Warbird News

[DaveM]

The Rebirth of an Iconic British Propeller Brand…in Italy!

PRESS RELEASE
The Fairey-Reed propeller for the de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk, which is now getting very difficult to acquire, is undergoing new production engineering by GT-Propellers of Italy with different features. The original all-metal fixed-pitch propeller has been reproduced by GT in a wood composite with metal leading-edge protection. The hardest challenge to solve was the metal hub. We designed this to feature various ground pitch adjustment positions so that Chipmunk operators can select the optimum pitch setting for their particular mission. This method is widely used in propellers we currently produce and offers huge advantages over the OEM prop!​

The Fairey-Reed propeller was an ideal racing propeller, but it became apparent that the design overall was unsuitable for use by military and commercial operators because it was a fixed-pitch propeller. [Photo by National Air and Space Museum]

The GT blades are designed following the original Fairey-Reed drawings so this results in a 100% authentic look. We could have easily produced a fixed pitch reproduction like our competitors do, but we never shy away from a challenge so we worked longer and harder before coming to the market. We believe the result will be well waiting for and amazing. Of course, other aircraft using the de Havilland Gipsy Major engine will also benefit from this unique GT technology. We will publish more details as soon as available. In the meantime, we would like to wholeheartedly thank the international Chipmunk community that is patiently supporting this project.
It was on the 22nd of December 1969, that Gian Carlo and his brother Felice Tonini opened their doors to a new business, GT Eliche, manufacturing tirelessly and without interruption until today — more than fifty years later. The brothers’ early commissions were the repair and manufacture of replacement propellers for the first German-powered gliders and American early experimental aircraft. Production was all meticulously done by hand. At the same time, Gian Carlo Felice designed and built their very own glider — which they flew successfully.

Alessandro Tonini proudly poses with a brand-new Chipmunk propeller blade in the family workshop. [Photo via GT-Propellers]

Their father, Domenico Tonini (born in 1903), was a professional violin maker by trade and had his shop situated in the Gothic Line region. It was during WWII, due to his strategic shop location, that Domenico was approached by both German and later by Allied forces to lend his expert woodworking skills to the repair of wooden propellers, which were mounted on the likes of Fieseler Fi 156 Storch, Piper J-3 Cub and L-4 Grasshopper, and Auster aircraft. With his masterful dexterity in producing musical instruments and working with propellers, it followed that the father passed on his knowledge to his two sons. The brothers Tonini went on to learn propeller design by Novello Gaspari of Rimini, who also had vast working experience in engineering, both naval and aviation.

Gian Carlo and Felice, together with their father Domenico joined forces with Novello Gaspari to go into serial production in 1971, from their original workshop in Rimini. Since then, Gian Carlo has been producing propellers continuously, 12 hours a day for six days a week. Now Gian Carlo and his 2 sons, Alessandro and Paolo, have taken the challenge to new levels by constant progress in the design and production of new GT-Propellers.

For additional information on the new-build Fairey-Reed propeller program, and GT-Propellers’ other products, you can visit them on Facebook. They can also be contacted by email at [email protected].​

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[DaveM]

Lake Michigan FM-2 Wildcat Nearing Completion at The Kalamazoo Air Zoo

By Adam Estes

Vintage Aviation News (VAN) is no stranger to the restoration team of the Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Museum of Kalamazoo, Michigan, or their ongoing projects. However, one aspect that often sets the Air Zoo apart from other museums is its partnership with the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) in Pensacola, Florida in restoring World War II aircraft recovered from the depths of Lake Michigan. This second-largest of the Great Lakes has been a gold mine of sorts for the aviation community due to the nearly 200 aircraft that were claimed by the lake on training missions between 1943 and 1945. As these words are being written, the Air Zoo’s restoration team of volunteers and staff ranging from young students to retirees is applying the finishing touches on the latest Lake Michigan recovery, General Motors FM-2 Wildcat BuNo 57039.​

This Wildcat rolled off Eastern Aircraft Division’s Linden, New Jersey plant accepted by the Navy on August 9, 1944, and delivered two days later. After a brief assignment with Composite Squadron 85 (VC-85) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida, 57039 was transferred to the Navy’s Carrier Qualification Training Unit (CQTU) at NAS Glenview, near Chicago, Illinois on October 16. Pilots and aircraft of the CQTU would fly out from Glenview to practice carrier takeoffs and landings on the former paddle-wheel excursion liners turned aircraft carriers USS Wolverine (IX-64; formerly Seeandbee) and USS Sable (IX-81; formerly Greater Buffalo).​

The official USN record card of the FM-2 BuNo 57039 courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum.

On the morning of December 28, 1944, Ensign (ENS) William E. Forbes released ‘039’s brakes and began his take-off roll down Sable’s deck when the Wildcat’s R-1820 quit just as the wheels left the deck., Immediately after the Wildcat hit the water, ENS Forbes escaped from the cockpit a split second before one of Sable’s paddlewheels crashed down on the Wildcat just aft of the cockpit. Though Forbes would later earn his wings and survive the war 57039 descended into the murky depths of Lake Michigan, where it would remain for 68 years.

In the 1990s, the aircraft salvage company A&T Recovery, founded by Allan Olson and Taras Lyssenko, used side-scanning sonar to locate lost aircraft on the bottom of Lake Michigan with the goal of recovering them on behalf of the NNAM for restoration and display. On one of these surveys, they located the wreck of 57039 laying upside-down in two sections exactly where it came to rest on that cold December day in 1944. However, neither A&T nor the NNAM have the funding to recover all of the aircraft at the bottom of Lake Michigan, and thus sought benefactors interested in funding their efforts. One such benefactor was businessman, pilot, and aircraft restorer Chuck Greenhill, who funded the recovery of ENS Forbes’ Wildcat.​

The FM-2 Wildcat was pulled out of Lake Michigan on Dec. 7, 2012 and brought to Waukegan, Illinois after spending 68 years under water. (Photo courtesy of Heroes on Deck via Air Zoo)

On December 7, 2012, after A&T crews secured and towed ‘039 to shore, they hoisted the two sections of the fighter onto the dock at Waukegan Harbor. The tail section was brought up first, followed by the forward section, which still had the wings, engine, and main landing gear attached and covered in mussels. Once the mussels were scraped off and the water in the aircraft drained, the wings were removed, and the disassembled aircraft was trucked from the harbor. The recovery of 57039 was also featured prominently in the 2016 documentary film Heroes on Deck: World War II On Lake Michigan (Heroes on Deck World War II documentary about aircraft carrier pilots).​

At the time of its recovery, it was announced that the Wildcat would be restored for display at the Naval Air Station Glenview Museum, but in the meantime, the battered aircraft was kept in storage at Greenhill’s hangar up to the summer of 2013, when it was displayed unrestored at the Warbirds in Review portion of the 2013 EAA Airventure airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.​

A month after Oshkosh, on August 5, 2013, FM-2 57039 arrived at the Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Museum in Kalamazoo, Michigan for restoration on behalf of the National Naval Aviation Museum. After a public ceremony with senior museum officials and local media, the Wildcat was brought into the Air Zoo’s Flight Discovery Center, which acts not only as an annex to the museum for aircraft displays but also the restoration facilities. Initially, only a small team of volunteers worked on the fighter, as the museum had several other projects in the works, from another Lake Michigan recovery, SBD-2P BuNo 2173 which was restored for display at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum in Hawaii, to the F-117A Nighthawk 85-0817 “Shaba”, both of which have been previously covered here, but as the F-117 was finished and placed on display and the SBD-2P was sent to Hawaii, work on the FM-2 slowly began to kick up its pace.

During the restoration, the Air Zoo built a rotisserie-style assembly to rotate the Wildcat’s fuselage in order to more easily accommodate the metal and rivet-work. While this assembly did not come cheap, it had been designed to be adjustable for other projects as well, such as their other ongoing project, Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless, Bureau Number 1612, a fellow Lake Michigan recovery.​

The biggest challenge facing the team was the fact that nearly the entire rear fuselage was destroyed by the paddles of USS Sable back in 1944, and the tail surfaces had only remained with the forward section through a single cable and electrical wire each. As such, the entire rear fuselage had to be re-fabricated from scratch using engineering drawings, while the surviving portion of the tail was used as reference material for a new section. Wooden frames also provided a point for new metal ribs and the aluminum skin to be held in place and riveted from the tail section to the rear of the cockpit section.​

Typically, the warbird restoration community is dependent on the skills and expertise of retired mechanics and engineers. But the Air Zoo is ahead of the curve from other restoration departments in recruiting young local students to explore potential careers in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and restore aircraft like 57039. The students have learned to work with everything from screwdrivers to rivet guns, all with an emphasis on safety while teaching the next generation of craftspeople and providing them with valuable experience.

In July of 2022, 57039 received a major boost in funding from the National Medal of Honor Museum being constructed in Arlington, Texas, which entered into a partnership with the NNAM and the Air Zoo to complete the aircraft and have it displayed in their museum by its opening in the fall of 2024. Chris Cassidy, who was then-president and CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation (NMOHMF) was cited as saying: “Eight World War II pilots earned the Medal of Honor while flying the Wildcat. No other single-engine, fixed-wing aircraft has more Medal of Honor actions associated with it than the Wildcat. The courage and sacrifice embodied by Medal of Honor pilots Henry Elrod, Butch O’Hare, Joe Bauer, Jefferson DeBlanc, Joe Foss, Bob Galer, John Smith, and James Swett will be further highlighted by having a version of their airplane on display within the National Medal of Honor Museum’s gallery.” While all eight Medal of Honor recipients who earned the nation’s highest honor for military valor in Wildcats did so in Grumman-built F4Fs as opposed to GM-built FM-1s or -2s, the -2 is the most widely available variant among surviving Wildcats, and with the funding for the project secure, 57039 began to take shape once more, day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year.​

In determining how the Wildcat would be repainted, the decision was made that it would represent a Wildcat flown in combat during the Battle of Leyte Gulf by Lt. Leopold “Leo” M. Ferko of VC-4, flying off the escort carrier USS White Plains (CVE-66). During the battle, which would see the introduction of the Special Attack Units (or kamikazes) among Japanese aviators, Ferko scored five aerial victories against Japanese fighters and bombers in three days, earning the title of ace, and the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).​

In the leadup to the opening of the new Medal of Honor Museum in Texas, however, a change in leadership of the museum’s board determined that the Wildcat, which was now nearing completion, was no longer deemed necessary for their vision of the museum in relation to other exhibits. With the NMOHM backing out, the NNAM made an offer to the American Heritage Museum (AHM), an outgrowth of the Collings Foundation based in Hudson, Massachusetts. Rob Collings, president of the AHM and the Collings Foundation, agreed to help complete the final chapter of 57039’s restoration by making the AHM the Wildcat’s new home.

The AHM already has ties with both the Air Zoo and the NNAM, as they currently have an SBD-5 Dauntless BuNo 36177 on loan to them from Pensacola. That Dauntless is another Lake Michigan recovery, having ditched due to engine failure on approach to USS Wolverine on January 19, 1944, and was previously loaned to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum until 2021, when it was exchanged for the SBD-2P restored at Kalamazoo, BuNo 2173, as the latter had been stationed at Pearl Harbor prior to its own plunge into Lake Michigan in 1943.​

With the FM-2 receiving its last coats of paint and markings, the Wildcat that spent 68 years on the bottom of Lake Michigan and 10 and a half years and over 50,000 work hours under restoration at the Air Zoo will be set to arrive at the AHM for a special unveiling ceremony during the museum’s upcoming WWII in the Pacific Re-Enactment Weekend on July 13th & 14th.

