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Home > Archive > Flight simulator > August 2006 > I saw this warbird land at Eagle Creek airpark (Indpls.)
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I saw this warbird land at Eagle Creek airpark (Indpls.)
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| finding z0 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
| I drove into the airpark and was told the people who flew it in were
having lunch across the st., next to the reservoir. I sail a boat
there. They let me do a walk around. It stood oddly on its front nose
wheel and two main tires so it rested flat and not pointing skyward. It
was silver/ white and had US Navy and the US insignia (circled star
with 2 bars on each side). Looked high and stubby and massive. It was a
2 seater with the canopy(ies) open. It had a gun mounted on each wing
midwing. Though it looked like a SBD Dauntless, it had no holes in the
flaps (modified?) and the designation VT2 and the name Jim Stitt as
pilot. A l'il research led me to VT as torpedo bomber designate, and
VT2 a a SBD squadron on the US Lexington during the battle of Midway.
Anyone have anymore info on this bird? Cheers
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| Someone 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
| If you had a photo, we could tell you what it is right away.
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| finding z0 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
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Someone wrote:
quote:
> If you had a photo, we could tell you what it is right away.
to post it?
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| finding z0 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
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Someone wrote:
quote:
> If you had a photo, we could tell you what it is right away.
If it's still there today I'll take a foto. Where would i post it tho?
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| finding z0 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
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finding z0 wrote:
quote:
> Someone wrote:
>
> If it's still there today I'll take a foto. Where would i post it tho?
Gone, like the wind, like WW2......
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| tomcervo 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
| If it had a front nose wheel and two canopies, I'll call it a T-28 off
the top of my head.
On the other hand, I was out walking last week and heard a somewhat
different airplane motor. Looked up and saw a B-17 making a slow turn.
Watched it for five minutes until it disappeared. Bliss.
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| finding z0 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
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tomcervo wrote:
quote:
> If it had a front nose wheel and two canopies, I'll call it a T-28 off
> the top of my head.
>
> On the other hand, I was out walking last week and heard a somewhat
> different airplane motor. Looked up and saw a B-17 making a slow turn.
> Watched it for five minutes until it disappeared. Bliss.
Maybe an SNJ-5 (Navy version of the T-6 Texan)
here's a picture I found on the web of a T-6 of similar design
http://www.warbirdalley.com/images/T-6_II.JPG
though it doesn't sit flat either.
I think the VT2 designation gives it away though (Dauntless)
They sure do look similar
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| Dirk Gross 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
| tomcervo wrote:
quote:
> If it had a front nose wheel and two canopies, I'll call it a T-28 off
> the top of my head.
>
> On the other hand, I was out walking last week and heard a somewhat
> different airplane motor. Looked up and saw a B-17 making a slow turn.
> Watched it for five minutes until it disappeared. Bliss.
>
I was out riding a few months ago on a road that passes close to the end
of the runway for the county airport. Saw some folks pulled over and
looking down the runway and when I looked it was a B-17 taxiing for
takeoff. I forgot it was there giving rides for a few days. Got to
watch it take off 100 or so feet overhead. The roar of four engines at
full power in real life. That was a blast.
Dirk
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| WyleCoyote@cactus.com 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
| On 9 Jul 2006 17:26:30 -0700, "tomcervo" <tomcervo@aol.com> wrote:
That's a pretty nice small airport. Restauraunt is pretty good and
there used to be an extensive repair facility for Commanders there I
think it was. Those birds may have been transient on the way to or
from Oshkosh.
I've flown a 36 Bonanza in there from time to time. In the spring
about 5 years ago I went in there on a busted forcast with ceilings
going down and a low cloud layer about minimums and then we started
picking up some mixed/rime ice on the approch. We were lucky to get
in there that day. After lunch our home drome was going down fast
also so we had to leave the plane, rent a car and come back later to
get the plane. That was a major pucker factor day.
quote:
>If it had a front nose wheel and two canopies, I'll call it a T-28 off
>the top of my head.
>
>On the other hand, I was out walking last week and heard a somewhat
>different airplane motor. Looked up and saw a B-17 making a slow turn.
>Watched it for five minutes until it disappeared. Bliss.
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| Stephen Robinson 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
| finding z0 wrote:
quote:
> I drove into the airpark and was told the people who flew it in were
> having lunch across the st., next to the reservoir. I sail a boat
> there. They let me do a walk around. It stood oddly on its front nose
> wheel and two main tires so it rested flat and not pointing skyward. It
> was silver/ white and had US Navy and the US insignia (circled star
> with 2 bars on each side). Looked high and stubby and massive. It was a
> 2 seater with the canopy(ies) open. It had a gun mounted on each wing
> midwing. Though it looked like a SBD Dauntless, it had no holes in the
> flaps (modified?) and the designation VT2 and the name Jim Stitt as
> pilot. A l'il research led me to VT as torpedo bomber designate, and
> VT2 a a SBD squadron on the US Lexington during the battle of Midway.
