[F14lvr]

Hello all. I was a new member to The original Model Hanger. I joined about 3 days before it went "off the air". I have been SLOWLY collecting model aircraft(have had model cars for years) for a few years now, but just found the forum. I MAINLY collect fighter jets, but I do have a few Matchbox Warbirds and a couple unknown brand Helicopters. My favorite Warbird is the P-40 Warhawk. My favorite AIRCRAFT of all time is as you can see by my username the F-14 Tomcat. However at this time I only have 2 Revell(I think thats the brand) 1/72 Tomcats. They are OK models, but nowhere near the quality of my Dragon Fighters. I have the F/A-18C Hornet FOtF, F-15D 12th TFS 18thTFW, and the F-16 57th FW 50th Anniv. I also have a new F/A-18F VFA-103 Jolly Rogers Super Hornet. I hope to add some more VERY soon! I also like to collect the Corgi "Postage stamp" aircraft. They are cheap and have decent detail for their size. My favorite is the B-1 Lancer or the Blue Angels "Fat Albert"

Anyway, I wanted to introduce myself and also post my favorite pics I took at the 2004 Terre Haute, In "Air Fair" I couldn't go in 05, but I am going next week. My second favorite aircraft will HOPEFULLY be making a flyby and demonstation. The B-1 Lancer is scheduled to be there. I have only seen one once flying, and that was while driving a semi in Nevada I saw one doing a hard left bank out across a desert.... To fast to get my camera.

Anyway, sorry for bothering you with all my gabbing! Blah blah blah!

BTW, these pics are scans of my 8x10, so they don't look as great as I would like here on the web.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...f14hflight.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...myf14flyby.jpg

[STARMAN 352ND]

Welcome to the Model Hangar F14lvr.
Enjoy your stay
JP

[PappyB]

Welcome to the Hangar, thanks for sharing -- that airshow sounds like a good one. Check back in with a report (and hopefully more pics)

[Louie]

Welcome and nice to meet you!

[Captain Eddie]

Welcome to the NEW Model Hanger F14lvr (or, as I sometime lovingly call it, the asylum). PS you were not too wordy at all!

[Tyler109]

Hey thanks for sharing...I might be out there myself tomorow if some plans fall through for me

[chiefs70]

Welcome to the forum, F14lvr.

I was fortunate enough to live in Wichita, KS (well that wasn't fortunate) where McConnell AFB was located. At the time it was the base for a squadron of B-1s and I got to watch them every day.

One of my favorite experiences was a day out at Boy Scout camp. Colonel Gardner, who was the unit's commander, was at camp that week and asked us if we wanted a flyover. Of course we jumped at the chance and, after lunch, moved the boys down to the lake's edge. The camp's lake is the biggest private Scout lake in the US and is very, very large. The SE corner is dammed and basically the only point not heavily wooded. As we stood waiting, not telling the boys what was coming, Col Gardner pointed to where they would be coming from and we moved our gaze that direction. Almost immediately we saw two small specks moving towards us. The two B-1s zoomed over the damn, nearly soundless from the front, and skimmed the lake at about 200 feet. The water was slightly rooster-tailing (impressive, but not the fountains of water you sometimes see depicted) when they passed by the beach. As they neared the end of the lake they pulled straight up and the water cratered and shot up a massive spray. You could see the glow of the afterburners even in full daylight. The kids were awed and amazed (as were we). I always thought the AF gained recruits that day.

One last note, they used to hold afterburner nights once a month at the air museum north of the base. The B-1s would perform afterburner takeoffs just after dark and the museum sat just beyond the runway. Quite impressive.

Once again, welcome. You will find a knowledgeable and wonderful group of folks on the forum and we're glad to have you join our merry band.

[SKUNKY]

Originally Posted by chiefs70

I was fortunate enough to live in Wichita, KS .

...and I was fortunate enough to leave Wichita, KS in 1995. Never even looked in my rearview mirror. My only fond memory of that place was the Blue Angels airshow I attended at McConnell the weekend before my blessed departure.

Welcome F14lvr....(I'm kinda fond of those things too.)
Thanks for the pics...

Hey, isn't Terre Haute where Buffy and Jody came from?

[JC Woodman]

Many Cheers to ya F14, welcome!

Happily never been to Wichita! The US Army sent me a few places... Thats a song lyric right there!