During an interview with Vintage Aviation News publisher Moreno Aguiari, Rob Collings, President of the American Heritage Museum outlines the AHM’s vision for the display of FM-2 57039:

“We’ll have a couple of different storylines throughout it. We’ll have the P-40B and reenactors talking about the beginning of the war in the Philippines and the beginning of the war in the Pacific. Then, we’ll take it on through to Saipan, where we’ll have an airfield with the Wildcat, the Hellcat, TBM, SBD, planes like that on display, and a little Pacific reenactment that’s going on. That’ll be the first event we have here. From there, it’ll be on display in our hangar, which we rotate aircraft between the hangar and the main museum area, to keep it fresh. Currently, the P-40B, the SBD, and the Hellcat are over here, but we have a couple other airplanes that are coming in, and so we’ll be rotating that around. Then, ultimately, we’re planning on a new expansion, which is a fairly major expansion to have all the aircraft here under one roof and the Wildcat will be a key element to that.”​

Collings continued… “I’ve had a chance to see the aircraft a couple of times. I was out last summer to visit with them, and then just this week, now that the paint’s on, it looks absolutely stunning. What my takeaway is, that there is a group that they are so lucky to have out there, these volunteers that are doing just such a remarkable job with these restorations. One of the guys is 96 years old, and he still drives there. He was showing me the engine of this SBD-1 that they’re doing right now that he rebuilt, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. You can’t underestimate the passion that these volunteers have, to do amazing work. So far, they put 51,000 hours into the restoration of this Wildcat, and it shows. It’s really well done, and nice. But I think it’s a tremendous service that Kalamazoo and that cadre of volunteers has done for the entire aviation community. You look at, they have an SBD in Hawaii that they restored. They have all the planes there, the Wildcat coming here. All the work they’ve done over the years in partnership with the Navy has been phenomenal, and it’s brought a lot of almost extinct types, like SBDs, if you go back a few years ago, to all the lake recoveries, and now that they’re dispersed around the country where people can see them, it’s fantastic.”</

Although 57039 will soon depart from the Air Zoo for Hudson, that does not mean that the museum will not have an example of the venerable Wildcat. Indeed, the museum’s co-founder Preston “Pete” Parish acquired another FM-2, BuNo 86581, in 1971, while 57039 was still at the bottom of Lake Michigan, and was flown at numerous airshows throughout the East Coast and Great Lakes region during the 1980s and 1990s. This Wildcat is in the permanent collection of the Air Zoo and will continue to be on display after 57039 heads to its new home.​

Additionally, the restoration volunteers will not be resting on their hard-won laurels, as they continue to work on another aircraft recovered from Lake Michigan, SBD-1 BuNo 1612, which we will continue to cover as it nears completion and a possible new home, depending on where Pensacola and the Air Zoo see fit to send it.

To support the efforts of the Air Zoo, the American Heritage Museum, and the National Naval Aviation Museum, visit their respective websites: Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum | Kalamazoo, MI, The American Heritage Museum, and Homepage – NNAM (navalaviationmuseum.org).

Special thanks to Greg Ward of the Air Zoo and Rob Collings of the American Heritage Museum in contributing for this article.​

The volunteers of the Air Zoo pose for a group pictures in front of the 1944 General Motors FM-2 Wildcat, BuNo 57039

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[DaveM]

WWII Warbird Showcase 2024 Tour In The Mid-Atlantic

PRESS RELEASE

The Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) announces its 2024 Tour Schedule which includes a number of airshows and Warbird Showcase events. Most appearances are on weekends and parking and admission at most events are free. Visitors may choose to ride in various warbirds with prices between $125 and $1,750. Headlining the warbird rides will be a Stinson OY-1 with combat missions in its logbook at the Battle of Saipan. Our Stinson was on the escort carrier White Plains 80 years ago, steaming toward Saipan in the South Pacific.​

Warbird rides will include a Fairchild Forwarder which carries up to three passengers, and a Boeing PT-17 Stearman open-cockpit bi-plane. Other warbird ride aircraft may include a TBM Avenger, the largest and heaviest single-engine bomber of WWII, a North American T-6, Grumman AA-1B, and an Aeronca L-3. All warbird appearances are subject to weather, maintenance, and pilot availability. The public can book any ride at the Capital Wing bookings website Test | Capital Wing Warbird Rides and flights not sold in advance will be available for sale on site during events.

The Capital Wing is pleased to announce that it will be appearing with the CAF AirPower History Tour in Hagerstown, MD, and Stratford, CT where visitors can ride in the Capital Wing Fairchild Forwarder (carries three passengers) or AirPower warbirds like a B-29, B-24, C-45, or P-51. The Capital Wing will also be flying rides with the CAF Airbase Arizona B-17 and B-25 in Ashland, VA, and Warrenton VA with its Fairchild Forwarder.​

Navion L-17

In addition to warbird rides, the public will get a close-up view of several static warbirds at several events including a Japanese Fuji LM-1, one of only three in the world; a Navion L-17 a post-WWII warbird that served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and a 1942 Douglas C-47 transport, the military version of the iconic DC-3 airliner.

Other attractions at most Warbird Showcase events include the Capital Wing PX (Post eXchange) selling military and aviation-themed items, a B-26 twin 50-caliber machine gun turret, and the Law Dawgs food truck.

For more information email [email protected] or go to our new general website Capital Wing | warbird rides | Mid-Atlantic, USA.​

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[DaveM]

The Movie Memphis Belle’s Engines Run Again

By Adam Estes

This weekend the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress known as the Movie Memphis Belle conducted its first engine runs at the Palm Springs Air Museum (PSAM) in California since its arrival at the museum on November 13th, 2021. The aircraft is owned by the Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation (MARC), whose founder the late David Tallichet flew the bomber to the UK to partake in the filming of the movie Memphis Belle (1990), and is on loan to the PSAM.

During this initial ground run, three of the aircraft’s four engines (#1, #2, and #4) were run at different power settings but the aircraft’s right-inboard engine (#3) required more work before it could be test run. In the leadup to the engine run other work was being done to get the Belle airworthy again after its time on loan to the National Warplane Museum at Geneseo, NY (as previously reported by Vintage Aviation News), from replacing a section of the wing spars to adjusting tail control cables and restoring the floorboards in the waist section.

Museum officials told us they hope the Movie Memphis Belle may return to the skies before this summer is out. Once airworthy the Movie Memphis Belle will be flown to local airshows alongside other aircraft based out of Palm Springs. However the museum and MARC will not be offering rides to paying passengers, and when the aircraft is not scheduled to be in an airshow’s flight roster it will be on the static ramp for attendees to visit.​

Propellers installed on engines 3 and 4, with bins to collect oil draining from the cylinders. [Photo by Adam Estes]

It should also be noted that the Movie Memphis Belle (B-17G 44-83546, N3703G) is often confused with the original Memphis Belle, B-17F 41-24485 which is widely acknowledged as the first B-17 of the Eighth Air Force to return safely back to the United States after completing a 25-mission tour over German-occupied Europe, making a war bond tour around the U.S. upon its return. After decades of display in several locations throughout Memphis, Tennessee the original Memphis Belle was shipped to the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, and after a meticulous 13-year restoration effort was unveiled for display in the museum’s WWII gallery on May 17th, 2018 (the 75th anniversary of completing its 25th combat mission), where it remains on display.​

Be sure to watch this space for updates on the Movie Memphis Belle as it nears its first post-restoration flight!

A 3/4 view of the inboard section of the B-17’s right wing with flaps extended, and the floorboards (left) undergoing sanding and refurbishment. [Photo by Adam Estes]

Visit www.palmspringsairmuseum.org for more information on the Movie Memphis Belle‘s progress and about other projects at the PSAM.​

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[DaveM]

The Three Horsemen of The Eclipse

The first time an aircraft “chased” the totality of a total solar eclipse was in 1973 when the Concorde prototype, loaded with scientists, remained in totality for over an hour as it streaked across northern Africa at more than 1,500mph. In the past seven years, one area or another of the Continental United States has experienced three eclipses- two total and one annular- and thanks to social media and the continuing development of advanced digital cameras of all shapes and sizes, these celestial events have been documented from aircraft ranging from private paragliders and RV-4s to NASA WB-57s and Gulfstreams.​

Jim Beasley described the edges of totality as “a ring of fire on the horizon”. Photo: Jim Beasley

As the eclipse made its way across the United States, photographs of totality taken from the ground and the air began to appear on Facebook and Instagram. Early that evening, as posts began to wane a little, Jim Beasley, Jr. blew up Facebook when he posted four incredible photos of The Horsemen P-51s in totality. The photos came with a simple statement, “Horsemen demo team during totality in southwest Texas, 8 April 2024.” Among the hundreds of comments on the post, Brad Haskin said, “…the day Jim won the internet.” In an interview the following day Jim modestly said, “I don’t know about that. It seems like some people liked it.”

Whereas NASA, the military, and thousands of photographers across the continent planned for the moment, weeks, months, even years ahead of time, The Horsemen plans were initiated on Saturday April 6- two days prior to the eclipse! Jim laughingly related, “It was Dan Friedkin’s idea. He texted [Ed] Shipley and I on Saturday, and he’s like, ‘Hey man, why don’t we try this?’ We’re like, ‘Okay.’ So, it was all Dan. His ranch in Texas was right in the path of totality, and he has some of his planes down there. So, Ed and I caught a flight out of Philly and got down there around two o’clock on Sunday, so it wasn’t like we’d been thinking about this since 2017.”

The formation of Mustangs consisted of Jim leading in Princess Elizabeth, Ed on the left wing in Double Trouble two, and Dan on the right wing in Fragile But Agile. They flew three “gos” on Sunday afternoon with Tommy Williams, Maj Gen, USAF (Ret) at the controls of Dan’s PC-7. Jim elaborated, “I went up in Fragile but Agile, so we could figure out positioning for the PC-7 using just a single Mustang as the photo platform and assuming that the sun was going to be 12 o’clock high. We flew around and figured out what seemed to make sense. Then we did another go with the photographer/videographer in the back at sunset and as close to dark as possible. Then we did a third flight because the PC-7 has all the Garmin TV screens and stuff, and we weren’t sure exactly how dark it was going to get or if we would have to put covers on the screens. We also had Ed in the backseat because he has a pretty good eye for that stuff.” Since the team was unsure of how dark it would get in totality, they also tested the nav and landing lights on the Mustangs.​

Jim Beasley in P-51C “Princess Elizabeth” and Ed Shipley in “Double Trouble two” in the shadow of totality over southwest Texas on April 8, 2024. Photo: Dan Friedkin

Weather forecasts for many of the areas in the path of totality, including Texas, were bleak in the days leading up to the event and in some cases, those forecasts turned out to be correct. For The Horsemen, the weather on Monday morning did not look good as Jim explained, “…the clouds were iffy, and it was looking funny so, we went up and did a scouting flight about an hour before it started. The cloud tops were around 6- 8,000 feet, then it was clear.

