Today I went on the ride of my life!!! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Livrat · 05-02-2011, 02:40 AM

Headed out this morning to pick up my mom so we could go down to the Boeing flight museum to check out the war birds that the Liberty foundation had flown into town, a Boeing WWII B-17 bomber and a Curtis P40 Warhawk,
So as we were walking around enjoying the awesome weather and sights, Mom asks, would you like an early birthday present? now me not being in the "birthday present" mindset, all I could respond with was.. Huh?? So she says would you like to go up in the P40?? I was floored!!.. I headed over to the "sign your life away" booth an asked the lady if they had any openings left and would the pilot go fully aerobatic? she said yes.. WOO HOO!! its been 30 years since I have been upside down in an airplane!!
So here I am all excited waiting for my 2:10pm briefing, I get word that they were running late due to a slight incident, it turns out that one of the previous passengers was so excited that instead of releasing his seat belt he pulled his parachute release.. Oopss... LOL.. and they did not have another parachute. boy was I bummed, I still get to go for a ride but no aerobatics.. then just after I took a couple pics with the pilot one of the guys came running out with a chute.. they found one locally.. my adrenaline is on!!
I got to see Seattle, upside down, sideways. we did a couple barrel rolls, two wingover rolls, chased the B17 and scared the bejesus out of a guy in a Cessna who was trying to chase after the B17, I tried to get the pilot to do a Hammerhead stall but said he could not due the the 200mph limit in the airspace we were in.. what an awesome day!!
Here are a few pictures

Livrat · 05-02-2011, 02:44 AM

More pics

Livrat · 05-02-2011, 02:47 AM

Two more pics of a Dehaviland Beaver on floats that just happened to show up and park in the wrong spot..

**special-K** · 05-02-2011, 07:03 AM

Lucky S.O.B!!! Talk about the ultimate performance machine...in 3D!...4D? How would you like to have a Curtis mill running one of your cars?

**too much stuff** · 05-02-2011, 09:10 AM

Way to go!! Sure looks like fun, but small planes don't always agree with me...
And an early or late happy birthday!
Eric

Sillyoldman · 05-02-2011, 09:24 AM

Wow I'd say that was a pretty good day!

Indian113 · 05-02-2011, 10:23 AM

I wish you a early happy birthday and I envy you for the ride you took! Thats AWESOME what a piece of history you rode in.

**Stocker** · 05-02-2011, 10:37 AM

What a tremendous experience!!

rambler · 05-02-2011, 01:54 PM

that would be a dream come true for me! what a awesome Mom you have!

Kurt L · 05-02-2011, 04:59 PM

i've always wanted to fly in a p40 you luck dog congrats. i know it had to a great rush
maybe one day before i die i''ll get to do that. great mom also to do that for ya.

Twisted78SS · 05-02-2011, 05:09 PM

AWESOME!

What else can one say Mark, Congrats! I hope you gave mom a big hug..

**thelonerife** · 05-02-2011, 06:25 PM

Thats GREAT! Happy Birthday too!

ETsC10 · 05-02-2011, 07:13 PM

Super Cool! You had perfect weather and,
obviously, also have a perfect Mom!!

oldblue1968chevy · 05-02-2011, 07:34 PM

Cool

boatpuller · 05-02-2011, 08:25 PM

that's cool

y5mgisi · 05-02-2011, 08:29 PM

That would be bad ass! I work for Boeing down here in portland. Its a pretty neat job and makes me want to know more about the older planes!

Mike Bradbury · 05-02-2011, 08:34 PM

They must have just come from San Diego because my boss just took a ride in the B-17. He had been waiting for over a year for it to come back into town. Cost his kids $400 for the birthday ride but he said it was well worth it.

You did not mention any air sickness, the older I get the less I can handle the barrel rolls as a passenger. I am no pilot but I have friends who are and it is amazing when they hand the stick over to you how the queezies go away. I guess because you are expecting all the turns more.

CG · 05-02-2011, 08:54 PM

When I was a kid it was all about the Flying Tigers for me. What a cool thing to be able to do. Glad you got that super weather to fly in. Make you want to paint teeth on your next project?

augie · 05-02-2011, 09:02 PM

I bet that was awesome. Sounds like a great birthday present!

NateK4340 · 05-02-2011, 09:39 PM

That is an amazing birthday present! The Liberty Foundation brought their B-17, B-24 and P-51C to Lubbock last year and it was awesome to get to crawl through the planes. It gives you a whole new level of respect for the guys that flew these planes in WWII. Glad you got to experience it!

