CONTEST: MEN ONLY: Free Framed Gee-Bee Z Airplane

[thunderw21]

Here's one I nearly forgot and would like to add to my previous entries.

"Billy with a Tri-Motor, 1932"

Billy

 

[Jerekson]

How could you forget that?!?

 

[Vintage Betty]

Second Judge Announced

I am pleased to announce that our lovely Second Judge has stepped forward, MissHannah!

MissHannah can be bribed with and clip earrings and flattery is certain to win her favor! Gentlemen, I believe we have a Judge who can be easily bribed to win the prize!

Thank you MissHannah for stepping forward...this will be a very tough contest to Judge, and we certainly appreciate your contribution.

Vintage Betty

 

[GentleJohnny]

I know I'm outdone

Fellas, I'm sorry I could only post one picture, but I'm just an average grunt on the front lines. You boys have me beat and you got some great pictures on here. Cheers! And don't forget to give me air cover!!

 

[MissHannah]

Well, it's a pleasure to be judge on this fine contest! I have to say if the main criteria were quantity we'd already know who the winner was

 

[KilroyCD]

I know I have a number of entries in already, but here are some more. First, a classic 1950s trainer, a Hunting-Percival Jet Provost over Oshkosh:

Here's an FM-2 Wildcat with a TBM-3 Avenger over Lancaster County, PA. The low haze almost makes it appear as if they are over the Pacific:

Here's a nice view of the P-51D "Six Shooter" over Rochester, NY on a sortie out of Geneseo. This was shot from the waist window of the B-17G, "Fuddy Duddy":

Here's a late afternoon shot of an SNJ over the Delaware River. A silky smooth day, so I shot at 1/60 second to effectively blur the prop:

Here's a shot of the P-51D "Six Shooter" and the P-47D "Big A** Bird II" taken at Geneseo in appalling weather. Taken from the back seat of the SNJ in the photo above:

Here's another shot of the two-seat Spitfire T.9 taken over Oshkosh. Taken from the back seat of the P-51D "Big Beautiful Doll":

Lastly, here's a shot of the Mk.VIII Spitfire taken in thick haze over Oshkosh from the back seat of a T-28C:

 

[The Wingnut]

Absolutely fantastic photos Wingnut, well done :eusa_clap

By the way what A-2 is that you've got? Looks stunning.

Thanks, Smithy! The A-2 in most of the photos is a U.S. Authentic. It's actually a bit too big for me, I bought it before I realized I was a size 36 and not a 38. The other A-2 is a surprisingly accurate horsehide Sporty's Pilot Shop beater that I picked up for a song. That's the one that I had painted. I'm wearing it in the shot with the dog and my friend in front of the C-47 and Jeep.

 

[Quigley Brown]

Lastly, here's a shot of the Mk.VIII Spitfire taken in thick haze over Oshkosh from the back seat of a T-28C:

I just could just stare at that all day. What a perfect design!

 

[Smithy]

Thanks, Smithy! The A-2 in most of the photos is a U.S. Authentic. It's actually a bit too big for me, I bought it before I realized I was a size 36 and not a 38. The other A-2 is a surprisingly accurate horsehide Sporty's Pilot Shop beater that I picked up for a song. That's the one that I had painted. I'm wearing it in the shot with the dog and my friend in front of the C-47 and Jeep.

Cheers Wingnut, sharp looking jacket. And the rest of your kit isn't shabby either!

 

[Sachet]

This is my avatar photo, enlarged.

Taken in New Zealand at the Old Mandeville Airfield near Gore, South Island, as I was about to embark upon my first hour of flight training in a restored Tiger Moth.

<snip>
I'm sorry - I know that the story here is not part of the entry... the photo just got me in a reminiscent kind of mood...

I wish everyone would give us the history of their photo's as you did so well, Copper. Your story added interesting depth and even more enjoyment as a result.

....Sachet

 

[Diamondback]

The story behind mine: B-52 50th Anniversary party, Wichita, April '02. (I was presenting a research paper to a contact in B-52 program management, so my profs let me sneak away for the week.)
The morning after the big party at Boeing, Kansas Aviation Museum just up the runway opened up their BUFF for old crewdogs to show their families around, and even for non-crewdog attendees to tour. I was on the tail-end of the crowd, so I got as long as I wanted... well, I had until the next Russian recon-satellite overflight anyway. (Which, of course, I stuck around outside to toss Ivan a "3-finger-salute minus two" for...lol)

Aftermath: after I returned to the college, a militantly anti-military prof decided to mouth off about how in his opinion even the museum-bird BUFFs should be scrapped. My response: show him that photo, then one of me on the range with two smoking pistols, followed by a casual "Molon freakin' Labe*, dude..."
*In English: "Come and take 'em...", for the non Thermopylae/300 fans out there.

 

[Copper]

I wish everyone would give us the history of their photo's as you did so well, Copper. Your story added interesting depth and even more enjoyment as a result.

....Sachet

Thank you Sachet - some photos are self explanatory, and some are not - That photo is much cherished by me as are the memories of that day. I too would love to hear some of the tales behind the great shots shown here. Its hard to have a photo of a FL member and a vintage plane or vintage aviator's kit without some sort of good story as to how it came to be!

 

[Vintage Betty]

Bumpety Bump - time to remind people to post their entries for the contest!

Vintage Betty

 

[Spitfire]

Just curious - who won?

 

[Vintage Betty]

Just curious - who won?

I haven't asked for or tallied votes yet. Me bad. Give us to Friday ok?

Vintage Betty

 

[Spitfire]

Don't rush it - just plain curiosity

 

[PADDY]

Tally-HO!

 

[rumblefish]

Late entry

Some models my brother and I built when we were boys. We used to have all kinds of WW II models hanging from the ceiling. Some dogfights with Hellcats chasing Zeros that had smoke (painted cotton) pouring from a wing and hot pinholes to look like battle damage. There all gone but these WW I planes were built and painted shortly before we were ready to leave home so they didn't suffer the handling the others got. Some of them were flown by famous pilots (the real planes not the models). Painting the lozenge camouflage was a bit tedious. The dragon on Von Hippel's plane is a decal , but I'm proud of the paint match for the Jasta 5 tail pinstripe.
Von Hippel's Albatros D.V in front

Von Richthofen's albatros in front

Close up of Udet's Fokker D.VII

 

[Smithy]

Lovely models Chris. Bit of a WWI man are you?

 

[rumblefish]

Thanks Tim. Both WW I and WW II, unfortunately these are all that are left. Some of the older stuff fell victim to fire crackers .