Jump to content
COMBATSIM Forum

Chesterfield County airshow


Stans
 Share

Recommended Posts

Just got back from dinner and the airshow. Wonderful day! The wife and I were in the gates about 15 minutes after they opened. They also had a nice car show, lots of restored classics and some hotrods. The USAF was there and demonstrated the new T-6A Super Texan and I must say that it really lives up to the legend and name of the old T-6 Texan. The new bird is a turboprop, tricycle landing gear, computer controlled trim. The thing can make a 360 degree circle within a 1000 foot diameter! It's performance really does make it the modern day equivalent of the WW II and Korean era T-6.

The Corsair was not there, I'm a bit disappointed because I wanted Mechelle to see exactly what we fly online. There was an AD-4 Skyraider and the Fighter Factory's Spitfire did show up during the airshow. There was also a P-51D and a Bf-108, painted in the politically incorrect Nazi markings of a 109. The B-25 "Panchito" was there again and was giving the VIP's rides pretty much all day long.

We had a great time looking at these wonderful aircraft, watching a radio controlled model aircraft display and watching the aerobatic performances. My wife bought one raffle ticket for a ride on the B-25, I bought two tickets. Glad I did. One of my tickets was drawn as a winner!

I couldn't believe it, but I went to the official handling the free rides and he confirmed that I was a winner. We filled out the liability waivers and went through a preflight briefing. Then we went out to the plane and received further instructions. I was given a seat forward of the bomb bay, on the port side, just under the upper turret. We boarded, demonstrated that we learned how to unfasten and fasten the safety harness, then off we went.

As loud as the B-25 is on the outside, it is twice as loud on the inside. My left ear is still ringing loudly and probably will for a day or two. No, you really can't talk to the person next to you, even while shouting. Once we were up and somewhat level, we unbuckled and were free to stand behind the pilots or journey through the tunnel to the bombardier's position. Anyone care to guess where I went? I have not reviewed the video, so I don't know how it turned out. I started the video when we walked out to the aircraft and I shut it off after we landed and deboarded.

One word: AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

B25PANCDO.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...