Airship27

AVIATION ADVENTURES

  • On 15 Jul | '2011

Greetings Loyal Airmen. Obviously by now you are all aware of what an aviation buff the Air Chief is. After all why would we call the place Airship 27 if we weren't nuts about all kinds of great flying machines. Last weekend the local Loveland/Fort Collins airfield had several World War II vintage planes on display and you can bet where the Air Chief and his family spent their Sunday afternoon.

      
                                    B-25 BOMBER WITCHCRAFT
One of the most famous planes built during that conflict was the workhorse B-25 Bomber which was responsible for bringing the war to the enemy and in the end it helped destroy their armament production facilities.  This proud old girl was the center piece of the show and visitors were allowed on to climb on board and check her out.

      
                        The Air Chief and grandson, Alex Horne manning the guns.
That invitation to climb aboard was all we needed and with grandson, Alex, we hurriedly got in line and then when our turn came, entered this amazing aircraft and inspected her tail to cockpit.  One of the first things one realizes when making such a visit is just how tightly cramped the interiors were.  You soon realize the average airmen on those crews were probably Alex' body size and weight. In other words, nowhere as big and tall as today's citizens.  This was such a treat for the both of us and allowed the Air Chief to spout a little history to Alex in the process.

      
                                 The Air Chief and a P-51 Mustang Fighter
Of course whenever American bombers flew out on sorties, like these B-25s, they had to have fighter escorts to protect them against single engine enemy fighters like the German Messerschmidts.  One of the most popular such fighter planes was the P-51 Mustang and there was one at the show.  Walking around her, you could feel the power radiating from her fuselage and it was very easy for the Air Chief to imagine the many aerial dogfights she must have been in.  It was a pure joy and honor to have this photo taken in front of such an elegant lady of the clouds.

                   
                                Art by Shannon Hall
Coincidentally a few days after attending the air show, we were thrilled to receive the above illustration by the truly gifted young artist, Shannon Hall.  It is a pencil rendering of what will become the painted cover to Airship 27 Productions third Lance Star -Sky Ranger volume coming out soon.  The book contains four brand new Lance Star adventures with twelve black and white interior illos by Shannon.  Art Director Rob Davis and the Air Chief were so delighted by his work on those, we offered him the cover assignment.  As this pencil sketch indicates, he's clearly rising to the challenge.  Stay turned, we'll soon be posting the final, completed painting.  It is going to be sweet.

      
                                          Wizard Harry Potter and his pals Hermoine and Ron
Finally, this weekend sees the release of the final chapter in the cinematic adventures of boy wizard Harry Potter when HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS premiers in theaters across the country.  For over a decade, movie audiences around the world have thrilled to the saga of this orphaned boy growing into his destiny as he seeks to combat and destroy the fiendish black wizard who murdered his parents. Cast and crew have taken us on an incredible journey, brilliantly bringing to life writer J.K.Rowling's books; a series that proved once and for all that even today's gadget obsessed kids will read…if you give them quality stories. As much as the Air Chief and his family are eager to see this final movie, it will also be bitter sweet saying goodbye to Harry and the entire staff of regulars at Hogworths.  But then again, we still have the books to re-read time and again, and the DVDs to watch repeatedly.  So thanks Harry, it was a great trip.

That's it for this week, Loyal Airmen.  We hope you continue to enjoy the summer. With the All Star game behind us, the baseball season now rolls into its second half.  Our beloved Red Sox are still hanging in there and although we think they have a chance to make the play-offs, we'd still like to see better pitching.

Ron – Over & Out!
      

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