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

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...

Hi Jon,

I was at Temora last year.
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=78805&highlight=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.

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

next time

RC

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

Seeing Double!

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

P-40

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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

Awesome

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.

Formation

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

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

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

Hi Jon,

Will you be going to AUSFLY this year ?
its at Narromine 13th-16th September.

It would be good to catch up.

Hopefully ill get down south in the next few weeks.
Mrs XRC is studying and has exams at the moment, so I'm a fully engaged parent with an RV in need of 2 extra seats....
Really need to get an RV10 going!
Cheers