1878 Miles Sitting on the Floor of a P-51
Here is a scan of the remarks section from the page in my logbook that gives a bit of insight to my expanded chapter titled, "The Things I Can't Tell You." One name and a few words have been omitted to protect the pilot (who may not care one way or the other). Until I get an okay from him, I'll leave the blank spots.
4 Logbook Entries:
_____________________
Flight #120; July 26, 1988; Year: 1944; Make: North American; Model: P-51; Engine: Rolls Royce; H.P.: 1650 (2000 w/ water injection); License No.: N*****; Origination: Chino Airport, Chino, California; Termination: Winslow Airport, Winslow, Arizona; Sky Conditions: hazy, hot; Altitude & Airspeed: 10,000'/280 MPH; Time at Take-off: 12 Noon; Landing: 1:45 p.m.; Elapsed: 1:45; In Control of Ship: 0; Landings 0; statute miles: 414; Remarks:
_____________________
Flight #121; July 26, 1988; Year: 1944; Make: North American; Model: P-51; Engine: Rolls Royce; H.P.: 1650 (2000 w/ water injection); License No.: N*****; Origination: Winslow Airport, Winslow, Arizona; Termination:Goodland, Kansas; Sky Conditions: windy, hot, stormy; Altitude & Airspeed: 14,200'/280 MPH; Time at Take-off: 2:15 p.m.; Landing: 5:15 p.m.; Elapsed: 3:00; In Control of Ship: 0; Landings 0; statute miles: 621; Remarks:
Post Flight Remark: I don't recall specifically why we did not fuel up at Goodland, Kansas before continuing onto McCook, Nebraska.
_____________________
Flight #122; July 26, 1988; Year: 1944; Make: North American; Model: P-51; Engine: Rolls Royce; H.P.: 1650 (2000 w/ water injection); License No.: N*****; Origination: Goodland, Kansas; Termination: McCook Airport, McCook, Nebraska; Sky Conditions: clear, blue, warm; Altitude & Airspeed: 6,000'/280 MPH; Time at Take-off: 5:30 p.m.; Landing: 6 p.m. (8 p.m local); Elapsed: :30; In Control of Ship: 0; Landings 0; statute miles: 118; Remarks:
_____________________
Flight #123; July 28, 1988; Year: 1944; Make: North American; Model: P-51; Engine: Rolls Royce; H.P.: 1650 (2000 w/ water injection); License No.: N*****; Origination: McCook Airport, McCook, Nebraska; Termination:Whittman Field, Oshkosh, Wisconsin ; Sky Conditions: clear, warm outside, roasting inside; Altitude & Airspeed: 11,500'/280 MPH; Time at Take-off: 12:40 p.m.; Landing: 5:30 p.m.(local time?); Elapsed: 3:50; In Control of Ship: 0; Landings 0; statute miles: 725; Remarks:
Post flight remarks: When the fuel truck at Oshkosh filled our tanks, it registered it had added 1/2 gallon more fuel than the usable fuel gallonage listed in the P-51 manual.
Though it may not sound like it, I am still grateful to have had this rare opportunity from the P-51 pilot who provided the longest rides of any of the 199 pilots during the whole journey. And I'm even more grateful to still be alive to tell about it.