Flight jacket sighting and planes

[nick123]

Today, had the great opportunity to take a ride in the Collings Foundation B-17. They also had a B-24 and B-25 (the P-51 was late getting in...)Just so happened I saw two crazy nice repro jackets in one outing. One was an Aero A-1 which the gentleman said was "Italian horsehide" and an insane The Few A-2 in russet on another person there, as the group waited for the planes to come in.

Both jackets were stellar. No idea why I'm creating this thread, but thought I'd share. No pics of them, plus it'd be rude to broadcast strangers' jackets on a public forum! But the jackets were nearly as exciting as the planes themselves. However, the ride was a sobering experience. Those fliers must have went through so much it's not even funny. As my jacket got caught along the metal of the cramped interior, I simply lost all care for the preservation of the jacket I had on (G&B G-1). Had it been the Few or Aero, most likely the same effect. Very surreal.

Thanks for looking!

 

[AdeeC]

Thanks Nick, tell us more about your ride and did your jacket survive? I have an original theatre worn a-2 from a b17 gunner that although leather is in great structural condition it has quite a few nicks, scars and a minor hole or two.

 

[regius]

Did the jacket rip? Was this in Long Island?


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[nick123]

Jacket's fine! Just had an enlightening moment sitting in there without worrying about the jacket, as I'm usually very careful with them! But those planes are terribly cramped with all kinds of potential hazards for a jacket or knits to rip. And as I sat in there, really the thought of a WWII airman worrying about a jacket is somewhat ridiculous. I've said something to that extent before but it really rings true when up in the air experiencing that plane. It's a lot to take in. Almost melancholic in a way at times. Smiling in the pics but actually feeling rather emotional. The scope of the effort and material that went into the war is simply mind numbing. It was a good tangible history lesson and a reminder of how lucky many of us are. I went in thinking "it will be cool to experience the plane" and came out thinking about the guys that had to ride in it. No joke. The kids should all do that on their eighth grade school trip. The country would be a little more together today I think.

Long Beach California...actually Torrance, a little north of LB. other coast lol.

 

[AdeeC]

Jacket's fine! Just had an enlightening moment sitting in there without worrying about the jacket, as I'm usually very careful with them! But those planes are terribly cramped with all kinds of potential hazards for a jacket or knits to rip. And as I sat in there, really the thought of a WWII airman worrying about a jacket is somewhat ridiculous. I've said something to that extent before but it really rings true when up in the air experiencing that plane. It's a lot to take in. Almost melancholic in a way at times. Smiling in the pics but actually feeling rather emotional. The scope of the effort and material that went into the war is simply mind numbing. It was a good tangible history lesson and a reminder of how lucky many of us are. I went in thinking "it will be cool to experience the plane" and came out thinking about the guys that had to ride in it. No joke. The kids should all do that on their eighth grade school trip. The country would be a little more together today I think.

Long Beach California...actually Torrance, a little north of LB. other coast lol.

And those guys had to fly routinely at 30,000 feet and over for up to 10 hours or so. No oxygen and cold enough to freeze the balls off a dog.

 

[Deacon211]

Wow, that would be a great experience. I've always wanted to fly in a war bird.

It must have been an unreal thing to see. I've spoken with guys that said that the the skies would be blackened with bombers on some of those raids. They did have Oxygen, but like most things back then, it was all new tech.

I recall a story from the book, The Mighty Eighth. The water separators in those systems were pretty finicky. One time, they went back to check on the tail gunner after not having heard from him in awhile and found him dead...his line had frozen up and he just went to sleep.

Incredible men and women.

 

[scotrace]

Super jealous!

 

[Doctor Damage]

But those planes are terribly cramped with all kinds of potential hazards for a jacket or knits to rip.

Probably why so many vintage jackets, especially shearling, have a million scrapes and tears on them.

 

[Peacoat]

What a great experience, Nick. Thanks for sharing the photos. I was able to "tour" a B-17 while it was on the ground. Does that count?

