P-47 Thunderbolt Wicked Wabbit helmet cam - Part 1

[@jshoff725]

Thanks everyone. Glad you like it. The Thunderbolt is a joy to fly, it loves to go. I'll do more. See you soon.

[@Mr.XJ.96]

John Shoffner....The Jug is by far my favorite Aircraft of all. Was a pleasure to watch your video Sir.

[@kurtromkey1536]

gotta back seat?

[@Danger-ds7vz]

What's with the tape before takeoff?. Great video by the way! I could smell the grass on a couple of those passes !

[@P61guy61]

Thank you for posting. I am having a memorial service at my local airport KCTJ on May 21 2022 for Captain Harold D. Coonley. He flew 100 missions in the P-47 over Europe and recently passed at 98. Thanks for keeping em flying.

[@garyseeseverything8615]

What about the bf109 doesn’t it deserve the same 150 octanes the p47 used to make power? The bf109 used cheap 87 but historians don’t want the truth for you!

[@Theo-hc5ob]

Beautiful. A bit of deja vu for me. My uncle Harrison flew a Jug in WWII, my dad, his brother, flew a P51 out of England (Two different theaters). My dad named his plane after my mom, Quenice Thomasina, who was born on March 14 (Pi, 3.14) Dad always called mom Cutie Pie. His plane was named QT (symbol for Pi) for her. Here was my uncles plane showing a Mustang with FT (symbol for Pi), I was floored, and teared up. Thanks for posting this, I am jealous and grateful. And thank you for the brave men that flew these beautiful aircraft and the men and women that still do today.

[@Blaydrnnnr]

Ah.. you guys living my dream....

[@AbsoluteyAmerican]

I keep coming back to this video. I love it! As a military historian that focuses primarily on WW2, videos like these are gems! It demonstrates what formation flying is like, the sounds of the plane, and when visible, how the pilot operates and manages the systems. Absolutely phenomenal. Got to ride in a 1929 American Standard (bi-plane) up at Rhinebeck Aerodrome. That was an experience. Ear shattering, open cockpit, wind whipping. Oil flinging out. The smell and feel of what it was like to fly in WW1. It was astounding.

[@jshoff725]

Wow, I appreciate your comments and for keeping this on your favorites list. Regards - John

[@v7bp25aq]

If I was ever offered the chance to fly a WWII Plane I think I would screech like a little girl!

[@walkersullivan9153]

I remember years ago, you telling me the P-51 was a dime a dozen and there were only seven or eight P-47's in operation. Well, by God, it was a pleasure to sit inside your machine in Z-Hills 20 years ago. Good to see you're still kicking.

[@jshoff725]

Thanks. For the record, I was not casting dispersions on the P-51. It's a great aircraft with a huge history. My comment was simply about availability today. Thanks for checking in.

[@jacobbuchino8038]

This is just incredible... I've always wanted to see what it looks like flying in a formation of old planes... Really something amazingly beautiful about it.

[@jackthompson1382]

You sir, are my hero. The p47 is what got me into aviation. I’ll never forget my first air show hearing the big R2800 spool up. Please keep this old girl flying.

[@bowser515]

11:50 what an epic pass! How great life must be to have a machine like this to fly.

[@hostelsituations2647]

+bowser515 I was going to comment on that too!! What a thrill that would be!!

[@Westsailor]

Wow... this is the way flying is supposed to be. Many thanks for sharing what must be a proud thrill flying these warbirds.

[@davidoneill8612]

Very special to see one of the best flying still. My father fought with these in WWII, it was his favorite plane.

[@spiff2776]

Hey Jug fans, if you haven't already download a copy of "Thunderbolt!" by Robert S. Johnson to your Kindle or whatever your tablet is. It will make you feel like you're in the cockpit with him on his missions. He dedicates an entire chapter to the mission where he was jumped by 190s, went down in flames, pulled out, and was attacked two more times by a German ace. His aircraft was a flying wreck, but it got him home. A must read if you're a P-47 fan. Thanks for the great vid, John!

