WWII Warbirds-B-17/B-24/P-51D on Display! - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

edpontiac91 · 10-14-2009, 05:56 PM

Went to the Essex County Airport in West Caldwell today to check out some WWII planes. These planes flew in and some are 1 of only 1 left flying in the world. The admission was $12.00 to do a walk thru on both bombers and I must say it was amazing to check out the conditions INSIDE these birds. It is so cramped that you can stick out your arms and touch both sides of the plane. The .50 cal. guns were awesome and sticking your head into to the top turret was so cool. You walk along a 6" wide gangplank between the bomb bay (with 12-500 lb. bombs on both sides) and you can hardly fit side ways between the guider beams. The tail gunner has to crawl to get to his seat. I don't have the coin to pay $425.00 for a 1/2 hour flight, but people say you can't believe the noise, the fuel smell and the wind rushing threw the plane. There is also a 2-seat P-51D Mustang that you can actually fly (dual controls) for $2,200 for a 1/2 hour. It would take a shoe horn to get in there. If your into old planes do not miss this!

They will be there until October 16th.

WildBillyT · 10-14-2009, 08:03 PM

Hard to believe that our fathers and grandfathers were thousands of feet in the air getting shot it in them, eh?

edpontiac91 · 10-14-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildBillyT

Hard to believe that our fathers and grandfathers were thousands of feet in the air getting shot it in them, eh?

When you tap on the steel airframe, it seems like a .22 could go threw it, no less a .30 cal. machine gun from a German fighter. No pressureized interior, just -30 below air and a fur suit to stay warm. Once you go inside these beasts, you can really appreciate the effort and commitment those YOUNG men went through.

LS1Hawk · 10-15-2009, 05:33 AM

I want to see that! The airport is right up the road from where I work. Are the planes on display outside or in the hangars? It's suppose to rain the rest of the week and I wouldn't think they'd keep them outside. Maybe if I have time I can get there on my lunch break, but it have been nice if they had it go through the weekend.

JL8Jeff · 10-15-2009, 07:21 AM

They go around the area every year, it's pretty cool. I've seen them here when they come to Trenton/Mercer airport. I'll be out on the river in my boat and they fly up and down the river.

edpontiac91 · 10-15-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LS1Hawk

I want to see that! The airport is right up the road from where I work. Are the planes on display outside or in the hangars? It's suppose to rain the rest of the week and I wouldn't think they'd keep them outside. Maybe if I have time I can get there on my lunch break, but it have been nice if they had it go through the weekend.

There are outside. What is most interesting is seeing the guts inside the plane. For $12.00 it is worth the time to see history and get a feel of what it must have been like in the belly of the beast. There is a front page story about the B-17 on the Star Ledger today.

LS1Hawk · 10-15-2009, 11:17 AM

I was planning on going during lunch today, but right now it's raining pretty heavy. One of the product managers here told me he saw the B-17 come in for a landing the other day and it sat on the runway for a bit with its engines running. I'm surprised though that I haven't seen any fly by. The airstrip is just over the woods from my office and I see planes taking off from there every day.

TAdan · 10-16-2009, 08:21 AM

Good stuff Ed, I saw the EAA's B-17 "Aluminum Overcast" up at Caldwell in August, and the Collings Foundation Planes over in Trenton a few days later...

A few years ago I went for a flight on the Y.A.F.'s B-17 "Yankee lady" and it was well worth the $. Absolutely amazing.

CF P-51C

CF B-17 "Nine-0-Nine"

CF B-24J "WitchCraft"

EAA B-17 "Aluminum Overcast"