60ratrod · 05-03-2011, 05:09 AM

that's awesome mark! i wanna go up in an old p-38 lightning myself. i took one of those air flight tours in key west and that was pretty neat.

bouncytruck · 05-03-2011, 11:48 AM

I thought I heard screams coming from the sky the other day!

Looks like fun!

Gobbles · 05-03-2011, 04:48 PM

Best birthday present ever!!! Grats man, that sounds like it was amazing!

05-02-2011, 02:40 AM	#1
Livrat Member #1049 Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Troy Montana Posts: 3,940	Today I went on the ride of my life!!! Headed out this morning to pick up my mom so we could go down to the Boeing flight museum to check out the war birds that the Liberty foundation had flown into town, a Boeing WWII B-17 bomber and a Curtis P40 Warhawk, So as we were walking around enjoying the awesome weather and sights, Mom asks, would you like an early birthday present? now me not being in the "birthday present" mindset, all I could respond with was.. Huh?? So she says would you like to go up in the P40?? I was floored!!.. I headed over to the "sign your life away" booth an asked the lady if they had any openings left and would the pilot go fully aerobatic? she said yes.. WOO HOO!! its been 30 years since I have been upside down in an airplane!! So here I am all excited waiting for my 2:10pm briefing, I get word that they were running late due to a slight incident, it turns out that one of the previous passengers was so excited that instead of releasing his seat belt he pulled his parachute release.. Oopss... LOL.. and they did not have another parachute. boy was I bummed, I still get to go for a ride but no aerobatics.. then just after I took a couple pics with the pilot one of the guys came running out with a chute.. they found one locally.. my adrenaline is on!! I got to see Seattle, upside down, sideways. we did a couple barrel rolls, two wingover rolls, chased the B17 and scared the bejesus out of a guy in a Cessna who was trying to chase after the B17, I tried to get the pilot to do a Hammerhead stall but said he could not due the the 200mph limit in the airspace we were in.. what an awesome day!! Here are a few pictures Attached Images

05-02-2011, 02:44 AM	#2
Livrat Member #1049 Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Troy Montana Posts: 3,940	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! More pics Attached Images

05-02-2011, 02:47 AM	#3
Livrat Member #1049 Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Troy Montana Posts: 3,940	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! Two more pics of a Dehaviland Beaver on floats that just happened to show up and park in the wrong spot.. Attached Images

05-02-2011, 07:03 AM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! Lucky S.O.B!!! Talk about the ultimate performance machine...in 3D!...4D? How would you like to have a Curtis mill running one of your cars? __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

05-02-2011, 09:10 AM	#5
too much stuff Roadtrip! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Grand Rapids MN Posts: 13,855	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! Way to go!! Sure looks like fun, but small planes don't always agree with me... And an early or late happy birthday! Eric __________________ 67 gmc custom lwb dakota truck. Sold...And bought back 69 swb 4x4 project (in progress) 70 c-10 lwb texas truck 70 4x4/BB/bkts/posi/tach(retired) 70 swb (wifes) 70 jimmy camper 71 K-5 factory 2wd 71 cheyenne 4x4/tach/posi/ plow rig 71 Cheyenne20 BB, buckets, tach, tilt, 4 speed 72 jimmy CST wyoming rig 72 jimmy Colorado rig 72 lifted texas 4x4 3/4 ton burb 65 fury conv. 383/auto 65 chrysler 300 "L" 413 auto

05-02-2011, 09:24 AM	#6
Sillyoldman #16876 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Auburn WA Posts: 12,266	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! Wow I'd say that was a pretty good day! __________________ Posted via Stationary Device '71 Custom Deluxe C-20 402. '67 Buick Special 455. '49 Plymouth Special Deluxe. *"I love that old car smell"* *Some people are like Slinkies... not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.*

05-02-2011, 10:23 AM	#7
Indian113 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Monroe,Iowa Posts: 4,370	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! I wish you a early happy birthday and I envy you for the ride you took! Thats AWESOME what a piece of history you rode in.

05-02-2011, 10:37 AM	#8
Stocker 20' Daredevil (Ret) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 13,814	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! What a tremendous experience!! __________________ - Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay

05-02-2011, 01:54 PM	#9
rambler MOVE OVER Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Warrensburg, MO Posts: 5,470	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! that would be a dream come true for me! what a awesome Mom you have! __________________ No matter where you are..... There you are... Buckaroo Banzi

05-02-2011, 04:59 PM	#10
Kurt L Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: ne florida Posts: 2,665	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! i've always wanted to fly in a p40 you luck dog congrats. i know it had to a great rush maybe one day before i die i''ll get to do that. great mom also to do that for ya.

