Gathering of Mustangs

[427TJ]

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Don't ask me about the times we played "spaceman" between refuelings over the Turkey/Iraq border.

[/ QUOTE ] Spill it or BAN.

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Go far away from the flight corridor so as to not be seen by other jets and to avoid possible collision.
Put away anything that might fly around inside the airplane, such as flight gear, navigator's gear, cans of pop, etc.
Aircraft Commander (me) remains strapped firmly in seat, everyone else heads to the back of the plane which is as empty as a bowling lane.
Lower the nose and accelerate to 300-plus knots airspeed.
Gradually raise nose until about 40-60 degrees nose high, full power.
As speed comes down through about 280, slowly push yoke forward until you feel the G go to zero--G-meter confirms zero G. Whoops and hollers eminate from crew.
Maintain weightless condition (zero G) by holding yoke forward and very gradually adjusting so as to keep G-meter pegged at zero. Any sudden moves of the yoke and someone--someone floating in zero G in back--could get slammed onto the cargo deck. Whoops and hollers continue.
As nose goes through the horizon and aircraft enters dive, slowly reduce throttles to idle while maintaining zero G with very, very gentle yoke movements. (Jet makes a big upside-down U in the sky.)
Squint eyes as the decades of dirt and dust are rise off of the floor of the jet. Yes, all the dirt comes out of every crack and crevice in the 40-year old airplane's cockpit and heads for the pilot's eyes. Tastes like dirt too. Whoops and hollers continue.
As nose reaches about 20-30 degrees nose-low and speed begins to build back up, ease the yoke back so as to gently 'set' crew back on cargo floor without drawing any blood. Whoops and hollers from floating crew die down.
Repeat by popular demand.
Total time of complete weightlessness was about 45 seconds if done right, just like the NASA KC-135 zero-G trainer known as the "vomit comet." No one ever barfed when I did it.
(Note: Best to run one (of four) refueling pump and open the refueling manifold valve during maneuver so as to maintain positive fuel pressure and not cavitate any fuel lines or starve an engine. Hydraulic system low-pressure lights will blink from momentary cavitation but can be ignored in this case.)
That is all, over and out.

[70 copo]

Charlie,

Contact the show's officials today. Show them what you have. I think that with the right people involved your car could still get there, but they would have to fly it, since the USAF is involved as a major sponsor a MAC hop to Wright Patterson or directly to Lockborne (Rickenbacker) could be arranged if the right officials are contacted.

Today is the meet and greet show starts tomorrow.

I am 25 minutes from the show. Would not miss it for the world. Your car belongs there.

http://www.gml2007.com/

[Xplantdad]

Cool stuff Bill!

[Belair62]

Great story Bill....at first I thought you were going up to SR 71 heights with that tanker !!

[427TJ]

By the way Andy, my friend's P-51D couldn't make it to the Gathering because they found metal in the engine oil screens recently and the Merlin had to come out and be fully rebuilt. I think it was bearing failure on either the crank or rods but I can't remember which. He and the owner hopped on the airlines and are there spectating (and drinking beer and BSing with the rest of them).

[ANDY M]

The planes and crews started to arrive in force today.
Here's an opening taste of the Thunderbirds, making a pass over the airfield.

[ANDY M]

These are some of the new arrivals


P-40 Flying Tiger

[ANDY M]

A few more...
B-25




Rare Wing-tip tanks




Trainer

[ANDY M]

Static display of Sherman tank. There will be a lot of stuff on display, but most of it won't be out til Thurs. or Fri.



Last one til Friday