Ferrari Mailing List: FW: (NFC) 1950's Jet Fighters

[Doug & Terri (dnt]

Picture this – 1966, Ferrari Willi (Bubba to some) took me the Orange County airport in Orange California.  Now the John Wayne airport.  So what – well, THAT was the location of Frank Tallman and Paul Mantz studio aircraft at Tallmantz Aviation Collection Museum.   Sadly, both men died in separate aircraft incidents – Paul Mantz while making “Flight of the Phoenix” and Frank Tallman on a routine hop when the weather went bad.

 

In the back lot of their studio museum were the 1950’s jets.  Sabers, Super Sabers, WWII Corsairs (yeah I know – not a jet but with its Double Wasp, nearly as fast) all open to be clambered over.  One huge single engine jet I recall had a split air scope ABOVE the cockpit!  This is, with these experimental planes they were HUGE. 

 

Now inside the museum, were WWI aircraft – REAL WWI aircraft with Rhone engines.  All proper like.  In the back lot was a B-50 fuselage.  No wings – just a long fuselage on a trailer.  That would be taken about town to malls and grocery store Grand Openings.  That’s where I saw the “tube” the fore cockpit folks would take to get the aft area.  Two huge pressurized balloons on either end of what could double as a B-29.

 

Now enjoy a spin thru YouTube “Tallmantz Aviation Collection Museum” listening to the famous Piano Guys playing The Cello Song.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCM5vr3h-Zc

 

Doug