At 04:16 13/08/2010, you wrote:
Definitely lots of aviation interest here. I have the honour of being the secretary of my late father's RAF Lancaster Bomber Squadron. They always envied the glorious 8th USAAF who had their Mustang escorts often all the way to the target and back. Ironically the Mustang was the outcome of an RAF purchasing commission in the States. The very first ones were built on an RAF contract (NA-73X was the model number at that point - named Mustang Mk1 in Britain) but the USAAF soon caught on what a great aeroplane it was and effectively kept it for themselves because production capacity was reached building those ordered by the USAAF. Who could blame them? Oh on a technical note - virtually all Mustangs were powered by the Packard Merlin built under licence from Rolls Royce. Without the Merlins built under licence the RAF would never have had all the Lancasters built in Canada under licence.

Thank you kindly!
Dad, a friend of his, a friend of mine and I attended the largest gathering of P-51s in Kissimme, Fl in the Spring of 98. There were 163 present and all in flying condition.
He was on the ship home to form the AAC's first jet figter when news of the German surrender occured.
Was to have flow the P-80 which as it turns out wasn't mich of an aircraft, IE non delta wing for one.
15th Air Force, 352nd fighter group, 4th squadron, Naples Italy
Hell of a man like most WW2 veterans. Naturally I'm biased and I miss him everyday.
Tony
----- Original Message -----
From: Ms. Janet Strauss
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 9:51 PM
Subject: RE: [newmellotrongroup] Off topic - Out on a wing.....
P 51!
.â¦â¦.âCadillac of the Skies!â
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ouJ_WyS9v8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfigpjOTZvs
-----Original Message-----
From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [ mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of tony1
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 8:52 AM
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Off topic - Out on a wing.....

I was a solo "glider guider" at age 14. I had a total of 4 1/2 hours of instructor time before my release, while most adults require 24+ hours in an instructor enviroment.
Doesn't hurt to have had a former WW2 fighter pilot father (P-51s), who kept flying his own aircraft until a year before ALS killed him at age 78.
It's a wonderful experience and a lot like driving the race cars I enjoy (Formula One car next month), with the exception of having to get the aircraft on the ground in one piece on the first try.
No "go arounds" in an unpowered plane!
Try it you'll like it!
Tony1
PS bring a FAT wallet.
----- Original Message -----
From: Pomeroy RH Ranch
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 11:41 PM
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Off topic - Out on a wing.....
Extra Cool - we have one of the more popular glider ports in So Calif a few miles away. The only real way to know when they're close is hearing the tow plane when it veers off after disconnect. I've been buzzed while hiking in the San Gabriel Mtns behind us by some pretty ballsy pilots - but this was something else...
Vance
lsf5275@aol.com wrote:
I love soaring. Blaniks are quite popular here in Virginia. Awesome videos.
In a message dated 8/11/2010 10:01:07 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, jandjstrz@verizon.net writes:
the view is tremendous.
The soundtrack music isnât too bad either (sorry no âtron)
enjoy the scenery : )
>
http://www.youtube.com/...&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/...&feature=related
_ Jim & Janet