John T Lowry
August 12th 04, 10:36 AM
But at an air show at San Marcos last year, when I asked a CAF member
what they were "commemorating" with their new name, he replied, "The
Confederacy, of course." I went through "Sentimental Journey" at an air
show in Billings some years ago and got a bunch crew autographs on a
picture of that very nice airplane.
"Brian Burger" > wrote in message
.tc.ca...
> Spent a cooler than usual hour and a half at the airport this
morning -
> crawling all over the Commemorative Air Force's[1] B17G "Sentimental
> Journey", which is here for a few days before it heads off the the big
> Abbotsford Airshow this weekend.
>
> They don't get up to Canada much - haven't even been to Abbotsford in
a
> few years - and there's only a dozen or so flying B17s in the world,
so
> this was a huge treat!
>
> She's a big, shiny bird, all glossy aluminum and rivets, but really,
> really cramped inside. I'm 5'11" and in good shape, and it was still a
bit
> of a challenge getting around in some areas of the fusalage! Getting
from
> the nose hatch up to the cockpit requires minor gymnastics, and the
> catwalk through the bomb-bay is only about seven inches wide!
>
> I bought some pins, took a lot of pictures, and felt honoured to be
able
> to examine such an awesome piece of aviation history, especially one
> that's still flying and in really, really good condition.
>
> 'Sentimental Journey's homepage is here:
> http://www.arizonawingcaf.org/b17.asp
>
> When I get the photos developed I might post some of the good ones to
my
> website - I'll post here if I do!
>
> Brian.
> [1] Yes, I know they used to be the 'Confederate etc etc' -
Commemorative
> is a far better name, I think. They do commemorate WW2, 'Confederate'
is
> from the wrong war, and besides, why should any organization be happy
> calling itself the 'Racist Losers Air Force' in the 21st Century?
what they were "commemorating" with their new name, he replied, "The
Confederacy, of course." I went through "Sentimental Journey" at an air
show in Billings some years ago and got a bunch crew autographs on a
picture of that very nice airplane.
"Brian Burger" > wrote in message
.tc.ca...
> Spent a cooler than usual hour and a half at the airport this
morning -
> crawling all over the Commemorative Air Force's[1] B17G "Sentimental
> Journey", which is here for a few days before it heads off the the big
> Abbotsford Airshow this weekend.
>
> They don't get up to Canada much - haven't even been to Abbotsford in
a
> few years - and there's only a dozen or so flying B17s in the world,
so
> this was a huge treat!
>
> She's a big, shiny bird, all glossy aluminum and rivets, but really,
> really cramped inside. I'm 5'11" and in good shape, and it was still a
bit
> of a challenge getting around in some areas of the fusalage! Getting
from
> the nose hatch up to the cockpit requires minor gymnastics, and the
> catwalk through the bomb-bay is only about seven inches wide!
>
> I bought some pins, took a lot of pictures, and felt honoured to be
able
> to examine such an awesome piece of aviation history, especially one
> that's still flying and in really, really good condition.
>
> 'Sentimental Journey's homepage is here:
> http://www.arizonawingcaf.org/b17.asp
>
> When I get the photos developed I might post some of the good ones to
my
> website - I'll post here if I do!
>
> Brian.
> [1] Yes, I know they used to be the 'Confederate etc etc' -
Commemorative
> is a far better name, I think. They do commemorate WW2, 'Confederate'
is
> from the wrong war, and besides, why should any organization be happy
> calling itself the 'Racist Losers Air Force' in the 21st Century?