We took off at 12:55 local, and the totality was going to start, I guess, at 1:29 or something, so we gave ourselves plenty of time. We joined up and climbed through the broken layer and when we got on top there was a higher cirrus layer, but it was beautiful. Then we just waited for the eclipse to start.” The cirrus layer Jim mentioned was eight to twelve thousand feet above their formation and while they waited for the approach of totality Jim could see areas where the sun was shining through the cirrus layer better than others and would head for those areas to check the lighting. In the PC-7, Tommy Williams was also looking for the best areas of light. “He was helpful in positioning us. Jim related. He would just say, ‘Hey, go 20 degrees to the right for five miles,’ or this and that and I would just go to those spots.”

When totality washed over The Horsemen the trio of Mustangs were bathed in a light unlike anyone has ever seen or will ever see again. The darkness of the ground below and the clouds above placed the wings of the Mustangs in darkness while the polished flanks of their fuselages were illuminated in the golden light at the edges of totality.​

Photographed from Dan Friedkin’s Pilatus PC-7, this photo captures the unmistakable silhouette of the P-51 Mustangs of The Horsemen Flight Team in the dramatic minutes of totality.

We’ve seen the photos of the team in totality, but VAN wanted to get Jim’s impression of what those minutes were like in the cockpit of Princess Elizabeth, especially since they were among the first in the United States to witness the event due to the Comanche Ranch’s close proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border. “We were down in that Laughlin, Del Rio area. They have an MOA down there. We were no closer than 10 or 15 miles to Mexico, so the airspace itself was not an issue. The thing is we just had to climb through some holes to get on top. The pictures don’t really do it justice, but during totality, there was this weird ring of fire on the horizon where sunlight was partly visible. So, it wasn’t night. It was more like dusk, but dark enough that I needed to turn on the cockpit lights. It was pretty cool.” Jim related.

There will not be another Total Solar Eclipse in the United States until August 23, 2044, and August 12, 2045. No one knows where they will be in two decades or if these Mustangs will still be flying at 100 years old. That being said, warbird enthusiasts around the world owe a debt of gratitude to Dan Friedkin and The Horsemen Flight Team for capturing these brief moments when the three horsemen rode through the darkness of totality of what, for many, will be a last-in-a-lifetime cosmic event. Unlike us, these images will live forever as will the legacy of the P-51 Mustang and The Horsemen Flight Team.​

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[DaveM]

Where To See The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Displays In 2024

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) is going to be displayed at a number of fantastic airshows and events this summer. Flying displays are subject to weather conditions and aircraft serviceability. In addition to the full displays, the aircraft also conducts up to 900 flypasts each year to make the most of the flying hours and transits to and from display locations.​

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Avro Lancaster B.I PA474. (photo by Nigel Hitchman)

The display season runs from May to September each year with pre-season work-up flying for the crews taking place during April, culminating in Public Display Approval being sought for each pilot from the Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group. The BBMF is typically tasked to fly over 100 displays and around 900 flypasts at events of all shapes and sizes during each display season. This is around 1,000 individual aircraft appearances each year. The display program takes careful and extensive planning. Each sortie involves several events, to maximize the opportunities within the limited aircraft flying hours available (the hours limits are imposed to ensure the aircraft’s long-term preservation).​

These are the events and airshows that the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will display in 2024:

DATE

EVENT

WEBSITE

25/05/2024	Lanc, Tank and Military Machines	Events -Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre
27/05/2024	Lanc, Tank and Military Machines	Events -Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre
31/05/2024	Midlands Air Festival	Midlands Air Festival | 31st May - 2nd June 2024
01/06/2024	Midlands Air Festival	Midlands Air Festival | 31st May - 2nd June 2024
02/06/2024	Midlands Air Festival	Midlands Air Festival | 31st May - 2nd June 2024
01/06/2024	English Riviera Airshow	English Riviera Airshow | 1 - 2 June, 2024
02/06/2024	English Riviera Airshow	English Riviera Airshow | 1 - 2 June, 2024
01/06/2024	Duxford Summer Airshow: D-Day 80	Duxford Summer Air Show: D-Day 80
02/06/2024	Duxford Summer Airshow: D-Day 80	Duxford Summer Air Show: D-Day 80
03/06/2024	Old Warden – Military Weekend	Military Weekend 2024 - Shuttleworth Events & Attractions
05/06/2024	Portsmouth: D-Day 80	D-Day 80
09/06/2024	RAF Cosford Airshow	Air Show – Air Show
13/06/2024	Guernsey Battle of Britain Air Display	Guernsey Air Display
15/06/2024	HM The King’s Birthday Flypast, London
15/06/2024	Gilze-Rijen
22/06/2024	Newtownabbey Armed Forces Day	Armed Forces Day 2024 - Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council
22/06/2024	Bognor Regis Armed Forces Day
22/06/2024	Morecombe Armed Forces Day
22/06/2024	Sywell Airshow	Sywell Airshow 2024 - Sywell Aerodrome
23/06/2024	Sywell Airshow	Sywell Airshow 2024 - Sywell Aerodrome
29/06/2024	Plymouth Armed Forces Day	Plymouth Armed Forces Day 2024 – Armed Forces Day
29/06/2024	Scarborough Armed Forces Day	https://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/event/armed-forces-day-scarborough-2024/
29/06/2024	Shuttleworth Festival of Flight	https://www.shuttleworth.org/product/fof24/
30/06/2024	Shuttleworth Festival of Flight	https://www.shuttleworth.org/product/fof24/
29/06/2024	Cleethorpes Armed Forces Weekend	https://armedforcesnortheastlincolnshire.co.uk/
30/06/2024	Cleethorpes Armed Forces Weekend	https://armedforcesnortheastlincolnshire.co.uk/
30/06/2024	Isle of Wight Armed Forces Day	https://isleofwightarmedforcesday.co.uk/
30/06/2024	Folkestone Armed Forces Day	https://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/event/armed-forces-day-folkestone-2024-with-air-displays/
05/07/2024	Headcorn Battle of Britain Airshow	https://www.bobairshow.co.uk/
06/07/2024	F1 Grand Prix, Silverstone	https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2024/Great_Britain.html
06/07/2024	Teignmouth Airshow	https://teignmouthairshow.co.uk/
06/07/2024	Welsh National Airshow	https://www.walesnationalairshow.com/
07/07/2024	Welsh National Airshow	https://www.walesnationalairshow.com/
07/07/2024	Headcorn Battle of Britain Airshow	https://www.bobairshow.co.uk/
13/07/2024	Southport Airshow	https://www.visitsouthport.com/event/southport-air-show/13943301/
14/07/2024	Southport Airshow	https://www.visitsouthport.com/event/southport-air-show/13943301/
19/07/2024	Royal International Air Tattoo	https://www.airtattoo.com/
20/07/2024	Royal International Air Tattoo	https://www.airtattoo.com/
21/07/2024	Royal International Air Tattoo	https://www.airtattoo.com/
03/08/2024	Bray International Airshow
10/08/2024	Compton Abbass: Golden Age of Aviation 2024	https://www.comptonairfield.com/events/compton-abbas-air-show-2024/
11/08/2024	Compton Abbass: Golden Age of Aviation 2024	https://www.comptonairfield.com/events/compton-abbas-air-show-2024/
10/08/2024	Blackpool Airshow	https://www.visitblackpool.com/things-to-do/events/blackpool-air-show/
11/08/2024	Blackpool Airshow	https://www.visitblackpool.com/things-to-do/events/blackpool-air-show/
11/08/2024	Withernsea Blue Light Weekend	https://www.bluelightweekend.com/
15/08/2024	Eastbourne International Airshow	https://www.visiteastbourne.com/airshow
16/08/2024	Eastbourne International Airshow	https://www.visiteastbourne.com/airshow
17/08/2024	Eastbourne International Airshow	https://www.visiteastbourne.com/airshow
18/08/2024	Eastbourne International Airshow	https://www.visiteastbourne.com/airshow
21/08/2024	Cromer Carnival	https://www.cromercarnival.co.uk/
21/08/2024	RAF Syerston – National Air and Space Camp
22/08/2024	Clacton Airshow	https://clactonairshow.com/
23/08/2024	Clacton Airshow	https://clactonairshow.com/
23/08/2024	Somme Aerien International
24/08/2024	Somme Aerien International
25/08/2024	Little Gransden Airshow	https://www.littlegransdenairshow.co.uk/
29/08/2024	Bournemouth Air Festival	https://bournemouthair.co.uk/
30/08/2024	Bournemouth Air Festival	https://bournemouthair.co.uk/
31/08/2024	Bournemouth Air Festival	https://bournemouthair.co.uk/
31/08/2024	Shuttleworth Proms	https://www.shuttleworth.org/product/proms-weekend-2024/
31/08/2024	Chatsworth Country Fair	https://www.lancasterassociation.co.uk
01/09/2024	Chatsworth Country Fair	https://www.chatsworth.org/events/chatsworth-country-fair/
07/09/2024	Northern Ireland Airshow	https://airshowni.com/
08/09/2024	Northern Ireland Airshow	https://airshowni.com/
12/09/2024	Jersey International Air Display	http://www.jerseyairdisplay.org.uk/
14/09/2024	Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow	https://www.iwm.org.uk/airshows/duxford-battle-of-britain-airshow
15/09/2024	Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow	https://www.iwm.org.uk/airshows/duxford-battle-of-britain-airshow
21/09/2024	Oosterbeek, Netherlands
21/09/2024	Bradwell Airshow	https://www.facebook.com/BradwellWatersideAirDisplay
21/09/2024	Sanicole Airshow	https://www.sanicole.com/en/
22/09/2024	Sanicole Airshow	https://www.sanicole.com/en/
28/09/2024	BBMF Members Day
05/10/2024	Duxford Flying Finale	https://www.iwm.org.uk/airshows/events/duxford-flying-finale

The Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) operates from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. The mission of the RAF BBMF is to maintain the priceless artifacts of its national heritage in airworthy condition in order to commemorate those who have fallen in the service of the country. The RAF BBMF also serves to promote the modern-day Air Force and to inspire future generations.

The Flight operates six Spitfires, two Hurricanes, a Lancaster, a C47 Dakota, and two Chipmunk aircraft (primarily for training). The aircraft are flown by regular RAF Aircrew.

