TBM Avenger Reunion 2024 | a 7 Image Story

May 26, 2024 | 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, 7 Image Stories, A-1 Skyraider, AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR, Aviation, Events, Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger, Nikon 1 V3, T-33 Shooting Star, T-6 Texan, TBM Avenger Reunion 2024

5/26/2024 TBM Avenger Reunion 2024 | TBM Avenger Run-upTBM Avenger Reunion 2024 | a 7 Image Story  This year’s TBM Avenger Reunion was graced with really good weather and a large crowd.  As usual, the event was a great way to start airshow season in the Midwest

TBM Avenger Run-up    The Grumman TBF Avenger is a WWII torpedo bomber.  Those designated TBM were actually manufactured by General Motors.  It has a crew of three; pilot, gunner, and radio operator / bombardier.  Avengers are powered by a 1,900 hp Wright R-200-20 radial engine.  Its armament includes two .50-in. forward-firing machine guns; one .50-in. dorsal gun; one .30-in. ventral gun.; 2,000 lb. bomb/torpedo load.  Also it’s capable of carrying the Norden bombsight.  Developed for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, it entered service in 1942 and first saw action during the Battle of Midway.  Although five Avengers were lost at Midway, it became one of the outstanding torpedo bombers of the war and remained in service until the 1960s after several modifications.

TBM Avenger Wings Retracted  The Grumman TBF Avenger is a WWII torpedo bomber with folding wings for operations off of aircraft carriers.   DC-3 Landing  The airshow parachutists departed from this Douglas DC-3 to open the airshow at the TBM Avenger Reunion 2024.   A-1 Skyraider  The A-1 Skyraider was designed during WWII and entered service in December 1946.  It saw extensive action in the Korean War by the U.S. Navy and USMC. In the Vietnam War, it again saw action as primary ground support attack aircraft and as one of the Skyraider’s most famous roles: the “Sandy” helicopter escort on search and rescue operations.  Its pilots and crews bestowed many names on the Skyraider including Sandy, Spad, Hobo, Zorro, and Firefly.  T-6 Aerobatics  The T-6 Texan makes a nice aerobatic machine.  This image was captured looking straight up.  T-6/SNJ Texan  The North American T-6 Texan is a military single-engine aircraft primarily used as a trainer. Its first flight was on April 1st, 1935. Nearly 16,000 planes were built. The T-6 Texan was used extensively during WWII and the Korean conflict.   Canadair CT-133 Silver Star  The T-33 was the only jet at this year’s event.

TBM Avenger Specifications
Length: 40 ft., 11 in. Height: 16 ft., 5 in. Wingspan: 54 ft., 2 in. Wing area: 490 sq. ft.
Max Speed: 276 mph at 16,500 ft. Cruise Speed: 147 mph Climb Rate: 2,060 ft./min. Ceiling: 30,100 ft. Range: 1,010 miles
Empty: 10,545 lb. Maximum: 17,895 lb.

Each image from TBM Avenger Reunion 2024 | a 7 Image Story will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category TBM Avenger Reunion 2024.  I post an image most days at hankconrad.com.

Click any image below for a slide show.