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"AND THERE I WAS..."

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  • "AND THERE I WAS..."

    Even before Man invented & learned to fly heavier-than-air vehicles, he used his hands to describe the aerial maneuvers of birds & other creatures of flight. Ever since humans took to the skies themselves, all aviators naturally use hand gesturing to communicate about their flying experiences & as a simple tool for flight instruction.

    Vintage photos of wartime fighter pilots using their hands, while detailing air combat encounters for each other, have become classic images of historic flying lore. Everyone's 'flown' their own hands since they were kids- sticking them out the family car windows, whilst speeding down the road. 'Hangar Flying' sessions wouldn't be any fun without wavin' one's mitts about in the process.

    Here's a misc. 'handful' of pics illustrating this time-worn custom in action, and perhaps some fans just might care to share a few of their own photos on this subject on this thread.

    DBD

    Top row photos (L-R):

    1. Sun. 9/19/99 - Champion Unlimited air race pilot- Bruce Lockwood, gives Adm. Mike Bowman a tour of P-51D Race #4 Dago Red's 'office', and shares some tactical strategies learned out on the racecourse at Reno.

    2. Sat. 9/15/84 - Lloyd Hamilton (at left) recounts his exciting experiences racing his Super Sea Fury #15 in Unlimited Heat-3B, with fellow late & great race pilot- Robert J. 'Bob' Love (center-looking at the camera), after his R-4360 backfired & blew its' engine cowlings into the desert at the W. Guide Pylon, as amazed fans listen-in.

    3. Mon. 9/20/99 - Steve Hinton in the cockpit of the Planes of Fame Lockheed T-33 Unlimited Class pace plane, describing a fun flying moment for race pilot- Matt Jackson, brother John Hinton (standing on wing) & Steve's passenger prior to departure from Stead Field.

    4 & 5. Sun. 9/13/87 - An excited & hopeful rookie Unlimited race pilot- Joann Osterud relates some details of her ferry flight to Reno in the highly-modified Levolor-sponsored Hawker Sea Fury - #88 Blind Man's Bluff to Ruth & Frank Sanders following her arrival at Stead.

    Bottom photo:

    Sat. 5/19/07 - Chino, CA. Planes of Fame Airshow. P-38 'pilot's briefing' - (L-R) Jeff Harris & Kevin Eldridge listen, as flight leader- Steve Hinton goes through formation flying sequencing while the pilots grab some shade under Glacier Girl's wings prior to takeoff by their trio of Lightnings.
    Attached Files
    Last edited by BuckyD; 11-27-2008, 05:18 AM.

  • #2
    Re: "AND THERE I WAS..."

    Outstanding coverage Bucky D

    Especially the Lloyd Hamilton shot
    "dont believe ANYTHING you hear and about HALF of what you see"...................J. Mott 1994

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: "AND THERE I WAS..."

      Cool...thanks for sharing...rb

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: "AND THERE I WAS..."

        Always a pleasure to read your threads. Thank you DBD

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        • #5
          Re: "AND THERE I WAS..."

          Great thread Bucky. I'll dig through the archives and see what I can find after thanksgiving dinner (yum-yum) to add to your thread. Troy
          "Racefuel, It's not just for breakfast anymore!" http://www.twracefotos.net

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: "AND THERE I WAS..."

            OK, Here's a few from Tuesday morning 9/9/2008 (qualifying day) just hours before the days first round of unlimited qualifying. (L to R) (#1)Tiger hand gestures while people start gathering for Rare Bear's first engine run. (#2) Pilots, crew, and photographers wait in anticipation for the Rare Bear "firing". (#3) Bob Button, Randy, J.C. (w/cast) and the rest of the Voodoo crew converse with the legendary Pete Law. (#4) "It's right over there" Randy points as Pete listens. (#5) Dan Martin talks with his crew.
            Attached Files
            "Racefuel, It's not just for breakfast anymore!" http://www.twracefotos.net

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: "AND THERE I WAS..."

              I've only got two but...
              1- Bill "Tiger" Destefani explaining to the airfield emergency crew just how to get him out if something were to go wrong during their morning rounds. 9-10-08
              2- George Giboney using his hands only like a pilot can while taking to Craig Sherman. 9-12-08
              Attached Files
              Last edited by Stevo; 11-28-2008, 12:50 PM.
              Stevo

              Blue Thunder Air Racing
              My Photos
              My Ride

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              • #8
                Re: "AND THERE I WAS..."

                Thanks, guys, for your kind compliments...

                For the sake of any potential additional photo posting replies, guess I should further-clarify the intended thread subject focus: aviation people photos that specifically depict- 'hand-flying' type hand gestures being used during communication between two or more parties (vs. people in general discussion about flying subjects).