These aircraft can be regularly seen in the skies over the UK from May to September each year. They are flown to celebrate and commemorate public and military events from State occasions such as Trooping the Colour to major airshows and flypasts for public events.​

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Avro Lancaster and Hurricane LF363, painted to represent 249 Squadron Battle of Britain Hurricane &#x91;GN-F&#x92; on its port side. GN-F was the aircraft flown during the Battle of Britain by fighter ace Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC and Bar AFC AE LdH. ‘SD-A’ code letters on LF363’s starboard side are the code letters of the 501 Squadron Hurricane flown by Paul Farnes DFM also during the Battle of Britain. Centre left is Lancaster PA474 wearing 460 Squadron (RAAF)’s AR-L on her portside and 50 Squadron VN-T on her starboard side. (MOD image via Wikipedia)

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[DaveM]

B-29 FIFI Maintenance Update

By Charles Scott Williams of the B-29/B-24 Squadron via CAF On The Fly

For the past two days, I had the pleasure of working on the B-29 Superfortress FIFI. My assigned task was to help install the carburetor on the #1 engine. This massive contraption for the R3350 engine weighs somewhere in the ballpark of 35 pounds and sits atop the aft portion of the engine. Seems like a simple task. Sit this heavyweight carb on it’s designed position and simply install a few washers and bolts to hold it in place. After that simple task, run the aircraft safety wire through all the bolts to prevent them from loosening. Easy Peasy! There are just a few small issues in doing all this; no worries, I’ll list them in the following paragraphs. The engines in the B-29 are located several feet above the floor so you work on the aircraft via ladders and or a B-4 stand. Once within reach of the openings on the engine nacelle, options to access working on the engine include; dangling from the top nacelle opening, stretching across the side nacelle openings, or as demonstrated by my Maintenance Supervisor for the day, Colonel Scott Lewallen, you can squeeze into the nacelle. Ergonomics and Human Factors were words that seemingly, were not in the vocabularies of the engineers that designed WWII aircraft. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again (sans profanity), I wish the engineer who designed the aircraft (insert type) would have to work on said aircraft.​

[Photo John Schauer – CAF B-29/B-24 Squadron]

OK, start with sitting the carburetor on its position atop the engine. Don’t forget to install the gasket first! Insert the concave washer correctly on the bolt, then insert the bolt into the attachment hole where it belongs. Here’s where the mental anguish begins. As you reach to insert the bolt, in the back of your mind you’re saying to yourself; “don’t drop the bolt and washer, don’t drop the bolt and washer, please God, don’t let me drop the bolt and washer.” If you do drop ANYTHING whilst working inside the engine nacelle the first thing anyone within earshot hears is a loud profane statement, followed by a clanging sound as the dropped device; bolts, washers, tools, find their way into the dark abyss of tangled hoses, cables, and engine components far below. “Safety first!” says the unit Safety Officer and he/she is correct. You can’t simply abandon a tool or parts that fall into the nacelle and just go buy a new wrench or retrieve a new part. Ya gotta find this stuff and remove it from where it doesn’t belong because it can cause problems in the operation of the aircraft. Cables can get jammed by a wrench, etc. During this assignment, I dropped a screwdriver once, and a wrench once. Both were found with relative ease and the task at hand was carried on.​

[Photo John Schauer – CAF B-29/B-24 Squadron]

Like the movie Highlander where “there can be only one”, in my experience in aircraft maintenance, there is always ONE: ONE problem bolt that won’t work, ONE seemingly impossible task at hand due to the lack of working space. But in fact, with the R3350 carb, there are MANY issues due to the design of this machine that doesn’t account for the need to use a wrench and get a finger and thumb on a bolt to turn it. Day one, I spent hours trying to tighten that last carb bolt that is located in a space beneath the aft portion of the carb. No dice.​

[Photo John Schauer – CAF B-29/B-24 Squadron]

After a night of sleep and returning with a rested mind, a surgical clamp, a tool I’ve never used as I attended flight school instead of medical school, saved the day. Turning the bolt to tighten it suddenly started working as I used the surgical clamp to grasp the bolt and get it down to the point of tightening. Amazing how much joy was experienced when a single bolt starts threading its way into the attachment point! Now to tighten. Yoda taught Luke Skywalker how to use the force, and Colonel John Schauer handed me an angled 9/16th wrench. Yoda said to Luke “Feel the force,” said John, “Use this and you can turn the bolt 1/16th of an inch at a time.” Just like Luke using the force to lift that X-Wing fighter out of the swamp on the planet Dagobah (very similar to Houston in humidity), the mighty angled 9/16th wrench tightened the bolt! Using the right tool, imagine that, the task is accomplished.​

[Photo John Schauer – CAF B-29/B-24 Squadron]

Now to the safety wire. Each bolt has holes for threading safety wire, and thus you run this wire through the bolt so that the tension via the wire prevents the bolt from coming loose and turning to the left. Righty tighty, lefty loosey. Again, with the engineer who designed this carb, I wish he was alive to be forced to try running safety wire throughout a series of bolts. If he wasn’t bald-headed, he would be after trying this because he’d pull all his hair out in frustration. And, I would acquire happiness in watching him do this. But, he’s long dead and I have to get the job done. At stage right, enter Colonel Scott Lewallen to save the day by squeezing his entire body into the cramped nacelle and loosening the bolt to a position in which the safety wire could be inserted. Watching Scott loosen the bolt that took me hours to tighten caused mental pain for me having found a moment of Zen after finally getting that darn thing sinched down. Upon retightening, the safety wire was in the correct position and the bolt was tightened with the lightsaber a.k.a. an angled 9/16th wrench!​

[Photo John Schauer – CAF B-29/B-24 Squadron]

My work partner for the day was Colonel Ken Pierce, and as Ken had done this before, I learned much from him. Thanks to Colonels Scott Lewallen, John Schauer, and Ken Pierce for all their mentoring in my quest to someday obtain my A&P License. Learning the B-29 inside out will make me a better Flight Engineer, and a couple of seasons down the road, a better Co-Pilot on this wonderful aircraft. My DNA now rides in FIFI as I shed blood helping install the carburetor on the #1 engine. As Yoda would say: “Bragging rights you have, having installed a carburetor on a B-29.”​

Colonel Cooper gives a cheery thumbs-up from inside one of FIFI’s engine nacelles. [Photo John Schauer – CAF B-29/B-24 Squadron]

Check out the CAF AirPower History Tour and see the B-29 live in person! You can find their tour dates here.​

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[DaveM]

NASA Retires Its DC-8

By Adam Estes

When the Douglas DC-8 was first flown in 1958, it was just the second American jetliner produced, second only to the Boeing 707, and was among the first narrow-body, four-engine jetliners that opened up travel to the world as no other means of transportation have done before. Today, however, the DC-8 is a relic of a bygone age in commercial aviation, and only a few examples have survived to become museum pieces. One of the last operational DC-8s, N817NA, will soon be retired from service nearly forty years after it was acquired by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and will be replaced by a new generation of commercial aircraft. With the career of NASA817 coming to an end, let’s recall the journey it took to become part of NASA’s illustrious fleet.​

As the largest flying science laboratory in the world, the DC-8 has been used to support the agency’s Airborne Science mission since 1987. NASA Photo

In 1969, the aircraft that would become the NASA DC-8 rolled out of the McDonnell-Douglas plant in Long Beach, California as a DC-8-62 “Super DC-8” with the construction number 46082. It was built on order for the Italian airline Alitalia, where it would be delivered on May 14. It was placed on the Italian registry as I-DIWK, and christened in honor of the opera composer Giacomo Puccini. Over the next ten years, I-DIWK/Giacomo Puccini flew passengers around the world, with most of her routes taking her to and from Italy. As the 1970s drew to a close, Alitalia was beginning to modernize its fleet and I-DIWK was sold to Braniff International Airways as N801BN. Braniff was famous for its brightly color airliners and N801BN received a hue called Corvette Blue, and soon it was placed on routes to and from Latin America. However, on May 12, 1982, Braniff ceased air operations, ending a 54-year line service that stretched all the way back to 1928.​

With the company no longer flying passengers or freight, the DC-8s were eventually ferried from Miami International Airport (KMIA) to Dallas Love Field (KDAL), where they would be held in storage at Braniff’s Operations and Maintenance Base. In 1983, N801BN was sold to International Air Leases, a holding company that would soon lease it to Quiet Nacelle Corporation, which upgraded it and several other DC-8s with new nacelles designed by Grumman that were in line with new noise pollution regulations. These new regulations had grounded older jets such as the 707s and stock DC-8s until the original Pratt & Whitney JT3D turbojet engines were replaced in favor of more fuel efficient CFM56 high-bypass turbofans, which allowed numerous DC-8s to fly well into the 21st century.​

DC-8 N801BN Landing at LAX IN 1980. Photo by Ron Monroe Braniff International Heritage Archives

In 1986, N801BN was acquired by NASA and was initially re-registered as N717NA (NASA 717) and was pressed into service the following year. Later, the aircraft also flew with the registrations N817NA, N436NA, and now once again N817NA.

Since its acquisition by NASA, the DC-8 has been used as an aerial laboratory, operating out of Building 703 of NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Palmdale, California, which also housed the Boeing 747SP used as the aerial platform for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), which is now on display at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona (See this article for more information: NASA’s SOFIA 747SP Last Flight (vintageaviationnews.com)). According to NASA, N817NA has been used primarily for sensor development, satellite sensor verification, and space vehicle launch/reentry telemetry and tracking. It has also flown numerous research studies of Earth’s atmosphere and surface, with data collected from the aircraft having “….been used for scientific studies in archeology, ecology, geography, hydrology, meteorology, oceanography, volcanology, atmospheric chemistry, soil science, and biology”.

The aircraft was also flown on missions for universities and academic institutions such as the University of North Dakota from 2005 to 2007 and has flown everywhere from the U.S. Virgin Islands to Antarctica via a base set up in Punta Arenas, Chile as part of Operation Icebridge, NASA’s annual polar ice field campaign. It has also been used to observe and record emission levels in urban areas ranging from Los Angeles to New York City. The most recent assignment that NASA817 returned from in April was the Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality, or ASIA-AQ mission, in which it was used alongside aircraft from South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Taiwan to gather data for the investigation.​

But being the only DC-8 in NASA’s fleet, let alone one of the few remaining airworthy DC-8s, time inevitably catches up with even the most venerable of designs. Anticipating the need for a newer platform for aerial studies, NASA acquired a Boeing 777 (JA704J) from Japan Airlines in 2023. Now known as NASA 577 (N577NA) the Triple 7’s long range and endurance with only two engines as opposed to the DC-8’s four, NASA577 will continue the work that NASA817 has dutifully carried out for the last 37 years, when the latter concludes its operations in May 2024.

Following the official retirement of the DC-8, NASA says that it will be delivered to Idaho State University in Pocatello, where it will be used as an instructional airframe for the school’s Aircraft Maintenance Technology Program, where the former aerial laboratory will provide invaluable hands-on experience for the next generation of aircraft maintainers. Though this DC-8 may no longer soar the skies, its long life of service will continue at a quieter pace in Pocatello, and it will certainly live on in the memories of the pilots and flight engineers who flew it, the maintainers who serviced it, and the scientists whose work would be impossible without it. Few if any of the crews and passengers of Alitalia and Braniff could ever know the value that this DC-8 has had over its 50+ year career, but like many planes around the world, if it could talk, the stories it would tell would certainly be worth listening to.​

End Of An Era: NASA’s Airborne Science DC-8 Retires After 37 Years. NASA Photo

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[DaveM]

Italian Air Force Announces Plans For Flying Museum

With a steadfast commitment to preserving its esteemed aviation heritage, the Aeronautica Militare (AM) is taking proactive steps to ensure that its legacy continues to soar. Embracing innovation and forward-thinking initiatives, the Italian Air Force has announced plans to embark on a journey that celebrates its rich history and contributions to aviation. By safeguarding iconic aircraft, fostering educational experiences, and embracing technological advancements, the Italian Air Force is poised to lead the way in honoring its past while inspiring future generations of aviators.

