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Memorial Day Flyovers with the Condors

Warbird Displays Discuss Memorial Day Flyovers with the Condors in the World War II - Aviation forums; What a day! 10 targets and 2.5 hours of flying. Lead ship burned through 75 gallons of avgas, most everyone ...

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    "Shooter" evangilder's Avatar
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    Memorial Day Flyovers with the Condors

    What a day! 10 targets and 2.5 hours of flying. Lead ship burned through 75 gallons of avgas, most everyone else was 70-75 gallons.

    Anyone who has spent time in a warbird knows how long that is (if you haven't, after about an hour, your bacon starts achin' <your butt gets sore>). After 2 hours, your butt is basically asleep. After 2.5 you are looking forward to stretching your legs and standing for a bit. But it was all for a good cause, Memorial Day services and to get some new shots for the Condors.



    We got shots over the Rose bowl and the Hollywood sign, the Getty Center and the Reagan library. Here are some quick edits from today. And to all my fellow vets, THANK YOU!

    On with the photos
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Memorial Day Flyovers with the Condors-dsc_2133.jpg   Memorial Day Flyovers with the Condors-dsc_4493.jpg  

    Memorial Day Flyovers with the Condors-dsc_2292.jpg   Memorial Day Flyovers with the Condors-dsc_2556.jpg  

    Memorial Day Flyovers with the Condors-dsc_2586.jpg   Memorial Day Flyovers with the Condors-dsc_2632.jpg  

    Memorial Day Flyovers with the Condors-dsc_2655.jpg   Memorial Day Flyovers with the Condors-dsc_2843.jpg  

    Memorial Day Flyovers with the Condors-dsc_2846.jpg  


    > I Support Doug Gilliss <

    For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

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    IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO FLYBOYJ's Avatar
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    Very cool! The Hollywood sign shot is an award winner!!!!!

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    "Shooter" evangilder's Avatar
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    John F, it was nice to meet you.

    And for the uninitiated, this is what 2.5 hours sitting on a parachute, unable to move your legs looks like...
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Memorial Day Flyovers with the Condors-dsc_4476.jpg  


    > I Support Doug Gilliss <

    For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

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    "Shooter" evangilder's Avatar
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    Thanks Joe. It was fun, a little choppy, but the guys did a great job, especially considering the length of the flight. They were pretty beat at the end. We all were.


    > I Support Doug Gilliss <

    For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

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    IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO FLYBOYJ's Avatar
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    2.5 hours - yikes!

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    "Shooter" evangilder's Avatar
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    Yeah, I have a much bigger appreciation for WWII vets after today than before, and that's saying a lot!


    > I Support Doug Gilliss <

    For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

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    Senior Member GrauGeist's Avatar
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    Excellent photos, Eric!

    Glad the "mission" went down without a hitch!

    "Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future."
    - Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome


    > I Support Doug Gilliss <

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    Senior Member v2's Avatar
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    Great photos!

    "A good fighter pilot, like a good boxer, should have a knockout punch..... You will find one attack you prefer to all others. Work on it till you can do it to perfection... then use it whenever possible."
    - Captain Reade Tilley, USAAF 7 Victories, WW-II -

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    "Shooter" evangilder's Avatar
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    Thanks guys. We did have one abort, halfway through the mission. The aircraft in front of us had an aileron trim tab come loose. It wasn't dangerous immediately, but the pilot of the photo ship let him know and since it was flyable, Chris returned to Van Nuys unescorted. The concern was that if it broke free any more, it could start a heck of a lot of vibration.

    I had a couple of things that would be good for the blooper reel. I poked my head out the side of the airplane just as we hit a pocket of air. The headset popped right off my head! I thought "Ah crap, David Clark headsets aren't cheap". Then I looked down to discover they were still plugged in. I recovered them off the back deck behind me by pulling the cord!

    About halfway through the flight, my seat suddenly dropped. Then it suddenly dropped again until it was as low as it could go. I got on the intercom to let Ken know. His response was "Oh thank GOD, I couldn't figure out what was going on!". Imagine about 150 lbs on man, another 30-40 of parachute dropping about 12 inches, full force. It shook the airplane.

    Safe flying was the first order of the day and the Condors passed that one flying colors.


    > I Support Doug Gilliss <

    For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

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    World Travelling Doctor? Gnomey's Avatar
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    Great stuff Eric, certainly worth the 2.5 hours of butt pain


    "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts"
    Sir Winston Churchill

    "To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today"
    Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London


    My Photo Collections on Flickr

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    Senior Member Geedee's Avatar
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    Thats some great action shots you've posted. And please pass on my thanks to the guys for sorting this flight out and carrying it through. Its great to see this sort of commitment as a mark of respect. We should have more like minded guys over this side of the pond do something like that !.

    Did you manage any stick time ?

    Thanks for posting
    Cheers

    Gary



    My P-51D Cockpit Project http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/sta...ect-18113.html

    Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But rather to slide in sideways, totally worn out and broken, shouting "Holy cr*p, WHAT A RIDE !!"

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    "Shooter" evangilder's Avatar
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    I will pass the word along, Gary. I didn't get any stick time, which is okay by me with the seat all the way down. Besides, I leave the formation flying to the pros.


    > I Support Doug Gilliss <

    For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

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    Senior Member Messy1's Avatar
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    Cool stuff Evan. Makes me think about moving to the coast. We never see anything like that in Iowa.

    Bryon O.




    "When you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!" Franklin Roosevelt


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    Senior Member wheelsup_cavu's Avatar
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    Great shots.
    It sounds like the headseats need to be screwed in instead of plugged in if your going to stick your head out.


    Wheelsup

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    Senior Member ontos's Avatar
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    Dido all the above Eric, great shots. Never been up in a War bird, sounds great thanks for sharing.

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