 

[Cooper A-2]

Thanks for sharing Nick!
Had THE chance to sit in a P-51 ( behind the pilot in the ex radio shack, folded in 4 like a sardine in a tin ) called "Double Trouble " owned by Max Vogelsang a Swiss pilot and great guy, plus a real Gent. It was in Switzerland but at least 20 years ago...Great experience!. Any idea what happen to Max and his P-51... ?

 

[pilot error]

That's me...Boca Raton Airport Jan. 2012 The B-24 was the most mass produced bomber ever. At peak production one rolled off the assembly line every hour....24 hours a day! Witchcraft is the only one still flying.

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[pilot error]

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[Peacoat]

I didn't know the B-24 was the most produced aircraft. I would have thought that was the B-17. Glad to get my history straight. Thanks for the post and the pictures.

 

[nick123]

 

[Peacoat]

Good video, Nick. Thanks for posting.

 

[handymike]

Way Cool!

 

[Deacon211]

I didn't know the B-24 was the most produced aircraft. I would have thought that was the B-17. Glad to get my history straight. Thanks for the post and the pictures.

My understanding was that the B-24 was like the Liberty Ship, i.e. a truck. They were slapped together comparatively quickly and cheaply, they handled like a box of rocks, but they got the job done.

By comparison, I heard that the B-17 was a pilot's plane.


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[Stand By]

What a perfect backdrop for that jacket of yours, Nick! And it fits you a treat and suits you well.
These are all great photos of something seldom seen and thanks for posting something like this. I think it's perfect for this section of TFL.
Cheers!

PS. Oh. And I'm VERY envious of your experience! And good for you for making that flight - as one day, I do believe that they won't be possible due to the age of the aircraft and health and safety reasons. It may sound ridiculous to say that, but back in the late 80s, I asked my gran if there was anything she'd love to do (before the notion had the name of "bucket list") and she said that she'd love to fly on Concorde - not to fly to New York, she said, but to take the short flight they did then, whereby the plane would fly out of London, out over Ireland and the Atlantic and then go supersonic - but just for a few minutes. Then it'd drop back to subsonic speed, turn around and come back, so it just gave a flavour of the plane and what it did so uniquely. It wasn't cheap either, but it sounded very special.
Fast forward to today and nobody can experience that, due to the one and only air accident to happen to a Concorde and they're all mothballed and in museums.
So really, good for you, Nick!! I'm dead jealous!

 

[nick123]

What a perfect backdrop for that jacket of yours, Nick! And it fits you a treat and suits you well.
These are all great photos of something seldom seen and thanks for posting something like this. I think it's perfect for this section of TFL.
Cheers!

PS. Oh. And I'm VERY envious of your experience! And good for you for making that flight - as one day, I do believe that they won't be possible due to the age of the aircraft and health and safety reasons. It may sound ridiculous to say that, but back in the late 80s, I asked my gran if there was anything she'd love to do (before the notion had the name of "bucket list") and she said that she'd love to fly on Concorde - not to fly to New York, she said, but to take the short flight they did then, whereby the plane would fly out of London, out over Ireland and the Atlantic and then go supersonic - but just for a few minutes. Then it'd drop back to subsonic speed, turn around and come back, so it just gave a flavour of the plane and what it did so uniquely. It wasn't cheap either, but it sounded very special.
Fast forward to today and nobody can experience that, due to the one and only air accident to happen to a Concorde and they're all mothballed and in museums.
So really, good for you, Nick!! I'm dead jealous!

Thanks David. Check out the bio of this particular B-17 service history. Shows how desirable restorable/working aircraft from WWII are, this particular one needing a radioactive "cool-down" period. Doubt that'd be my first choice had the War surplus had been more plentiful! :O

The amount of time the volunteers spend to get these things in working order is insane! Yeah, the Concorde was pretty cool. My step dad flew on it once. But come to find out he may/is a pathological liar, so who knows if that was horse...tmi

 

[CBI]

I have had some great warbird rides. Have not done Collings Foundation before. They were just here in my town about a month ago. You know the Foundation now offers rides in an F-100, TA-4 and F-4!!!!!! I think the F-4 ride is $12,000.