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T28 Ride...well, kinda
Looking back as we taxi
Another T28 in our flight.
All planes turn and do a "Run Up" just before take off
During our "Run Up"
Sam discovers that our
tach is not working
Sam tries to fix our tach while we wait for this F15 to land
I don't know Sam, my tach is working
No tach...We have to return
to the flight line and I
will try to find us a ride
The Valiant Air Command holds Media Day at Daytona Beach International Airport the day before our Airshow. A lot of the participants fly there to give the Media a sample of the War Birds that will fly in the show.
I get to fly up to Daytona because I have to photograph all the festivities and dignitaries.   
This day will prove to be very interesting for me.
Sam Lauff and his T28
Another T28 in our
flight of 4 - T28s
Hey Sam, I found us a ride with the enemy
3/15/08 Media Day - 3 rides, 1 day
Focke Wulf 149D
O2-A Skymaster
I climbed out of the T28 and went looking for a ride to Daytona while Sam secured the T28. There were three Axis planes waiting to be refueled. I used my best German and begged a ride for Sam and me. Dave, pilot of the camouflaged Focke Wulf, in flawless English said "Why Sure." The foreign contingent consisted of 2 Focke Wulf's and a Fugi. Thanks for the ride Dave.
Dave's Focke Wulf and our ride
We flew in formation
The Fuji
The other Focke Wulf
Passing New Symrna Airport & Ponce Inlet on the way
The Daytona Airport is right next to the Daytona Race track
Landing at Daytona Airport
Now for the rest of the story
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Most of these Warbirds were designed for young men to climb up and in. Well let me tell you that it is not easy for a 76 year old lady to get in and out of these planes. I was exhausted after climbing in and out of 2 Warbirds and shooting the days festivities. I told the powers to be that I just couldn't climb up the side of another airplane and suggested that I fly back in a O2 Skymaster. All you have to do with the O2 is put your butt on the seat and swing your feet in. I was so happy when they assigned me the Midnight Duck.
The Midnight Duck and another O2 right behind it
This plane was following us, but we lost our lead plane some how.
Sight seeing on the way back
We are just about home. The Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building is in the highlighted area
This is The Space Coast Regional Airport where we are going to land (We know it as TICO). The red X is just about where I live.
Landing
and of course...a photo with the pilot
The O2s served in Vietnam and the custom was to decorate the nose of combat planes with "Nose Art."
I do not know if this nose art is
original or added later, but I love it.
3/15/08 Media Day - What a Day - The End
I didn't mention that they lost the war and that was why they were leaving last :<)