> Anyone have anymore info on this bird? Cheers
>
If it looks like a Dauntless, but had a tricycle undercarriage, it might
be one of those ex-Chinese trainers? ( I think that they are chinese)
I've heard they are relatively plentlful and cheap.
It might be someone who wanted a Dauntless look-alike?
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| Check the T-28 model picture at:
http://www.aviation-central.com/1946-1970/afk20.htm
They never carried torpedoes, nor were part of the Lexington as far as I
know! Trainers and ground support in NAM.
"finding z0" <jsk2@excite.com> wrote in message
news:1152470338.310277.82970@s13g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
quote:
>I drove into the airpark and was told the people who flew it in were
> having lunch across the st., next to the reservoir. I sail a boat
> there. They let me do a walk around. It stood oddly on its front nose
> wheel and two main tires so it rested flat and not pointing skyward. It
> was silver/ white and had US Navy and the US insignia (circled star
> with 2 bars on each side). Looked high and stubby and massive. It was a
> 2 seater with the canopy(ies) open. It had a gun mounted on each wing
> midwing. Though it looked like a SBD Dauntless, it had no holes in the
> flaps (modified?) and the designation VT2 and the name Jim Stitt as
> pilot. A l'il research led me to VT as torpedo bomber designate, and
> VT2 a a SBD squadron on the US Lexington during the battle of Midway.
> Anyone have anymore info on this bird? Cheers
>
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| finding z0 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
|
Wayno wrote:
quote:
> Check the T-28 model picture at:
> http://www.aviation-central.com/1946-1970/afk20.htm
> They never carried torpedoes, nor were part of the Lexington as far as I
> know! Trainers and ground support in NAM.
>
I've seen that picture. The plane looks similar, but the canopy is all
wrong.
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| Someone 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
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"finding z0" <jsk2@excite.com> wrote in message
news:1152670566.397038.152120@35g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
quote:
>
> Wayno wrote:
> I've seen that picture. The plane looks similar, but the canopy is all
> wrong.
>
ok, try this one, as I'm pretty sure this is the type of plane you saw:
http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photog...28_harvards.wmv
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| Geoff Sjostrom 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
| It's a North American T-28 Trojan. You'll find a picture of the aircraft
you saw on this page:
http://www.iac34.com/page3.html
It's the far right column, fourth photo from the bottom. Flown by Jim
Stitts.
Geoff Sjostrom
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| Someone 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
| He already said it wasn't a T-28 Trojan.
Jim also flies Harvards and P-47's.
"Geoff Sjostrom" <geoffsj@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:6sWdnQ7Re8gW8SjZnZ2dnUVZ_vWdnZ2d@comcast.com...
quote:
> It's a North American T-28 Trojan. You'll find a picture of the aircraft
> you saw on this page:
>
> http://www.iac34.com/page3.html
>
> It's the far right column, fourth photo from the bottom. Flown by Jim
> Stitts.
>
> Geoff Sjostrom
>
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| Geoff Sjostrom 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
| Mystery solved. Here's a message from Jim Stitts:
Geoff,
Yes that was my T-28B Trojan at Eagle Creek airpark. I was there for lunch
after having my parachutes repacked at Skydive Greensburg. I had heard
great things about the restaurant and setting, and found them to
outstanding.
I have a 6 ship T-28 warbird formation aerobatic demo team that performs at
airshows around the country. Checkout our website at
www.trojanhorsemen.com. The VT-2 designation was for Whiting Field in
Pensacola, FL where it entered the service in March 1955. I restored it to
look as it did during that time. It also served in VT-6, VT-27 and spent 4
years during the Vietnam War at Keesler AFB training Laotian and South
Vietnamese pilots. Below is some info on the T-28 for your friend.
Jim Stitt
Trojan Horsemen
T-28 AIRCRAFT INFO
Following WWII, the US Air Force called upon North American Aircraft to
develop the next generation of high performance advanced trainer as a
successor to the T-6/SNJ Texan. North American earned this distinction by
producing legendary aircraft such as the T-6 Texan, P-51 Mustang, B-25
Mitchell, and later the F-86 and F-100. The result was the T-28 Trojan
series, the most advanced propeller driven military aircraft that had been
produced to date.
The A model with an 800 HP engine was used by the US Air Force from 1950 to
1956 as an advanced trainer and various other roles, and it replaced the
Mustang fighter in reserve units. In 1952, the U.S. Navy contracted with
NAA to build a B model version with a 1425 HP engine and other improvements.
