Even more airshow stuff
Since a reader commented that they especially appreciated the F4-U Corsair, I uploaded a clip of it firing up and beginning it's taxi, plus some more shots of the plane. As always, click the images to see a larger version.
The F4-U fires up.
A shot of the massive flaps for carrier landings. These things are enormous and must have really been effective at providing lift and slowing the planes down for landing.
The instrument panel features a modern radio stack and instruments.
posted by The Inside Dope @ 6/05/2007
21 comments
21 Comments:
TID, I had no idea that you had such an interest in airplanes!
It's cool to see these WWII aircraft.
Imagine how aircraft just a couple of models older than this one were flying in the Battle of Midway this week 65 years ago. That must have been just an incredible fight.
I can't imagine what some of those wild dogfights must have been like during WWII, both in the Pacific and in Europe. The fact remains that aviators mortality rate was shockingly high. They really had a 50/50 chance of making it home, or even less.
But they'd keep going up. Imagine the guys in the ball turrets in the belly of a B-17. If the turret got hit, there was no way to turn it so that the exit door lined up in order for them to get out. Quite a few pilots had to do a belly landing knowing that it would kill their ball turret gunner who was trapped in the turret.
It's simply impossible to imagine what they experienced.
I've always had a fascination with aviation and vintage planes in particular, everything from WWI to the present. But then again, I kind of tend to be really curious about and interested in a lot of things. And the more I learn, the more I enjoy it and have a greater admiration for those who are successful at it. The only exeption to that rule has been politics where the opposite has been true.
But planes and flying have always captured my interest for as long as I can remember.
This is where your true tallent and passion are Dope. These photos are just amazing. I think that these shots and the photos of the flood are where you should turn this blog. Flower season is comming and you have the goods to keep uis all fascinated.
Your political passion has faded and the development these photos show your new passion.
Best regards in your new venture.
Cindy,
Thanks, I guess. Glad you enjoy the pictures, and obviously, I do enjoy taking them, but like all my other interests, I'm not sure I'm good enough at any of them to make it the sole focus of the blog.
If you're trying to suggest I forget about covering politics, then I accept your view. It's tempting, but then again, it's pretty important when you get down to it. I don't intend to shy away from anything political in the future. Otherwise the bad guys win. ha!
It is unfortunate that those who do know a lot about politics choose not to participate at all here, otherwise it could be a much more enlightening and interesting place.
But so be it. They like to be the ones setting the rules, and if you don't say what they want said, they take their ball and go home.
If your comment wasn't pure sarcasm disguised as faint praise, thanks.
This is my favorite WWII bird. I once saw one do a belly landing in Oshkosh Wisconsin at the EEA Convention. Just made you sick. They loaded it on a flat bed truck and headed off to rebuild it. What a great airplane. Thanks for sharing.
TID, where are you? You can't be this busy - a man of your enormous ego cannot stand to be out this long...
Are you so scared to print an opinion that you can't blog about anything more than an air show in almost 2-weeks?
Let me get this straight.... now I have an "enormous ego"???!!
I do this anonymously and I have an "enormous ego"??
Makes about as much sense as the rest of your drivel.
No.
And just because I'm not blogging here doesn't mean I'm not blogging. I'm doing more work nationally where I find there's actually some people who are concerned with larger issues than yard signs or who could kick whose ass. (ridiculous)
I have a lot of things going on. Just a relief to get away from the knuckle-draggers and spooks around here.
And jerk-ass comments like yours aren't exactly inspiring. The fact that you and others seem to delight in outdoing yourselves in stupidity and dishonesty, while those with something rational to say sit mute, really makes this hardly worth the effort.
Sorry you miss me. That's touching.
Settle down big boy! I think the reason people think you have such a big ego is that you feel the need to comment on every comment. And don't woryy, we all know you can't kick anyones ars!
Gee, what a weird thing for a blogger to do.... respond to comments. That's sooo bad.
And since you're obviously clueless, let me assure you that if I responded to every comment, it would take you days to read it all.
Unfortunately, only a handful of people who resent anyone expressing their opinions and feel threatened by them seem obsessed with commenting on every single word I write, and usually by trying their best to insult and taunt me, kind of like they run their campaigns.
99% aren't worth the electrons it took to send them, but every now and then I respond, like I did to yours.
