B-24 Flying

[tlewis95]

I have been incredibly lucky to know someone who knows someone high up in the CAF and was semi-recruited to possibly get trained as a crew member on Diamond Lil a few months ago. After a lot of studying and ground school down in Addison, I got some stick time yesterday on a re-positioning leg from Marion, IL to Rockford and I am still smiling from it. Hopefully if everything times out right, I will have the chance to go out on tour as an SIC on it someday soon.

 

[Adler]

Very cool, but I almost want to throw up seeing that ipad mounted.

 

[tlewis95]

A few other pictures from the 'Warbird Salute to Veterans' that we just had.

I was able to sneak a ride on 'Flagship Detroit' too!

Hangar packing ahead of the storm

About 4 days worth of polishing here

FE Panel on FiFi

 

[Swen]

Nice share.

 

[jskibo]

Very nice....

B-25 in there too!

 

[JeppUpdater]

Very cool pictures. I passed the B-24 last Thursday over northeastern Texas near the Red River. Good to see it back in the air where in belongs.

 

[KDoersom]

Get to know Kim and Phil P. they are good people.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[Boris Badenov]

Good for you!

 

[typhoonpilot]

Okay, I'm jealous. My dad flew B-24s in WWII and I hope to get in one someday to see a little of his flying history.

TP

 

[Whatusername]

Very very VERY cool! How many pilots in the JC age group will ever fly a pretty bird like that?

Granted a major or part 91 may not like it. But a 2.0 hobbs of vintage Warbird flying should trump wuss RJ flying!

 

[ozziecat35]

That's so badass!! thanks for the share...what I wouldn't give for some stick time in one those machines.

 

[Cal Goat]

Oh man, that is cool. What is your aviation background?

 

[SIUAv8r]

That's awesome! Dave's a really nice guy!

 

[flightduck]

I have been incredibly lucky to know someone who knows someone high up in the CAF and was semi-recruited to possibly get trained as a crew member on Diamond Lil a few months ago. After a lot of studying and ground school down in Addison, I got some stick time yesterday on a re-positioning leg from Marion, IL to Rockford and I am still smiling from it. Hopefully if everything times out right, I will have the chance to go out on tour as an SIC on it someday soon.

Very cool, B-24 always a perennial favorite.

How does it handle? Does it truly really honestly fly ------ the way it looks, as some have said?

Neat video and photos, a keeper. Thanks.

 

[tlewis95]

Get to know Kim and Phil P. they are good people.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

Not sure who they are yet, but I haven't met anyone in the 24/29 squadron that wasn't a great person.

Oh man, that is cool. What is your aviation background?

Just a CFI at SIU with some acro/glider/ferry experience. The FE in the picture is a professor here at SIU in the aviation technology program and was Dave's (PIC in the left seat here) teacher about 10 years ago. The two of them have set up an internship with SIU and CAF for mx students to come on tour as mx support on the bombers. Dave also mentioned that they were looking for younger SICs which is where my name came up!

That's awesome! Dave's a really nice guy!

He is!

Very cool, B-24 always a perennial favorite.

How does it handle? Does it truly really honestly fly ------ the way it looks, as some have said?

Neat video and photos, a keeper. Thanks.

Yeah about how you would think it would handle. Very heavy on everything obviously but heavier in pitch than in roll, with plenty of adverse yaw to deal with. It only has an 11" CG range and you can really feel people walking around in the back - especially to the tail gun!

 

[flightduck]

Yeah about how you would think it would handle. Very heavy on everything obviously but heavier in pitch than in roll, with plenty of adverse yaw to deal with. It only has an 11" CG range and you can really feel people walking around in the back - especially to the tail gun!

That's kind of amazing, even the C-172 has a skosh over 12 inches. Wonder if it's because of that high aspect-ratio Davis wing......

No wonder the reputation for being a workout to fly!

 

[Hacker15e]

Congratulations, that is outstanding.

Are you a sponsor on the aircraft at all?

 

[Polar742]

I have been incredibly lucky to know someone who knows someone high up in the CAF and was semi-recruited to possibly get trained as a crew member on Diamond Lil a few months ago. After a lot of studying and ground school down in Addison, I got some stick time yesterday on a re-positioning leg from Marion, IL to Rockford and I am still smiling from it. Hopefully if everything times out right, I will have the chance to go out on tour as an SIC on it someday soon.

Awesome!

My favorite warbird....

 

[WacoFan]

Good for you!

 

[tlewis95]

I did end up getting lucky enough to do an SIC checkout and take Lil on tour for a few weeks! The people I met and the stories I have heard on tour have been completely fascinating.

The Lake that serves as the head-waters of the Mississippi River

B-24 waist gunner being interviewed in the cockpit

Parked with Fifi

Gunfighter

A piece of flak that the waist gunner in the background found in his seat after one of his 50 missions. You can see the aluminum that was melted to the lead as it went through the fuselage.

They let me sneak a ride on the B-29 while we were in Sioux Falls too!

Cruising over the top to Denver

Little Friend

Setting up for our formation arrival and break into BJC

Airshow flight

Heading down the Front Range to Colorado Springs for another tour stop and a flyby at the USAF Academy

Videos too of course!

One of my first few takeoffs after getting the checkout

Rocky Mountain Airshow Flyby

Formed up on Fifi