Friendly Foes Above The Falls--quick report

[Steve T]

Hi all--

Took in my first show for 05, Ed Russell's new event at Niagara South. Stars of the lineup, of course, were Mr R's three based fighters. Each flew thrice during the program and the Spit was also up in the morning. Pilots were John Romain (Spitfire "Mad Mickey"), Alan Walker (Hurricane) and Walter Eichhorn (Bf109E). Other elements of the afternoon's flying were CHAA's excellent Harvard three-plane (they also fly a five-plane routine, but Friendly Foes coincided with their formation clinic, hence just three Harvards this time), the GWFM group with five WWI replicas out of Brampton, and Rick Volker from NY with his hard-to-ignore bright purple Sukhoi 26M aerobat. A nicely balanced lineup.

There was no close access to the aircraft, but frankly I found that a plus, as it meant there was at least some hope of photographing something without a crowd in front and/or a forest of legs behind! One did need a longish tele lens though. That quibble aside, the fighters flew thrice each, offering the whole start/taxi/takeoff/land/park cycle multiple times.

In any case, today for the first time in three decades of airshows I saw (and heard) a Messerschmitt 109E in the air...three times, no less. Sooo...whatever the rest of 2005 brings, my season is now officially MADE. Thanks, Mr Russell...

Cheers

Steve (who now knows a DB601 sounds surprisingly like a Griffon...)

[goshikisen]

Originally Posted by Steve T

Hi all--

Steve (who now knows a DB601 sounds surprisingly like a Griffon...)

I noticed that there was a distinctive whistling sound when the 109 flew by... supercharger?

[Firebird]

Originally Posted by goshikisen

I noticed that there was a distinctive whistling sound when the 109 flew by... supercharger?

Yup the supercharger, or rather the type of supercharging, a single-stage variable speed mechanical compressor driven via a barometricly controlled hydraulic clutch, harking back to the similar methods employed on the racing Mercedes-Benz's of the 1920's, giving a very distinctive high pitched sound.

[trumper]

Are there no qualified pilots in Canada to display them?, nice to see the planes in good hands though.

[turretboy]

It was a great little airshow!! I don't think that there were any gaps between displays and I was quite impressed with seeing the Russel trio going up three times in one afternoon.

I can't wait to see what Mr.Russell will bring us next year!

[Mark12]

"Little Willie" is that photoshop or for real?

Mark

[turretboy]

It's actually painted on there.

[Mark12]

Originally Posted by turretboy

It's actually painted on there.

Well I actually thought it was also.

If I was just about to experience the 'Magic of the Merlin' in this aircraft....

...I would wear a 'codpiece'.

Mark

[DazDaMan]

Great pics - is that a full-scale SE5a replica?

[turretboy]

Hey Daz,

I am quite sure it is full size replica. It belongs to the Great War Flying Museum in Brampton, Ontario.

More about the aircraft here:

http://www.greatwarflyingmuseum.com/...e5a_front.html

[Ontario-Warbird]

Will have video on my site in a few days.


www.ontario-warbirds.ca

[STORMBIRD262]

Very nice Mike, thank's for showing them to us all mate! .

And LOOK an "E" with a real D.BE.........I never get sick of that , roll on D.B.'s

And another one down,

and another one down,

and another Buch bite's the dust!!! HEY

[DazDaMan]

Phil, you'll apreciate the finer points of the Buchon yet!

[SteveYoung]

That side on shot of the 109 is wonderful.

An airfield in France. June 1940...

[STORMBIRD262]

Nah

[Steve T]

Hi all--

The Great War Flying Museum has two S.E.5as, C-FQGM and C-GRJC. QGM is one of the scaled-down versions with the small flat-four engine; RJC, seen in Mike's photo, is a beautiful and very convincing-looking fullsize SE originally powered with a re-geared Ford V6 and now, I'm told, with a Ranger six like the museum's D.VII. Both SEs, the D.VII, the Nieuport 28 and the recently-completed Sopwith Strutter were at Niagara.