One of the hangars at Piacenza San Damiano Air Base during the presentation of the Flying Museum initiative. The NVPA (Nucleo Valorizzazione Patrimonio Aeronautico) currently maintains the newly restored FIAT G.91 a Tornado (static only) the recently arrived AMX Ghibli and several other artifacts and airplanes. Photo: Aeronautica Militare

On April 11, 2024, at San Damiano Air Base, home of the NVPA (Nucleo Valorizzazione Patrimonio Aeronautico), General Francesco Vestito, Commander of the 1st Flight Region of the Italian Air Force, announced a plan for the creation of a “Flying Museum” which will be located in San Damiano, near Piacenza, in northern Italy. A special area will be created that is separated from the actual military airport which will serve as the host area for this museum of historic aircraft. The museum will be home to both static and airworthy aircraft, a section dedicated to flight simulators where adults and children will be able to climb on aircraft mockups, an interactive area where visitors have the opportunity to try on a pilot’s flight suit and offer the ability to experience the excitement of flight in the selection of airworthy aircraft. The project will further include an engine exhibition area, a conference room, a restaurant, a shopping area, and a playground for children.​

General Francesco Vestito addresses the guests during the presentation. Photo: Aeronautica Militare.

The event took place concurrent with the arrival of the four AMX Ghibli that were recently retired from operational duty and transferred to San Damiano to become part of the NVPA (Nucleo Valorizzazione Patrimonio Aeronautico). Two single-seat and two dual-seat Ghibli will be kept in flying condition with all parts, paperwork, and documentation kept current and accessible. The decision to maintain the Ghibli to this level was made in accordance with the difficulties and bureaucratic hurdles that VolaFenice and AM encountered to resurrect the FIAT G.91 more than 30 years after its retirement. The four AMX will not fly regularly but they will be ready to do so in instances where the AM decides it is a necessity to utilize these aircraft.

During the presentation of the program, General Vestito mentioned that this facility will also need to house maintenance and conservation activities for the aircraft. In fact, the intention is not to have an overabundance of aircraft parked in the museum, but rather key aircraft, most with the ability to be started and flown at any time. This will be the case, along with the four Ghibli, for the two HH-212 helicopters, which have concluded their operational life after over 40 years of missions in Italy and abroad.​

In recent years, largely thanks to the 2023 Centenary, the Aeronautica Militare has increased the focus and funding toward its aviation heritage. Initiatives like the remodeling of the Air Force Museum, the MUSAM, hosting several events in Italian city squares, working with private companies to resurrect engines, and supporting aircraft restoration and preservation show an expanded commitment to heritage and education by the Aeronautica Militare.

One of the hangar of the base is dedicated to a storage facility for several engines. Photo by Ugo Vicenzi

Speaking on the future of this project, General Vestito said, “Today, we lit a match, a spark. We are building a solid plan which we hope will be supported by local government entities and the private sector.” This ambitious endeavor not only celebrates the illustrious history of the Aeronautica Militare, but also underscores its enduring importance in the annals of Italian military history, as well as, aviation history in general.​

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[DaveM]

Yorkshire Air Museum Prepares for Open Cockpit Day

PRESS RELEASE

Aviation buffs will have the chance to climb into the hot seats of around a dozen jets, helicopters and other aircraft at the Yorkshire Air Museum (YAM), as the attraction near York prepares for another Open Cockpit Day. The event, which is staged twice a year, allows visitors to sit in the pilot’s seat of aircraft that are normally not accessible to the public.​

A museum visitor takes a selfie in the YAM’s Douglas Dakota at a past open cockpit event. [Photo via Yorkshire Air Museum]

On Saturday April 20th the aircraft on offer will include two of the stars of last year’s major Cold War exhibition – the iconic Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3 “jump jet” and the legendary Blackburn Buccaneer attack aircraft. There will also be access to two of the Museum’s most recent acquisitions – the SEPECAT Jaguar and the Avro Shackleton nose section that arrived just a few weeks ago from Coventry airport.

Museum spokesman Jerry Ibbotson said: “Open Cockpit Days are hugely popular with the public and allow people the chance to get a pilot’s eye view of some of the aircraft in our collection, from the tiny Skeeter helicopter to the mighty Dakota paratrooper transport aircraft. Things take on a totally different dimensions when you’re at the controls yourself!”​

A young visitor inside the cockpit of Armstrong-Whitworth Meteor NF.14 WS788. [Photo via Yorkshire Air Museum]

Open Cockpit Day is one the few events in the YAM’s calendar that require a special ticket. For adults tickets cost £20 and children £10. Full details are available on the museum’s website here.​

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[DaveM]

CAF Minnesota Wing B-25 “Miss Mitchell” To Visit Bemidji, MN for Father’s Day

PRESS RELEASE

The B-25 bomber Miss Mitchell from the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Minnesota Wing will be touching down at the Bemidji Regional Airport (BJI) in Minnesota over Father’s Day weekend. The tour stop hosted by EAA Chapter 1397, AirCorps Aviation, and Bemidji Aviation Services will allow members of the public to experience this amazing piece of World War II history up close. History flight experiences will be offered on Saturday and Sunday June 15th-16th.​

The B-25 Miss Mitchell launches for another mission. [Photo via Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing]

The North American B-25 Mitchell placed itself in the history books on April 18th, 1942 when 16 of the medium-range bombers launched from the deck of an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean and bombed mainland Japan. Led by Lieutenant Colonel James “Jimmy” Doolittle, the U.S. had begun to turn the tables on the Japanese. The B-25J Miss Mitchell served in the 310th Bomb Group, 57th Bomb Wing of the 12th Air Force in North Africa and Italy completing over 130 missions. Its legacy of no crew fatalities during all of its missions was a rare accomplishment. Before taking command of the 8th Air Force in Europe in 1944, the 12th Air Force was under the command of then-Brigadier General Jimmy Doolittle. After a 12-year restoration by the CAF Minnesota Wing, Miss Mitchell took her first flight on April 18th, 1992 — exactly 50 years to the day of the daring Doolittle raid.​

Another angle of Miss Mitchell on take off. [Photo via Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing]

Today, Miss Mitchell appears at air shows and special events throughout the United States and Canada. The CAF Minnesota Wing operates a History Flight program which gives you the opportunity to fly as a crew member on Miss Mitchell.​

To book your tickets aboard Miss Mitchell at Bemidji on June 15th or June 16th click here. For more information on the Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing visit their website here. ​

CAF Minnesota Wing’s Living History Fly Day offers Living History flights to guests and supporters. [Photo via Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing]

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[DaveM]

Eglin Airfields, Home of the Doolittle Raiders

In the annals of military history, few acts of valor and audacity shine as brightly as the Doolittle Raid of April 18, 1942. This daring bombing mission, led by Lieutenant Colonel James “Jimmy” Doolittle, struck a resounding blow against Japan during World War II, boosting American morale and setting the stage for subsequent strategic operations. However, behind the legendary raid lies a lesser-known but crucial element: the rigorous training undertaken by the brave aviators, which took place at Eglin Airfield, Florida.​

A B-25 taking off from the deck of CV 8 Hornet as it sets off with fifteen other Mitchells to take part in the famous Raid on Tokyo led by Lt.Col.James Doolittle in April, 1942. Six months later, Hornet would be on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. (photo via Wikipedia)

Eglin Airfield, nestled along the Gulf Coast, played a pivotal role in preparing the men and machines for the daring raid on Tokyo and other Japanese cities. Originally established in the 1930s as the Valparaiso Bombing and Gunnery Base, it quickly evolved into one of the most vital training centers for American pilots during World War II.

As the United States entered the war following the attack on Pearl Harbor, there was an urgent need to develop specialized tactics and techniques for unconventional warfare. It was in this context that Eglin Airfield became the training ground for what would become one of the most audacious missions in military history.​

Aerial photo of Eglin Field in March 1942. Note the two hangers in the center the photo. Hanger 68, is the left one.

The Doolittle Raid, conceived in the wake of Pearl Harbor, aimed to strike a blow at the heart of the Japanese Empire, demonstrating America’s resolve and capability to retaliate against aggression. However, such a mission required meticulous planning and intensive training, both of which found a home at Eglin Airfield.

Robert B. Kane in a 2015 AIR FORCE Magazine article said that little definitive evidence exists, but it appears the raiders trained at Auxiliary Field 1 (later Wagner Field) and at Auxiliary Field 3 (later Duke Field). The 1944 Master Plan for Eglin Field specifically mentions Field 1 as a training field. History of the Amy Air Forces Proving Ground Command, Part 3, Gunnery Training 1935-1944, mentioned that the raiders trained at Field 3. Several raiders remembered training on a field north of Eglin toward Crestview—Field 3 is about 15 miles north of Eglin main, approximately halfway between Valparaiso and Crestview. On March 23, an aircraft flown by Lt. James Bates stalled, causing the aircraft to crash just after taking off from Field 3. The Raiders probably used other auxiliary fields to practice the short takeoffs.​

Using photographs of the short takeoffs as evidence, some believe that the raiders trained at Field 4, Peel Field. However, those pictures are not originals from March 1942 but stills from the 1944 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo” about the Doolittle Raid. The history of the AAF Proving Ground Command identifies Peel as Field 4 where the filming of the movie occurred.​

A recent photo of one of the runways at Wagner Field. Photo by Moreno Aguiari

Kane debunked a story told by a former Hurlburt Field base commander that in the 1950s may have started this story, and several official histories and raider interviews have perpetuated this belief. After Miller retired, he mentioned that the training occurred at “an airfield near the water,” possibly Santa Rosa Sound, just south of Field 9. However, the story is a total myth, as Field 9, much less a hard-surfaced runway there, did not exist in March 1942.

The Doolittle Raiders also practiced long-distance, low-level overwater navigation to enable them to fly long distances without visual or radio references or landmarks and to provide data for determining fuel consumption under actual flying conditions that the raiders expected during the actual mission. They flew from Eglin Field to Fort Myers, Fla.; then to Ellington Field, Texas; and after resting and refueling, back to Eglin Field. The first accident during the training occurred on March 10 at Ellington Field when the nose gear of Lt. Richard O. Joyce’s aircraft collapsed after landing.​

In addition, the raiders conducted low-altitude bombing by dropping 100-pound practice bombs on Eglin’s bombing ranges and over the Gulf of Mexico from 1,500, 5,000, and 10,500 feet. They also buzzed some of the towns along the Florida Gulf Coast, producing complaints by local citizens to the Eglin base commander, Maj. George W. Mundy.

Under the leadership of Colonel Doolittle, a select group of volunteer pilots and crews underwent rigorous training at Eglin. The training regimen was grueling, pushing both men and machines to their limits. Flying B-25 Mitchell bombers, the raiders practiced low-altitude flying, navigation, and precision bombing – essential skills for a successful surprise attack against heavily defended targets.​

Eglin’s vast expanse of airspace and range facilities provided the ideal environment for the raiders to hone their skills under realistic conditions. From low-level navigation flights over the Gulf of Mexico to simulated bombing runs against mock targets, every aspect of the mission was meticulously rehearsed until it became second nature to the crews.