Apparently you think that this is evidence of "an enormous ego" that I bothered to respond to you.
I probably should have ignored it like it desereved. I'll promise to ignore all your stuff in the future. Don't want to appear "egotisitical" to you after all.
The charge is a hoot anyway when considering that certain local pols and their cronies have the most out of whack egos ever, and that's precisely why I get utter crap like your comment.
What are the "larger Issues" that are being discussed nationally - yet not here?
Are you saying that you are above us - that we cannot handle 'larger issues' the way that you can?
Is that not a bit of an EGO????
(I suspect that you will censor this comment, because, when you are proven foolish, you tend to censor)...
TID, I think that 'havinfun' might have you on this one. Are you saying that we cannot handle your intellect the way that those on a national level can?
havin fun,
You and others can't even grasp what the concept of a blog IS, let alone what it's about and how to participate.
Take your comment. It has NOTHING to do with this topic or thread, which is something to be avoided at all costs and a big no-no on blogs.
Secondly, I don't "censor", but I do reserve the right to not publish comments that either have nothing to do with the subject or that endlessly argue in circles for weeks at a time. It has to end somewhere.
Thirdly, this isn't a government website, or even a "media outlet" in the traditional sense, and free speech has nothing to do with it. Get that concept through your heads.
I have no duty to provide a garbage dump for whatever any tool has to say, nor do I have some obligation to publish every childish attack. Frankly, they're boring as sin.
Thirdly, it's been proven absolutely that locals have little to zero interest or ability to discuss "larger issues", as proven by over two years of posts on such issues gathering next to no comments whatsoever, but screaming meemees flooding into comments whenever the issue is political yard signs or some other similarly petty and ridiculous topic such as Senator Jacobs.
Blogs are not established as a "attack the host" forum. Why you can't grasp that I have no idea.
You have nothing to say at all, other than to bash the person who provides this forum for you to spew your anger.
You're free to express your rational views on any topic that is under discussion, but don't expect me to then carry on a one on one argument with you on it for months at a time, then when I pull the plug after it's gone around in circles about 400 times, you cry "censorship".
Get over it.
Anon 6:43
No.
But you sure couldn't tell judging from the level of comments I get.
The people out there who may be able to contribute some rational and informed discussion are mute as far as this site is concerned.
Dope,
You state that the readers of this blog cannot handle intellegent issue-oriented posts...
Let's be honest, you put none forth. Your last 10-posts include,
1. An obituary
2,3,4 & 5 - air show related posts (with a lot of pretty pictures though)
6. Another tirade about Jacobs, that had little substance.
7. Pictures of a big rainstorm and the flooding that followed.
8. More air show stuff.
9. A post about pork-barrel spending (an extremely combative issue...can we all say, "I am against it")
10. A post about the war-bill (Iraq).
So, out of the last 10-posts, a time span of almost one full month, you had ONE (1) reasonably intelligent issue-oriented post.
As always, Dope, you seem to have a very hard time looking in the mirror.
(And, again, as this post uses facts and makes you look bad, I do expect it to be censored).
You're so full of anger towards me, it's odd that you at the same time seem to really really miss my putting things up here.
Evidently it's because you want more material for your vitriol and personal attacks towards me no matter what I write. (this doesn't apply just to you, but to the handful of creeps who seem to relish doing nothing else and continue to send the most crude personal attacks at a rate of a few a day even when I don't write ANYTHING.)
But you make a fair point, though you seem to have a much too triumphal tone about it.
I'm aware that I haven't put up much about any serious issues, I haven't put up much about anything at all lately.
But my observations about the fact that it seems impossible to facillitate any interesting or thoughtful discussion of any large issues here isn't based on just the past few weeks, as you'd realize if you only (PLEASE DO) thought about what I write and what I mean for a few seconds.
Of course, I'm referring to the past couple years, where I was churning out sometimes 5 or 6 posts A DAY, covering everything imaginable and then some.
In the beginning, there was a large number of witty, fun, intelligent, and informed people who all contributed and commented and the discussion was great. Even when people disagreed, at least they weren't just regurgitating talking points they heard on Fox or AM radio, etc.
And believe it or not, it didn't get personal, and the rare times it did, it was simple to not publish the rare comment that went over the line.
People were respectful, and didn't endlessly send in crap trying to twist every word I wrote in an attempt to smear and attack me and/or "liberals" or Democrats.
