Air show

Had an early birthday present from DiaryMistress, this week – we went to a small airshow. I call it small because it was just a group of World War II aircraft that flew into a local airport, and they let you walk around and climb inside them. Some of you may know that I am a big nerd for history, and particularly WWII history, and really particularly the equipment (planes, tanks, vehicles, etc.) that were used in that war. So for me, this was AWESOME.

There were four planes there – a B-17 Flying Fortress, a B-24 Liberator, a B-25 Mitchell, and a P-51 Mustang. I had seen a B-17 and a P-51 in-person before, but I had never seen a B-24 or B-25, so that was amazing to see them and get a close look. In fact, one of my previous gifts was an actual flight in a B-17, which was absolutely the best. There was no flying for me at this one (you could fly in the P-51 for $2,500, but come on I could buy a car for that) – but we were able to climb up and inside both the B-17 and the B-24.

I could go on and on about the differences in these two machines, and all the amazing bits and pieces we were able to see – but it really would go on and on and be pretty boring for anybody not as nerdy about it as me 😀. So instead enjoy some pictures below!

B-24 nose

 

P-51 getting it’s wheel changed!

 

B-24 taxiing on runway

 

B-17 bombardier’s position

 

B-17 cockpit

 

B-17 nose

These really were some amazing machines – I am just in awe that there were brave people who would go up in these planes and fight for what they believed was right, at tremendous risk to themselves – while relying on a bunch of steel, wire, and hydraulic tubing to bring them home. It’s a testament to the human spirit, and to that generation, who literally saved the world from evil.

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September 7, 2018

How come the B-17 has swastikas on the side? Pretty amazing aircraft.

September 8, 2018

@startingover_1 If I’m not mistaken, those are German aircraft that the planc has shot down.

September 9, 2018

@dlk082244

I thought it might be.

September 9, 2018

@startingover_1 YUP those mark how many ‘kills’ the pilot (and plane) had.  In WWII pilots typically stayed with the same plane and the machine and pilot bonded. 😀

September 10, 2018

@startingover_1 others got to this before me 🙂 , but yes, those were for how many enemy planes that airplane had shot down.

September 7, 2018

Those planes are really amazing. Sounds like you got a great birthday gift from your wife. Happy early birthday!

September 10, 2018
L
September 7, 2018

Great birthday gift. My husband would enjoy that also. Happy early Birthday!

September 10, 2018

@ladyhawk_1 thanks!

September 7, 2018

https://www.google.ca/search?q=abbotsford+air+show&oq=abbotsford+air+show&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.7502j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Is this link sort of the same kind of air show you went to? Really cool planes….

September 10, 2018

@jaythesmartone yes, that’s similar but that one’s larger with more planes!

September 7, 2018

nice pics

September 10, 2018

@serenadeoliver thanks!

kat
September 7, 2018

wow! love the photos! air shows are so fun

September 10, 2018

@kaliko yeah, I really need to do that more 🙂

September 7, 2018

nice photos

September 10, 2018

@ihavenoarms thanks!

Happy Birthday! 😀 Yeah… my great uncle fought in WW1. He is buried in Africa. 🙂 He did a great service to our country. 😀

September 10, 2018

@weebee thanks for the birthday wishes!

September 7, 2018

What fun to see these! I’m glad you got the chance!

September 10, 2018

@snarkle me too, I really had a good time!

September 7, 2018

My dad is a huge WWII nerd (my grandfather was a veteran), so I grew up going to air shows like that. I always enjoyed them and still do. 😊

September 10, 2018

@queenofegypt that’s cool! I love the machinery of these airplanes, they just seem so much more mechanical than what we have now.

September 9, 2018

Can you imagine sitting in the close quarters of the B-17 cockpit and coming up against enemy fire!?!   My first thought is my body would react and hit the wrong controls!!  Of course it might look safer to some to sit in the bombardier’s bay and fire back!  BUT I was nice told by an old fighter pilot that bombardiers were often shot/hit long before any pilot.  YIKES!!

September 10, 2018

@universalseductress I thought that as well – so many switches and knobs, I would be bound to get it wrong!

September 9, 2018

Really cool planes & history

September 10, 2018

@cherrywine_1 thanks!

September 11, 2018

I have an acquaintance who is a Mx crew chief for a B-17. I’ve yet to parlay this relationship to anything more than just a few stories… still at it.  Wonderful pictures.  In the summer we used to chase these planes all over the country.  I’ll go out on a limb and say that I have more “nerd” pictures than you do.

September 12, 2018

@petersshadow you probably do! I’m fairly recent to seeing and touching them in real-life 🙂

September 16, 2018

those are really cool photos & what an awesome birthday gift! i, too, have no idea how they didn’t just panic & hit all the wrong buttons in that cockpit. that’s amazing!