On April 18, 1942, the training and preparation at Eglin Airfield culminated in a historic moment as sixteen B-25 bombers, laden with fuel and bombs, launched from the deck of the USS Hornet and soared into the skies over the Pacific. Despite encountering unexpected challenges, including fuel shortages and the loss of several aircraft, the raiders pressed on, striking targets in Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, and other cities before crash-landing or bailing out over China.​

Aerial photo of Duke Field as it appears on April 18, 2024. Photo by Moreno Aguiari

The Doolittle Raid achieved its strategic objectives, inflicting damage on Japanese military and industrial targets and lifting American spirits at a critical juncture in the war. Its success was a testament to the courage, skill, and determination of the men who trained tirelessly at Eglin Airfield, preparing themselves for a mission that would go down in history.

Today, these forgotten airfields stand as a living testament to the legacy of the Doolittle Raiders and their remarkable feat of heroism. History is all around you, you just have to look for it.​

Lt. Col. Doolittle with members of his flight crew and Chinese officials in China after the attack. From left to right: Staff Sgt. Fred A. Braemer, bombardier; Staff Sgt. Paul J. Leonard, flight engineer/gunner; Chao Foo Ki, secretary of the Western Chekiang Province Branch Government. 1st Lt. Richard E. Cole, copilot; Doolittle; Henry H. Shen, bank manager; Lt. Henry A. Potter, navigator; General Ho, director of the Branch Government of Western Chekiang Province. U.S. AIR FORCE photo

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[DaveM]

Navy to Normandy!

PRESS RELEASE

Two esteemed Texas-based non-profit organizations, the Battleship Texas Foundation and the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), will jointly commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day, which took place on June 6, 1944, by sending historic artifacts of Battleship Texas on a present-day mission to Normandy. This summer, the CAF will dispatch aircraft to Europe to partake in commemorative events, paying homage to the significance of this pivotal moment in history.​

USS Texas with the starboard torpedo blister removed during its recent restoration, revealing the original hull and narrower profile when built; the torpedo blisters were added during the 1926 modernization. Photo via Wikipedia

“It is a privilege for the CAF to attend these important anniversaries, honoring the American spirit’s fight for freedom and aid to those in need. Participation in such events ensures that the memory and significance of our heroes’ brave actions are cherished and preserved for generations to come,” said Hank Coates, President/CEO of the CAF.​

The special patch designed for the CAF Dallas Fort Worth Wing by Chad Hill of Django Studios

In collaboration, the CAF has requested that Battleship Texas (BB35), the last remaining United States battleship to serve in both World War I and World War II – seeing action off the coast of North Africa, Normandy, Southern France, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa — provide physical components from the hull of the ship that will be flown aboard Ready 4 Duty for the voyage, including a roller bearing and a steel 1945 silhouette figurine of Battleship Texas.

Among the aircraft embarking on the journey is an R4D, the Navy’s counterpart of the C-47 Skytrain, synonymous with D-Day for its role in dropping paratroopers and supplies. The CAF’s R4D, aptly named Ready 4 Duty, will symbolize the Navy’s involvement in the Navy’s role during D-Day, which was called Operation Neptune.​

Built in 1944, “Ready-4-Duty” (Bureau Number 50783) is an R4D-6S, the U.S. Navy’s version of the DC-3 and C-47. Her first assignment was to VR-3, Naval Air Transport Service, where she airlifted wounded servicemen and cargo/supplies through April 1946. Photo via CAF

“We are thrilled to collaborate with the Commemorative Air Force during this historic year marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Battleship Texas played a monumental role in Operation Neptune, and we are deeply proud to have a part of her returning to Normandy onboard CAF aircraft,” said Tony Gregory, CEO of Battleship Texas Foundation.​

The ship is currently moored at Pier D in Gulf Copper Shipyard, where she will continue to undergo repairs and preparations to become a museum ship once again!

On April 27, the R4D Ready 4 Duty aircraft will fly into Galveston to collect the artifacts bound for Normandy, followed by a ceremonial flyover of the battleship around noon, weather permitting. “Partnerships like these epitomize the incredible opportunities we have to preserve the legacies of our forebears who fought bravely to safeguard our freedoms. When we unite to honor their stories, the impact is profound,” said Matt Pham, Vice President of Development at Battleship Texas Foundation.

The two organizations invite the public to join the partnership. Spots onboard VIP flyovers of the Battleship Texas and Galveston Island are available as well as owning a piece of the Battleship to be flown over the beaches in Normandy as a part of the 80th anniversary festivities this summer. For more information about this event and how to take part in this partnership, please visit Honoring the Navy's Legacy at Normandy.​

About the Battleship Texas Foundation The mission of the Battleship Texas Foundation is to preserve and enhance the USS Texas (BB-35) and develop this historic ship into a premier museum and visitor attraction. It is the last remaining United States battleship to serve in both World War I and World War II. During World War II, the ship saw action off the coast of North Africa, Normandy, Southern France, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Decommissioned in 1948, she has operated as a museum ship for visitors across the globe. Managed and operated by the foundation, she is currently undergoing a $75 million restoration and museum overhaul at Gulf Copper Shipyard in Galveston.

About the R4D Ready 4 Duty Constructed in 1944, Ready 4 Duty (Bureau Number 50783) is an R4D-6S, the U.S. Navy’s version of the DC-3 and C-47 Skytrain. After serving in various capacities, including airlifting wounded service members, and evaluating experimental electronic warfare technologies, the Commemorative Air Force acquired the aircraft and now serves with the CAF’s Dallas/Fort Worth Wing based in Lancaster, Texas.​

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[DaveM]

Ceremony Honors Long Island’s Vietnam War Veterans

PRESS RELEASE

Long Island’s Vietnam War veterans will receive the Vietnam 50th Anniversary Commemorative Medal in a solemn ceremony signifying the official end of United States involvement in the Vietnam War. Conducted by the Long Island Air and Space Forces Association and hosted by the American Airpower Museum, the ceremony takes place on Saturday, May 11, 2024, starting at 11:30 a.m., and honors 30 local veterans who served various branches of the U.S. Military during the Vietnam War period.

Conducting the ceremony will be Colonel Bill Stratemeier (ret), LIAFA Treasurer, a United States Air Force pilot who flew supplies into Vietnam between 1972 and 1974. “Many vets were criticized for their service in Vietnam, but we’re proud to honor them over five decades later,” Stratemeier said. He noted LIAFA began honoring Vietnam veterans with the commemorative medals in 2015. “To date, LIAFA has honored over 1,300 veterans with such medals,” he added. he United States Department of Defense (DOD) Vietnam 50th Anniversary Commemoration program has been going on for nine years now (ends at the conclusion of 10 years). The Long Island Air and Space Forces Association (LIAFA) is a DOD 50th Anniversary Commemoration Sponsor.​

“UH-1D Iroquois helicopters airlift members of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, from the Filhol rubber plantation area to a new staging area during Operation Wahiawa, a search and destroy mission conducted by the 25th Infantry Division, northeast of Cu Chi.” Photographer: James K.F. Dung, National Archives.

Local public officials, as well as the honorees’ families, will be on hand for this historic ceremony. “This special ceremony honors Vietnam veterans who will receive long overdue recognition and thanks for their service” said Fred DiFabio, President of the LIAFA who served in Vietnam. “Honoring our Vietnam Vets with the commemorative medals means a lot to these guys, especially since their families will also be there to bear witness,” DiFabio added. The ceremony will include a Presentation of Colors, Introduction of Distinguished Guests, Dignitary Comments, Presentation of Medals, and Singing of God Bless America and the National Anthem. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Band will perform the popular “Armed Forces Salute,” featuring six official melodies of the U.S. Armed Forces: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Forces and the Coast Guard. The program is free and open to the public.​

One of the reasons American Airpower Museum (AAM) was chosen for this ceremony is their exhibits include actual Vietnam era fighter-bomber aircraft that were used during the Vietnam War. Jeff Clyman, AAM President explained: “Our Museum is the ideal site for these veterans and their families to gather, commiserate and reminisce. Please come and applaud our home-grown heroes, show them respect, that we appreciate and honor their service,” he said. ABOUT THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION

The Air Force Association (AFA) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. AFA’s mission is to promote a U.S. Air Force that is second to none and a strong national defense. AFA honors our Air Force heritage and accomplishes our mission by: Educating the public on the need for strong aerospace power and technically superior capability to ensure U.S. national security; Advocating aerospace power and STEM education; Supporting the total Air Force family and promoting aerospace education. The Long Island Air and Space Forces Association Chapter (LIAFA) merged with several other local chapters in 1998 and became the LIAFA chapter #202. For more information, please go to: www.liafa.org.​

ABOUT THE AMERICAN AIR POWER MUSEUM

American Airpower Museum is an aviation museum located on the landmarked former site of Republic Aviation at Republic Airport, Farmingdale, NY. The Museum maintains a collection of aviation artifacts and an array of operational aircraft spanning the many years of the aircraft factory’s history. The Museum is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Educational Foundation Chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. For more information, please go to: www.americanairpowermuseum.org.​

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[DaveM]

Centennial Reenactment of First Aerial Circumnavigation of Australia

By James Kightly, Commissioning Editor

On April 12th, 2024 adventurer Michael Smith set off to recreate the first aerial circumnavigation of Australia by seaplane, starting exactly 100 years after two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircrew lifted off from Port Philip Bay to achieve the goal. Smith will follow the same route as former acting Chief of the Air Staff Wing Commander SJ ‘Jimmy’ Goble and pilot Flying Officer Ivor McIntyre used in 1924 for their flight which took 44 days.​

In front of the 100 Squadron hangar at RAAF Base Point Cook and the Chaika LLC L65 Seabear ‘Southern Sun’, Wing Commander Robert Gill commanding officer of 21 Squadron presents Michael Smith, with a RAAF ensign to carry with him as he recreates the first circumnavigation by air of Australia that took place 100 years ago. [Photo RAAF, Cpl Michael Currie]

Although Smith’s his twin engine Chaika LLC L65 Seabear seaplane Southern Sun could complete the task in a third of the time, the adventurer wants to remain faithful to the original journey by also spending 44 days making the flight and following Australia’s coastline in an anti-clockwise direction. As well as proving in 1924 that an aircraft could fly around Australia, the original flight delivered the first aerial survey of Australia’s coastline.​

The Fairey IIID on the slipway at RAAF Point Cook, circa 1923-24. At this stage it still bore the serial ANA 3 for ‘Australian Naval aircraft 3’ but was re-serialled as A10-3 by the time of the historic flight: this was part of the struggle to separate Australian military aviation from army and navy control. [Photo Maurice Austin Collection]

Starting from RAAF Base Point Cook near Melbourne, Smith is hoping the weather conditions will be more favorable than those encountered by the initial pioneers in their single-engine Fairey IIID seaplane. In 1924 the RAAF airmen managed to complete 93 flying hours with compass failure on the maiden flight, poor maps, experiencing strong winds and heavy rain, surviving terrible turbulence that caused damage to their aircraft, and suffering fatigue with Goble reporting afterwards that the flight was “extremely tiring” and something he “would not like to face again”.

For their efforts Goble and McIntyre were appointed Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), and the flight and the achievement were recognized by the award of the Britannia Trophy for 1924. When asked why he was taking on this feat, Smith responded like a true adventurer: “Because it’s fun and I’m looking forward to seeing the beaches at 500 feet.”