05-02-2011, 05:09 PM	#11
Twisted78SS Wide n'Low Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: La Center, WA Posts: 1,511	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! AWESOME! What else can one say Mark, Congrats! I hope you gave mom a big hug.. __________________ Trippin Hazard.. 67 swb, Gold Member.. 68 Suburban Air Force Retired

05-02-2011, 06:25 PM	#12
thelonerife Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Clarksville TN 37043 Posts: 8,702	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! Thats GREAT! Happy Birthday too! __________________ Chuck 68swb Fleetside build ''Choncho'' http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=374892 My trailer redo http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...69#post5893869 Chuy my 59 bug http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=653798 Putnam 87 GMC Shop truck http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=707687

05-02-2011, 07:13 PM	#13
ETsC10 Hand Crafted C-10 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Burien, WA Posts: 5,180	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! Super Cool! You had perfect weather and, obviously, also have a perfect Mom!!

05-02-2011, 07:34 PM	#14
oldblue1968chevy Grandpa in the rustmobile... Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Spokane WA/Viola TN Posts: 11,422	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! Cool __________________ John Goose-1968 C10 355,9.32-1CR, Vortec Heads ,262 voodoo, 3.73:1 3OTT (HS ride/beater/farm truck) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=317684 Grams 53-1953 Chevrolet Belair http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post4327784 1969 Chevy C10 Shortbed 4.5/6?" Frame off resto http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=548136 1999 Toyota Tacoma 4x4

05-02-2011, 08:25 PM	#15
boatpuller Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sun City West, Az Posts: 3,822	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! that's cool __________________ " Never look up a dead dogs butt."



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05-02-2011, 08:29 PM	#16
y5mgisi Second Chance Program Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,642	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! That would be bad ass! I work for Boeing down here in portland. Its a pretty neat job and makes me want to know more about the older planes!

05-02-2011, 08:34 PM	#17
Mike Bradbury Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Diego California Posts: 1,316	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! They must have just come from San Diego because my boss just took a ride in the B-17. He had been waiting for over a year for it to come back into town. Cost his kids $400 for the birthday ride but he said it was well worth it. You did not mention any air sickness, the older I get the less I can handle the barrel rolls as a passenger. I am no pilot but I have friends who are and it is amazing when they hand the stick over to you how the queezies go away. I guess because you are expecting all the turns more. __________________ I'd rather attempt something great and fail.. than try something ordinary and succeed. Norman Vincent Peale Project: Barn Raising http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=414961 Project: 30 Be Low https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=830583

05-02-2011, 08:54 PM	#18
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 20,150	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! When I was a kid it was all about the Flying Tigers for me. What a cool thing to be able to do. Glad you got that super weather to fly in. Make you want to paint teeth on your next project? __________________ … … … … … … … … ... … … … … … … … … … … …

05-02-2011, 09:02 PM	#19
augie Waiting for Paul to Open Safe Join Date: May 2005 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 4,570	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! I bet that was awesome. Sounds like a great birthday present!

05-02-2011, 09:39 PM	#20
NateK4340 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Shallowater, Texas Posts: 151	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! That is an amazing birthday present! The Liberty Foundation brought their B-17, B-24 and P-51C to Lubbock last year and it was awesome to get to crawl through the planes. It gives you a whole new level of respect for the guys that flew these planes in WWII. Glad you got to experience it! __________________ "Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you: 1. Jesus Christ. 2. The American Soldier, One died for your soul, the other for your Freedom. " In the Garage: '02 Silverado Ext. Cab Z71 5.3l '70 C20 Longstep 402BB

05-03-2011, 05:09 AM	#21
60ratrod yes, i do Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Spokane, wa Posts: 2,734	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! that's awesome mark! i wanna go up in an old p-38 lightning myself. i took one of those air flight tours in key west and that was pretty neat. __________________ ERROR 404....... SNAPPY COMEBACK NOT FOUND _______________________________________________________________________________________________ -60 Chevy C10, dead 350/good th350 combo, sitting on a 76 c10 blazer frame, built from 11 different vehicles "the abomination" -07 gmt900 silverado 1500 lt xcab z71, granite blue -81 suzuki gs650g "shelah"- current project -81 kz1000m1 csr "sarge" -next project (just beautification) -07 kawasaki vulcan classic vn900

05-03-2011, 11:48 AM	#22
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,038	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! I thought I heard screams coming from the sky the other day! Looks like fun! __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

05-03-2011, 04:48 PM	#23
Gobbles Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: British Columbia Posts: 484	Re: Today I went on the ride of my life!!! Best birthday present ever!!! Grats man, that sounds like it was amazing! __________________ Trevor "You already said spite"

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