Collings Foundation Experience

[Jay Beckman]

Howdy All...

Flew down to Tucson this morning (Tuesday) to go for a hop in the B17G "Nine
O Nine." B24 "Witchcraft" (formerly 'Dragon and His Tail' ... formerlly
'All American') and the B25 "Tondelayo" were also along on this stop.

Posted some pics at:

http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/b17_ride

Will offer up a "pax-rep" in the near future. Too late and too tired right
this minute.

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ

[Jack Allison]

Wow...fantastic pix. Jay. I think you've hit this one out of the park
in terms of cool factor. Looking forward to the writeup.


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-Instrument Airplane
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[Jay Honeck]

> Flew down to Tucson this morning (Tuesday) to go for a hop in the B17G "Nine
> O Nine." B24 "Witchcraft" (formerly 'Dragon and His Tail' ... formerlly
> 'All American') and the B25 "Tondelayo" were also along on this stop.
>
> Posted some pics at:
>
> http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/b17_ride

Awesome pix! Thanks for sharing them...you are one lucky dude!

I have had a certificate for a ride in the Collings planes for several
years now, and they just never seem to get anywhere near me at a time
when I'm free. Your pix have convinced me that I have GOT to take this
ride, no matter what it takes to make it work.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Morgans]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote
>
> Awesome pix! Thanks for sharing them...you are one lucky dude!

That is for sure! Great pics Mine did not come out so well. The darkness
inside, with the intense brightness coming in through the nose and other
windows makes it very challenging, light-wise.
>
> I have had a certificate for a ride in the Collings planes for several
> years now, and they just never seem to get anywhere near me at a time
> when I'm free. Your pix have convinced me that I have GOT to take this
> ride, no matter what it takes to make it work.

Yes, you have to take that magic carpet, find where they will be, and go
there! It is a ride you never will forget.

I could not help but think about all of the brave young men that flew these
into battle, with nothing but a thin piece of aluminum between them and the
flack and bullets. Unbelievable.

Do it in the summer, and stick your head out of the "sunroof" in the radio
room, and get some pictures. That is quite an experience, too.

Just do it. Sooner, rather than later.
--
Jim in NC

[Stubby]

Jay Beckman wrote:
> Howdy All...
>
> Flew down to Tucson this morning (Tuesday) to go for a hop in the B17G "Nine
> O Nine." B24 "Witchcraft" (formerly 'Dragon and His Tail' ... formerlly
> 'All American') and the B25 "Tondelayo" were also along on this stop.
>
> Posted some pics at:
>
> http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/b17_ride
>
> Will offer up a "pax-rep" in the near future. Too late and too tired right
> this minute.
>
> Jay Beckman
> PP-ASEL
> Chandler, AZ
>
>
It's been about a decade since I first toured the Collings Foundation
planes at the Hanscom Air Show. One of the really nice things was
talking to some of the 80-year old guys that used to fly missions in the
B-17s and -24s. They were frail but their memories vivid. Reading
about the war is one thing, but hearing it from those that fought it is
another.

I finally took a ride in 909 a few years ago and recommend it highly.
Go early and hang around in the crowd. You'll enjoy talking with them.
I promise.