P-51 in CYGK

Hedley · Post by **Hedley** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:56 pm

I got this emailed to me today. It's sure to enrage the slimes at Transport and the whining lefties alike, which of course means it's a great read:

It was noon on a Sunday as I recall, the day a Mustang P-51 was to take to
the air. They said it had flown in during the night from some US airport, the
pilot had been tired. I marveled at the size of the plane dwarfing the Pipers
and Canucks tied down by her, it was much larger than in the movies. She
glistened in the sun like a bulwark of security from days gone by.

The pilot arrived by cab paid the driver then stepped into the flight lounge.
He was an older man, his wavy hair was grey and tossed . . looked like it
might have been combed, . . . say, around the turn of the century. His bomber
jacket was checked, creased, and worn, it smelled old and genuine. Old Glory
was prominently sewn to its shoulders. He projected a quiet air of
proficiency and pride devoid of arrogance. He filed a quick flight plan to
Montreal (Expo-67, Air Show) then walked across the tarmac.

After taking several minutes to perform his walk-around check the pilot
returned to the flight lounge to ask if anyone would be available to stand by
with fire extinguishers while he "flashed the old bird up . . just to be
safe.

"Though only 12 at the time I was allowed to stand by with an extinguisher
after brief instruction on its use - - "If you see a fire point then pull
this lever!" I later became a firefighter, but that's another story.

The air around the exhaust manifolds shimmered like a mirror from fuel fumes
as the huge prop started to rotate. One manifold, then another, and yet
another barked -- I stepped back with the others. In moments the
Packard-built Merlin engine came to life with a thunderous roar, blue flames
knifed from her manifolds. I looked at the others' faces, there was no
concern. I lowered the bell of my extinguisher. One of the guys signaled to
walk back to the lounge, we did.

Several minutes later we could hear the pilot doing his pre flight run-up.
He'd taxied to the end of runway 19, out of sight. All went quiet for several
seconds, we raced from the lounge to the second story deck to see if we could
catch a glimpse of the P-51 as she started down the runway, we could not.
There we stood, eyes fixed to a spot half way down 19. Then a roar ripped
across the field, much louder than before, like a furious hell spawn set
loose---something mighty this way was coming.

"Listen to that thing!" Said the controller. In seconds the Mustang burst
into our line of sight. Its tail was already off and it was moving faster
than anything I'd ever seen by that point on 19. Two thirds the way down 19
the Mustang was airborne with her gear going up. The prop tips were
supersonic; we clasped our ears as the Mustang climbed hellish fast into the
circuit to be eaten up by the dog-day haze.

We stood for a few moments in stunned silence trying to digest what we'd just
seen. The radio controller rushed by me to the radio. "Kingston radio calling
Mustang?" He looked back to us as he waited for an acknowledgment. The radio
crackled, "Kingston radio, go ahead." "Roger Mustang. Kingston radio would
like to advise the circuit is clear for a low level pass." I stood in shock
because the controller had, more or less, just asked the pilot to return,for
an impromptu air show!

The controller looked at us. "What?" He asked. "I can't let that guy go
without asking . . . I couldn't forgive myself!" The radio crackled once
again, "Kingston radio, do I have permission for a low level pass, east to
west, across the field?" "Roger Mustang, the circuit is clear for an east to
west pass." "Roger, Kingston radio, we're coming out of 3000 feet, stand by."
We rushed back onto the second-story deck, eyes fixed toward the eastern
haze.

The sound was subtle at first, a high-pitched whine, a muffled screech, a
distant scream. Moments later the P-51 burst through the haze . . her
airframe straining against positive Gs and gravity, wing tips spilling
contrails of> condensed air, prop-tips again supersonic as the burnished bird
blasted across the eastern margin of the field shredding and tearing the air.

At about 400 Mph and 150 yards from where we stood she passed with an old
American pilot saluting . . . imagine . . . a salute. I felt like laughing, I
felt like crying, she glistened, she screamed, the building shook, my
heartpounded . . .> then the old pilot pulled her up . . . and rolled, and
rolled, and rolled out of sight into the broken clouds and indelibly into my
memory.

