

Obviously, the last two aren't something I'll be forgetting anytime soon. I have pictures of them both on their take-off rolls on my home computer.

[rouxroux]

SAVE "FIFI"!

[BRPORSCHE]

fifi is the only flying b-29 left right?

[dw1]

A few years back, at an airshow at McGuire AFB, quite a few WW2-era aircraft were there, including several P-51s.

To make a long story short, it was a hot day and a friend and I sat down to catch some shade under the wing of a parked P-51.

I look around and realized what we were doing - resting in the shade of a P-51 wing. I will never, ever forget that feeling of historical awsomeness.

I've seen a B-17 & a B-24 landing & taking off at a local airport (about 10 years ago at Essex Co. airport), someday I hope to see FIFI.

[john70t]

Last weekend a shadow passed by over Ann Arbor downtown. Hmm that sounds familiar. It was the B-17 Yankee Lady preparing for Thunder Over Michigan 2012. 1/2hr rides are pricey but deductable I believe. Bucket list.

A few months ago I got to drop by the Robins AFB in GA off 1-75. Well worth the detour. They have quite a nice ground collection and display cases, but were still organizing a few hangers.

[Flieger]

I've seen a few P-51s...

Collection: Airshows

[onewhippedpuppy]

That is simply awesome.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

That is simply awesome.

It would be even more awesomer if he would post pictures.

[lm6y]

Yes, I met a Beautiful Lady today, and her name was in fact FiFi.
The P-51 was The Best III as near as I can tell from the pics.
All of these were screen grabs from the videos I took. I'll get the pics shrunk, and post some!

[Flieger]

Wow, that airport is a lot bigger than I remember!

[lm6y]

[Wilhelm]

The P-51D is sure a nice looking plane.

[Rednine11]

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

fifi is the only flying b-29 left right?

Yes Sir,
This is correct, not many things sound better than a radial engine

[id10t]

Neatest bomber trick I ever saw... was ushering at the game as a Boy Scout...

"In 1985 Marshall read of NASM's interest in acquiring a B-25 and decided that the bomber was ready for permanent retirement. Two days before he delivered the Mitchell to the Museum, Marshall determined to end his chapter in the history of this airplane with a sensational finale. In the afternoon of Saturday, November 16, 1985, with several friends as crew, Marshall buzzed low over the University of Florida football stadium during a home game against Kentucky. Seventy-two thousand fans witnessed "Carol Jean" pass the length of the field just above the light poles. "

[KNS]

There is another B-29 undergoing restoration to flight status, "Doc" in Kansas I believe.

The CAF (the oufit that keeps FIFI flying) is not too thrilled to see Doc fly - they'll lose their status as the Worlds Only Flying B-29. I say get more of them up in the air.

[Les Paul]

I thought FiFi was based in Dallas now. Not in Midland at the CAF or whatever they call it? Back in the day late 70's when the CAF was called that, they were based in Harlingen. My wife and I would drop by every spring on our way to Padre Island. Pics with FiFi in the hangar the year they painted it for the movie Enola Gay. Also had a flying F-82 there as well as a Spanish Me-109, a P-47, a B-24, etc. they used to just let you walk around them in the hangars they were working on them. Saw numerous other great warbirds there. B-26's numerous B-25's always great stuff. I have great pics I need to scan.

[Brian 162]

It flew over my house last Thursday. It was in formation with a Lancaster, A Mitchell bomber and a couple of fighters. That B-29 was huge compared to the other bombers. It was up here for an air show in Hamilton Father's day weekend.