Hay RaptureBoy,
I know...the sound of a Merlin at full power is something to behold. I crewed Miss America for Howie Keef (sp?) back in the early 70's when he kept it at Fleet Wings Aviation at Santa Monica Airport. Mainly I cleaned and polished the airframe and was lucky enough to get a ride from home base to Reno one year. I was at the Reno air races last year and will go this year too. There is something about hearing big radials and Merlin's hauling butt in a full war emergence power setting flying by you. Just brings tears to my eyes... I kind of got stuck in the 30's and 40's aviation. I flew Twin Beach D-18's and a Howard 250 on a Fed-x run for years...it was a nice way to build twin time, but night work sucked. Radial engines have a sweet sound too and love the power that Howard 250 had.
The Red Tail is a sweet flying model and it was worth all the work to see that model in the air.
Soft Landings Always,
Bobby of Maui