I've never wanted to be an American more than on that day. It was a time when
many nations in the world looked to America as their big brother, a steady
and even-handed beacon of security who navigated difficult political water
with grace and style; not unlike the pilot who'd just flown into my memory.
He was proud, not arrogant, humble, not a braggart, old and honest projecting
an aura of America at its best. That America will return one day, I know it
will.

Until that time, I'll just send off a story; call it a reciprocal salute, to
the old American pilot who wove a memory for a young Canadian that's stayed a
lifetime.

. ._ · Post by **. ._** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:11 pm

"...blue flames knifed from her manifolds..."

@#$! that's cool! Thanks Hedley!

-istp

Mitch Cronin · Post by **Mitch Cronin** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:27 pm

Hedley... I think CID might be right.... you might be a head case if you think that story would "enrage" anyone at all!
Hell, that's a great story!

Thanks for posting it.

sprucemonkey · Post by **sprucemonkey** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:32 pm

Made the hair on my arms stand straight up.

Excellent story, thx.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:56 pm

Gave me goose bumps.

I'd love to take a Spit or Mustang up just once...

Guido · Post by **Guido** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 4:14 pm

Clodhopper wrote:Gave me goose bumps.

I'd love to take a Spit or Mustang up just once...

Me too, man... what a dream.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:24 pm

Superb, just superb.

Hedley, I had a truly memorable experience at the last airshow we flew in last summer.

When I taxied in and was marshalled into our parking place among the dozens of airplanes that were part of the airshow my fu.kin eyes were sticking out like a bull dogs nuts when I spotted a Grumman Tiger Cat parked just a couple of rows ahead of us.

I started hunting for the pilot and about two hours later he showed up to do his pre show walk around and as we had some time to go before I had to flash up I managed to talk the the pilot who also was old and grey and really laid back. The reason I had not been able to find him among the crews was he was dressed like a guy out in his back yard, and not wearing a flight suit with thousands of airshow patches and junk on it.

I had never seen a Tiger Cat fly before but I have always thought it to be the most impressive piston engine twin ever made, but watching him fly it was something I will never forget, it was awsome, just fuc.in awsome.

Sorry to hijack your thread, but I'm sure you understand.

Cat

. ._ · Post by **. ._** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:29 pm

A little porn, anyone?

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:43 pm

OH my God istp, aren't they something?

Which one would you rather fly?

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:45 pm

Thanks for the story and those photos - I tend to forget what its all about, and that was a great reminder and the real reason why this industry is worth saving.

. ._ · Post by **. ._** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:06 pm

Cat,

To impress others, the Mustang.

To impress myself, probably the Tiger Cat.

A tough decision to say the least!

-istp

bater · Post by **bater** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:58 pm

Awsome story, also had chills.. anyone else notice how coarse the prop is on the 'stang? He must be haulin'.

Hey ISTP, almost time to brush off the foat rating.. good luck with things!! make me proud son

hazatude · Post by **hazatude** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:58 pm

What was the Tiger Cat used for?

Mitch Cronin · Post by **Mitch Cronin** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:59 pm

I've got a real soft spot for the P-51 personally, but when it comes to Grumman's machines, this beast is something I'd give up some body parts to fly!:

CLguy · Post by **CLguy** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:27 pm

My son and I were in Oshkosh a few years back for the 50 anniversary of the Battle of Britian. Watched . Yeager and Bud Anderson do a formation take off in a pair of P-51's. For those who don't know, . was Bud Anderson's wingman and it was the first time they had flown together since WWII.

They also managed to put the most WWII aircraft into the air at one time, since WWII. If I remember correctly, it was 150+ WWII birds overhead Oskosh in various formations and altitude.

What a sight that was!!

av8tor_assrope · Post by **av8tor_assrope** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:33 pm

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:46 pm

Haz, it was designed as a twin engine fighter bomber.

However two things did it in, there was no war going on and the jet engine took over and ended the big piston engine machines.

