B-24 Liberator takes off from Akron Airport

[Cloak]

Not sure if anyone around the Cleveland area also happened to see it. I was with my fiance headed to look at bridesmaid dresses with her when we passed Akron Airport on the E-way. She draws my attention to a plane as she knows I am an aviation fanatic, specifically WWII era. Well i'm sitting here thinking it's just going to be a Cessna or something along those lines.

I look over to my right and the landing gear are just coming up on a B-24 about three hundred yards off to my right. Absolutely stunning I thought! I definitely said "Holy sh*t" outloud as I have never seen a B-24 other than on the ground at museums. It was a beautiful sight indeed. Unfortunately it abrubtly turned and headed Northwest.

Just thought i'd share the story and see if anyone else saw it around the area.

Jason

 

[Flugelman]

Not sure if anyone around the Cleveland area also happened to see it. I was with my fiance headed to look at bridesmaid dresses with her when we passed Akron Airport on the E-way. She draws my attention to a plane as she knows I am an aviation fanatic, specifically WWII era. Well i'm sitting here thinking it's just going to be a Cessna or something along those lines.

I look over to my right and the landing gear are just coming up on a B-24 about three hundred yards off to my right. Absolutely stunning I thought! I definitely said "Holy sh*t" outloud as I have never seen a B-24 other than on the ground at museums. It was a beautiful sight indeed. Unfortunately it abrubtly turned and headed Northwest.

Just thought i'd share the story and see if anyone else saw it around the area.

Jason

Ya know, Jason, some of these younguns on here will be calling for your Man Card...

That said, I had a similar experience back in the early '70's when I was ferrying a flying club plane to the General Dewitt Spain airport in Memphis from Key West. About an hour southeast of Memphis a B-17 comes out of nowhere and passes below and in front of me heading south. Sent chills down my spine...

 

[nittany03]

One of the more memorable ATC calls I've had taking off after the Fort Smith Airshow: "BOBCT XX, you're #2 behind the B-17."

 

[HAL Pilot]

.... I was with my fiance headed to look at bridesmaid dresses with her ...

Ya know, Jason, some of these younguns on here will be calling for your Man Card...

No need as it was canceled long ago when he gave up his balls.

 

[C420sailor]

My grandfather was USAAC as a tailgunner in a B-24. One hell of an airplane. He actually got shot down over Germany. I'd love to fly in one eventually...

 

[Jim123]

I was with my fiance headed to look at bridesmaid dresses with her when we passed Akron Airport on the E-way.

Ya know, Jason, some of these younguns on here will be calling for your Man Card...

No need as it was canceled long ago when he gave up his balls.

Yeah, it's easy for me to armchair quarterback but I'm gonna say with some poetic license no one would have been the wiser-

"My fiance was dropping me off at the airport on her way to look at bridesmaid dresses when..."


Still, a cool story. A lot of us haven't even seen a flying B-24.

 

[Cloak]

Yeah, it's easy for me to armchair quarterback but I'm gonna say with some poetic license no one would have been the wiser-

"My fiance was dropping me off at the airport on her way to look at bridesmaid dresses when..."


Still, a cool story. A lot of us haven't even seen a flying B-24.

Haha. I knew I was going to get reamed for not editing that post. Ah well. If it clarifies the situation any better. I went to Bar Louie and had a Sam Adams while she was shopping for them. Either or, post was said, I got slammed. Definitely not as bad as it could have been though haha!

And yes, the B-24 was quite amazing. I have never seen one flying either until now. Granted it was a whole jaw dropping thirty seconds, it was enough to imprint it in my mind forever.

I've seen a B-17 a few times over near the 180th FG in Toledo, OH. As well as a Lt. Col. know who flies his A-10 in every weekend on Saturday morning roughly around 8am. Now that A-10, that's a beautiful bird in my opinion.

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

I've got some great photos of a B-24 that I had the opportunity of seeing a few years ago when I was maybe 14. I'll scan them in and post them up. Great looking bird in the air.

If you've never had a chance to ride in a piston powered radial aircraft you need to seek out the opportunity. It's an experience you'll never forget.

 

[JIMC5499]

I've seen a B-17 fly dozens of times. I've rode in a B-17 twice and a B-25 once. I used to volunteer for an air museum just outside of Pittsburgh that has a B-17. It used to be flyable, but, I'm not sure it is now. They kept making belly landings in it.

 

[TomcatTug29]

Not sure if anyone around the Cleveland area also happened to see it. I was with my fiance headed to look at bridesmaid dresses with her when we passed Akron Airport on the E-way. She draws my attention to a plane as she knows I am an aviation fanatic, specifically WWII era. Well i'm sitting here thinking it's just going to be a Cessna or something along those lines.

I look over to my right and the landing gear are just coming up on a B-24 about three hundred yards off to my right. Absolutely stunning I thought! I definitely said "Holy sh*t" outloud as I have never seen a B-24 other than on the ground at museums. It was a beautiful sight indeed. Unfortunately it abrubtly turned and headed Northwest.

Just thought i'd share the story and see if anyone else saw it around the area.

Jason

Speaking of Warbirds at local airports...

Yesterday (8/8) I was in the pattern at John Wayne-Orange County Airport (KSNA) and was pleasantly surprised by a P-38 Lightening executing a Low Pass on the parallel runway. The sound of those old Allison engines and the sight of this fine bird was awesome.. it was definitely a nice change from the typical 737's that are landing on 19R. After the pass, he made a left crosswind turn and was gone as fast as he came in. It was definately the highlight of my day and I bet the Tower's too as he gave him a "thanks for the show."

-Tomcattug29

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

Speaking of Warbirds at local airports...

Yesterday (8/8) I was in the pattern at John Wayne-Orange County Airport (KSNA) and was pleasantly surprised by a P-38 Lightening executing a Low Pass on the parallel runway. The sound of those old Allison engines and the sight of this fine bird was awesome.. it was definitely a nice change from the typical 737's that are landing on 19R. After the pass, he made a left crosswind turn and was gone as fast as he came in. It was definately the highlight of my day and I bet the Tower's too as he gave him a "thanks for the show."

-Tomcattug29

They've got a little museum on the General Aviation side.

 

[TomcatTug29]

They've got a little museum on the General Aviation side.

Yeah its the Lyon Air Museum, but I think this P-38 was coming from Chino.

 

[SynixMan]

I saw the EAA's B-17 flying in for a warbirds expo. Definitely an impressive airplane just by itself.

Can you imagine forming up on a 100 ship formation over England in WWII, not knowing how many of the birds will come back? For sure they issued a pair of brass ones back in the days...

 

[sickboy]

I'm still waiting for the day that I can go to the local airport and see www.maam.org/p61.html take off.

 

[RyanF]

They came out to where my parents live a couple of years ago (NAS Sunnyvale/Moffett Field area). As luck would have it, I was home for the weekend and out washing my car when I took these pics...enjoy!