[@chrisS613]

My grandpa flew P47's with the 353rd Fighter Group out of Raydon January-August 1944, and I got to thank you for posting this footage. It's one thing to see the black and white as well as the rudimentary color footage shot in the 1940's, but yours with the actual audio of the engine is absolutely phenomenal.

[@jshoff725]

Thank you for watching. And my salute to your grandpa!

[@gregorymccullough3801]

Chris Strobell , did your grandfather know Jack Epperson?

[@Hedwardwynn]

My grandmother built these in Evansville, Indiana back during the war. Good to see these old birds still out and about. Let me know if you're ever in the area. I'd love to see it!

[@n9347y]

Edward Wynn This a/c was built in Evansville. I have flown it in the Evansville air and water show a couple of times, latest last summer.

[@Hedwardwynn]

I'm sure that my grandmother probably riveted parts of your plane! Thanks for sharing!

[@lovethegame0204]

My dad lives in Sugar Grove, IL and there's a little airport out there called the Aurora Municipal Airport and they used to have awesome shows like this when i was a kid, i WISH they would do that again. I'd LOVE the opportunity to see some of the beautiful birds up close. Especially the P51d. They had a program called "Young Eagles" where pilots would donate their time, the airfield providing the fuel, and give kids under 18 FREE rides in the planes, and I had the chance to fly in and actually fly an old RAF transport plane.

[@timmayer8723]

A tank with wings. Two thousand horsepower. Dog fighter, bomber, strafer, PIT BULL of the sky.

[@jshoff725]

Haha! Perfect description. Thanks for tuning in! - JS

[@BLKninjas]

That is such a beautiful formation. That low 51 pass was awesome. Beautiful, beautiful planes.

[@davey.f.demarco3858]

Thanks for the awesome video John. We have Nellie B over here in the UK and saw her do a display a few years ago. For a aeroplane nicknamed the flying jug she sure could move. Beautiful aircraft. All the best and stay safe 👍🏻👍🏻

[@tbobborap1]

absolutely awesome ! many thanks for sharing such an amazing insight into a world most of us can only imagine, what an adrenaline rush you guys must get every time you fly these beasts, regards from the uk,

[@billbright1755]

Atta boy! The Jug's job was to raise holy heck with the enemy, and at this she was unsurpassed! Rosie the Riveter, thanks, your workmanship brought many a thankful man home!

[@TheOldelwood]

Always loved the old birds.The Jug and the AD-1 Skyraider were two of the toughest birds out there! They could dish out all kind of hell and could take it also. Like the A- 10 Warthog today.

[@wilsontoddd5253]

Just. The. Past. Airshow. Here. In. San. Antonio. Texas. 😊😊😊😊😊

[@slpss2002]

How could any sane person thumbs down one of the greatest planes from WW2? Keep um flying!!

[@johnofiara9216]

I love the cockpit view, my grandfather flew t-bolts during the war he was transitioning to the n model at the end of the war for the invasion of japan. I always wondered what it would have been like. He thought it was the best fighter of ww2 but I am sure he was bias. One year there was 4 t-bolts at willow run air show so I took my mom and when they taxied by there was a tear in her eye. Thanks for keeping it flying hope to see it at thunder over Michigan.

[@johnofiara9216]

+John Ofiara I have a small pic of gramps in front of a biplane he flew before the war. My uncle has some pics in his ww2 days, I know one of his graduating t-bolt class. when he passed away in 04 we did donate some of his things to the yankee air museum after it burned down. they were asking for donations. I do have a pic of him in the usaf museum t-bolt from one of his reunions they had there. No P-47 at thunder over Michigan this year.

[@JoseJimenez-sh1yi]

+John Ofiara one question does the p47 was hard tp learn to fly ?

[@ak-northman726]

This has to be the best war bird video I’ve ever seen here. Can’t believe I haven’t watched it before. Will have to make up for that by starting every day with it.

[@jshoff725]

You are very kind. Thanks for tuning in. - Cheers.