The Tiger Cat was the most powerful piston engine twin fighter that flew.

If you ever get to see one fly you will be really impressed.

Cat

Airtids · Post by **Airtids** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:00 pm

While not a Spit, here's my story of a brush with greatness...

http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopi ... ght=#90754

I can still remember the feeling of the rolls after the flyby. Once in a lifetime opportunity. I'll try and post a photo tomorrow when I get back to work.

shitdisturber · Post by **shitdisturber** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:02 pm

I was at the Battle of Britain's 50th in jolly old England. Best airshow ever was at Folkestone over the white cliffs; Spits, Hurris, 109's, Mustangs, a Lanc and a Mossie. It just doesn't get any better than that!

linecrew · Post by **linecrew** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:11 pm

Cat, did the Tiger Cat evolve into the tracker? I can spot some basic similarity between the two Grumman designs.

Northern Skies · Post by **Northern Skies** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 12:55 am

some of my favourites...

and

Hedley · Post by **Hedley** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 7:59 am

Glad you guys enjoyed the story! The photos were great!

I'd love to take a Spit or Mustang up just once

I was lucky enough to fly the two-seat dual control TF-51 (modified P-51D) "Crazy Horse" in Kissimmee, Florida.

Very heavy controls. Incredibly loud. So loud that you feel it in your chest. Wonderfully fast. Very different doing aerobatics than I'm used to, though - a lot of momentum, and you very carefully keep the G down in the maneuvers to stop bleeding off speed.

Very interesting stall characteristics, with it's NLF wing. Pronounced secondary stall. Closest aircraft I've ever flown, that had such interesting stall/spin characteristics was the Glasair III. No fat forgiving wing!

not wearing a flight suit with thousands of airshow patches and junk on it

I hear ya .! There are a lot of wannabes and posers. We don't wear flight suits, either - I wear a cowboy hat to keep the sun off, one of our team golf shirts, shorts and running shoes. We once tried to have all of our shorts the same colour at a show but that doesn't happen too often

I know a guy who owns, amongst other aircraft, a Spitfire and a P-51. We were taxiing out in the Pitts one day to give him some aerobatic dual, and as we were s-turning down the runway at Gatineau, I mentioned that I'd flown the P-51, but I got uneasy the feeling from it that it might not be the easiest aircraft to take care of - I suspected it could be a real maintenance nightmare. Where would you get parts for it? Who would work on it?

He laughed, and said that they weren't just old airplanes, they were historically significancant, and they were worth it. He was right

Airtids · Post by **Airtids** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:55 am

As promised, a little more porn, with some local talent to boot!

That's me in the back. No helmet, no fear!!

Brewguy · Post by **Brewguy** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 2:08 pm

Hedley wrote:I got this emailed to me today. It's sure to enrage the slimes at Transport and the whining lefties alike, which of course means it's a great read:

Why would it enrage anyone?

There is a guy locally, who has the ultimate "toy box". He has a Spitfire, ME-109, Hurricane, and Harvard - all in flying condition. He had a "battle of Britain" dinner dance / hangar party a couple of years ago, after he got his toys in flying condition. It was $100 a plate, but my wife got us tickets as an early anniversary treat. It was awesome - I actually got to sit in the Spit & 109. ( I'll have to scan the photos if I think about it.) He had intended on having a mock dog-fight that day, but the pilots he'd shipped over from Duxford weren't able to get things worked out in time with TC. So they just did some mild areobatics and a series of kick-ass beat-ups.

Last year, he attempted to have a full-fledged air show. It was pretty good for a first attempt (I've been involved in organizing a bigger show for a few years). He had all of his stuff up flying again, plus a few other warbirds in from the US; and the WWI re-creation guys (from Brampton).

I have to say, there is nothing like the sound of a few Merlin engines roaring while these guys beat the hell out of the field. Brings a lump to your throat.

hazatude · Post by **hazatude** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 3:10 pm

What's up with Brampton? Is it even a real city?

P-51 in CYGK

P-51 in CYGK

P-51 in CYGK

Re: P-51 in CYGK