Sunday, October 23, 2011

FTW Alliance Airshow 2010

Last week, oldest son mentioned the Airshow and invited me to go with him.  So today we drove out to the airport and enjoyed a beautiful North Texas day outdoors.

This airplane was rebuilt from a worthless hulk, for the purpose of educating the public about the Tuskegee Airmen.  It crashed in 2004, killing its project leader, Don Hinz.  In testament to Mr. Hinz' dedication to the mission of telling the story, it was rebuilt again, and appears as you see it here, together with an IMAX type theatre trailer showing Rise Above, at various venues to educate new generations about overcoming circumstances.


The duct below the P-51 is for the radiator (to cool the Rolls-Royce Packard Merlin V-12).  Something I learned today - The Meredith Effect: I did not previously know that the heated air after the radiator, creates additional thrust, in excess of the drag created by the duct, similar to a jet engine.

Spacewalk, anyone?



A restoration project completed by an Aero school in Tulsa:



Son was disappointed to see most people pick up the infantry arms and immediately put their fingers on the trigger - even though these have been rendered inert.  I agree (didn't become an NRA certified firearms trainer for nothing.)


Where are those prairie dogs?


B'Gosh!

You know I'm an Eagles fan:


F-15 Eagles



CAF Mitchell B-25 "Devil Dog" and North American P-51 Mustang


In the air...

...and on the ground...


Jim Cavanaugh's TBM-3E Avenger  ("Poppy" Bush '41' flew one of these)
Note B-25 "Devil Dog" tail in background.


...and in the air.


That's not my Dad's Bonanza.


The end of a perfect day, son poses in front of his idol, aerobatic pilot Sean Tucker's biplane.

2 comments:

el chupacabra said...

The RRPM V12 is as I understand considered engineering perfection- why the Mustang dominated Reno- forever.

M240? Again, engineering perfection. That gun will go down in history, like the Ma Deuce. And if it doesn't, it's only because people don't know any better. It's nearly unnaturally accurate and reliable.

RPM said...

I wish I could have made Alliance this year! Very cool pics.