Mail Call: SNAFU

Gatlinburg/Sevierville, TN; Sept. 25, 2006

A lovely view of the clouds/mountains on the way to Gatlinburg in the P-51 Mustang.

 

It is the crack of dawn at Gatlinburg Airport (Yes, I AM awake) and they are starting to pull out the airplanes--the P-47 was first...

 

The Mail Call guys setting up a "Lipstick Cam" so they can see the Gunny during his flight.

 

Pulling out "Sweetie Face", the other Mustang there.

 

"Sweetie Face" at Dawn...

 

The P-47's lined up

 

The "Avenger", wings folded.

 

 

 

The Gunny talks with Martin in the hangar.

 

Chuck & Nathan hang out in the hanger

 

The 'Wicked Wabbit' throws off some wicked oil!

 

Gunny & Martin.  :)

 

 

Good morning to the sun-and Nathan's Mustang

 

The morning "briefing" before the flights with the Gunny and all the pilots/crew/videographers/photographers

 

The briefing...

 

 

The pilots...

 

Holy cow, the "Wicked Wabbit" ate its mechanic!  :O

 

Sorry for finding this so amusing, but it just looked...wrong.

 

Okay, time to pull him out...

 

Almost out...

 

All but the head.  lol

 

Chuck & Judy.  :)

 

Mr. Davis and his plane.

 

The TBM fires up, with Gunny and some crew on the right.

 

Watching the TBM get ready to roll

 

The TBM and the P-47's head out for their flight

 

Gunny comes over to speak with Nathan for a bit about the P-51

 

Just going over some of the plane's characteristics

 

This is Frank Luckman, an actual P-47 pilot from WWII; the Gunny, and Nathan.

 

Nathan & Gunny having a good time. :)

 

 

Frank, Gunny & Nate

 

Nathan & Gunny

 

Some of the crew watching down the runway as the "birds" get ready to take flight.