More seriously, he added: “It’s so important to recognize the mechanized apparatus that made Australian life possible. Still today there are towns where their mail and milk are delivered by plane. It’s also a chance to reflect on the services of our air force and the importance of airbases today. We must preserve these airfields, built where they are, because of the information gathered from that flight 100 years ago,” Smith said.​

Curious onlookers view the beached Fairey IIID while the crew rest. [Photo via www.southernsun.voyage/aroundoz100]

He is joined on the event by other pilots who will circumnavigate Australia in the opposite direction, avoiding the cooler and more unpredictable weather patterns. Mr Smith, who has been flying for 20 years, was named the Australian Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2016 after becoming the first person to solo circumnavigate the globe in his previous aircraft, a single-engine amphibian.​

The original route Wing Commander ‘Jimmy’ Goble, and Flying Officer Ivor McIntyre followed in their Fairey IIID around Australia, now being recreated by Michael Smith. [Image via www.southernsun.voyage/aroundoz100]

Wing Commander Rob Gill, Commanding Officer of 21 Squadron RAAF and Senior Australian Defence Force Officer at RAAF Base Point Cook, presented Smith with an RAAF ensign to carry with him on his journey. “We’re proud to present Smith with this symbol of the Royal Australian Air Force to accompany him on his journey and look forward to welcoming him on his safe return next month,” said Gill.​

Michael Smith’s seaplane ‘Southern Sun’ parked next to a pair of RAAF EA-18G Growlers during Exercise Centenarie Redimus at RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland. [Photo RAAF, AC Campbell Latch]

The RAAF are recognizing this anniversary as well with Exercise Centenarie Redimus. Two Boeing EA-18G Growlers of 6 Sqn RAAF were dispatched from RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland on April 11th to start their 2024 rendition of the circumnavigation. The intent of the exercise, in addition to the commemoration, was to demonstrate an ability to operate from a variety of airfields across Australia, and provide an opportunity to engage the Australian public while promoting a career working with EA-18 Growlers and Air Combat Group. A highlight of Exercise Centenarie Redimus was Flight Training School and Air Mission Training School students being offered one of four incentive flights. This flight also recognized the 50th anniversary of a 6 Sqn F-111 flight, crewed by Wing Commander Ray Funnell and Squadron Leader John Miller, which completed the same feat in 1974.​

Follow Smith as he retraces this historic journey at http://southernsun.voyage/aroundoz100​

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[DaveM]

A Golden Anniversary for SUN ‘n FUN

By Aaron Haase

The 2024 edition of the annual SUN ‘n FUN Fly-in in Lakeland, FL was its golden 50th anniversary! A wonderful week of events were planned at the aptly named “Spring Break” of aviation. Warbirds and vintage ranged wide and far from Kermit Weeks’ 1930 Sikorsky S-39 to Jared Isaacman’s Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29UB and even a very rare appearance of the Starfighters Incorporated Lockheed F-104 Starfighter.​

The Ghost Squadron Alpha Jets in formation with the team’s MiG-29. [Photo by Aaron Haase]

Many warbirds showed up throughout the week, primarily on Tuesday during warbird portion of the air show. Types included around ten North American P-51 Mustangs, single examples of the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair, Grumman FM-2 Wildcat, Consolidated PBY Catalina, North American B-25J Mitchell, Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, and multiple trainer and cargo types. The show was also slightly hindered by a few warbird cancellations such as the Commemorative Air Force’s (CAF) Boeing B-29 Superfortress (recently out of winter maintenance) and Consolidated B-24 Liberator, and Rod Lewis’ Grumman F7F Tigercat. Over the course of this article, we’ll go through day by day what warbird and vintage type flew and the overall award winners. Let’s get to the action!​

Tuesday’s airshow began with the debut of the Titan Aerobatic Team. Formerly known as the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team, Titan took to the skies with their newly-painted North American T-6 Texans. After they concluded, Nathan Hammond flew his 1956 de Havilland Canada Super Chipmunk in an aerobatic performance. The warbird arrival show took place next with a series of formation arrivals that included two Aero-Vodochody L-39 Albatross and one SIAI-Marchetti S.211 in the jet formation, six North American T-28 Trojans, nine T-6/SNJ/Harvard types, eight Nanchang CJ-6a, four SOCATA TB 30 Epsilons, and 16 Beechcraft T-34 Mentors. These formations were able to make several passes at varying altitudes before recovering. The T-34 Mentors then proceeded to fly a “missing man formation” using all their aircraft in four separate diamond formations with one of the diamond formations pulling as the missing man.​

Once the T-34s recovered, the Jack Aces P-51 Mustang formation team took off to prepare for their performance. This is a wonderful performance flown by two experienced Mustang pilots, Louis Horschel flying the Cavalier P-51D Mad Max and Ariel Luedi flying the TF-51 Little Witch. They fly an impressive demonstration showcasing their formation flying ability through a series of rolls, loops, and passes. The final warbird act of the day was the debut of the Ghost Squadron, a demonstration team formed by Jared Isaacman that is part of the Polaris Program civilian space flight operations. The team aircraft include their leader flying his MiG-29UB Fulcrum, three Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets, and four Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatross. The Tuesday and Wednesday evening performance were minus one of the Alpha Jets, but the Friday and Saturday evening performance included all eight jets. After the show concluded, a lot of photographers gathered in eager anticipation for the arrival of the Lewis Air Legends Lockheed C-121A Constellation known as Bataan. Once this beauty appeared, that concluded the warbird/vintage arrivals for the day.​

The queen of SUN ‘n FUN 2024, Lewis Air Legends’ majestic Lockheed Constellation “Bataan”. [Photo by Aaron Haase]

The Wednesday show opened with a surprise airfield attack from the CAF’s “Tora Tora Tora” performance. Eight modified T-6 Texan/BT-13 aircraft were designed to emulate Japanese and American aircraft of WWII; five were replica Mitsubishi Zeros, two were replica Nakajima B5N Kate torpedo bombers, and one was a replica Curtiss P-36 Hawk. This performance is designed as a living history lesson demonstrating the December 7th, 1941 surprise attack on Pearl Harbor which catapulted the United States into World War II. After Tora Tora Tora recovered, Larry Kelley brought the fight to Japan with a performance of the Delaware Aviation Museum’s B-25J Panchito by recreating the Doolittle Raid mission. Once the B-25J was safely on the ground, the CAF sent up several more of their aircraft including their incredible SBD-5 Dauntless, P-51C Tuskegee Airmen, P-51D Gunfighter, and their T-34 Mentor Mellow Yellow. Each of these aircraft made a few passes before recovering.​

More warbird action commenced with the trainer warbird show plus one C-47 Skytrain Placid Lassie. The trainer types again included L-39 Albatross, T-28 Trojan, T-6 Texan, T-34 Mentor, TB-30 Epsilons, and Nanchang CJ-6 formations, and a couple of PT-17 Stearman biplanes. A few liaison type aircraft displayed as well. After all returned to earth, the Lewis Air Legends C-121A Constellation rumbled into the air. However it was forced to land a few minutes after takeoff with a nose gear issue, returning safely to the field. Doug Rozendaal flew his replica Howard DGA-6 Mister Mulligan in a modified Bendix Trophy-style race that was an excellent performance showcasing the history of this replica.​

Mister Mulligan flown by Doug Rozendaal. [Photo by Aaron Haase]

The final warbird/vintage performance was flown by David Martin in his striking yellow Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister. David flies a fantastic demonstration that really shows just how maneuverable this aircraft really is. The night show featured another performance by the Ghost Squadron flying the same seven aircraft as the Tuesday show. Lee Lauderback from Stallion 51 performed his beautiful twilight TF-51 Mustang routine after the Ghost Squadron recovered. The Titan Aerobatic Team closed out the vintage/warbird types for the evening.​

The Thursday show was cancelled due to impending strong storms right near the start time of the show. No major damage occurred during the higher winds.

The Friday show was action packed and started off with Louis Horschel joining the U.S. Navy F/A-18F Demonstration Team in his FG-1D Corsair for the Navy Legacy Flight. Lewis Air Legends took to the skies again in the Connie and provided two glorious passes for the crowd in that beautiful four-engined piece of history before departing for home. The Titan Aerobatic Team flew their day show again but only as a three ship. Tora Tora Tora returned to the airspace to provide their history lesson again for the crowd in Lakeland, FL. Ghost Squadron also performed again, this time with eight aircraft. It is quite a sight to see a Mig-29UB performing barrel rolls with three Alpha jets in a diamond formation — there is absolutely no other place in the world you would have seen that combination together. David Martin flew again in his Bucker Jungmeister showcasing its incredible maneuverability. Steve Hinton Jr. arrived earlier in the show in Tom Friedkin’s P-51D Double Trouble two, joining the Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II in formation to perform the USAF Heritage Flight which wrapped up the vintage/warbird flying for the day.​

The US Navy Legacy Flight of FG-1D Corsair and Super Hornet. [Photo by Aaron Haase]

Another pass by the USAF Heritage Flight of a P-51D and F-35A. [Photo by Aaron Haase]

The Saturday show again started off with Louis Horschel joining the Super Hornet for the Navy Legacy flight. Scott “Scooter” Yoak was up next by displaying his P-51D Mustang Quicksilver in an aerobatic routine. Tora Tora Tora followed soon after and took the field by surprise with their performance. Several CAFe aircraft plus Jordan Brown’s C-45 Expeditor entered the airpsace next: these aircraft included the SBD-5 Dauntless, T-34 Mentor, P-51D Gunfighter, T-6 Texan, and another C-45 Expeditor. Steven Hinton Jr joined the USAF F-35 again in the Heritage Flight and the Jack Aces P-51 formation team rounded out the day show portion of the Saturday air show for the warbird and vintage types. The Saturday night twilight show again provided displays by the Ghost Squadron with all eight of their aircraft, Lee Lauderback in his TF-51 Crazy Horse 2, and the Titan Aerobatic Team in a three ship performance.​

I was unable to attend the Sunday show, but the acts included Lieutenant Colonel Jerry “Jive” Kerby USAF (Ret.) flying his T-28B Trojan Mad Dog in an aerobatic routine, a timey reminder that the North American T-28 is celebrating 75 years this year! The Jack Aces P-51 team flew again as did Larry Kelley in the B-25J Panchito. David Martin flew his Bucker Jungmeister and Doug Rozendaal flew Mister Mulligan as well.

The awards ceremony was held Saturday with Tim Savage’s beautifully restored P-40N Warhawk taking Grand Champion of the warbirds. Tony Caldwell won the Silver Age Grand Champion in his beautiful 1934 Waco UMF-3.

