When I was in grade school one of the first books I checked out of the Library was called "God is my Co-pilot" by Robert L. Scott. He was a WWII AAF fighter Ace in a squadron that took over from the AVG (Flying Tigers)in China. That started my lifelong interest in WWII fighter air craft. I always dreamed of getting to fly in one and for my birthday, I got the opportunity thanks to the generosity of my wife. On Wednesday I made a flight in a P-40 Warhawk out of the Warhawk Museum in Nampa, Idaho.



This plane was made in 1942 and is an N model. Coincidentally, that was the same year I was born. The pilot was John Curtis and if you saw the recent movie Pearl Harbor, he was one of the pilots that flew the P-40's in the movie. The one I flew in was one of the two in the movie. Both were from the Warhawk Museum in Nampa.

The plane has duel controls and I got to fly it for about 15 minutes. We started out with John doing some combat aerobatics that allowed me to experience what around 5 G's feels like. Then it was my turn. What a rush! Almost as exciting as approaching a herd of cow eles in the Jesse. After getting use to the feel of the stick and other controls he coached me through a few turns and then showed me how to do a snap roll. I got to do a few 360 deg. snap rolls. I couldn't believe how easy a plane it is to fly. The controls are more positive than a Cessna 182 or Bell Helicopter. It was very easy to fly and I felt in control and comfortable from the start.



Nampa Airport off left wing of P-40.



View from inside cockpit over Nampa, Id.

What a thrill and I highly recommend any of you WWII fighter plane Walter Mittys like me to make a flight. How many people that you know could say that they rolled a P-40?

465H&H

Congratulation on a dream attained,

Oh lucky man

Congratulations! I am jealous!

Several years ago my wife bought me a ride in an AT-6 Texan. What a rush!
Took off flew out just off the beach of Galsveston Island and I got to fly her for almost 30 minutes. A Victory roll and turns! I have a great respect for those guys who can "Turn and Burn"!

Congratulations! Nice to hear of a dream attained.

Who would one contact to see about doing the same? Many years ago I had a client who owned a P-51, and to this day regret not taking a flight in it.

Dreams come true....on my birthday in October I am scheduled to go to Lake Havasu City and get my floatplane rating. Will never use it, but it has been a dream of mine for years.

Good on you.....

I am a few years younger but "God is My Co-Pilot" was the first "airplane book" that I read.
Scott died about 3 years ago and I asked my co-workers who he was. None of them knew. Bummer.

Over the years it seemed the general opinion was the P-40 was an outdated and over weight design that could not compete with the maneuverability of the Zero. Turns out that assessment was not exactly right. No less than Saburo Sakai spoke about the planes that were the biggest threats. At high altitudes the P-38 was a great danger. The P-40 was a great threat at low altitudes,(apparently at speeds above 250 knots it could out turn a Zero), and finally he said an F4U was dangerous at any altitude.

Dreams do come true. Good on ya!

Oneof the first books on aviation I ever read was God is my Copilot. It helped cement a lifelong love for aviation.

Robert L Scott trivia--

from an interview

WWII: During World War II your flying exploits were well-known nationwide. How did your interest in planes begin?

Scott: Mama said that when I was 4 she took me to Central City Park in Macon, Georgia, to see a demonstration of a plane flying. The flier’s name was Eugene B. Ely. He crashed and burned that day. I dragged my mother by the hand to see the dead pilot in the cockpit, and she said that from that day all I ever wanted to do was fly.

Wow! That's hard corps!

quote:

Originally posted by billinthewild:
Who would one contact to see about doing the same? Many years ago I had a client who owned a P-51, and to this day regret not taking a flight in it.

Dreams come true....on my birthday in October I am scheduled to go to Lake Havasu City and get my floatplane rating. Will never use it, but it has been a dream of mine for years.

Good on you.....

The Warhawk Museum in Nampa Idaho has two p-40s on site and they will do flights for a fee/museum contribution if scheduled in advance. Their phone number is 208-465-6446 and their web site is www.warhawkairmuseum.org.