[@PeekPost]

P-47 Thunderbolt is probably the most underrated aircraft from ww2 !

[@lenchewbacca]

***** wat.

[@ReptileRescue]

***** ...I don't think so. Nobody who knows very much about these aircraft ever underrated a P-47.

[@GnonplussedGnome]

PhrynosomaTexas Except the British when they first saw them.

[@ReptileRescue]

GnonplussedGnome I said those who know very much. And the British are characteristically arrogant and highly overrate anything they ever built anyway.

[@yahatinda]

PhrynosomaTexas The BRITS hate to admit the U.S. did ANYTHING for them in WW2 .... They were winning WW2 all by themselves,Damn Yankkes not wanted.

[@bassturkey]

It's amazing how quickly and how much altitude you gain only a moment after being down on the deck. You and your fellow pilots sure gave the crowd their monies worth!

[@Brianthehistorynerd]

Wow this was AMAZING!!! I’m going to be starting a P-47 model build. Now I know what it’s like to fly in this big beautiful bird.

[@rodmauldin]

Thanks VERy much for the ride, love the Jug!

[@richsimpkins4855]

Thank you for taking back to a boyhood dream.

[@baraskparas9559]

Wow! Such a massive fighter looks so compact from the pilot's pov. Makes me appreciate the great job WW11 Fighters by Jane's simulations did all those years ago.

[@CIWS1]

I love this video! I wish there were many more POV video's like this with these old warbirds. It's great to see the start up and checks as the pilot see's them. This was a whole experience lol. Thanks for sharing!

[@av8tore71]

I just built the P-47 out of Adams Ready Board from Dollar General. 48 inch wing span. Thanking about painting it like the Kansas Tornado.

[@islander511]

Thanks for this footage. I'm sending a link to my wife's grandfather (92) who we just visited in Florida. He flew P-47s out of Jesi and Fano, Italy in WWII in support of the British 8th. I made a copy of his mission list (64) and #27 reads: "Mar. 18, 1945. Deck level strafing Campofromido (Udine). 50 cal." What that brief entry doesn't say is that he flew between two buildings and his gun camera footage -- viewed that evening by he and his fellow pilots -- spawned his nickname: Cautious.

[@TealcJack]

Closest I will ever get to flying in a old war bird. Always loved the P-47. Thanks for sharing. What an incredible ride.

[@0b1i0]

Thanks so much for sharing this (and i don't know how i didn't find it earlier...). My father was a Tuskegee Airmen who spent a lot of hours flying the P-47D. I rewatched the start until takeoff several times, just trying to imagine what was going through his 18 yr old mind. I wonder how his first few moments felt sitting in her, preparing the first flight after finishing Primary in a PT-17 then Basic in an AT-6. I always loved going to airshows with him, listening to him talk to the pilots and sharing his experiences. I will definitely watch these many times over...

[@stevendwilson1297]

John. I can't tell you how many times I've watched your video. It's fantastic! The P47 is my favourite WW2 aircraft (even though I'm a Brit!) this video gives me goosebumps every time I watch it! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to see first hand what it is like to be on board this beast of an aircraft. Absolutely superb!!!!

[@jshoff725]

Thanks, Steve!

[@maunten66]

EN REALIDAD ERA UNA BESTIA CON ALAS Y MUY TEMIBLE.

[@scottinohio701]

John,just found this vid!!! My father was an original pilot in the 358th FG 366SQ Went to England in 43 flew 104 missions!!!

[@jshoff725]

Very cool. He was a cool dude indeed then. Then you must have seen the documentary Thunderbolt which shows a lot of the squadron life on Corsica. I bet you will find him there. Thanks for checking in. -JS

[@jhettish]

Nice. My dad got about 8 hours in P-47 and it became his favorite airplane for the next 60 year until he died. He didn't fit the "fighter pilot" role and instead became a co-pilot at 25 in a B-24 flying out of Italy in the last days of WWII. Later he flew the RF-51F which is what the USAF renamed the airplane after the USAAF was no more. He flew in the Air National Guard out of BNA at Nashville. If you remove "RF" from what he flew and replace it with a "P" you will have the P-51F. The 118th was a tactical recon unit and the the RF-51F was loaded with cameras. Later my dad became an Air Traffic Controller for the FAA and later retired. He was too smart to picket in the early 80s and get fired like all the other controllers did. It would be nice to know where this air show was going on. The airport definitely appeared to be a WWII training facility, based on the triangular pattern of runways.

