Big Country Air Fest 2017 

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 05/08/2017 at 18:02 • Filed to: Planelopnik

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Photos from the Big Country Air Fest 2017 in Abilene, Texas. I just happened to stumble upon this show Saturday, and fortunately, I always travel with my cameras. It was a small show, but had nice representation from the Commemorative Air Force. (Lots of pics to follow)

North American PBJ-1J (the Navy version of the B-25 Mitchell)

Signatures inside the bomb bay from men who had flown the PBJ in WWII

Beech Bonanza (the “Doctor Killer”)

This particular Bonanza had a significantly more powerful engine than the production models

Bell UH-1

Cessna 195

Embraer E 175 LR. American Airlines has a maintenance facility at ABI.

Ercoupe 415, with Lockheed C-130J from Dyess AFB in Abilene in the background

Fairchild PT-26

Ford 5-AT-B Tri-Motor

Hall Lester Legacy racer

Lockheed C-130J

Future Herk driver? It will almost certainly still be in service when this youngster grows up.

North American P-51D Mustang “Nervous Energy V”

North American T-6 Texan

North American T-28 Trojan

North American T-28 Trojan

Stearman PT-13

Travel Air 4000

All photos © Tim Shaffer

WilliamsSW > ttyymmnn 05/08/2017 at 18:12

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Wow! Some great photos - clear and a million skies doesn’t hurt. Love the PBJ-IJ. Can’t be many of those still airworthy.

The IO-550 in a V-tail is a nice combo. Think that’s what’s in an A36 normally.

Great angles on the P-51 photos, too!

ttyymmnn > WilliamsSW 05/08/2017 at 18:17

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Thanks. I do love an air show, no matter how big or small. That Mustang was absolutely gorgeous.

ttyymmnn > WilliamsSW 05/08/2017 at 18:24

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As I was taking the pictures of the Bonanza, the owner walked up to me and said, “You must know something about airplanes.” I got the feeling that not many people stopped to ask him about it, or even look at it. I thought it was gorgeous. I said, “Well, military aviation is more my thing, so no, I really don’t know much about this.” And boy, did he proceed to tell me about it, all the way down to how you can tell the different vintages apart by their window shapes (the engine was an aftermarket add on, so the rear side windows don’t match the engine, making his plane unique—I think). Plane owners (and car owners) love to talk about their machines, and I’d probably still be there if I didn’t politely break away. Nice guy, nice plane.

WilliamsSW > ttyymmnn 05/08/2017 at 18:32

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Yeah - it looks like there were a lot more military and antique aircraft there, so the V-tail won’t get nearly as much attention. I’m not that up to speed on them, but the more popular GA aircraft (Bonanza, Skyhawk, Skylane etc.) have endless variations out there. The V-tail (Model 35) is smaller than the Model 36 (normal tail), and only the latter got the IO-550. But some of the later V-tails had 285 HP, so it’s not like he doubled the power. But I’m sure it cost him big $$ for the STC and engine swap. That’s not as simple as it is in a car, not by a longshot.

MonkeePuzzle > ttyymmnn 05/08/2017 at 20:31

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theyre all beautiful, but the Turbulance is something else!

Jonathan Harper > ttyymmnn 05/08/2017 at 21:23

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No flying boats?? Pfft...

:)

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > ttyymmnn 05/09/2017 at 19:36

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dat cowling.

ttyymmnn > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 05/09/2017 at 20:44

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I was just looking at that very cowling today. It’s awesome.