Mr Russell's Messerschmitt (ex-David Price collection) isn't a converted Hispano, but a restored Bf109E-4. Must say it was almost dreamlike, seeing and hearing the Emil in action...and reading the Canadian civil registration under the stabilizer. Not something I'd so much as hoped to see! BTW I have to concur that there's just "something" about the Buchon, too. Wonder if we'll ever see a Buchon (in EdA livery, of course) airborne at a show alongside the Emil...anything seems possible lately!

S.

[Maarvin]

Fantastic, just fantastic. Thanks very much for posting these.

Maarvin

[Mark12]

For glorious air to airs of this event see AIRIC's website.

http://www.airic.ca/html/friendly_foes.html

Mark

[turretboy]

Yes, Eric does some very very nice work!!

[airic]

Hey guys, sorry for holding out for so long. They just revived me after shooting the fabulous Russell Trio. I have to say it was one of the highlights of my life and an extreme privilege to shoot these aircraft. A special thanks goes to John Romain, Alan Walker, Walter Eichhorn, Ed Russell, Frank Schaufler and photoplane pilot Kent Beckham. My website will be updated every day with pics but my time right now is at a premium. I just added a 109 page tonight. Tomorrow the Hurricane if I can get the time.

Just some of the images I took on Sunday morning.









Happy Landings,

Eric

[Peter]

Wow!!

[STORMBIRD262]

I can only add to that last comment too Peter ,

WOW!!!!

WOW!!!!

WOW!!!!

And WOW!!!!

AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL, AND MIND ALTERING SHOT'S!!!!!

They have captured the essence of 1940 for me...............

The Knight's of the Air, on their trusted mount's .

Is that Adolf Galland in the E-4, as it gave me a flash in the back of my mind, of Mr last in his trade mark White's back then(almost chill like ).

And yes, same goe's for the other shot's,

That could be J.J. in the Spit, and D.B. in the Hurra .

Eric, YOU are a magician mate, Thank's for taking me on your Tardis oh time lord .

I have alway's been grateful that we had Buchon's, As the B of B movie could never have been made without them.

But it stop's about there I'm afraid .

The Merlin nose job has just never done anything for me at all,
I love the B of B movie it's a true classic, but still every time I watch it, the Buchon's still grate on me.

I still live in hope one day, that the B of B movie could remade without the Ugly and inaccurate Buchon's, I don't want them all to dissapear, but if enough D.B.'s can be found and rebuilt, give them ALL a good D.B. nose job.

It's been long overdue, but is slowly starting to happen .

As for the new B of B movie.

We need GOOD actor's, one's who could do as good as the original cast(if that's possible at all.)

We seem to have enough Hurra's and Spit's for it now, and now some more real looking 109's are getting about .

Now to work on getting some of the other plane's up and about again, such as the bomber's, might be a problem, just how many are airworthy now day's I'm not sure .

Be great to have a real screaming Stuka or 2 aswell, and a few 110's .

If we hold off on the film a few more year's, this could happen(wishful thinking, but it just might).

Great thread guy's, get the mod's to sticky it so it stay's here for awhile .



(p.s, I knew it was a rebuilt original, I just like diggin Daz)

[Manonthefence]

Airic

Superb stuff. You almost got the Falls in on the last one.

It looks like it was a wonderful weekend, did Ed get the Lancaster finished in the hangar ??

[DazDaMan]

Fantastic photos

[Merlinmagic]

Mark12

I have just returned to the Sceptred Isle from whence the water cascades somewhat. Verily thou art a master of the 'double entendre'!

MM

[Mark12]

Originally Posted by Merlinmagic

Mark12

I have just returned to the Sceptred Isle from whence the water cascades somewhat. Verily thou art a master of the 'double entendre'!

MM

MM

Mark

[turretboy]

Wow!!

Very nice Eric!!!

[Chris Broad]

Speechless!...
Wonderful pictures of a great collection. Three of the most famous fighters EVER in formation. ooooh i bet that sounded sweeeeeeeet

[Ray Jade]

'ain't the 109 a dumpy & lumpy lookin' thing next to the others?

[Mark12]

Truly a 'Mickey Mouse' Air Force.

I think 'old WaltD' indirectly paid for a fair chunk of it.

If that is the first time all three have been photographed A-A together, Ed Russell must be a pretty proud man.

Mark