                (Figured my original text & photos would nail it down, but perhaps the thread title might have added some confusion. Sorry, if that was the case.) Hope you can still dig up a few more pics, nonetheless. THX! DBD

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: "AND THERE I WAS..."

                  Originally posted by t-dub
                  OK, Here's a few from Tuesday morning 9/9/2008 (qualifying day) just hours before the days first round of unlimited qualifying. (L to R) (#1)Tiger hand gestures while people start gathering for Rare Bear's first engine run. (#2) Pilots, crew, and photographers wait in anticipation for the Rare Bear "firing". (#3) Bob Button, Randy, J.C. (w/cast) and the rest of the Voodoo crew converse with the legendary Pete Law. (#4) "It's right over there" Randy points as Pete listens. (#5) Dan Martin talks with his crew.
                  Cool shot. That's Dan talking to (L to R) Merlin builder Ricky Shanholtzer, CC and Dago engine builder Mike "Sparrow" Barrow, and our final engine inspection/button up specialist, Jack Malugani. That's one helluva lot of brain power/racing experience right there.

                  SA
                  Last edited by Smee Again; 11-28-2008, 08:36 PM.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: "AND THERE I WAS..."

                    Here's another candid photo capture of 'hand-flying' gesturing in action:

                    Reno/Stead Field - Mon. 9/17/90: Both of John Sandberg's #18 TSUNAMI Air Race pilots (L-R) - Skip Holm & Steve Hinton, are seen having some flying discussions about the unique operational characteristics of their exotic custom Unlimited race plane. Hinton (wearing a torso brace) has Skip's full attention, while coaching Holm as the team's new replacement pilot for 1990.

                    Holm qualified TSUNAMI in 3rd-place at 465.187-mph, despite two broken Merlin connecting rods suffered during his Q-run, & he managed to finish second during Sunday's Gold Championship at 462.999-av/mph, behind Lyle Shelton in #77 Rare Bear. Skip most-certainly got some excellent advice from his predecessor team pilot, plane owner/pilot-Jack Sandberg, and crewmates.

                    DBD
                    Attached Files

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: "AND THERE I WAS..."

                      Since fighters began to fly pilots used their hands to describe maneuvers, but while flying F-4s for the USAF we were provided sevearal small Phantoms on the end of a sticks to help with the briefings. Each briefing room had a set of these "Phantoms on a stick" to prevent wrist injuries to the pilots doing the briefing. These were a little hard to get used to until one day someone replaced all of the briefing aids with sticks that had "camoflaged hands" on the end of the sticks. It wasn't long before the sticks were all ignored and we went back to using our hands.
                      CJS

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                      • #12
                        Re: "AND THERE I WAS..."

                        Hey Bucky,

                        In the picture with Lloyd and Bob Love one of the interested on lookers at the far right of the shot is me.

                        Thanks for bringing back some good memories.

                        Willie

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: "AND THERE I WAS..."

                          Originally posted by Warbird5
                          Hey Bucky,

                          In the picture with Lloyd and Bob Love one of the interested on lookers at the far right of the shot is me.

                          Thanks for bringing back some good memories.

                          Willie
                          Hi Willie,

                          You're VERY welcome & thanks for your ID, old friend. That was a long time ago, huh? Great to see you again this year and to talk about old times & hangin' out together back in the day. I look alot older & you don't age - not fair! DBD

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: "AND THERE I WAS..."

                            Yeah -- I've noticed that too, Willie.

                            Don't seem quite fair...

                            Neal
                            Last edited by wingman; 12-09-2008, 01:26 AM.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: "AND THERE I WAS..."

                              Originally posted by CJS
                              Since fighters began to fly pilots used their hands to describe maneuvers, but while flying F-4s for the USAF we were provided sevearal small Phantoms on the end of a sticks to help with the briefings. Each briefing room had a set of these "Phantoms on a stick" to prevent wrist injuries to the pilots doing the briefing. These were a little hard to get used to until one day someone replaced all of the briefing aids with sticks that had "camoflaged hands" on the end of the sticks. It wasn't long before the sticks were all ignored and we went back to using our hands.
                              CJS
                              Your story is quite funny and it could continue today, forever...

                              ie

                              "It wasn't long before the sticks were all ignored and we went back to using our hands"

                              and then the Colonel said it looked unprofessional for us to use our hands, so they gave us airplanes on sticks...and then somebody replaced the airplanes on a stick with a camoflaged hand on a stick and we went back to our hands...and then the next Colonel said it looked unprofessional for us to use our hands, so they gave us airplanes on sticks...and then somebody replaced the airplanes on a stick with a camoflaged hand on a stick and we went back to our hands...
                              Last edited by SkyvanDelta; 12-09-2008, 09:51 PM.

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