A few blood-pressure reducing pics. . .

[Recluse]

Other than it being really hot and humid, it was a great weekend for a fly-in and shooting get-together.

Thought I'd share a few pictures of the flying side of it.

Several cloud layers at the altitudes I filed for, so I could either fly lower and sweat while getting bumped around by the turbulence, or I could climb above it all, sacrifice a little airspeed due to increased headwinds, and enjoy the cool, smooth comfort.

I opted to climb, and here I'm climbing through 7000' msl. Went VFR on top, got 'er trimmed up and flew using the rudder pedals.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=358&pictureid=5553

It was really hazy and humid down below. This is the extreme northern end of Toledo Bend Reservoir--the largest lake in Texas and sits on the border between Texas and Louisiana.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=358&pictureid=5554

This is the area around Natchitoches as seen from a super-cool biplane the owner foolishly let me fly. I kept looking for Junior down there, but couldn't find him.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=358&pictureid=5550

Got off to a late start on the way back to Texas and flew the last half of the trip in darkness.

But, sunsets are usually pretty peaceful at altitude, and Saturday evening was no exception.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=358&pictureid=5552

It was a great weekend.

:coffee:

[waksupi]

Nice pics. Sorry I missed it!

[geargnasher]

Nice pics!

BTW, I wouldn't circle around Junior's place too many times, he's liable to start shootin' if he doesn't recognize you!

Gear

[Jim]

Man, that last one is beautiful, ain't it?

[dragonrider]

Beatiful, but I just can't get my feet that far off the ground. :(

[Recluse]

Nice pics!

BTW, I wouldn't circle around Junior's place too many times, he's liable to start shootin' if he doesn't recognize you!

Gear

That's why we kept the sun at our back--didn't wanna see Junior running out in his front yard in his pink boxers and aiming his boomstick at us. I stayed at around 3200' to be safe, but you know Junior has some of those special Pinko Commie Lubes he uses that might just push a lead boolit up our ways.

We're heading back in October. Maybe we can get him over there then. :)

:coffee:

[x101airborne]

I thought his boxers were purple.

Talk about wanting to shoot at an aircraft.....
We were penning cattle the other day when one of those go-cart parachute thingies came over and buzzed the cattle at about 50 feet. The cattle about lost their motteling running off. My mom almost got ran over by the cattle. Needless to say, we did not pen cattle that afternoon, but we did get the skeet thrower and the shotguns out and started playing. Hey, if we want to shoot skeet with ooo buck, that is our choice, Right?

[Echo]

I was in Houston/Galveston this weekend. Houston was OK, a little misty but not bad. Galveston was nice, overcast and a little drippy, but not bad. But.

Between H & G was reminiscent of the saying about a cow & a flat rpck! - raining like gangbusters! The drive over, & back, then O&B again Sunday, was NOT performed @ 65MPH! And my traveling companion had enough Sat, stayed back for my trip to the Air Museum @ Galveston Sunday.

You had a better trip, JD...

[462]

Since I was a kid, a bi-plane has always seem to be the ultimate in flight. Goggles, leather, wind in the face, slow speed that invites viewing the country side, long glide time . . .

Spent four-years working on F-100's and F-4's, but discovering that safety wire seemed to be the only thing holding them together killed any desire to fly in a jet fighter.

[gray wolf]

Now that's what I call having a special time,
thank you for letting us share your great time.

Sam

[Recluse]

Since I was a kid, a bi-plane has always seem to be the ultimate in flight. Goggles, leather, wind in the face, slow speed that invites viewing the country side, long glide time . . .

Spent four-years working on F-100's and F-4's, but discovering that safety wire seemed to be the only thing holding them together killed any desire to fly in a jet fighter.

Well, if you like bi-planes, here's the king of them all:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=358&pictureid=5555

I followed this Stearman in to Natchitoches on Friday afternoon, and then the EAA chapter took pictures of all of us standing in front of it. She's a beautiful plane.

Fun stuff.

:coffee:

[462]

"She's a beautiful plane."

Indeed, she is.

[Echo]

Not only that (beautiful plane), but I believe you were flying a B-17, weren't you? Talk about class!

[Recluse]

Not only that (beautiful plane), but I believe you were flying a B-17, weren't you? Talk about class!

Nope, I was flying a Hiperbipe owned by a friend of mine in Natchitoches. Awesome airplane, and first-class patriot who owns it.

I've never even set foot inside a B-17, let alone fly one. I'd probably have a cardiac on the spot!

:coffee:

[geargnasher]

JD, here's a small taste, not so bad with some modern nav equipment! I can't say that being in one even as a passenger reduces blood pressure, quite the opposite knowing that the view from the inside of one of these is the last thing many thousands of airmen ever saw.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17212&d=1258515063

Yes, those belts are loaded, and the M2s were fun to point around.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17211&d=1258513216

The hot seat. When you're in it, you're really hanging in space, very disconcerting. I have a pic of the image through the bombsight on my other computer, but the sight doesn't focus well at only 2,000 feet.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17210&d=1258513081

Gear

[waksupi]

Well, if you like bi-planes, here's the king of them all:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=358&pictureid=5555

I followed this Stearman in to Natchitoches on Friday afternoon, and then the EAA chapter took pictures of all of us standing in front of it. She's a beautiful plane.

Fun stuff.

:coffee:


Here are some pictures of that plane in action.

http://www.bnd.com/2012/07/03/2233723/air-show-practice.html

[Echo]

JD, here's a small taste, not so bad with some modern nav equipment! I can't say that being in one even as a passenger reduces blood pressure, quite the opposite knowing that the view from the inside of one of these is the last thing many thousands of airmen ever saw.

Gear

Gear, the B-17 I was referring to was the Beech Model 17, otherwise known as the Staggerwing. Recluse's plane had stagger wings, but wasn't a B-17. I should have known - NO ONE would paint a Staggerwing like that!