[@jshoff725]

John Hettish Correct, this airshow was at Dyersburg, TN near Nashville. Congrats to your Dads history, sounds like he had some gear adventures and served us all well.

[@eddienash5426]

Why on earth are there 93 DISLIKES on this awesome video?

[@garyshelly6555]

I was wondering the same thing how could you not like this

[@longshot7601]

I love Jugs! Especially when they come in pairs like that!

[@woooster17]

Fantastic, loved every minute of that!! I recently did a taxy trip in the Lancaster bomber 'Just Jane' as my uncle flew as a pilot with 100 Sqd during the war. Great experience. The plan next is to book a Spitfire flight in the Boultbee 2 seater!! I did 2 AEF flights and aerobatics years ago in a De-Havilland Chipmunk, so the Spitfire flight would be amazing!!

[@sammoon2906]

I watch too many videos..When the three aircraft lined up abreast, I expected to hear three honks before the drag race started.. Great video, Mr Shoffner!

[@ampman1961]

John Thanks for posting this amazing video. The feeling is like being there in real time including all of the moments required to initiate flight, from the pilot perspective. Simply incredible. The helmet cam gives us such an amazing point of view. Thanks again! A P-47 lover since a child. Billy in Tucson

[@timdake]

Amazing footage. Thanks for sharing. An old friend (Tony Buechler) in Waukesha Wisconsin has a beautiful P-51 that I was hoping to glimpse in your video. Glad to see such well maintained warbirds in formation. Could listen to that for hours. Still remember reading Martin Caidin's "Thurnderbolt" over and over, in high school. An amazing craft, with an equally amazing legacy. Please keep the videos coming.

[@jshoff725]

Glad you like it. Thanks for your kind comments.

[@jshoff725]

AbsoluteyAmerican About 500.

[@rjo3737]

as a spam can flyer, what is amazing is the effortless height gain at the end of each runway pass. cadillacing!

[@sjoeld57]

One of the coolest videos I ever saw on KZbin..... Had a 43 minute smile on my face...... thanks for posting this video.

[@Drsnafubar]

I got a crooked neck from watching that crooked camera but anyway thanks for the wonderful upload. Love those old birds and I am envious you get to enjoy flying one.

[@bobelayer]

Damn that P-51 pass was epic. Right over your head.

[@keithskillz90210]

Hey man, you wanna go cruise the strip in our riced out Honda Civics? "No." You wanna go ride motorcycles downtown? "No." You wanna take out the Lamborghinis to dinner and get them valeted in the front of the restaurant? "No." Well, what do you want to do? "Let's go take the warbirds and fly in formation!" What a life! I

[@jshoff725]

keithskillz90210 Classic. Thanks for watching.

[@stevezee5171]

Thanks for the ride John, Thumbs up!

[@tyclairep3744]

Awesome video! P-47's are my favorite war-bird, I wanted to see the landing too though lol but it was still really cool. Great Job Flying!

[@jshoff725]

Ty Pierce Thanks for your kind comment. You can find the landing on Part 2.... enjoy.

[@tyclairep3744]

Awesome thanks

[@DerredmaxTRIAX]

Wow what an awesome aircraft With an awesome pilot, Nice job John!!!!!!!! It sounded like the engine RPM stayed pretty much the same the whole time, or was that just because of the sound of air. The sound is so different when you are watching from the ground. Thanks again John for the opportunity to go for a ride very very cool.

[@kansasjayhawk8386]

It sounds like a dragster on steroids. Awesome video! 🇺🇸

[@rbsims6376]

What a joy to watch something like this. Thank you for posting it.

