ex-fighter pilot, POW, Corvette driver

[Duke W.]

Re: ex-fighter pilot, POW, Corvette driver

Correct, I goofed. The P-63 was the follow-up design to the P-39.

[Jean C.]

Re: ex-fighter pilot, POW, Corvette driver

The CAF has a flying P-39 assigned to the Centex Wing in San Marcos, TX should anyone want to stop by and have a look. You might want to check on the plane's air show schedule before making the trip.

When I first saw the plane some years ago, it was painted in a Russian paint scheme; however, it is now back to US paint scheme.
Best regards,

[Gary S.]

Re: ex-fighter pilot, POW, Corvette driver

McCain was not a "fighter pilot" He was an attack pilot. He flew the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, which is a small, subsonic "attack" aircraft...
Duke

Duke,
I spent 26 years in the Air Force flying C-130s, a cargo airplane - see my sig. Among pilots, there are transport, or cargo, planes, fighter aircraft, bombers, and tankers or refuelers. I know many pilots in the Navy, including those that flew the A-4 and A-6. I don't know of anyone who claims he wasn't a fighter pilot. In my opinion, the attack aircraft are, indeed, fighter aircraft - they just fight in a different arena. They can mix it up in air-to-air, although not as well as pure dogfighting aircraft. I have no issue calling John McCain a fighter pilot. I think you are splitting hairs.

Ok, off my soapbox.

[Stuart F.]

Re: ex-fighter pilot, POW, Corvette driver

Gary;

Don't forget to mention how many times you out flew F-16's that were trying to simulate blowing you out of the air during war games. I've heard the story a number of times from my C-130 flying sons that, with the help of your crew to spot, you could turn into them head to head and evade them all day long - until they ganged up on ya, right?

Stu fox

[Stanley H.]

Re: ex-fighter pilot, POW, Corvette driver

Duke,
I spent 26 years in the Air Force flying C-130s, a cargo airplane - see my sig. Among pilots, there are transport, or cargo, planes, fighter aircraft, bombers, and tankers or refuelers. I know many pilots in the Navy, including those that flew the A-4 and A-6. I don't know of anyone who claims he wasn't a fighter pilot. In my opinion, the attack aircraft are, indeed, fighter aircraft - they just fight in a different arena. They can mix it up in air-to-air, although not as well as pure dogfighting aircraft. I have no issue calling John McCain a fighter pilot. I think you are splitting hairs.

Ok, off my soapbox.

Agree "Semper Fi"

[Jim T.]

Re: ex-fighter pilot, POW, Corvette driver

The A4 Skyhawk was in use for many years by the Navy and Marines, longer than the Navy's F14 Tomcat. I saw a few of these, if the A4 Skyhawk encountered landing gear down problems it would land with all gear up on its wing tanks. Usually no significant damage to the main aircraft and it would be ready for another flight after the gear problem was corrected. This contributed to keeping the flight cost down.

[Gary S.]

Re: ex-fighter pilot, POW, Corvette driver

Stu,
I did attend an advance course where you went up against a fighter and we were taught the necessary tactics to "defeat" them but, as long as they were simulating, I was willing to say we won our share. Of course, when the bullets really start flying I wouldn't want to see how many times I won versus lost.

[John W.]

Re: ex-fighter pilot, POW, Corvette driver

The A4 Skyhawk that I witnessed landing gear up didn't fare so well when the netting on the U.S.S Coral Sea corralled it to a stop. The whole nose section was bent down. Probably where they got the idea for the Concord.

[Richard P.]

Re: ex-fighter pilot, POW, Corvette driver

John McCain had a 1958 Corvette. White with silver cove and red interior.
There is a picture of it in his autobiography, "Flags of my Fathers"

[Richard P.]

Re: ex-fighter pilot, POW, Corvette driver

Oops! I meant Faith of my fathers.

[Chuck S.]

Re: ex-fighter pilot, POW, Corvette driver

Perhaps I am mistaken, but I understood the Bell P-59, or at least ir's airframe, was the first Jet powered fighter aircraft. I'll have to look that up.

Stu Fox

You beat me to the punch, Stu...the P59 was the test bed aircraft for GE's copy of the Whittle engine.

It was an absolute "fat hawg" of an airplane/engine combo without potential for combat application. The optimists in the USAAF/USAF had to be able to "find the pony in that pile of horse manure" to continue the pursuit of jet power.

[Duke W.]

Re: ex-fighter pilot, POW, Corvette driver

You mean you guys don't believe the NY Times?

[Ridge K.]

Re: ex-fighter pilot, POW, Corvette driver

Found this on the Corvette Blog.

Here's a quick list of the candidates first cars, and current cars in parenthasis.

• John McCain: Chevy Corvette (Now: Cadillac CTS)
• Hillary Clinton: Oldsmobile Cutlass (Now: Ford Hybrid)
• John Edwards: Plymouth Duster (Now: Ford Escape)
• Barack Obama: Ford Granada (Now: Chrysler 300C)
• Bill Richardson: Ford Mustang (Now: Jeep Wrangler)
• Rudy Giuliani: Used Dodge (Now: Doesn't drive...)
• Mike Huckabee: Mercury Montego (Now: Chevy Tahoe)
• Mitt Romney: Rambler Classic (Now: Ford Mustang)

[Stuart F.]

Re: ex-fighter pilot, POW, Corvette driver

Gary;

One of my sons did have an opportunity to use his training for real. As I recall, he was right seating along with a full bull left seat on a mission to rescue embassy personnel from a civil war area, believe it was one of the Yemens. On the way out they were jumped by 2 Mig 21's and out flew them to make good their escape. That was with Women and children on board. They (the passengers) did not know the real seriousness of their situation other than it was a rough ride and a few got sick. They were just told that the "chinging" was just standard defensive maneuvers, but they were still grateful to be out safe.

The other son flew the AC130's, and you know what they can do (defensive and offensive).

Stu Fox

[Chuck S.]

Re: ex-fighter pilot, POW, Corvette driver

You mean you guys don't believe the NY Times?

I believe the "Old Gray Lady" is a lyin' bitch that's finding it difficult to gather an audience anymore.