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Aircraft that make your jaw drop!

I actually flew on a BOAC VC10.

Loud.

The Mosquito was indeed a gorgeous, and effective, machine despite being made with a ton of wood.

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Enchanter said:
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Skyhawk? Back when the Blue Angels were flying those, I was at the unlimited hydroplane races on Lake Washington during Seafair in about 1980.

We were on a friend's 42' Morgan tied up to the log boom. The Angels were set to perform just before the final heat. It's important to understand that Seafair in general, and the log boom in particular were a huge party. Basically, sex, drugs, and hydroplanes all day long, and this was in the days of Merlins and Allisons, so the soundtrack was incredible.

When it was time, we'd been pounding margaritas for hours, so the obvious thing to do was go up the mast in the boatswain's chair to watch. Duh! What's the worst that could happen? So there I was, feet resting on the spreaders when the Angels appeared. It was like that line from Talladega Nights! Watching the Angels band from the front row, "and I'm hammer drunk!"

The best part was feeling like I was right there among them when they made their low level passes. And when a pilot turned his head and looked at me as he passed was something I'll never forget.

Thread jack/
 
back in the early 2000s I spent a lot of time on a schooner. One 4th we went out to see the Blue Angels, me and my buddy climbed up the ratlines to the first spreader. I know the jets weren't that close but they sure seemed way closer that when we were on the deck.
 
Do drones count? Marquardt D21. This specimen has just been restored at Castle AFB. Hmm, what does it remind you of? One of TwoWheelTramp's kingdom-stealing tangelos may be awarded to the first one with the correct answer! :). Well not really, because they are already in the saddlebag of a Pony Express pony.

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900ss said:
Do drones count? Marquardt D21. This specimen has just been restored at Castle AFB. Hmm, what does it remind you of? One of TwoWheelTramp's kingdom-stealing tangelos may be awarded to the first one with the correct answer! :). Well not really, because they are already onboard a Pony Express pony.

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Looks like it was cut from an SR71.
 
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Enchanter said:
Constant Peg.
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How would an American pilot learn to fly Soviet bloc aircraft? Did Victor Belenko run all over the U.S. training American pilots? JK of course. Is enough material available that pilots could study and safely fly them, or was it learn from scratch and hope for the best? Strap it on, line it up, light the burner(s) and say a hail Vladimir? How was / is maintenance handled?
 
900ss said:
How would an American pilot learn to fly Soviet bloc aircraft? Did Victor Belenko run all over the U.S. training American pilots? JK of course. Is enough material available that pilots could study and safely fly them, or was it learn from scratch and hope for the best? Strap it on, line it up, light the burner(s) and say a hail Vladimir? How was / is maintenance handled?
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We were flying MiG's in Nevada before Victor defected. We had very little information about the aircraft before we flew them. Our pilots mostly figured it out.

It took me a little while to figure out who the VIP was silently flown into TOPGUN for almost every class. He always arrived in the dark and after regular hours. Usually in the backseat of a USAF aircraft. F-15, F-16, T-38. Once I figured it out, I asked him for an autograph as I helped him out of the aircraft. He was a little surprised and replied with "You know who I am?" I said "yes" and pulled the book out of my pocket.

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That is unbelievably cool, I read the book sometime in the '70s. I loved that he thought grocery stores were fake. Thank you for relating this. (y) I can only imagine that he enjoyed riding in American aeroplanes.
 
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This was one of my favorite jets back in the day.

I understand it was a handful to fly though.

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@Enchanter That is really awesome stuff!!! :thumbup

What does the V6 stand for in the photo of him he signed for you?
 
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