P-51, Cadillac of the Sky!

[democracyindanger]

"Empire of the Sun" is reminding me:

1) How horrible war is
2) What an amazing director Spielberg is
3) What an incredible actor Christian Bale has been since adolescence

On HBO right now, if you're interested...

[yardwork]

1. It is a wonderful movie. Apparently the book is excellent.

[democracyindanger]

2. Didn't even know it was a book

Author?

[yardwork]

3. The author is the young protoganist of the movie. It's a true story.

I'm sorry that I can't remember his name. I'll bet that Amazon has the book.

[gold_bug]

6. here's a Ballard website:

http://www.jgballard.com/index.php

[cryofan]

5. JG ballard--it was an autobiographical book

I have a lot of ebooks by Ballard, but I have yet to come across Empire of the Sun, so I have never read it.

[The Lone Liberal]

4. I can watch the movie time and again just to hear

Suo Gan. A very beautiful movie with some meat for the soul and mind.

[Striker Davies]

7. The Mustang was also one of the five most beautiful aircraft of all time..

imho. It was an absolute dog, however with the original engine, but once equipped with the Rolls Royce Merlin that also powered the Hurricane, Spitfire, Lancaster, Mosquito, etc, it became the superb war bird that it was.

Like really great works of art, aviation buffs can look endlessly at the Mustang and weep with the beauty of it.

[Gore1FL]

8. Gimmie a Corsair anyday

(at least in combat flight sims!)

[Striker Davies]

9. An ugly great big pig...

but bloody effective in combat.