Of Radials and Cicadas

Last couple of weeks we have been serenaded by Brood 2 offspring of the 1996 round of 17-year cicadas.  With a background noise like a bad 50’s special effects soundtrack, they’ve been pretty constant but this weekend, overcome at times by the sound of Merlin and Wright piston engines as the CAF brought a P-51, Vultee BT-13, Beech C-45, and the only flying examples of the Boeing B-29 and Curtis SB2C-5 Helldiver.  The B-29 announced its presence to me yesterday as it passed overhead (low overhead) on final into Manassas Regional.  Pretty awesome sight at that, I have to confess.  So – calling cards sent, we headed off this AM to spend a little time collecting photos and composing, what my explanation would be for blowing some 1500+ bucks for a short ride in the Helldiver or B-29.  Alas, ‘twould have been a fruitless endeavor as the  Appropriations Committee would have frowned mightily at an off-budget expenditure of that magnitude without prior testimony and justification.

Continuing observations from today – upon returning home I noticed that the cicadas had finally emerged from the forest in front of our house en mass and the birds were having a field day (Turkey Shoot?).  Flying LOCAP, the much faster and more maneuverable birds were so focused on chasing the cicadas that they were close to running onto trees, buildings – and me at one point.  All in all, an interesting early summer’s day with a different kind of aviation tone to it.