[@SanderAnderon]

out-freaking-standing! thank you

[@AB-re6re]

Well said and,. .what a flight 😁

[@AB-re6re]

Fantastic 😊!

[@J354CAO]

Those low passes made me smile , awesome video dude thanks

[@CoyoteGaming55]

Awesome video and that p51 flyby was so cool!

[@ragnaarlobrok2543]

FANTASTIC VIDEO, i love the WWII fighters !!!!!

[@usagiyojimbo1996]

Wow! 1.37 looks terriffic in FRB! =P

[@Quintonzo9000]

lol WT

[@axessdenyd]

Well, 10 people got it.

[@wmfife1]

I see the alt. set @ zero. I get it. No explanation necessary.

[@Beat69420]

My great grandpa died a few years ago but he flew a p47 thunderbolt in ww2. he once got into a dog fight and was shot down but survived. Ive missed him so much recently but i know he is still in my heart and will always be with me.😭😭😢😢😢😢

[@jaredneaves7007]

Thank you so much! This was EPIC. My favourite plane of all time! Please do more. It's really cool to be able to see inside the cockpit. Priceless artifact.

[@spacecatboy2962]

YOU BUZZED THAT LANDING STRIP SO MANY TIMES YOU WORE IT OUT WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING IT

[@davidgibson1524]

OMG! I want to fly a Jug more than ever now! Thank You for this video! I wish you had shown the landing as well!

Save your lunch money, it's a gas guzzler.

[@Prrocess]

Well that was awesome. Thanks for uploading

[@greenseaships]

Wow! I just rode in the pilot's seat of a P-47 Thunderbolt for 43 minutes!! only problem is I was leaning about 30 degrees to the right the whole time... :P Seriously though, nice upload!!

[@MARCIO1974MHP]

I'm in love with the World War II fighter aircrafts, especially the P47 Thunderbolt, I'm from Brazil and in my city there's a square where a P47-D is exposed. I would love to see such an aircraft in flight live.

[@jshoff725]

Can you send us a picture of the Thunderbolt on display near you.

[@MARCIO1974MHP]

Of course, it would be my pleasure. What is your e-mail?

[@MARCIO1974MHP]

Please, give me your e-mail address to send you the photo of the Thunderbolt I told you about.

[@jshoff725]

Thanks for the reminder. I'd rather not post my email in the open here. I'll send it to you via FB. You have the red truck on your page?

[@MARCIO1974MHP]

facebook.com/marcio.magoo.7

[@Bluenose352]

I couldn't quite tell, but that looked like Brad Deckerts TBM when you were taxiing. I wish you guys would come back to Oshkosh. It's been awhile since I've seen a P-47 there.

[@coolbluelights]

I used to love going to air shows. we got to explore the cockpits of planes and helicopters. sadly they haven't done any air shows since the early 1990s.

[@jpence69]

love this..don't see this very often love the first person view..i think I held my breath most of the time..just pricless

[@Drpboston1]

This is auditory orgasm. Love me some Jugs. Very nice flying and thank you for preserving some of the best machinery from our great history.

[@jshoff725]

Sometimes the hysteresis in the altimeter shows different elevations from take-off to landing. No worries, it's all under control. Thanks for watching.

[@stephenasbridge878]

Where are those wascally third weich wascals?

[@jshoff725]

Yes, by the third pass we were all on opposing passes, offset of course. Nice fun!

[@sultros]

If you listen very closely you can hear the sound of my head exploding from jealousy.

[@OviWanKenovi]

+John Shoffner You should come to Georgia this year! It's my dream to see a P-47 fly in real life... I play an online game called War Thunder the P-47 is the main plane I fly... and my name... is p47lover.... Come to Wings Over North Georgia!

[@douglasfulmer5483]

P-47N is now in war thunder.

[@OviWanKenovi]

Douglas Fulmer Yes it is, I unlocked it two days ago :)

[@douglasfulmer5483]

Austin Davis I got it on first day, the grind was real :D

[@B17B25guy]

Nice formation flying, John. Neal too.

