First post-COVID air show

[Basil]

The local Kirtland AFB had the first post-covid air show. It was "ok" but honestly a bit of a disappointment compared to past shows. Hopefully it will get better going forward. There really were not a huge amount of planes this time. The Army's Golden Knights were the main attraction I think.


With the propensity of wild fires we have in NM, we see this bad boy flying quite often.

Golden Knights climbing to jump altitude

 

[NutmegCT]

Great a/c, great photos. Thank you!

The water pod on the firefighting a/c reminds me of the cargo "Speedpack" used on Lockheed Connies back in the 1950s.

Cargo pays better than passengers - and cargo doesn't need "coffee, tea, or milk".

 

[Trevor Triumph]

What is the aircraft that appears similar to the B24, but has the a single rudder? Her is Apache Junction I see the B25 and C4 7 flying ove the house frequnetly.

 

[YakkoWarner]

The B29 and the B17 both have a single vertical tail element, neither would be easily confused for a B24 though because the B24's wing placement is up high whereas both the B29 and B17 had a low wing placement. I'm trying to think of what other 4 engine aircraft from that era might have a similar profile but nothing really comes to mind.

 

[NutmegCT]

It's a single tail B-24. Not all that common"

The Single Tail Liberators – Consolidated XB-24K-and-N - Forgotten Aircraft - Military Matters

The B-24 is not a "Forgotten Aircraft", but this variant of it could...especially as it came within a whisker of being a major type.

militarymatters.online

 

[mikephillips]

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer, a development of the B-24 as a long range patrol bomber. First flew in 1943 and served into the 50s

 

[NutmegCT]

Thanks Mike!

https://www.history.uscg.mil/browse-by-topic/Aviation/Article/3051626/convair-p4y-2g-privateer/

 

[YakkoWarner]

Learned something new - didn't know they had built that variation......

 

[DocDup1]

It is actually very different from a B24. It is quite a bit longer in front of the wing. They were use in firefighting until 2002 when one lost a wing in Colorado. The airplane shown was Tanker 30. Like the other tanker conversions, it has B25 engines and cowlings.

 

[AngliaGT]

The local Kirtland AFB had the first post-covid air show. It was "ok" but honestly a bit of a disappointment compared to past shows. Hopefully it will get better going forward. There really were not a huge amount of planes this time. The Army's Golden Knights were the main attraction I think.


With the propensity of wild fires we have in NM, we see this bad boy flying quite often.
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Golden Knights climbing to jump altitude
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Why is an ARMY plane painted NAVY colors?
Did they finally get smart & do it right?


Our oldest Son is a 2006 graduate of the USNA,
so I have to take the Navy's side.

 

[DocDup1]

The PB4Y2 was actually a navy airplane.

 

[AngliaGT]

That's why I'm confused - it says "ARMY" on it,
but it's Blue & Gold.

 

[DocDup1]

Sorry, I did not realize that you were talking about the Golden Knights parachute team.