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Our Old B-25 ??

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PAUL161

PAUL161

Great Pumpkin
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Found this photo by chance looking up the old airport I used to fly out of and instructed at. I don't remember the N numbers, but the color and markings are identical to the B-25 we flew on occasion based there. Looking at the photo sure brings back memories. Before I only had a distant photo of it in black and white. The paint was in very nice condition when I saw it last. Amazing it hasn't been repainted. PJ
 
Very cool pic. Looks like plane that takes "work " to fly.
 
Yeah Elliot, they had their idiosyncrasies, but once airborne they were nice to fly, a little heavy on the controls and noisy as heck. Ear plugs under the head set worked pretty well. :highly_amused: I understand that the guys that flew them during the war for extended lengths wound up with hearing problems due to the the propeller tips being so close to the cockpit. Very understandable. PJ

I should have said, nice to fly when trimmed up.
 
Elliot, Here's an old picture the wife took and edited while I was taking the boys for a ride in my old Stearman, but if you'll notice the B-25 in the background, it's identical to the one I just posted other than the tail feathers, which could have been easily painted later. PJ
 
That tail number has been restored to original glory and now hangs in the American Air Museum in Cambridge, England. (Maybe you already knew that?)

https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/001130946.html

001130946.jpg
 
Oh my goodness, what a surprise, I never knew that! When we had it, if I can remember correctly, it was used for aerial photography. We would take it up every so many hours for a "Service" check as it sat for fairly long periods between photo flights. I am so happy that it has been saved and returned to it's original form. To think I actually flew it! Boy would I love to see it again. You just made my day! Thank you for letting us know, much appreciated! I showed to my wife and she was amazed at the restoration, as she remembers it also. :encouragement: PJ
 
Basil said:
Paul, where was this plane stationed when you flew it?
Click to expand...

Basil, Medford New Jersey.

Me in my old Stearman, no digital photo here, I don't think they were invented yet, I was slightly younger then, I even had hair! :highly_amused:
 
Here it is today. Same aircraft in Marine colors.

 
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Always wanted a ride in one of these old biplanes. Oldest planes I ever flew in were a Stinson Detroiter in Provincetown, Mass and a 1947 Aeronca in Danbury, CT owned by a client of our office. I was about 15 years old. Naturally, he had to stall the plane and scare the S*&^t outta me. When I flew myself, I practiced stalls until I got bored.
 
You flew in an original Curtiss? Yow - that's fantastic! Great memories and history there!

Was it something like this?


View attachment 45832













or ...

curt-o1b.jpg
 
I have a couple of pictures squirreled away at the lake I will share here next time I'm up there
they are of Curtis testing in front of the property on keuka lake.
 
Great pics and a great story! One of the guys who works with Jack Kosko and his crew at Fawn Grove used to work for Bendix and went up many times in their blue and white B-25. I forget where that particular '25 is, but it is still extant.
 
Just for the record, I contacted Mr Fishwick in the UK, owner of the copyrighted photo and have his permission to use it as I wish. Just had to clear that up. :encouragement: PJ
 
SaxMan said:
Great pics and a great story! One of the guys who works with Jack Kosko and his crew at Fawn Grove used to work for Bendix and went up many times in their blue and white B-25. I forget where that particular '25 is, but it is still extant.
Click to expand...
Saxman, This one, Special Delivery, is in the Lone Star Flight Museum, could this be the one you remember? PJ
View attachment 45865 View attachment 45866
 
Different, Paul. Bendix's B-25 looked like yours except with blue trim instead of red. I know it's still extant, I just can't remember which one it is. It may have been one of the Catch-22 birds, which should narrow it down.
 
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