Tucson Air Show

[Lennyjoe]

Tucson Air Show pictures and trivia question

For those of you who couldnt make it. The best show by far was the Tora, Tora, Tora put on by the guys from Texas. Complete with pyrotechnics.

First pic, who can name the type of gun on the Japanese Torpedo Bomber? (this is what makes this whole thread gun related )

Next picture is of the Tora show.

Another Torpedo bomber on a run.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Second images;

One of my favorite airplanes.

Up to the modern jets. I caught this guy taxiing out.

The F-22. Thats as close as we got to it.

The stars of the show (so they think)

The #1 Kahuna.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

First pic, who can name the type of gun on the Japanese Torpedo Bomber?

Lewis Gun. The Japanese produced them for aircraft use, and yes, it's in .303 British. (Or it would be if it was real.)

 

[Dave R]

Really? The Japanese armed some of their planes with .303 British? Strange world.

 

[SMLE]

Really? The Japanese armed some of their planes with .303 British? Strange world.

The japs used lots of .303. They referred to it a 7.7mm rimmed. They actually had THREE 7.7mm rounds! 7.7 rimless for the rifles, 7.7 semi-rimmed for Nambu LMGs and the 7.7 rimmed. Talk about a logistical nightmare.

 

[P95Carry]

Can't pin it down but - whilst the drum mag looks right for a Lewis - something about the profile of gas return seems different from what I remember as std Brit version. Whatever - slow rate of fire but excellent gun.

Nice pics Lenny - another P51 fan here!

 

[garyk/nm]

Thanks for the pics, Lennyjoe. I love a good airshow. P-51s RULE! Man, I love the sound of those things!

 

[denfoote]

Nice pics Len!!
How did you get out of working it??
BTW, the 51 is nice.
But, the P47 rocks!!!

 

[Lennyjoe]

How did you get out of working it??

I didnt. Had to work both days. But being in Flight Safety I had free run of the airfield. My primary job this weekend was to run around with a shotgun to keep the birds away from the airfield. That meant plenty of trigger time on doves.

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

Didn't make it to the show, now I know why I saw puffs of black smoke coming from the base though!

 

[PowderBurn]

That P51, "GUNFIGHTER", really gets around. Here's a link run by a guy who says he's been on the ground crew of that particular Mustang since '91.

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/8151/

I'd still like to see a mock dogfight between a P51 and F4U...

 

[Lennyjoe]

I'd still like to see a mock dogfight between a P51 and F4U

Though not a F4, they did have the P-51 chasing a Japanese Zero during the Tora Tora Tora show.

 

[crt360]

Nice photos. I manage to get to a local show about every other year with a large CAF presence. The Tora, Tora, Tora part is always great with the explosions and all. The last time I went they had an assortment of Navy planes chasing them around, including the F4U pictured here. Recently they also had a WWII ground re-enactment and B-25 low level runs - more explosions. I'll have to try to make it again this year. Maybe they'll have another A-10 demo.

 

[wasrjoe]

I didnt. Had to work both days. But being in Flight Safety I had free run of the airfield. My primary job this weekend was to run around with a shotgun to keep the birds away from the airfield. That meant plenty of trigger time on doves.

Hahaha! Now, who does one bug to get that job?

 

[philberg]

Which Airshow? March 30, 2003?

LennyJoe

I have about 500 pictures from the March 30, 2003 airshow at Davis Monthan AFB which was awesome. I have nearly identical pictures as yours, so I am wondering if this is the same show you have pictured. A spectacular clear day. I was disappointed that I had missed the Blue Angels flying in my home town that cloudy weekend in Alabama, but was thrilled to learn of the Tucson show upon arrival, with the severe clear conditions for unhibited maneuvers and clear viewing, and the extensive variety and excitement of this show on the ground and in the air.

I have included one of my favorites of the Thunderbirds in an artistic maneuver that day.

It was good to find this site and be reminded of others who share that patriotic pride that brought us together for such a celebratory time. Although the historic simulations of battle and rescue were moving, I was inspired by the skilled acrobatic and high performance aerial demonstrations in all kinds of aircraft. Amazing talent. But passing the graveyard of 50's & 60's vintage aircraft on the bus in was memorable too.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Nope. It was the show last month. I missed the March 03 show cause I was still in Korea.

 

[misANTHrope]

Airshows are great. I went to one just this past weekend and saw the Blue Angels for my second time- seen the Thunderbirds once. Always amazing, though some of the civilian aerobatic pilots are far nuttier- like Jim LeRoy, who performed at last weekend's show. This guy starts his takeoff roll, gets up to speed, pulls the plane straight vertical, and hangs it from the prop about 30' up.

I also got to take a walk/crawl/shimmy through a restored B-17. The obligatory gun-related content can be found on my picture page, with my photo of the Flying Fortress's tail guns, "Pete" and "Repete."

http://flyboy.strych9design.com/ILMairshow/album

Enjoy!