Military AI Works

I had the honor of being asked to go on a ride in a combat veteran TBM Avenger flown by Linda Schumm. She is one of only TWO certified female Avenger pilots. And it was a privilidge. She is a great pilot and a great friend. Torpedo runs are the best! To take a quote from Linda, "its not who you know, its who knows you!" And that was nothing further from the truth this weekend. If you ever see them or the avenger at a show. Go up and say hi! They are very nice people and enjoy talking about the Avenger. Also, if you have facebook, they have a fan page for the TBM. Search: TBM Avenger, Inc and become a fan!

This is a pic of brad flying it before my flight:





My flight!


Torpedo run!


Landing:


Linda and I:


And Linda enjoying what she loves:




Thanks again Linda!

Sweet! You lucky dog.

That's a 1 once in a life time opportunity.

At one time in the past, there was a person that owned TBM based at KSMO. I was suprised how huge this plane is.

There used to be all kinds of classic aircraft here.

Flying Boxcar
Seafury
Coursair
Spitfire
Mustang

I don't see them anymore. I think they ran the people away for making too much noise.

Huge, but nimble. I was at an airshow at the Civilian Airfield (now called Songbird Field) in Killeen, Tx during the summer of '85, and one of these was there. At the end of the day, the pilot was ready to return to his home field, and he found himself on a rather crowded ramp. In order to be able to taxi out without waiting for other a/c to start up and move away, he goosed the engine while using differential braking, and acctually spun the big Avenger on a dime and casually taxied away. Learned a couple of things. 1) That thing has a very powerful engine, which, if you are close enough, can knock you on you ass with its prop wash, and 2) just cause it's been around since the forties doesn't mean that when the engine racks up quick, won't impress the hell out of you - fighters aren't the only a/c that can make your heart go pit-a-pat!

Ron

(this is me being EXTREMELY jealous)

Hey des, i know something that may make you more jealous