[Milsurplus] Bomber Fantasy Camp, OK by me.

[Boeing377 via Milsurplus]

Anything that helps keep these planes flying and WW2 aviation heritage alive is fine with me. Fantasy camps, re-enactments, airshows, joyrides, are all good in my book. It costs a FORTUNE to keep a big warbird flying and every bit of revenue helps. 


I believe I am the last human being to ever jump from a B-24. It happened at the 2000 World free Fall Convention where I made sure I was last jumper out (bomb bay exit) over Quincy Illinois where the Collings B-24 made its last run as a jumpship. Their B-17 still flies skydivers but their B-24 stopped long ago, some kind of FAA hassle. 


I got a good look at the radios (BC 375, BC-348 and some ARC 5s during our climb, none were wired in though. I don't see how the radio ops could hear much through WW-2 headphones with only chamois pads, the acoustic noise was intense.


As I exited I flipped over on my back to watch the B-24. Only then did I realize that their B-17 was information with us and was dropping jumpers through its bomb bay as I watched in back to earth freefall. What a sight!


The bombers and fighters get all the attention, but the transports deserve some love too. At the same event I made numerous jumps from a WW 2 vet C-54G (DC-4). The B-24 jump cost $350 and topped out at 6500 feet. The C-54 jumps were $38 and they (slowly) went up to 14,500 feet. The B-24 and C-54  have comparable operating economics but only the bomber and fighters can command high ride prices. The C-54 did OK though as it could pack in about 85 jumpers. The B-24 just took a few, perhaps 10 or 12.


BAHF is restoring a massive C-97 to flight status: 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCX_-ZuP9Es


http://www.spiritoffreedom.org


Can you imagine the cost of feeding four R-4360 28 cylinder radials? Plane once had an ARC-65 and later an ARC 58 aboard in USAF and ANG service , but they are gone. Used to be a KC-97L but jet pods have been removed. 


73
Mark
AF6IM