My father and I were able to get into the show early to check in for our P-51 flights. We started to walk around and they were doing some staged shots at Doc. So I acted like I belonged in the group and took some shots. Wish I had spent more time and got some better shots, oh well. Here is the best of the group. Doc by John Wolff, on Flickr
Yankee Lady makes a pass. I wish that both B-29's and both B-17's flew in the show, would like to get them both in a frame. B-17 Flying Fortress by John Wolff, on Flickr
Here we have my father, I suppose Papa John since my mom is Momma Sue, just after take off on his ride. P-51 Red Nose by John Wolff, on Flickr
After following the restoration of Doc over the last several years, as soon as I heard Doc was going to be at Reading, I made travel arrangements. There was no way I was going to miss a chance to see it up close. As John mentioned in his other thread, a little birdie told me that Doc would be flying early Sunday morning, so I was at in the parking lot with the best vantage point to see it fly, or so I thought. My friend Mark and I were both there listening for the rumble of those big Wright R-3350 radials. We expected to hear them in the distance, getting softer as they ran to the other end of the runway. However, to our surprise they kept getting louder. At that point, it dawned on both of us that the storm front that blew in the night before had changed the wind direction and we needed to be at the other end of the runway, so we jumped in our cars and headed to the airport terminal at the other end of the field where we caught Doc just above the fenceline: After chimping for a moment, we ran back to the other end of the field and caught a flyover: And Landing: I later learned that the flight was an honor flight for two individuals. The gentleman in the bomber jacket served on a B-29 crew I think in Korea. The gentleman in the wheelchair is Owen Hughes, a WWII vet who painted a lot of nose art in the European Theater during WWII and painted the nose art for Doc during the restoration. A closeup of Mr. Hughes' handiwork: I also got to do a photo shoot with Doc Saturday evening, but that's a story for another day.
I cant wait to see Doc in the air, hopefully next year!!! Here is another of Fifi Fifi by John Wolff, on Flickr
Here is shot of the "Memphis Belle" I took before the showgates opened. Memphis Belle by John Wolff, on Flickr
Even though this aircraft was outmatched most of the time it was in the air, it still is a classic. P-40 Warhawk by John Wolff, on Flickr