In addition to the B, the T-28C equipped with a tail hook and smaller
diameter prop was also built for the Navy for carrier landings. In 1959,
several hundred A models were shipped to France to be modified with the
larger R-1820 engine and armament to be used in combat in Algeria. These
aircraft were designated as T-28F or Fennec. The U.S. also modified A, B
and C models into the T-28D to be used in combat in southeast Asia in the 60's
and 70's, including Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Along with the Skyraider,
the AT-28 was used extensively for ground attack and close air support.
Ordinance included two 50 cal machine guns, fragmentation bombs and rockets.
The T-28 has a top speed of 343 knots and cruises at speeds from 180 - 250
knots. The solo pilots reach speeds of 250-300 knots during the routine.
The aircraft stands almost 13 ft high at the tip of the vertical tailfin and
has a windspan of just over 40 ft. Max weight for the C model is 9000 lbs
and the service ceiling is 37,000 ft. It has a climb rate of 3000 fpm and
can out-turn and out-climb a P-51 Mustang.
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| Geoff Sjostrom 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
| > He already said it wasn't a T-28 Trojan.
No, he didn't. And, as it turns out, that's exactly what it was.
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| finding z0 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
|
Someone wrote:
quote:
[vbcol=seagreen]
> ok, try this one, as I'm pretty sure this is the type of plane you saw:
> http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photog...28_harvards.wmv
BINGO!
Jim musta had too much to drink at Rick's Boatyard cafe ...lol....
Of course I'm not seeing a nose wheel on the Harvard either, but the
cockpit is right.
If it was a Trojan, it had a different cockpit.
I actually called Rick's that day to see if they would page Jim, but
they said it was too busy and they didn't have a paging system.
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| finding z0 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
|
Geoff Sjostrom wrote:
quote:
>
> No, he didn't. And, as it turns out, that's exactly what it was.
Sorry, but what I saw looks more like the Harvard (correct cockpit
windscreen). The only caveat is that
Jim did state that " I restored it to
look as it did during that time (1955)." Whatever that means.
Thanks for all the interest .
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| finding z0 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
| God!! I wanna see a P-47 at Eagle Creek. I'm afraid I'll lose all
control of my bladder...lol...Then I get to fly it...
Then a Yak-9U.
Someone wrote:[vbcol=seagreen]
> He already said it wasn't a T-28 Trojan.
> Jim also flies Harvards and P-47's.
>
>
>
>
> "Geoff Sjostrom" <geoffsj@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:6sWdnQ7Re8gW8SjZnZ2dnUVZ_vWdnZ2d@comcast.com...
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| Geoff Sjostrom 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
| > Sorry, but what I saw looks more like the Harvard (correct cockpit
quote:
> windscreen). The only caveat is that
> Jim did state that " I restored it to
> look as it did during that time (1955)." Whatever that means.
> Thanks for all the interest .
Let me be clear on this: I forwarded the original message you posted, in
its entirety, to Jim Stitts. He read your descripton, confirmed the
markings you observed on the aircraft in his reply, and identified it as his
T-28B.
Unless you think he doesn't know what kind of aircraft he owns, I think that
pretty much settles it.
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| finding z0 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
|
Geoff Sjostrom wrote:
quote:
> Let me be clear on this: I forwarded the original message you posted, in
> its entirety, to Jim Stitts. He read your descripton, confirmed the
> markings you observed on the aircraft in his reply, and identified it as his
> T-28B.
>
> Unless you think he doesn't know what kind of aircraft he owns, I think that
> pretty much settles it.
Sometimes, after an evening at Rick's, I can't remember if I took the
aircraft carrier or the Boston Whaler. Thanks for the info Geoff.
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| Stephen Robinson 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
| finding z0 wrote:
quote:
> Geoff Sjostrom wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Sometimes, after an evening at Rick's, I can't remember if I took the
> aircraft carrier or the Boston Whaler. Thanks for the info Geoff.
>
What about the nose wheel that was mentioned? T-28's don't have one
AFAIK. Nor does a T-6 (Texan?)
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| Geoff Sjostrom 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
| > What about the nose wheel that was mentioned? T-28's don't have one
quote:
> AFAIK. Nor does a T-6 (Texan?)
Here's a link to the Air Force Museum's page on the T-28. You will see that
it does, indeed, have a nose wheel.
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/modern_flight/mf12.htm
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| Stephen Robinson 2006-08-03, 3:48 am |
| Geoff Sjostrom wrote:
quote:
>
>
> Here's a link to the Air Force Museum's page on the T-28. You will see that
> it does, indeed, have a nose wheel.
>
> http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/modern_flight/mf12.htm
>
>
>
Ok, thanks...My bad....
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