Aviation BS and Photo Thread

Thanks for the heads up on the MCAS Miramar Air Show. Managed to get down there today. Always love the MAGTF demo but seem to remember them fast roping and/or doing the spyrig but they may have stopped it due to injuries. I've been going to the El Toro/Miramar shows since the 80s. I do miss MCAS El Toro as it was the duty station for my unit.

 

MAGTF demo changes based on who’s available I’ve seen several versions at different bases.

 

As of 11pm last night I joined the Challenger crowd, added the CL-604 type to my certificate. Go in tonight to do an ocean crossing LOFT and go home tomorrow.

 

Scored a Thunderbirds friends and family VIP ticket for todays Pacific Airshow.

 

3rd and final day for the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach. Show was great. Found a spot at the pizza shop on State beach (by the Magnolia entrance). This was was at the southern end of where the aircraft would return to the show area.

 

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/air-safety-institutes-richard-mcspadden-dies-in-crash/

https://www.lakeplacidnews.com/news...-details-on-fatal-plane-crash-in-lake-placid/

Sad, and a reminder no one is immune from the dangers of GA, regardless of how small the dangers are. He flew with our club several times in the last couple of years and has helped promote our area.

A video from one of his recent visits. The white/blue cub is a club plane. A really cool guy. RIP

 

Not really, if you were about to be the recipient of their payload.

 

One of my local airports, KGMU, just held their annual Warbird Weekend. It's not a huge event and isn't an airshow. But they usually bring in some unique aircraft for static display. A few of them do paid flights as well. The big treat was having B-17 "Yankee Lady" in town, and getting to see her fly several times. Other displays included a T-6 and P-40 from Warbird Adventures, a CJ-6, sheriff's office OH-58, and a Chinook and Lakota from SCNG. Great way to spend part of a weekend!

 

https://x.com/nasahistory/status/1713585538026836063?s=46

 

That would be cool, no pun intended. My dad’s oldest brother used to do those trips in a C-124 back in the 60’s out of New Zealand.

 

About a friend of mine, from another friend (& Raven):

I would like to invite you to see a special YouTube video about my good friend, Chuck Engle, who died in a plane crash about a week before he was scheduled to return home from Laos in Feb 1971. See. Vietnam War's Most Decorated Raven: Chuck Engle Raven 26 - YouTube .
He was an amazing pilot and “the best of the best”. If this is of interest to you, you may want to look at The Ravens, Part 1 by the same producer, Dr. Paul Carter. Now, Part 2 should be out in a couple of weeks. It is well worth looking for.

Col. Duehring


(@Groan Old, @SOSHeloPilot, @scocar you guys might like this)

 

Thanks for the heads-up, I just finished watching that. I'm surprised the Bird Dog he was in would fly, his cojones put it well over max gross weight. Sorry something as simple as a broke plane would end him, but that's how it goes so many times.

Looking forward to Part 2.

 

Interesting read -Now I understand why the USAF denies any RC 135 flights over Northern Laos When I was on board and flying on them. Even got to witness a Buff strike one night from 35K up above

 

I am fairly sure this is what Brian Shull was doing when he got shot down in Laos. Info: Brian is (sadly was) the famous SR 71 pilot who overcame all kinds of things in his way to become a rather famous (look up SR-71 speed check story) SR pilot. He sadly passed away from a heart attack within the last year.

 

On Saturday at the Mojave Air and Space Port we listened to a fascinating presentation about this aircraft — experimental, hydrogen-powered by Universal Hydrogen.

They started with a DeHavilland Dash 8, kept the left engine EOM turboprop, then swapped out the right side with an electric motor (currently about half the HP as the turboprop). The rear of the plane houses the hydrogen holding tanks as well as fuel cells.



Cowlings removed so we could see what's going on.

 

I met Major Shul in 1987 at Sheppard AFB. He spoke to our medical officer group about his shoot-down and the medical care he received that saved his life and enabled him to return to flight status. Afterwards, several of us had an informal gathering with him at the O.Club for dinner and drinks.