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it compared to the raging XIV with the Griffon
engine. I slid into position to the Thunderbolt’s
left and watched him. I couldn’t figure out if
I like the plane or not. She’s pretty attractiveon
the ground, but now with the undercarriage
and flaps tucked neatly away, she really does
look like a jug, as she was affectionately (or
not) known during the war. Her name is Nellie
B. ‘Nellie’, I thought, ‘you’re a tad chubby. Admit
it….you have an appetite!’ At that point, we were
getting close to our fly past. The Thunderbolt has
different dynamics than the Mustang and started
to pull away from us as we descended, giving us
something to do to catch up. After the pass, we
went into a right climbing turn, and the situation
reversed, with us trying not to overtake her.
We turned left and went into the second flypast.
Two Merlins, a Griffon and an R-2800, must be
quite a sound on the ground! We returned to the
airport for our break, initiated on command by the
P-47. Mira went first, climbing and disappearing
off to the right. After two seconds, it was my turn.
I tried to overtake Mira in the turn and did so
while in it. We flew as a pair over the runway and
broke off for individual passes. I went into the
circuit and had the Spitfire and T-bolt in front of
me, also getting ready for their flypast. I lined up
with ‘Little Rebel’ followed by ‘Excalibur’. I roared
over Runway 04 and broke right to join a left
circuit for 22. I watch the other aircraft as they
went one at a time into their passes. I waited until
they were out of the way, since landing against
them would be a pretty lousy idea. ATC confirmed
and gave me clearance to land. I approached the
runway, sat her down and came to the realization
that I had enough for one day.
Before flight back to Pilsen.
(photo: Petra Nováková)
INFO Eduard
19
July 2024