The Chino album

[evangilder]

Just got in from Chino a bit ago. There is only way I can describe this show; OH MY GOD! To say it was awesome isn't enough. Not all of the following flew, but most did; 2 x B-25 Mitchells, 2 Bearcats, 3 Hellcats, 2 Wildcats, 4 Corsairs and 1 Super Corsair, B-17, F3F, F-86, MiG-15, Sea Fury, Fairey Firefly, F7F Tigercat, Sopwith Camel, Fokker Triplane, P-26 Peashooter, P-35 Guardsman, 2 x P-47s (1 Bubbletop, 1 razorback), about a half a dozen mustangs, Spitfire, and a bunch more.

I met up with syscom3 briefly and we got to watch some of the action.

Here are some preliminary static shots. I took 1,287 pictures, so I have a few to go through! These statics were parked on the hot ramp, which the first 2 shots will show one row of the hotramp, to give you an idea of how this show is. I will post more as I go through and start editting.

 

[evangilder]

Next batch, flying stuff this time. Last for tonight, I am beat.

 

[Gnomey]

Nice pics Eric!

 

[Wildcat]

Wow, awesome!! Love the P-26 and P-35!

 

[pbfoot]

Yeah gotta agree like the p26 F3F p35

 

[lesofprimus]

Absolutely awesome Eric....... Love the Super Corsair, the flyby with the F-86/P-51, as well as the Fokker and Sopwith (or Spad?) in flight.....

Whats up with the P-80 and the fake propeller????

 

[evangilder]

That's actually a P-59. Believe it or not, everything aside from the tarp covers is original. When they built the P-59 and were moving it around Edwards (Muroc at the time), they put the fake prop on so it wouldn't attract any attention and in case of spies.

The Sopwith Camel and Fokker were neat, but the poor Sopwith pilot was having a hell of a time keeping the engine running. It was sputtering something awful and quit a few times.

Thanks for the props guys. I have tons more, here are a few more.

 

[lesofprimus]

Excellent shots of the F-86/Mig-15 and F4U, as well as the Skyraider... Put the Corsair up as a wallpaper and it looks great....

 

[lesofprimus]

That's actually a P-59

And so it is... Excellent shot nontheless.....

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Wow I really need to go to Chino someday.

 

[evangilder]

It's difficult to pick a highlight from the day. It was all good. Here's more.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Great pics!

 

[evangilder]

Cheers! Last batch for now, then the trouble shots.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Trouble shots?

 

[syscom3]

Hi Evans, it was a pleasure meeting you.

Do you have any pics of the Hellcat that had the landing gear problem?

 

[evangilder]

Yes, those are the trouble shots. I had just shot the first shot of the British Hellcat with the problem, when my cell rang. It was Syscom calling to check if I had caught that. It was good to get a heads up even though I already had it. There was so much up in the air at that time, it could have been easy to miss. But the group of photographers I was with also have the ATC freqs on monitor and we heard the trouble start early. I would guess there were at least 20-30 long lenses on that Hellcat, keeping an eye out and hoping/praying that he got it resolved. I love to catch unique shots, but I don't ever want it to be the unique shot of a crash.

Here's what happened. In the first pic, normal takeoff and the gear were folding as I shot that one. Everything looked good. Pilot did not get the full retract and they stuck almost up (2nd pic). Then he decided to drop the gear and retract again, also thinking maybe to drop them and just land to check it out. Third shot, worst friggin nightmare, one up, one partial. Joe can confirm this, but this is the LAST landing configuration you want, better to have both up, than one up and one down.

Fourth shot, all is well, one more pass round to confirm gear locked in down position and landing. As he went by us, we all gave him a thumbs up.

It was nice meeting you as well yesterday, Syscom. I looked for Chris McMillan, but didn't see him. Did you find him?

 

[syscom3]

I never did see him.

By the way, did it occur to you that the real disaster was painting the Hellcat in RN colors? Good god!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All the famous F6F schemes he could have done from the USN and he painted it that way. made me want to cry.



Heres some pictures I took inside the hanger. They had an R2800 and R4360 opened up for all to see, plus they had some German engines laying around

 

[cheddar cheese]

Excellent shots Eric, the one with the two P-51's and the B-17 shot are teriffic!

 

[lesofprimus]

An Avenger with Rockets???? Excellent shots again Eric, as well as urs too sys...

 

[Gnomey]

Those aerial shots are awesome Eric!