DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS

and other stuff up in the air
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Joe Gopan
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DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Dec 12, 2016 5:36 pm

Was parked by Dow Field Hangar 1 Saturday AM, having my Tim Horton's coffee and bagel, looked up to see an F-18 do a smart break and land, he taxied up to the general aviation ramp, passed near the fence with the biggest smile in the world and parked it. A few minutes later the courtesy van pulled up to the F-18 and his folks got out to greet him.
I can't think of a better way to fly up just to be with my folks.
These pics aren't the best, but I'm glad I got them.
Attachments
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DSCN1522 plane.JPG
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2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO


Data Plate
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Re: DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS

Post by Data Plate » Fri May 05, 2017 2:24 am

Nice photo a kodak moment for sure

Joe Gopan
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Re: DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Oct 07, 2017 9:00 am

FA-18, same pilot returned this AM. No Camera.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Wolfman
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Re: DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS

Post by Wolfman » Sun Oct 08, 2017 4:30 am

I'm jealous !!
One of the perks of being an Fighter Pilot.
If I flew in to see the relatives, I would be in a Super Cub.
Mike Wolford
CJ-2A
VEP GPW
Comm./Inst. SEL
AOPA ( 50 yrs)
EAA ( 49 yrs)
4th Inf. Div. - 5th Inf. Div. - 2nd Armor Div. - CIB

Joe Gopan
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Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
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Re: DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Oct 08, 2017 5:37 am

The F-18 was here for 3 Hours. Belonged to the "TOP HATTERS".
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

D.R.H.
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Re: DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS

Post by D.R.H. » Tue Oct 10, 2017 4:37 pm

So this is the "Famed" Dow Field I've been reading about for long, eh? Nice pics. Ben. I can only imagine what it was like to be soooooo close to this airfield in the early 1950's and watching the aircraft develop from propeller to jet driven......................... Must've been a fun sight to behold!! :wink:
In Loving Memoriam: George R. Hancock. 20 Mar. 1938 - 11 Jan. 2017. U.S.A.F. 1956 - 1962. R.I.P. Dad.
In Loving Memoriam: Ann Hancock, 08 Mar. 1934 - 25 Sept. 2021. R.N. 1960 - 2005. R.I.P. Mom.
Thank You BOTH for always being there.

My YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaMKEv ... M3g/videos.

Joe Gopan
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Re: DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Oct 10, 2017 5:38 pm

Had 15 year ringside seat to P-47's P-51's, F-80, F-84B thru F and G, F-86 F, F-86D F-89, F-94 A, B, and C, F-100,F-104, B-17, B-24 ICE REAEARCH), B-25, KB-29, B-36, B-50, A-26, C-45, C-46, C-47, C-54, C-82, C-119, KC-97G, H-5, H-19 HH-43 L-5, L-17, L-19, L-20. T-6, T-28, T-33. NAVY aircraft were also common at Dow, S-2F, TBM, AF2W, PB4Y2, PB1G P2V, F9F-6, AD-5, Canadian Lancasters and Avengers

Witnessed Aviation history , the Fox Able flight of F-80's to Europe, also witnessed A-26 flights to the French, RT-33's being ferried to Europe.

Had flights in the following at DOW/Bangor International:
B-17, B-24, B-25
C-47, C-54, KC-97, KC-135
H-23, H-34
L-19, L-20

Almost got a ride in the Kaman HH-43 < looked like an eggbeater with twin side by side rotors
Our business was 400' to one side of the end of the main runway.
Was taught how to ride my bike by SGT Joe Strang, former Army Heavyweight Boxing Champ who was stationed at Dow 46-49.
One SGT named Mathis told me about all the new Navy PB4Ys and other types of WWII aircraft he observed on his recent TDY to Eglin. They were used as targets.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

D.R.H.
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Re: DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS

Post by D.R.H. » Wed Oct 18, 2017 8:00 pm

What an incredible exposure to aviation history. I was born in 1964 and by the time I was about 4 years old, I always had my face pointed skyward when I was outside. I still HAVE to watch any aircraft that flies over or past. I remember hearing and seeing big aircraft with 4 radials flying over in the early '70's with decreasing frequency. I loved to hear the engines as they get further and further away, "you" can really hear them working.
I was saddened when I realized they weren't flying around so much as 1980 approached. :cry:
In Loving Memoriam: George R. Hancock. 20 Mar. 1938 - 11 Jan. 2017. U.S.A.F. 1956 - 1962. R.I.P. Dad.
In Loving Memoriam: Ann Hancock, 08 Mar. 1934 - 25 Sept. 2021. R.N. 1960 - 2005. R.I.P. Mom.
Thank You BOTH for always being there.

My YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaMKEv ... M3g/videos.

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Oct 19, 2017 4:33 am

What made the good old 40's-50's experience special is that we had a business at the Main Gate and our customer base included a lot of GI's. Aircraft on takeoff or final usually generated comments about WWII/Korean air force experiences with the type. That era is gone forever along with those with first hand stories to tell. I remember a Master Sgt commenting that he was involved with ME-262 evaluation at Langley and that it could outrun the early P-80 it was being tested against.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO


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