And there was a diverse group. Men, women, conservatives, liberals, and in-between. Lawyers, politicians, etc. They all would offer their views and insights on topics that they knew about with the result that it was a great way to learn more about the issues.
I really looked forward to seeing what new comments had come in every day. Now I can barely stand to open them.
But after a huge campaign to discredit me and smear me with really terrible lies and disgusting tactics, it appears that people, even if they enjoyed the blog, simply decided they weren't going to participate any more.
It's more than ironic that people ranted and raved and demanded that I write this in my own name for over a year. They said it would prevent people from being so mean and nasty, etc.
But yet, when these clods decided they knew who I was (what a joke) they IMMEDIATELY set in to threaten, mock, attack, and engage in the most vile sort of personal attacks I've ever experienced in my life.
That's what I knew would happen if I didn't do this anonymously, and as it happened, it occured even though I am still anonymous. (sure, many THINK they know my identity, but let me assure you, they're barking up the wrong tree.)
Some creepy people even write in telling me they saw me at such and such a place, being obnoxious and arguing politics, or at this or that restaurant, etc. I mean, it's long past the point of being at the same time, ridiculous, insane, and grimly hilarious.
But yes, I haven't provided any posts about larger issues here for some time. That's true.
And the reason is as I've said. I've done it for over two years, and almost no one is interested, and those few that are seem to only want to argue their right wing points which, so sorry, I am NOT going to agree with, no matter if they continue to send the same arguments 5000 times. (If they could convince me of their views, then I'd be open to agreement, and I have agreed around the edges, but no one is going to get me to somehow believe all the crap that this administration and their appologists puts out is anything related to reality or truth, and that's what those very lies are what these people are basing their entire opinions on.)
So long story even longer, you're right. I haven't put up much lately, but I wasn't talking about just lately, as you should have been able to easily figure out. But instead you, as always, were primed and ready to go to try to find some inconsistency or fault, and so decided to ignore the obvious and try to blame me for the matter.
Nice try, as usual.
And it's the fact that I get nothing but abuse constantly for everything I do (and if that's not enough, they just make shit up that I supposedly did or wrote or meant) that makes me really not care to work at doing it, at least not here.
And it's ironic that those that seem to demand that I continue doing the work I've done over the past couple years are the very ones who can't go a day without bitterly attacking me.
Here's a hint for no one in particular. If you expect someone to provide you with something, it's generally not a good idea to essentially be a hyper-critical asshole and constantly berate them at the same time you're trying to encourage them to provide the service.
Dope, actually, you are pompous and arogant - and way too full of yourself, however, I do believe that if you get off the hatred towards Bush and the ultra-liberal positions, you have the ability to work some needed dialogue.
I just wish that you could take on serious issues from a serious position - and not just turn everything into a slam on the Administration. That manner of debate is as mindless as a conservative bringing up Monica everytime that a Clinton issue is discussed.
Thanks for managing to send along yet more of YOUR pompous pronouncements based on nothing other than the fact that I vehemently disagree with nearly everything you support.
And you managed to do so before 6 a.m. Frankly, I think it's a little sad that someone is getting online just after sunup and can't wait to write some ill-considered insult to someone for no apparent reason. Why are you so concerned?
And what are you basing this rather bizarre judgement of me on, might I ask?
The fact that I do NOT agree to agree that this administration and anything it's done is somehow "normal" or should be discussed as if it's not really that bad? That makes me "pompous"?
Let's get this straight. This administration is the worst in generations, and possibly the worst in our entire history, and I have every confidence that history will bear that out.
For you to say that my opinions about this regime are just like your ilk yammering about Monica is rock solid proof that you need to have more coffee before you try to think.
It is NOT even remotely in the same galaxy in terms of it's seriousness or it's consequences for this country and the entire world, and the fact that you don't have a clue shows that you're just not paying attention.
Bush routinely issues "signing statements" where he simply explains that he's not going to follow the laws that congress passes. He violates the constitution with impunity and has gotten defeated routinely when the issues have made it to court, not only lost, but judges which he himself has appointed have called his actions "dangerous" to democracy and our system of government.
The guy is a rogue element, a radical, and I'm not going to sit here and talk nicey-nicey about a group that has damaged this country so badly it will take generations to repair.
