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Brent Blue, M.D. |
One of the many exciting parts of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
is the opportunity to get a ride in a special aircraft. I had the good fortune to catch a
ride in the jump seat of Dick Thurman's P-51 Mustang, "Tender, Slender, and
Tall." Dick offered the ride while he flew both individually and as a flight of three
for a photo shoot over Lake Winnebago.
Even sitting in the back seat of this spectacular aircraft, you know something is up
when just spinning the starter shakes the whole aircraft. Once the powerful Rolls Royce
engine fires up, the ear splitting rumble is superb. The taxi out is always fun because everyone
on the flight line is watch you taxi by! Not only is the P-51 an amazing aircraft
in general, Thurman's 51 is a highly polished award winner which dazzles the eye just
motionless on the flight line. Just during the preflight, three people asked Dick what he
used to polish the aircraft!
The only surprise prior to take off was when Dick rolled the canopy forward and
almost took off my head with the spreader bar. I solved that problem by removing the pins
and dropping the bar. The formation takeoff went a lot smoother and we had no problem
catching up to the Baron photo aircraft.
We flew formation with the Baron solo and as a echelon for photos from the side, in
banks, and also from the top by using the belly window on the Baron which was aptly
labeled, "how's my flying, call 1-800...!" The air was remarkably smooth, except
for the rare crossing of a prop wash while changing positions, and the day was glorious.
A ride in a P-51 must be something like pilot heaven and the hour ride seemed like only
five minutes when we broke right over runway 27 at Wittman Field on our return to earth.
Flying home in the 340 just is not going to feel the same!
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