[@Voinar010]

Hmm... canopy is closed, and the noise... increases??? That's strange. Did you have the same feeling when you were flying? I expected the noise to diminish, after closing canopy.

[@jshoff725]

Voinar010 When the canopy closes it leaves a small gap and whistles. It gets pretty annoying after a while.

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

Fantastic plane! Thanks for sharing, and greets from the Netherlands!

[@jshoff725]

Great project! Looking forward to seeing the Rat in the air.

[@robertgantry2118]

That looks like so much fun.... I definitely missed my calling in life.

[@jshoff725]

That's fabulous your grandfather flew the P-47. Got any pics? Thanks for your comments here.

[@PremiereModelLayouts]

Great video. Always loved the Thunderbolt.

[@fredsalfa]

Cool video. My dad flew P51Ds and Thunderbolts in WW2 against the Japanese near the end of the war

[@jshoff725]

Alfa Won Very cool. Any pictures you can share?

[@fredsalfa]

John Shoffner Do you have an email address I can send them to ? There are about 3 full photo albums at my brothers place but it is interstate. I only have a few on me personally.

[@jshoff725]

Alfa Won Sure. Message me on Facebook.

[@fredsalfa]

John Shoffner Which one are you on facebook ? there are several

[@jshoff725]

Alfa Won Look for the race car.

[@xBMF9000x]

Damn, that P-51 at about 12:00 was really haulin' ass! lol

[@wbflashover]

I really enjoyed this footage. Thanks for sharing it with the world.

[@fanatamon]

Sick vid the sound of a big radial is sweet!

[@dam1041960]

Can you install bright led lights with a smoke generator in the guns to sim gun fire.? Or use propane with a smoke genreator to sim gun fire.? Love the video thank you....

[@thalestheodoro2063]

P 47 - foi um dos melhores caças-bombardeiros da Segunda Guerra Mundial. Uma Bela Máquina.

[@fed8925]

Good morning, my name is Friend Deming and I'm a PVT Pilot out of Flabob Airport. Was wondering what are the qualifications needed and Ratings or type certificate needed to do something as awesome as this. Currently am working on my IFR rating as of now with 152.6 hours logged. Any suggestions or career-oriented guidelines for this unique opportunity? Thanks for posting this.

[@jshoff725]

Well, you are pretty close to Chino, so to the Planes of Fame Museum there and introduce yourself. They fly a lot of this type of stuff and can surely give you guidance. But basically, you'll need 500 hrs before you could fly >600hp and start the process of moving up the ranks of large warbirds. Be patient and fly everything you can. Good luck.

[@fed8925]

I will and thank you for the advice, fly in sometime to Threshold. That's where I work, just got hired on there back in April. Hope all is well.

[@franklin5194]

The Brazilian Air Force has made history and is recognized worldwide for its exceptional service aboard the P-47s in World War II.

[@vetitoe362]

These two aircraft are way to close to Smyrna TN to not make it to the airshow. A strong warbird presence is always a treat.

[@Hinckley_Biker]

Absolutely awesome! I used to travel to a lot of airshows here in the UK and often wondered how things looked and sounded from a pilots perspective, those low passes were just superb, I love WW2 war-birds and the P47 & P51 are something else, the sound of the P47 makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up! thank you for sharing this

[@normanjtongmd]

"It's time to buzz the tower, Goose!"

[@jesteris25]

negative ghostrider the pattern is full lol

[@matrox]

12min in gives you an indication of just how fast those planes are.

[@Fletchgetslost]

Excellent video! Really enjoyed watching that

[@allenspencer6434]

My Kind Of Pilot Awesome Thanks fore the Ride =)

[@eriktruchinskas3747]

Wow the p47 cockpit was massive

[@matrox]

Nice video, actually feels like you are up there in the plane especially when they get in formation.

[@oscar35575]

Just bloody marvelous!

[@88mike42]

My P-47 was a Cessna 150...Come to think of it, it was my Hellcat, Mustang AND Corsair!