Yeah it's now called The Commemorative Air Force.

 

I've been in a B-17, a B-24, and the B-29. When I was in the B-17 I could only try and imagine flying that bird over Germany. It would've been cold and frankly terrifying. I got to sit in the pilots seat on the B-29. The B-24 was interesting to walk through because of it's design. All 3 are big planes.

Next time I'm around one of those tours I need to check and see if I can get a ride in one. I know it won't be cheap but I think it would be worth it.

 

They made a twin engine p51 right at the end of the war with the pilot sitting on the right fusalage(sp). I don't think it ever went into production. lockheed was developing the first jet fighter at that time......

 

They have one down at the The Commemorative Air Force. It is the only one I've seen.

 

There is (or was) a twin Mustang at the Confederate ('Commemorative') Air Force Museum at Midland Texas. I saw it fly back in about 85 or so in Harlingen. Some fool ruined the props and they are having a terrible time finding the one that runs backwards. They counterrotate to elimate torque steering. The fusalages both had cockpits. It was designed so that either pilot could fly it and was meant for long range escort of the B-29. The two pilots were neccesary so that one could rest on long missions.
I am a member of that organization and used to spend 2 weekends a month working on fund raisers to support those planes. I put about 200,000 miles on my crewcab chasing airshows. My family got a bad case of burnout and we quit the fundraising although I still pay my annual dues. I did manage to get a 200 mile ride in a B-17 and my wife got to ride in the B-24 about the same distance. It was a fun time.

 

I think the twin Mustang was designated P=88.? That's an odd bird to bring up as it is rare today, and short lived in it's day, and one of the more obscure, like the P-61 Black Widow, Kingfisher, Dauntless, or the Curtis SB2C Helldiver, TBD1 Devestator, and so on.....Especialy since the Twin was post WW II.

Look's like a lot of aviation fans here that know there planes, and some pilots.

 

I think it was P-82. The CAF has a SB2C also. If you are ever in Midland, the CAF museum is a must see. The planes are scattered all over the US in wings or squadrons but they have a rotation so that there are always some planes in Midland. There is a really nice museum at the airport and it takes about a day to really see it. The annual airshow that they have is an event to see. A really good history lesson, too, as they re-enact WWII and make an effort to use the proper aircraft for each major battle. The Tora act is incredible, with pyrotechnics and all.

 

They used to do that at our airfair here but they had to quit because of local city nonsence. We're close to Palm Springs. There is a branch squadron there at an air musium near P S. They rotate exibits there too. March AFB has a tarmac full of relics just waiting resteration at their musium right off the 10 freeway.

 

If you like to see some old war planes. Look into a local CDf air attack base, if you live close to one. And get info on being a loader for them. I've seen many old planes in and out of Paso Robles Air Attack Base (PR airport) They have station there Grumman S-2a's and modified S-2T.

http://www.airtanker.com/types.htm
http://www.fire.ca.gov/fireemergency...n/aviation.asp
http://www.fire.ca.gov/MiscDocuments/CDFContacts.asp

 

I'll save those links to my favorites.....Living in a national forrest, we get all kinds of tanker activity. Don't them old birds look nice painted up for fire service? Good scheme to build in 1/48th scale plastic.

 

I think they made a few of the dual mustangs. I read how many in Warbirds a few years ago and can't remember for sure but it seems like around 10.
The early P-38s may have used the allison but I thought they had Merlins.
If you ever get to Tilamook, Oregon the have some static displays there in the old blimp hanger which happens to be the largest free standing wooden structure in this country. I was really surprised at how small the Me 109 was, and how rough it looked. The panels weren't smooth at all, definately a wartime mass produced expenable airplane. Also the only F4U that I have been up to and it is a beautiful piece of work. But also smaller than I had thought.
Dual time is still available in the P-51. I think there is 2 different places that still offer it and can check you out. I was amused by a recent documentary on the History channel that was highlighting some of the later fighting in WW2 and the archival footage of the P-51 was of the B model in one shot and the D in the next. The planes were changing from Bs to Ds in flight and back again.
I made two long and exhausting journeys on 4 wheelers to a B-29 crash site near Wasilla, Alaska. It was set up as a refueler and didn't have any guns I don't think. The belly gun turrent was gone and the hole cover with plywood. I talked to one guy that heard it go in back in 1958. They only lacked about 50 feet of making it over the mountain. An awesome experience that I will never forget.
One other awesome experience. A buddy and I used to set on this gravel road just past the end of the runway at Elmendorf when they were scrambeling pairs of fighters on manuevers. I think they were F-16s but I don't remember now.

 

What an awesome experience.......

Yep, the Mustang had the Rolls Royce Merlin and P-38 had Allisons. Hot Ships!!

 

I once read that the first Mustangs had the allison but the performance and ceiling left something to be desired and then they switched to the Merlin which also recieved horsepower upgrades as production went on. It sems like the first ones with allisons were around 1100 horsepower and by the end of production they had the merlin pushing 1800 with the dual stage supercharger and other refinements. I think that was the J model and it never saw combat.

 

I am an A&P mechanic, I work on a couple of c-47 that haul cargo,
did you hear about the az wing of the caf losing their he111(ww2 german bomber)? They were going to an airshow in oregon and lost an engine. the plane was totaled a complete losshere is a columban c-130)

 

Hey Guys! I haven't been able to read all the reply's yet, but plan on it. I'm not a "Bird" buff, but my ole man flew with a B 17 crew for many a mission. Anyone out there post me a few pics? Thanks.
Talk with you guys later....