'BUCK SHOTS'

[Warbirds45]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

Hello Bucky, I am new to this forum, what a great place. Your pictures are worth a million words, great job. My dad started in VAH-6," VA-196 Flight of the Intruder" and retired out of VAQ-129.

The men that fly these warbirds and test fly the older aircraft are a breed of their own. Thank You to all the folks linked to this forum.

I went to Reno for the first time in 2008, WOW! The aircraft,speed,great people and the smell of airplanes!
Took my dad over to Chino at the begining of the month to see the P-38 Demo, we tried to eat at Flo's, it was packed!
What a great day, talked to one of the Tour Guide's for awhile ( former F-86 Driver ), F-86's ( 3 ), will fly airshows with the Horsemen! They were working on 2 F-86's at Chino, and the other down in Texas.

The folks at Chino have done an outstanding job!
Thanks again, I just found this site, great info and stories.

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

Hi Warbirds45-

Welcome aboard! Sincere thanks for your positive feedback & shared personal notes & info. It's really great hearing fm new warbird & air racing fans who are full of fresh enthusiasm & appreciation f/these special & unique aviation genres of interest & all the great accompanying history.

It's really neat that you have such a cool dad to hang-out with when you go to the museums, airshows & air races,-especially w/his distinguished military aviation service background. It's pretty obvious you're both havin' some great unforgettable times together.

Thanks again & Keep Your Airspeed Up in the Turns!

DBD

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

"What Comes ROUND- Goes Around!"

Two classic Big Roundy UNL Class racers,-w/definate future Gold Trophy potential...

#15-FURIAS & #86-CZECH MATE

DBD

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

"Got Everything?"

When venturing far out into the remote rugged wilderness, bush planes like Canada's immortal DeHavilland DHC-2 Beaver will haul quite a load of your essential goods to keep you safe & comfortable while away from civilization. Nonetheless, it's always paramount to keep a checklist of what not to forget, before you takeoff.

DBD

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

"UNSUNG HEROES" - Keep 'Em Flyin'!

$$$ Money in THE BANK! $$$

Sat. 9/18/10-Reno NCAR: Bob Button's expert veteran race team changes an engine bank on his P-51D Unlimited-#5- VOODOO's Rolls-Royce V-12 Merlin race motor, to stay in competition for Sunday's Gold Championship.

TEAM VOODOO was ready & rarin' to go for the Gold the next day, but fate intervened,-when the weather gods stirred-up fiercesome winds- forcing the cancellation of Reno 2010 NCAR's Unlimited Class Gold final. Better luck in 2011, guys!

DBD

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

"Battling Bronze Bipes"...!!!

RACE: Sat. 9/18/10-Reno NCAR-Biplane Bronze Final-

A trio of Pitts Biplane racers is captured heading down the main straightaway f/Home Pylon, while mixing it up in a battle for position. Jeffrey Lo in #6-"Miss Dianne" holds-down the inside groove in 5th-place, w/Aaron Burhoe in #55-"Juicy Lips" challenging him & Marilyn Dash in #4-"Four Play" trailing right behind them.

The Biplane Class really put on some all-out racing competitions last September at Reno 2010, and that Saturday BP Bronze was a classic example: the 3rd-4th-5th-6th-7th & 8th-place Bipe racers ALL finished w/155+mph average speeds!

OH YEAH- THAT'S SOME AWESOME AIR RACING, Folks!!!

DBD

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

"WASP MAJOR"...

Air Racing Class Champions have to win those flashy yellow jackets, unlike these little natural flyin' buggers- who all get 'em free...

DBD

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

"Wasp Major"... (-Size LARGE)

'The Real Deal'- Mr. Pratt & Mr. Whitney's impressive R-4360 Wasp Major 28-cylinder Mechanical Marvel (a.k.a.- The "Corncob Engine"). Yessiree- That's 56 platinum spark plugs puttin' the spurs to 3800 stock horses f/some- 'Major Giddyup'!!!. It goes without sayin'- "Lots of TLC required" (-fm a whole posse of unsung heroes), in order to keep that big stampede motor on the run.

Today's current Unlimited Class roster still includes two racers competing w/P&W Wasp Major powerplants-both H-D Hawker Super Sea Furies: #8-"DREADNOUGHT" & #15-"FURIAS". Here's a couple vintage Buck Shots of these beasts getting some attention during past race events.

Here's some links relating to the R-4360, including its' inner workings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpmOb46bvCs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr0AxAPeGiI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gQ_HlxG23s&feature=related

DBD

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

"High & Mighty - HORNETS!"...