You don't have a problem with them ordering torture as U.S. policy? You don't have a problem with little Bush thinking he's some Roman emporer and giving himself the right to declare ANYONE an "enemy combatant" which then allows them to be grabbed and stuck in a prison somewhere in Bulgaria with NO charges, no trial, and held indefinitely? Just "disapearing" people???!
That's what the tin-horn dictators they did in South America, for God's sake!
You have no problem with the fact that EVERY SINGLE DAY something new and sordid comes out that this gang is doing or has done?
You aren't troubled by the people who have FINALLY begun to come forward and tell the truth about the lies and the vengence and how they got rid of anyone that didn't toe their ideological and political line? Even in the military?
I know it doesn't trouble you that they systematically placed Falwell and other fundimentalist disciples in posistions of incredible authority and power even though they had resumes so thin they couldn't get hired as a Target store manager, but yeah, it bugs me.
And most of all, I refuse to PRETEND that this administration and their bone-headed incompetence and arrogance should be treated with any sort of respect. Period.
They've forfeited that in my mind. Long ago.
You can call me every name in the book, and frankly, I don't give a damn what you happen to think, but if you think the standard should be that Bush and his ilk be discussed as if they were "normal" politicians with which I simply have a few disagreements, then you're going to be sadly disappointed. (I guess you already are.)
Surely you can find some member of the increasingly dwindling number of people who still drink the Bush and right wing kool-ade and have your "reasonable" discussion with them.
Even thinking that there's any good reason for squandering our wealth, wrecking our military, destroying utterly the overwhelming good-will displayed by the rest of the world immediately post 9-11, and most reprehensible of all, sending thousands of soldiers to their deaths or maiming for NO GOOD REASON, and BY CHOICE, for nothing more than financial gain, is beyond simply a policy disagreement. Its immoral, and to use one of Fearless Leader's pet words, "evil".
The guy had NO business being anywhere near a position of authority, let alone running this great country, and he wouldn't have been there without massive and wide-spread corruption and rigging anyway.
The ONLY good that can come out of this reign of error is that, with any luck, it will have shown the American public just how bad it can get if they don't pay attention, and if, like you, they continually stick their heads in the sand and go to incredible lengths to continue the fiction that our leadership is corrupt, utterly incompetent, stunningly selfish and utterly callous to the needs of average people.
And all you have to do to pull the wool over people's eyes is talk tough and seem eager to kill a lot of people while simultaneously talking about how much you love Jesus. It's pitiful.
So, no, you're not going to get any discussion with me where the starting point is that I have to actually think there's anything remotely legitimate about this gang of thugs running the country.
Sorry.
There are other blogs out there, try harrassing one of the other bloggers.
On second thought, don't. I wouldn't wish you on anyone.
PS. Lest other readers think I'm too harsh, this person, whose identity shall remain secret, though if you have read here for any length of time, it's clear who it is, has made it their business to send comments on a daily basis, every single one of them nothing but criticism and accusations.
I can't for the life of me believe that someone would want to devote that much time and energy to something like that... but... there it is.
I just get sick of it, ya know? It's like having a spouse or your mom or dad or your mother-in-law hectoring you every damn day.
Gets real old, real fast.
And to the commenter, by the way, you can stop voting muliple times a day for Joe Biden in the poll. It's getting tiresome.
Dope: If you ever get to southern California, visit the Palm Springs Air Museum at the airport. Two huge collections of planes from both the European and the Pacific theaters, including a B-17 you can go through. The docents were all crew members or mechanics on the planes.
That would be great. I was fortunate enough to go see a B-17 (one of my favorite planes of all time) when it paid a visit to the Davenport Airport a year or two ago and was able to go through the entire plane and watch it fire up and take off, etc.
I did a couple post on it at the time. One on an actual crewman who visited the plane (scroll a little past half way down the page) and another with a few pictures of the plane and some info a couple posts below it. Click HERE and then enlarge the window.
There's some interesting things in the archive pages from back when this was still fun to do before I started getting nothing but moronic attacks.
Wow, great coverage "from the archives." Thanks for the reference back in time.
On a funny note per your reference to that 6" bottom of the bomb rack to get to the belly of the B-17: picture a guy 6'5" and about 275# sucking in his gut and ass to get through that V-shaped rack with all the old docents crowded in the dooways to watch. That was me and they had a good laugh, but I made it. War movies didn't do justice to the real thing.
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