[Milsurplus] Bomber Fantasy Camp, OK by me.

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 18 Sep 2015 at 19:28, Boeing377 via Milsurplus wrote:

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

Once, when I was in the Montana National Guard, for summer-camp, our 
entire Service Battery was flown in a C-97 to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Our entire battery with all its equipment was loaded into one C-97.

The runway at Missoula, Montana was a bit short, so the pilots had the 
airplane backed up so that its wheels were just on the edge of the pavement.

Then they slowly wound the engines up with the brakes locked.

I was sitting in one of the seats on the upper deck, very close to the "office" 
facing forwards, and could hear the pilot yelling something about "...Montana 
and their damned postage-stamp airfields...."

The 'plane was rocking back and forth, side to side, like it wanted to go, but 
couldn't quite.

Then the pilots released the brakes and my feet flew up over my head and I 
couldn't pull them back down.

I have NEVER, EVER ridden in ANYTHING which had the accelleration that 
huge airplane did!!

I suspect that it was doing well over 100 MPH within about 30 feet! (Not 
likely, but it sure felt like it.)

After we were airborne, the aircrew invited as many of us soldiers as wanted 
to to come up to the "office". I was very impressed. At altitude, it felt like we 
were just barely moving, yet we were doing at least 300 MPH.

I talked to the engineer for bit, asking about the engines. I remember he said, 
"28 cylinders and 56 spark-plugs". I was impressed.

I've always loved flying. And the sound of round engines and V-12s always 
gives me goose-bumps and the hair on the back of neck stands up.

Ken W7EKB