Our U. S. Navy's- 'Blue Angels' F/A-18 HORNET jet fighter-equipped premier flight demo team, proudly-leads the aerial parade f/this year's USN Centennial of Naval Aviation Task Force celebration.

The Hornet's maiden test flight was 11/18/78 & it might be of timely-interest to note the F/A-18 first saw combat action in April 1986 (w/VFA-131 fm USS CORAL SEA) against Libyan air defenses & Benghazi ground targets.

Some related links...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_F/A-18_Hornet

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Angels

http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/history.htm

http://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/centennial/Pages/welcome.aspx

"FLY NAVY!"

DBD

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

"Queen B" & "Mary Bear"

"Racers-of-the-Past"- * Unlimited Class *

One can only imagine just how cool it must be when two flying buddies- who both happen to own beautifully-restored airworthy examples of WW2's legendary North American P-51D Mustang fighter,
say to each other: "Hey man- Let's Go Racin'!"

For the Reno '96 NCAR event-Midwestern Mustang amigos- Jim Michaels & Steve Bolander decided to bring their Bodney Blue-Nosers- "Queen B" (NL151W) & "Mary Bear" (NL51SB) to enter into the Unlimited Class as Race #12 & #24, respectively. Though not the fastest P51Ds to turn the Reno pylons over the years, they were two of the sweetest-looking ones for sure. Michaels & Bolander both qualified, but only Jim got to log some race time that year, 'cuz Steve's Mary Bear lunched her RR Merlin motor during practice laps out on the V-O-S on Wednesday. Undaunted, both 'wingmen' returned f/Reno '97 to go for it again, w/better results & they had alot more fun their second time around!

Here's a Buck Shot 'tip-o'-the-hat' gallery saluting these two- "Racers-of-the-Past"...

DBD

At Reno 2000, some air racing history came full-circle bigtime, when these two guys partnered-up to buy & race the ex-Mike Carroll/Sherm Cooper #87-"Miss Merced" (N878M) Sea Fury (even replicating its' original flaming canary yellow race scheme). Michaels flew #87 to win Sunday's Bronze & the last shot shows Michaels & Bolander together w/their trophy).

[Warbirds45]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

Bucky, you have done an outstanding job! Your detail on stories and photos is awesome. I am trying to get up and see the Sanders/Furias, I wonder if the Voodoo Team has the modifications done on the belly ( scoop removed) hopefully they can run strong on Sunday.
I flew with Jack Hovey in 1987 out of Livermore in his Mustang, he builds some mean V-12's. I told him about this site, he thought you still lived in Texas.
Thanks again warbirds45.

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

Hey WBs45-

Thanks (again) for your kind 'atta-boys'! Hope you do go make a recon run up to Ione to check on racer progress status at Sanders Aviation & let us know. Regarding Voodoo, -believe the boil-off system/belly-scoop removal mod install was put on hold for Race #5 for various reasons. Suggest you visit the team website: VooDooAirRacing.com & use their contact button for some direct info response. (Perhaps a crew person might chime in here on the msg board).

V. cool you got to fly w/Jack Hovey in his P-51D back in '87. You are very fortunate to have had that wonderful opportunity. BTW-Jack must've mistaken me for one of those- 'Texas Dawsons', as I haven't lived there since 1959-60 in Sherman (Perrin AFB). Keep yer airspeed UP in the turns!

DBD

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

"High Aspirations"......

DBD

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

"Mini-Guppy!" (Hey- Did someone forget to turn-off the helium?)

Wed. 8/1/90- KIA/Ketchikan, Alaska:

Erickson Air-Crane/Aero Spacelines Boeing 377MG 'Mini-Guppy' N422AU (15937) on company Skycrane logistical flight support operations in SE Alaska. (Retired in 1995,-this amazing aircraft can be seen on display at The Tillamook Air Museum in Oregon.)

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_Spacelines_Mini_Guppy

DBD

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

Advent of- "Tsunami"......

Sat. 9/6/86-Reno NCAR- The hot Nevada sun was just about done for the day, when the 3-ship Planes of Fame Unlimited flight led by race pilot- Steve Hinton flying- John Sandberg's magnificent Bruce Boland custom-designed racer- #18-"TSUNAMI", buzzed Stead Field to mark their arrival for race competition.

Here's a few shots capturing that momentous air racing occasion. Hinton is greeted by fellow Unlimited race pilots- Tom Kelley & his partner- John Dilley of Ft. Wayne, IN., who both got some first-hand wing-profiling insights from designer- Bruce Boland. Bruce & his design/fabricator partner- Ray Poe posed together f/a photo portrait alongside their beautiful fast-flying creation.

DBD