Overhaulin' on TLC

[Dave Suesz]

Apparently when they...

...put the plane in the middle of the hangar and removed everything that was broken or corroded, there was nothing left. But it depends on how you define those terms, because the engines needed only slight rebuild to get back to fresh. Replacing engines is a way of life in military and commercial aircraft, even private planes are required to have periodic rebuilds.

BTW, in '84 one of the LCDR's where I was stationed offered his IFR Mooney to the jo's for 18k. I had just bought a car, so I passed. Shoulda sold the friggin' car.

[Terry M.]

2001 -- 2000

time flies when you're having fun.
Thanks for the reality check Lyle
CU in a few days

[Terry M.]

2001 -- 2000

time flies when you're having fun.
Thanks for the reality check Lyle
CU in a few days

[John H.]

Re: Apparently when they...

The "Glacier Girl" 2-hour documentary on TV (History or Discovery channel, can't remember which) was absolutely fascinating; at the end, when Steve Hinton flew it for the first time in 60 years, almost brought tears to my eyes - must have been intensely emotional for those who were there that day - especially when he did the high-speed low passes over the field before landing. I've been a Warbird freak ever since I got a ride in a Cavalier-converted P-51D back in the early 60's - there's nothing like the howl of a Rolls-Royce Merlin

[John H.]

Re: Apparently when they...

The "Glacier Girl" 2-hour documentary on TV (History or Discovery channel, can't remember which) was absolutely fascinating; at the end, when Steve Hinton flew it for the first time in 60 years, almost brought tears to my eyes - must have been intensely emotional for those who were there that day - especially when he did the high-speed low passes over the field before landing. I've been a Warbird freak ever since I got a ride in a Cavalier-converted P-51D back in the early 60's - there's nothing like the howl of a Rolls-Royce Merlin

[Joe L.]

Re: Only one WWII warplane has original engines...

Dave, et al-----

The few remaining P-38s are "orphans" now, just like all 1953-80 Corvettes. The factories where they were built have been rather recently "leveled" as a result of Lockheed's complete withdrawal from Burbank, CA. All of the Lockheed facilities where the P-38s, as well as such other famous military aircraft as the F-84, F-104, U-2, A-12, YF-12A, and SR-71, were all built are now reduced to vast empty fields for parking lots and future expansion of the Bob Hope/Hollywood-Burbank Airport. The Lockheed Constellation and Super Constellation, without a doubt the most beautiful piston engine transports ever conceived and built, were manufactured there, too. The factories that spawned some of the most imaginative, exciting, and beautiful aircraft ever built are just memories now.

Several years ago, when many of the facilities were still standing (but doomed), I went to Burbank to "drink in" as much of it as I could. I stood and gazed for quite awhile on the large, but rather nondescript building where the A-12 and SR-71 aircraft were built. It was hard to believe that these utterly exquisite machines, perhaps the most exquisite machines ever conceived by man or that ever will be conceived by man, were, each-and-every-one, birthed right there.

[Joe L.]

Re: Only one WWII warplane has original engines...

Dave, et al-----

The few remaining P-38s are "orphans" now, just like all 1953-80 Corvettes. The factories where they were built have been rather recently "leveled" as a result of Lockheed's complete withdrawal from Burbank, CA. All of the Lockheed facilities where the P-38s, as well as such other famous military aircraft as the F-84, F-104, U-2, A-12, YF-12A, and SR-71, were all built are now reduced to vast empty fields for parking lots and future expansion of the Bob Hope/Hollywood-Burbank Airport. The Lockheed Constellation and Super Constellation, without a doubt the most beautiful piston engine transports ever conceived and built, were manufactured there, too. The factories that spawned some of the most imaginative, exciting, and beautiful aircraft ever built are just memories now.

Several years ago, when many of the facilities were still standing (but doomed), I went to Burbank to "drink in" as much of it as I could. I stood and gazed for quite awhile on the large, but rather nondescript building where the A-12 and SR-71 aircraft were built. It was hard to believe that these utterly exquisite machines, perhaps the most exquisite machines ever conceived by man or that ever will be conceived by man, were, each-and-every-one, birthed right there.

[Mike Cobine]

And 35 years ago today...

The greatest flight ever made was broadcast around the world.

It isn't just the machines, it is also the men who flew them and made them fly.

[Mike Cobine]

And 35 years ago today...

The greatest flight ever made was broadcast around the world.

It isn't just the machines, it is also the men who flew them and made them fly.

[Mark D.]

Re: And 35 years ago today...

Darned right, Mike. Brave men (with the exception of Ham) flying those machines. Very good friend of mine flew the SR-71 for years during the Viet Nam era. Another buddy has a ton of hours behind the stick of the U2. Funny thing, after all these years, they can now talk about anything except how high, fast and far.

God bless the men and their flying machines.

Regards,

Mark Donnally

[Mark D.]

Re: And 35 years ago today...

Darned right, Mike. Brave men (with the exception of Ham) flying those machines. Very good friend of mine flew the SR-71 for years during the Viet Nam era. Another buddy has a ton of hours behind the stick of the U2. Funny thing, after all these years, they can now talk about anything except how high, fast and far.

God bless the men and their flying machines.

Regards,

Mark Donnally