On July 11 and 12 they are having a"Salute to North American Aviation Day" at their Nampa site. They will have a total of 8 P-51s there They include a very early Alison powered P-51A, the first variant powered by the Brirish Merlin engine a P-51C, the refined bubble canopied P51D and two dual control TF51D trainers. Also there will be several trainers such as AT-6 and T-28s and a SNJ. For you bomber types they will have a B-25 Mitchell. You can book rides in the B-25, either one of the two TF-51s, the several trainers or the P-40s. All of the above planes will be flying.

To top it off WWII Triple Ace Col. Bud Anderson will be a guest speaker. The Colonel is still flying at 87 years of age and is current in the P-51. He will also fly one at the show.
WOW what a show!

465H&H

465H&H

Congratulations buddy.

Well Done.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 465H&H:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by billinthewild:


Thanks. I wrote for info....

Originally posted by 465H&H

quote:

On July 11 and 12 they are having a"Salute to North American Aviation Day"

All I ever wanted from aviation was to fly a supercub in the Alaskan bush. Thanks to Robert Scotts co-pilot I have logged 3200 hours doing just that.

Of course grabbing the controlls of an old fighter like these would create a memory that will last a lifetime. I wish I would have known earlier and could have planned it. The 12th will be my 50th birthday.

465H&H Congradulations on your expiriance.

quote:

Originally posted by SR4759:
I am a few years younger but "God is My Co-Pilot" was the first "airplane book" that I read.
Scott died about 3 years ago and I asked my co-workers who he was. None of them knew. Bummer.

Over the years it seemed the general opinion was the P-40 was an outdated and over weight design that could not compete with the maneuverability of the Zero. Turns out that assessment was not exactly right. No less than Saburo Sakai spoke about the planes that were the biggest threats. At high altitudes the P-38 was a great danger. The P-40 was a great threat at low altitudes,(apparently at speeds above 250 knots it could out turn a Zero), and finally he said an F4U was dangerous at any altitude.

I had a couple of friends who flew in the 353rd FG in Europe, and after they converted to P51's they still had an old P40 on the field (they were never equipped with them, they came over with 47's and later changed to 51's so I donb't know where it came from) but something they would do with new pilots would be to dogfight them in the P40, which with an experienced pilot could out turn a new pilot flying a new P51.

quote:

Originally posted by Akshooter:
Originally posted by 465H&H

quote:

On July 11 and 12 they are having a"Salute to North American Aviation Day"

All I ever wanted from aviation was to fly a supercub in the Alaskan bush. Thanks to Robert Scotts co-pilot I have logged 3200 hours doing just that.

Of course grabbing the controlls of an old fighter like these would create a memory that will last a lifetime. I wish I would have known earlier and could have planned it. The 12th will be my 50th birthday.

465H&H Congradulations on your expiriance.

I discovered the magnificience that is Alaska later in life. Had I known what it was like during my 20's, I would very likely have found my way there and stayed.

I have nothing but respect for you guys who fly the Alaskan bush, touched with a twinge of envy.

I got to meed Gen Scott a few years ago. I have a autographed copy of the second book he wrote about his later years including a trip where he walked the Great Wall of China.

He was from Macon, Ga. I met my wife, also a Macon native when I was stationed at Robins AFB back in the very early 70's.

Gen Scott was a big supporter of the Af Musem at Robins, and could often be found there, where there was a display including a P 40 dedicated to him.

Also featured there is a display honoring Sonny Carter, a Navy astronaut who was killed in a commercial plane crash on one of the Ga islands.
I knew him when he was in medical school and his father, a civil service pharmacist, worked for me when I was the Pharmacy Officer at Robins.

When I was stationed there the museum did not exist. It is amazing how quickly it has built up.

Here are a couple more pictures of my P-40N ride.



Loading up for flight. Me in back seat.



Co. Bud Anderson, triple WWII ace in the P-51 Mustang over Germany with me on right.

Here are a few pictures from the Salute to North American Aviation held at the Warhawk museum last week end.



My wife Alice with the P-51 Speedball Alice. I wish I could say I owned it and named it after her but.......



Fly over by four of the seven P-51s at the air show.

Three more of the P-51s at the air show.







What a cool air show!

465H&H