[Leica] IMG: A Few from the Beech Party

[Jim Nichols]

Each year at about this time the Beech airplane enthusiasts throw a 
Beech Party in Tullahoma, where they enjoy each others company and all 
things Beech.  The airplanes have been arriving for several days.  
Today, I snapped a few examples of the airplanes that brought it all about.

The pride and joy of the Beech enthusiasts is the BE-17 Staggerwing, 
built in the 1930s and 1940s.  This photo was too far away to show the 
details of craftsmanship, but it was the best I could do today.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Red+Staggerwing.tif.html

The follow-on to the Staggerwing was the Twin Beech, built for the Army 
and Navy in a number of configurations during WWII, and produced for the 
civilian market in the 40s and 50s.  The Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 hp 
radial powered most of the Staggerwings and the Twin Beech, though some 
were converted to turboprops later.
This one was caught on a low pass down the runway.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Twin+Beech+in+Flight.TIFF.html

After WWII, Beech developed the Bonanza for the civilian market. The 
original had the butterfly tail shown here, while the later models 
featured a conventional tail.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Red+Bonanza.TIFF.html

And when pilots get together, frequently they want to do things that are 
not a part of their daily routine, such as formation flying and low 
passes down the runway.  This formation contained the military trainer 
version of the Bonanza, the T-34, along with a Bonanza.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/T-34+and+Bonanza.tif.html

All shot from a distance with the E-1 and Takumar 135/3.5.

Comments and critiques welcomed.

-- 
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA