More old pics

[AeroplaneDriver]

I'm playing with my new scanner today, and have scanned in some of my old aircraft pictures.  Here are a few for your consideration...



Nothing too exciting ot start with, just the Cessna 152 I owned when I had my flight school back in the mid-90s.



Next is a C-47 that used to be based in Charlotte.  It was a working aircraft, flying for a local cargo company, but the colors were authentic; this aircraft actually flew on D-Day.  IIRC it pulled a glider.  One of the more beautiful sights I've seen while flying was turning onto final at Charlotte near sunset behind this aircraft.  It was about 2 miles ahead and to the left of us, sillouetted against the mountain sunset.  Sheer beauty...



Next up are a few shots of the neates aircraft I ever got to ride in.  We had this aircraft at the airshow we held at my hometown airport in 92.  I was working as a ramper/fueler back then, and got lots of good pics!



From the back of the 'Follow Me' golf cart as she taxies out for her display.



The day after our airshow the crew were taking the airplane to Greensboro, NC (about 100 miles) where it was going ot be on display for a few days.  They had room for four passengers, so four of us who had worked the airshow got to ride along.  The weather was not too good that day, but it made for some neat shots as we popped in and out of the clouds.  This one is obviously in the clouds.



This one is from the left waist gun position.  I had one from the tail position, but cant find it anymore   



Last one of Panchito, this one in flight of two of the other guys who rode along.  The one on the left was a flight instructor and FAA examiner who had served as a B-29 gunner in Korea.  He had a limp from the time they lost two engines fully loaded on takeoff from Okinawa.  IIRC he was one of the only survivors.  The other guys is an aircraft mechanic who had been a C-141 crew chief in the Vietnam era.



Last one for now is the jet warbird I almost got to ride in.  It was based at our airport for a while, and the owner had promised me a ride, but the day we had it planned ended up being the day I started my first flight instructor job 80 miles away.  He sold it before we had a chance to reschedule, but I did get to taxi around in it once.  He owned a single-seat Vampire before this one which he sold to John Travolta.  He also owned a T-33 and a couple of Jet Provosts among other less exotic aircraft.  Unfortunately it was one of the less exotic types that killed him a few years after this picture was taken.

[nev]

B-25 for teh win!

[Captain Canada]

No way, Nev...it's gotta be the Dak ! Like the story of lining up behind her...too cool !

We used to have a few cargo haulers like that buzz over every day. Of course, now that I have a good camera they stop !

[Jschmus]

That C-47 was owned by Saber Cargo.  They went bankrupt in 2004.  The C-47 in your photo and one other were auctioned off.  Their third machine was donated to the Carolinas Aviation Museum.  You can see it in the background of some of my photos from there.  Since you're in or around CLT, the old Saber hangar is down Hangar Drive from the US Airways training facility, across the street from the post office.  Piedmont uses it as a maintenance space for its smaller birds.  You can still read the Saber titles on the street side of the hangar.

[AeroplaneDriver]

I know you would remember the Dak Jason!  Since I work at the USAirways Training Center now I see that old hangar all the time (though we're adding another wing with 3 sim bays, so the view is getting blocked).  I never had much to do with Saber, but a good friend was interested in flying for them when he was building time to move on to the regionals.  He said the owner told him he could ride along on a few trips (for no pay) and then he would decide if he wanted to hire him.  After the first trip the owner screamed and cursed at him after they shutdown because he wasnt helping unload the freight.  I heard a lot of similar stories form other guys I flew with who had worked at Saber.   Still...must have been cool the fly that C-47...

[Mossie]

No way, Nev...it's gotta be the Dak ! Like the story of lining up behind her...too cool !

Vampire for me!!!  Although only by a nose, they're all great including the Cessna, my only lesson so far was in a 152.  Nick, have you thought about putting your old shots on Airliners.net or JetPhotos.net?  I really think it's worth it, it's nice seeing those old photos.

[AeroplaneDriver]

I actualy did put a a few phtotos on airliners.net years ago.  I was thinking of putting the 747 in the other thread on there too.

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?aircraft_genericsearch=&airlinesearch=&countrysearch=&specialsearch=&daterange=&keywords=nicholas+walton&range=&sort_order=&page_limit=15&thumbnails=&calccount=1268529&truecount=true&engine_version=6.0