Back From Thunder!

[DryMartini]

We had a blast at Thunder Over Michigan this year.
Right off the tarmack, behind the row of B-17s.

Met up with Don Price (Texas Raiders, the fixed gear B-17 at the show )
Tom Prince (Champaign Lady), Don Brooks/Chuck Giese (Liberty Belle),
Ray Moore (Lucky Thirteen), John (Thunderbird), all the guys with the Yankee
Air Force (Yankee Lady), Hang The Expense, Our very own Scott Thompson
(Thanks for EVERYTHING Scott!!!), many forum participants from here and
WIX, and a special call out to Dan Rosenthal, son of Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal
of 100th BG fame - Thanks for the cap, Dan.

After the show, I ran into Greg and Tony, better known as "Pike and the Wild Bunch"
from Texas.

You B-17 fans out there never cease to amaze me!

Now, we have some work to do to get a few more B-17s flying for the 80th anniversary
of Boeing model 299.

Thanks to all of you who stopped by and chatted, bought a book or model,
and expressed their support for the "Desert Rat" project.

[05564]

Sorry I couldn't make it . I bet it was wonderful. Glad you enjoyed it, any photos , please share .

[SPANNERmkV]

It was GREAT to see all the Projects brought out for show and tell at Thunder. The tail turret by Hang the Expense, the throttle quadrant, the Horizontal Stab.
I see what Desert Rat and Champaign Lady and Lucky 13 are doing and I wish I could steal ALL your parts and improve TEXAS RAIDERS!

Never mind seeing 8 Fortresses lined up (he says in awe at the memory!)

I am glad Scott came over and introduced himself at Oshkosh, because as Dry Martini said, TEXAS RAIDERS started having problems at Thunder and I am not sure if I was fit company by the time Ypsilanti got through with me! I know I had to send a half dozen Gulf Coast Wing members over to buy an autographed copy of Final Cut! (I am looking forward to the NEXT ed. of Final Cut almost as much as I am the 80th Anniversary Gathering of B17s!)

Meeting and talking with Mike Kellner (DR) and Don Brooks and Ray Fowler (Liberty Belle) and Larry Pederson (Sentimental Journey) as well as shooting the bull with Hang the Expense, and Ray Moore and Bill was a treat!

I was Flight Engineer on the Friday Photo shoot at Thunder and I didn't have time to snap off any pics, but the guys in the chase planes ought to have some killer pics. It is hard to describe the feeling of seeing two B17s cross underneath you on a different heading with a chase plane framing them up.

And the gaggle at Oshkosh circling warbird Island waiting to do their Air Show run was eye candy!

I now have 2.5 hours loggable dual instruction received in a B17G.
Please don't ask for autographs!
They will only be available in my forthcoming book, "There I was at 3,500 feet Out of Clean Underwear Over St. Louis!"


St. Louis was kind enough to let us do a low pass by the arch. As fate would have it I was in the right seat, but you can see the river and the arch if you cross your eyes and drink enough Scotch!

[hang the expense]

Aw hell, there wont be no livin with ya now Spanner. Congrats to you friend.

[05564]

Had to be the dream of a life-time! Congratulatins , hope you get many more hours flying them.

[ian45]

Wow!

What a view!! Made all the better by that "Magnificent Flying Machine" that I jealously wish I had the chance to fly in!!!

[DryMartini]

A few picts from TOM this year...


Our tent for TOM


Perspective is everything.


F-100 Fly by. Nice!

[Lucky 13]

Here are some photos

[Lucky 13]

More photos