Here is the list of Antique and Warbird award winners:

Antique:

Tony Caldwell, Oklahoma City, OK: 1934 WACO UMF-3 N13571 — Silver Age Champion Antique

Stephen Zoerlein, St. Charles, IL: 1936 WACO YQC-6 N516212 — Silver Age Runner-Up Antique

Cecil Bradford, Huntersville, NC: 1942 Meyers OTW N34330 — WWII Era Preservation Award Antique

Sherrie Dietrich & Rocky Driggers, Hernando, FL: 1940 Luscombe N28412 — Bronze Age Monoplane Outstanding Closed Cockpit

Warbird:

Tim Savage, Ocala, FL: 1942 Curtiss P-40N Kittyhawk N740PN — Grand Champion

Jeffrey Berry, Bartow, FL: North American T-28C N80269 — Best Post WWII Trainer

Brandon Swanbom, San Antonio, FL: Nanchang CJ-6a N801VX — Judge’s Choice

William Rourke, Greenville, SC: North American T-28B N284MS — Preservation Award

Congratulations to the winners and a huge congratulations to everyone involved at SUN ‘n FUN for a successful 50th Anniversary!​

From its humble beginnings in 1974 as a fly-in for sport aviation enthusiasts, the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo has grown into one of the largest and most successful aviation events on earth. It is Florida’s largest annual convention of any kind, and each year over 200,000 visitors flock to what has become known as “Aviation’s Season Opener” or “Spring Break for Pilots”. ​

Make sure to mark your calendar for the 51st SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo on April 1-6, 2025. For more information visit www.flysnf.org.​

The Empire of the Sun: Lee Lauderback performs his twilight routine for the SUN ‘n FUN crowds. [Photo by Aaron Haase]

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[DaveM]

Flying EE Lightning Project Leaves U.S., Focuses on New Jet

PRESS RELEASE

In 1997, the Anglo American Lightning Organisation (AALO) was founded by Andrew Brodie, Jon Roth, Phil Wallis and Max Waldron. The group acquired English Electric Lightning T.5 XS422 in the UK and relocated it to Stennis International Airport, MS in the U.S. where was meticulously restored back to fast taxi capability.

EE Lightning T.5 XS422, now with the U.S. civil registration N422XS, pictured during restoration by AALO. [Photo via Anglo-American Lightning Organisation Ltd]
The project has been led by Chief Engineer Phil Wallis and supported by a regular team of engineers, namely Dave Yates, Dave Tylee, Simon Johnson, Milton Roach, Kelvin Ware, Steve Browning and Jason Skinner. However, over the years many other engineers have also contributed such as Geoff Commins, Rory Elliot, and Nic Woodhouse to name but a few. AALO is also thankful to pilot Will Ward who has helped them over the years and has fast taxied XS422 on several occasions at Stennis International Airport.

As AALO exits the U.S. XS422 will remain at Stennis International Airport. [Photo via the Anglo-American Lightning Organisation]
Without the help and support of these volunteers it would not have been possible to reach the position AALO is in today. It has been a remarkable achievement to all those involved who have selflessly given up their time to support the project over the years. The dedication and commitment of everyone involved has been truly remarkable, and AALO would like to thank them.

[Photo via Anglo-Arabian Lightning Organisation Ltd]
In September 2023 AALO acquired a second Lightning T.5, XS452 (formerly ZU-BBD, as reported by Vintage Aviation News) and the entire spares inventory from Hangar 51 PTY at Cape Town in South Africa. After inspecting the aircraft and assessing the supporting equipment and spares, AALO believes it now have a package that is capable of returning a Lightning back to flight and meeting their operational requirements.
After much consideration and with a heavy heart, AALO has decided to exit the U.S. and will no longer be involved in the restoration project of XS422. The organization will now dedicate our efforts to return XS452 back to flight by 2026.

[Photo via Anglo-Arabian Lightning Organisation Ltd]
As AALO closes the door on the U.S. they continue with the same team, and the same dream: to return a Lightning back to flight.​

AALO has launched a new website to keep supporters up to date with all the latest news and information regarding the restoration project. You can also keep up to date on their Facebook page and at their YouTube channel.​

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[DaveM]

Newark Air Museum Gifted Objects by RAF Museum

PRESS RELEASE

The ownership title of several objects that had been on long-term loan to the Newark Air Museum (NAM) from the Royal Air Force Museum (RAFM) were formally transferred to the NAM following a short meeting on April 9th, 2024. The items were a Rolls-Royce RB.108 engine and jet pipe; a Yellow Sun nuclear bomb casing; and a Fireflash missile and trolley. Some of these items have been displayed at NAM’s site in eastern Nottinghamshire, close to the border with Lincolnshire, for more than 15 years.​

The Fireflash air-to-air missile and trolley assembly which is now formally part of the NAM collection. [Photo by Howard Heeley]

The generous donation was made as part of ongoing discussions between the two organizations about a range of subjects. It follows a similar donation of the Lockheed TriStar simulator from the RAFM back in autumn 2015, which is now displayed in Hangar 2 at the NAM.

“The museum trustees are grateful to the RAF Museum for donating these objects to the museum,” NAM Trustee Colin Savill said. “Such donations illustrate the benefits of our Accredited Museum status, and we look forward to the possibility of working with the Royal Air Force Museum to explore similar loans and donations in the future.”​

The Rolls-Royce RB.108 was designed as a lift engine for VTOL aircraft projects in the 1950s. [Photo by Howard Heeley]

“The Royal Air Force Museum is proud to be gifting these objects to Newark Air Museum with the knowledge that we are sharing the RAF story and making it more accessible to people across the country,” Dr Harry Raffal, Head of Collections and Research at the RAFM said. “We look forward to continuing to develop our relationship and working together to inspire new generations.”​

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[DaveM]

“PDK Airshow” to Host D-Day Squadron’s Aircraft Heading To Europe

PRESS RELEASE

Following a year hiatus, Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK), in Atlanta, GA will host their much-loved Good Neighbor Day Air Show and Open House event on May 11, 2024. This year’s show will focus on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The D-Day operation of June 6, 1944, brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the Allied forces in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history. The operation, given the codename OVERLORD, delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy, France.​

The D-Day Squadron gathered US-based C-47s to fly to Europe in 2019 to take part in the Daks Over Normandy celebrations of the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings. The effort will be repeated in a few weeks. (Photo by Tom Demerly via D-Day Squadron)

“We are excited to bring back our air show,” said airport interim director Hunter Hines. “Due to airport construction, we haven’t been able to organize the air show last year. The Good Neighbor Day has become a tradition in Atlanta, and the longest-running air show in the region. We look forward to hosting families and aviation enthusiasts once again.”

Dekalb-Peachtree Airport has a rich military history. A century ago, the present-day airport’s grounds lay within Camp Gordon, a U.S. Army training base during World War I. In 1940, the U.S. Navy acquired a small tract of this land and formally commissioned it as a Naval Reserve airfield by March of the following year. By the end of 1942, the base had grown so large that it became a fully-fledged Naval Air Station. During the war years, the Navy continued to expand the grounds, acquiring a considerable amount of property directly west of the airport from civilian owners, either by purchase or condemnation; they erected a number of new permanent buildings on this land.​

F4U-4 Corsairs on the line at NAS Atlanta (now Dekalb-Peachtree Airport) during the early 1950s. (photo by Will Tate)

However, despite its growth, it wasn’t too long after WWII that the demands of modern jets and large patrol bombers began outstripping what was available at PDK, both in terms of facilities and runway lengths. As a result, the U.S. Navy built a permanent Naval Air Station outpost adjoining Dobbins Air Force Base near Marietta, Georgia, to benefit from that airfield’s longer runways. As the move took place, the Navy initiated the incremental return of their now-former air station in Chamblee to DeKalb County; the airport falling fully within their control during 1959 when it became fully available for civilian use.

“In 2022 we dedicated the air show to the 80th anniversary +1 of NAS Atlanta; this year we are dedicating to the D-Day 80th anniversary. D-Day led to the liberation of France, denying Germany any further exploitation, and helped to end World War II. It was one of the most ambitious and consequential military campaigns in human history. Our goal is to always organize events with our military and aviation history in mind while honoring the women and the men that serve our country,” noted Hines.​

Thom Richard and his P-40 Warhawk “American Dream” will be performing in the airshow. Photo by Mike Killian

Antique airplanes, military aircraft, and DeKalb County fire trucks and ambulances will be on display at PDK during the airport’s open house from noon until 5 p.m. (gates will open at 10:00 am). While there is no admission charge, parking is priced at $20 per vehicle. The open house will take place at the airport (formal address is 2000 Airport Rd, Atlanta, GA 30341). Cars may enter from Clairmont Road and, until 1:30 pm, from Dresden Drive as well.​

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[DaveM]

Cavanaugh’s CASA 2.111 On The Move

By Gary Daniels

The Cavanaugh Flight Museum museum closed its doors to the public on December 31st, 2023, after 30-plus years at Addison Airport, TX. As reported by Vintage Aviation News the museum, founded in 1993 by businessman Jim Cavanaugh, had recently experienced conflict with authorities at their home base of Addison Airport (ADS) though in the announcement the Museum did not provide any additional details.​

Today I was on site to document the move of a rare aircraft, the Spanish-built CASA 2.111. The museum has until May 31st to move their extensive collection of historic aircraft, parts inventory, tools, equipment, and artifacts to storage in Sherman, Texas. The museum is in the process of disassembling aircraft for transport. Aircraft that are airworthy have been flown out. They have made great progress with the move considering how herculean the effort has been.

The museum’s very rare CASA 2.111 (the Spanish-built version of the German Heinkel He 111 medium bomber of World War II) was loaded for transport to Sherman. The 53-foot-long fuselage was towed to a more accessible location at the airport for better access by a heavy lift crane. The wings, tail, horizontals, and engines had already been removed. Once the aircraft was harnessed, and the crane lifted the weight off the wheels, the main wheels were removed further reducing the lift weight by 600 pounds. The crane’s scale indicated the fuselage weighed 8500 pounds during the lift. The load is 24 feet wide and the drive to Sherman will be on backroads taking most of the afternoon to travel just 60 miles.

The museum’s 2.111E was built as s/n 155 and taken on charge by the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force) as B2-H-155 in 1950, but due to a lack of engines was put into storage. In 1956, it was fitted with Merlin engines and modified to photographic and map-making configuration. It was accepted by the Spanish Air Force on December 14, 1956, as B2-I-27, to serve with the Spanish Air Force Cartographic Group.​

In 1968 it was painted in WWII Luftwaffe colors and used in the film Battle of Britain, one of more than 30 CASAs used as stand-ins for the unavailable genuine Heinkels. From 1970 to 1972, the aircraft was operated by 403 Escuadrón from Cuatros Vientos, near Madrid. In November 1972, it was transferred to 406 Escuadrón at Torrejon in Spain. In January 1974, it was transferred to 46 Grupo in Ganda, Canary Islands, and active in the Spanish campaign in Western Sahara.​

On January 21, 1975 B2-I-27 was returned to the air armaments factory in Seville, officially listed as surplus, and placed into storage: from all available information it appears that B2-I-27 was the last CASA 2.111 in active service with the Spanish Air Force.​

Now registered N99230, in October 1977 the CASA was ferried across the Atlantic by British warbird pilot Neil Williams for new American owner Dolph Overton, receiving a new color scheme representing Kampfgeschwader 51 (KG51) “Edelweiss” of the German WWII Luftwaffe. It was loaned to the Confederate (now Commemorative) Air Force for a couple of years in the late 1970s, the organization taking on maintenance and operation duties at his expense, before the aircraft returned to Overton’s base in Florida. In 1983 the aircraft was sold to David Tallichet who displayed it at the Combat Air Museum in Topeka, KS.​

The Cavanaugh Flight Museum added B.2-I-27 to its collection in 1995, the aircraft’s delivery flight into Addison Airport being its last to date. Today, however, the fuselage was airborne for the first time in 29 years… although not in the best of ways! At this time, there is no news on plans for the museum collection.​

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