[Milsurplus] Re: Warbirds on PBS (BAs aboard)

[BOEING377 at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/17/2005 12:55:25 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
milsurplus-request at mailman.qth.net writes:

> The local PBS station just ran a piece about the Collings Foundation's 
> warbirds,
> including flying footage, on The Antiques Roadshow spinoff FYI.
> 
> -John
> 

In Aug 2000 at Quincy Illinois the Collings B 17 and B 24 flew in to the 
World Free Fall Convention. Jumps in those planes were pricey, $350 and only up to 
about a 6500 ft exit altitude. I was contemplating a jump in their immaculate 
B 17 when I overhead some FAA dialogue about the doubtful legality of hauling 
jumpers in the 24. That was enough for me, I knew the 24 would soon be off 
jump status so I bought a ride on what turned out to be the last load of jumpers 
ever hauled by that beautiful plane. On the leisurely ride to jump altitude I 
poured over their installed boat anchors which included a BC 375 and BC 348. 
Unfortunately none were hooked up, just mounted, no cables. Everyone else was 
manning the guns warding off imaginary attacking  FW 190s wondering why I was 
so interested in those "weird black boxes". Soon it was time to leave.
 
We had to stand on a longitudinal girder  in the bomb bay and exit feet first 
straight down. The opening wasnt all that big and I worried about scraping my 
face when my legs hit the slipstream, but it went fine for all the jumpers. 
As I exited I looked up and the B 17 was in close formation with jumpers 
falling from its bomb bay. Quite a sight.
BTW, the copilot in the 24 was a drop dead gorgeous young Swedish girl in a t 
shirt and shorts, honest! The 17 still hauls jumpers every August at the 
event, now held at the old Chanute AFB in Rantoul Illinois. The 24 no longer is 
used as a jumpship for regulatory reasons that I dont understand. In 2000 there 
was also a C 54G jumpship with a working 618T HF SSB aboard with a 490 T 
coupler tuning a long wire antenna. The owner would not believe me when I told him 
he could probably pick up a spare 618T at a ham swap for under $200. I think 
he paid a LOT more.