Totally off topic.

[thrang]

This might be one for the boys but I'm guessing that most of us have an intrest in 'old' technology so for anyone else intrested in classic aeroplanes.

A trust have been rebuilding back to flight status an RAF Avro Vulcan bomber (thats the big beautyful delta winged V bomber) and XH558 is almost ready for her first flight since she was sold off and grounded in 1993.

http://www.tvoc.co.uk/default.asp

[Bob_Roller]

Wasn't this the aircraft that was designed to deliver the 'Blue Steel' nuclear bomb in the '70's and '80's ? From an aviation enthusiast's view, it's sad to see a once proud example of engineering, just rot away, or be cut up for scrap. I've seen pictures of aircraft 'bone yards' here in the southwestern US, and they are full of commercial aircraft that I have worked on in the last 31 years. It's amazing that such an expensive piece of machinery, has outlived it's economical use and relegated to the scrapheap.

[Justin B.]

Bob, have you never went by that "boneyard" around Tucson?

Thrang, that's a pretty cool looking plane but I have always been more of a fan of the WWII era hardware

[thrang]

I've a soft spot for the Vulcan, the sound they make is awesome and seeing one in the air amazing. Yep you're right Bob it was the one intended to carry blue steel, until the government pulled the plug on funding. It was also the aircraft that bombed Port Stanley airport in the Falklands war, which I think is still the longest bombing mission on record.
 
I'm a little bit the same when it comes to old warbirds Justin and was lucky enough to grow up not far from the shuttleworth collection in Bedfordshire which is one of the largest collections of flying vintage aeroplanes in the world.

[Justin B.]

Cool, you'll have to share some pics, if you have any.  Texas has the Confederate Airforce which keeps quite a few old fighters operational for air-shows, etc...

[Bob_Roller]

Yes Justin, I got a tour of that military aircraft graveyard with a co-worker whose brother was flying A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft aka the 'Warthog' while he was stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson. Your tax dollars not at work ! I've also visited three other commercial aircraft graveyards at Marana,AZ. ( Pinal Airpark) just north of Tucson, Kingman AZ. airport, and Mojave,Ca., when I went with about 10 of Southwest Airlines 737-200 aircraft to get them ready for salvage operations about 5 years ago.

[Justin B.]

Warthog's are neat!  They look kind of "old-school", guess that's why I like them.  I worked on electronics in Grumman OV1 "Mohawk" planes when I was in the Army in another life...

[nhmaf]

... and if you like REALLY OLD aircraft (and other old engines and means of transportation) there is
a wonderful little museum in the tiny town of Owl's head, Maine.   The website doesn't show all photos
of the actual aircraft - some are file photos- but they DO actually have all these planes in house, AND
ALL OF THEM FLY !

Since it is quite possible that the engines in the German WWI planes in their collection were
created by what would later become the BMW motorcycle company, it seems appropriate to post a link
on this forum.... unfortunately they don't have any old BMW bikes in their collection of motorcycles, though
many of you will remember the photos I posted of Mr Percival's extensive private collection in this forum's
former incarnation.
http://www.ohtm.org/edu_col.html

[Bob_Roller]

Justin, I've had the opportunity to see the A-10 in action, AZ 85 from Gila Bend,AZ. to the US/ Mexican border runs right through the Barry Goldwater gunnery range about 40 miles south of Gila Bend. After seeing the 30 mm 7 barrel cannon in action, I'm glad I'm not on the receiving end of that weapon. If you time it right, you can also be entertained with live bomb runs from F-16's out of Luke AFB just west of Phoenix , FA-18's  and F-15's from the Naval air bases in southern California  and on occasion F-117 'Nighthawk' aircraft from Holloman AFB, Alamogordo, NM.

[Ed Miller]

Umm, Fokker DR1 (if I remember it right) triplanes.  My R65 is probably faster, but what a cool looking old plane.  

[Lowen]

Hey Justin, if you like old aircraft we have a flying B17 here in town.
http://www.vintageflyingmuseum.org/index.htm

[Jon_P]

being a 3rd generation airman, this is also a passion of mine. not to far from here they have the EAA. for a week the little city of Oshkosh WI. becomes the worlds busiest airport! they have well over a couple hundred thousand aircraft land in the area for the show.

btw justin i have a texas confederate back patch on my flight jacket that i got at a air show 20 years ago.

i saw the A10 in combat in 90. i worked as a forward targeting acquisition officer during desert sheild. they are called tank killers for a reason! them birds can tear through a tank like a soup can!

my all time favorite bird, SR-71. last fight it flew from san fran to washington dc 1 hour 7 min 7 sec.!! and that was reported to the public, i have seen those when i was stationed in japan and them birds would leave us around midnight and fly over the ussr and be in the land thang well before the rosters where up!

[Justin B.]

Lowen, I remember seeing that on the news a while back.  Jon, yeah, they been around for quite a while.

[dewjantim]

Don't forget all those old and historic planes at the Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton Ohio. If you go there don't forget to take a bus over to the other hangers and see all the out of commission presidential planes. Those old Air Force Ones were really great aircraft and are stocked full of "modern conveniences". Dew

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Don't forget all those old and historic planes at the Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton Ohio. If you go there don't forget to take a bus over to the other hangers and see all the out of commission presidential planes. Those old Air Force Ones were really great aircraft and are stocked full of "modern conveniences". Dew

Do you get to go on board the old Air Force One's?

I have never been to Wright Pat.  Gonna have to correct that one of these days.