T-34 A and B models

[evangilder]

I love these little planes. Pretty docile in flight and fun!









These were from the "Gathering of Mentors" at Palm Springs on May 1-3, 2009.

I had to get a gratuitous self portrait as well.

[NikonGuy]

Great shots, Eric!      

[CHILIBEAN]

Nice shots 

[evangilder]

Thanks guya!

[Midnight Mover]

I like the self portrait

Looks like a cool ride

[phantomphan1974]

Like the one with drop tanks.  I know its alot of drag but it looks cool!

[Midnight Mover]

Like the one with drop tanks.  I know its alot of drag but it looks cool!

Some cool colors too

[evangilder]

I know a couple of guys that have drop tanks. They say it does add some drag, but it increases their range. With all the things going on with the spars and different ADs on the Mentors, they have a speed limitation (the exact number eludes my memory at the moment). It is sad that there is a likelihood of a majority of these being grounded next May. The T-34 Association is working with the FAA and a number of maintenance facilities to try and keep that from happening.

When I saw Kevin Carson's T-34 on Friday when we arrived at Palm Springs, I knew I had to get some air-to-air shots of that airplane. The color scheme is beautiful and I knew against the Palm Springs terrain, those colors would snap.

Here is another T-34 with drop tanks, taken during a Veteran's Day flyover over Santa Barbara:

[evangilder]

Here are a couple from Saturday.

[NikonGuy]

Cool air to air shots, Eric. 

[CHILIBEAN]

yes those are some cool air shots 

[kick Z tail out]

I'd prefer to have the C myself, but you can't deny that they're all cool little airplanes! I also like that first one with the drop tanks, specifically the blue camo scheme!

Sad to hear about the possible grounding. That sucks.

[Realbigtaco]

Nice stuff Eric.  Well me and you both got rides for Veterans day.  I got to fly twice on Saturday with Jim Ostrich in his T-34 from the Warbirds West Air Museum in El Cajon.  It was a warbird fly in which also had a great talk with 90 year old (bit still sharp as a tack) Brigadier General Robert Cardenas.  And one of his many claims to fame is A B-49 test pilot, and the pilot of the B-29 that dropped Chuck Yeager on his historic flight.  Any ways the first flight was out to the east county for some LOW flying over the desert.  Next flight was a seven ship formation flight over the cross at Mt. Soladad then down the coast and into San Diego Bay.  Awesome, awesome experience for my first ever T-34 flights.

[NikonGuy]

Sweet! Real cool shots you took, Chris!   

[kick Z tail out]

Very cool! Love the Tarawa you caught in one of the shots too.