You know it is a good day when...

[BroncoSquid]

You walk out on your back porch and get to watch an actual P-51 Mustang fly over!

99% sure it was the "Gunfighter". The CAF is near here this week. The markings on the bottom were the same.

[crxmanpat]

Very cool. We have a CAF near my house and I always see Texans, T-28's, a Dauntless, the occassional P-51, a B-25 and the B-17 Sentimental Journey.

And weekend before last we got a visit by the B-29 FIFI.

[Don Sims]

Enjoyed seeing them at Oshkosh air shows a few years ago.

[crxmanpat]

And then a few hours ago a DC-3 flew over my office building.

[BroncoSquid]

Originally Posted by crxmanpat

Very cool. We have a CAF near my house and I always see Texans, T-28's, a Dauntless, the occassional P-51, a B-25 and the B-17 Sentimental Journey.

And weekend before last we got a visit by the B-29 FIFI.

From what I understand, FIFI is here in San Diego also. xmech2k went to go see them at Brown field. Maybe he will post some pics.

[crxmanpat]

Yes, she is making her way across the southwest right now. Probably why you saw the Mustang too. Lots of planes following her around.

[xmech2k]

Oh yeah! I was there! The P-51 they had was Man O' War, very interesting paint scheme. Got a flight in the C-45(Beech 18)!!! Got to see Fifi take 2 flights, the P-51 was busy giving rides(at ~$1,500 a pop!), an SNJ, and the C-45.

I'm at that place I have to go to get money to pay for this stuff now , but I'll post some pics tonight when I get home.

[crxmanpat]

Just happen to drive by the CAF building on the way home today as I had an errand to run (don't usually drive by there). On the tarmac were:

B-17
B-25
Mig-15
C-47
C-45
Canberra
DC-6 (forget the military designation)
Yak-52

That's all I can remember seeing as I drove by.

[xmech2k]

OK, here's some pics.


Fifi & USAF Brig. Gen. Robert Cardinas (In red shirt w/blue hat)


P-51 Man O' War. Interesting scheme. Looked great in the air!


P-51 Man O' War business end.


C-45 Expediter (Beech 18) 'Bucket of Bolts'


Best seat!


Happiness is a round engine roaring right outside your open window! Check one off the bucket list!

[Fishbonez]

Those are some really neat picks. I personnaly like the MAn of War best

[xmech2k]

Sure, the P-51 will stand out, but seeing the only flying B-29 in the world was sure a treat. And seeing General Cardinas there to go on a flight in Fifi was the icing! (To all you AMA members out there, read the District X news in the March issue of Model Aviation magazine, or Google him. A special treat to see him with the 29.) I still wonder how they came up with that 'zebra' scheme on Man O' War. Historical or ???

But the Beech 18 has always been a favorite of mine as well. We had some in A&P school, but we really didn't do much with them. I don't remember them being so small inside! And don't tell the CAF, but they're practically giving away the rides in it! Although I guess splitting the cost among up to 7 people sure helps. The only thing about their C-45 was that paint scheme. I'm not a huge fan of it, but I learned there's a good reason for it. Our pilot told us it's an exact reproduction (Well the paint, the plane was always civilian.) of the plane a British General used to survey the D-day invasions personally. I sure hope the British appreciate it! Edit: Now that I think of it, the top is camouflaged, and the bottom is 'shoot me!' yellow! From personal experience, I could advise the British air services on what colors disappear in the sky!