RV-7 VH-JWC riding sidesaddle with P-40 Kittyhawk

[Jon Clements]

Last Saturday I jumped in my trusty RV-7 with a pilot mate (Guy Bourke) and we shot up north to Temora Aviation Museum for one of their regular flying displays. Guy Bourke's day job is a 767 Captain and he is one of those insanely lucky fellas who has flown more types than most (Spitfire, P-51 Mustang, P-40 Kitty, Hudson Bomber, Harvard, Vampire...just to name a few). Guy had the hard task on the day of flying Temora's Spitfire in a formation display with Alan Arthur's P-40 Kittyhawk. It was my first visit to Temora Aviation Museum and believe me when i say I was drooling over their extraordinary collection which is the pride and joy of owner/pilot David Lowe. Check out www.aviationmuseum.com.au

Anyway back to the point - Following the flying displays Guy Bourke and I were ready to leave at the same time as Alan Arthur in the P-40 and we were both heading south for Victoria. I couldn't resist temptation and asked Alan to depart with us in formation so I could snap a couple of shots.

If you reckon you had the RV grin on the day of your first flight, wait till the day you are riding side saddle with a P-40 Kittyhawk 10ft off your wing with 12 cylinders barking away in your right ear........I was grinning so hard it hurt!

I never thought I would live the day to formate with a P-40 but doing it in a tin can you built yourself was just too much!!!

Now I gotta save up for a warbird because you should of seen how fast the P-40 left me behind when Alan turned on the gas.....with a roll on departure!



and here is a photo of the Hudson Bomber which also flew on the day - it is currently the only flying Hudson in the world...

[Jamie Aust]

Hi Jon,

I was at Temora last year.
http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ghlight=temora

It is cool to be able to play with the big boys !
When I grown up, I want a spitfire
Thank you for posting the pictures.

[Richard Connell]

nice work JC
Shame I was socked in with crappy Syd wx...

next time

RC

[pilottangocharlie]

What a sight! Truly a unique opportunity. I just stopped and stared at the formation picture for minutes. I like.

[smokyray]

Hi Jon,

Your picture reminded me of a similar experience I had recently. My good friend and former AVG WW2 P-40 driver extraordinaire J.R. McCutchan "Traveled West". My fellow F-16 SQ mate and part-time P-40/B-17 driver "Hollywood" Fowler kindly volunteered the services of the Liberty foundation's P-40 to do a Fly-By over J.R.'s memorial service with my wife in the back seat.

I had the honor of escort duties.
V/R
Smokey

[kennedy27]

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No Air to Air, but a couple sleepovers in the Airpower Museum Hangar.

P-40 "Jacky C" and Thunderbolt
Jacky's Revenge"

Cool Air to Airs, I , met Ray at Dayton he had the mustang.

MK

[Azemon]

My Grandfather was a pilot in the AVG (Flying Tigers) in China. Then went on to instruct military pilots in prop, jet and helicopter til 1974.

[edsong]

Funny how a P-40 next to an RV is cool, But a Bonanza next to a 150 Cessna is unrehearsed and dangerous flying?

[Jon Clements]

Smokey

That's a sweet P-40 and I am sure you were mighty proud to have it on your wing!

Edson

I'm not taking your comment too seriously but will declare that I took the shot from the RH seat (I prefer to fly my 7 from the RH seat). Guy Bourke was driving while I took the shot . 2 hours earlier Guy and Alan were doing a formation display in the Kitty and the Spitfire - hence they are both pretty comfy with have each other on their wing.

Bit different to A Bonanza Pilot forming on a C152 but then again not that different if both the drivers are suitably experienced

Cheers

Jon

[Jon Clements]

Hi Jamie / RC

Yep - Temora is well worth a visit!

Good place for us all to meet for a Friday night beer and Saturday return post display...

I'll be going back.

RC - are you coming to Melbourne in the next couple of weeks....if yes drop me a msg and we will hook up for a beer?

CHZ