--For six month revealed of the year, Tech. Sgt David Brown least bits aerial bombs on Bcaletown, Va., about an hour southerly of Washington, D.C.
Using his 1941 PT-17 aircraft, the medical logistics noncommissioned officer with the 459th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron can narrow in forward a moving target--usually a bodily form running around below--and release his ammunition: "flour bombs"
The comedy routine--dropping bags filled with baking flour--is individual of several acts for members of the Flying Circus Airshow, an organization of local aviators and airplane enthusiasts.
"The display is dedicated to preserving and flying many archetypes of vintage aircraft to give the public a view of aviation from the 1930 and 1940 military and barnstorming years," Brown said.
Brown a licensed commercial pilot and certified flight instructor, has been a member of the point out to since he landed a do job-work as part of the clod crew in 1975. Today, he takes passengers in his two-seater Stearman biplane for eight to 10 minutes of aerobatics--performing crooks spins, rolls and "hammerheads," a maneuver in which the pilot plucks the aircraft upward and stalls in midair for a import before making a steep, spiraling descent
"In the past 25 years since I've been doing this, I've barely had one lady 'lose her lunch' " Brown said,
Passengers range from as young as 12 to the older generation who actually flew the vintage aircraft during World War II.
Brown's confess aircraft is one of barely 10,000 planes used to train Army Air Corps and Navy pilots during the war. Today, solely about 2,000 exist.
"My aircraft is painted in the color scheme as when it was first produc and used from the Army Air Corps from one side 1942," he said.
Everything, down to the engine, which levys out 220 horsepower on seven-cylinders, has been rebuilt to its original design and is maintained at Brown.
Maintaining and piloting a piece of aviation history is an honor for him. "You're just the caretaker and should keep its history until you pass it forward to someone else," he said.
COPYRIGHT 2003 U Air Force, Air Force recents Agency