Archive for July, 2006
Weekly Warbird News Roundup - July 23-29
July 30, 2006 5:36 pmGraf Zepplin likely found off Poland
July 29, 2006 8:08 am
On July 27, 2006, the Polish Navy announced that they have identified a sunken vessal as the remains of the Graf Zeppelin, Nazi Germany’s one and only aircraft Carrier. The wreck was discovered by a Polish oil company in early July and investigated by the Polish Navy. The Graf Zeppelin was plagued with problems and never went into service. However, several aircraft types were developed into navailaized versions including the Ju 87C which was equipped with folding wings.
Link: YahooNews Article
Link: BBC NEWS Article
Weekend Warbird Events: July 29-30
July 27, 2006 6:29 pmEAA AirVenture Highlights: July 26
July 26, 2006 8:18 pm
EAA AirVenture Coverage continues today and throughout the week here on Warbirds-Online with the latest news from Oshkosh relating to warbirds. There’s lots going on this week and we are just getting started I am sure! As always, if you have an insider report, please email us!
Click on “show me more” to see the full report of links!
Photo Credit: Experimental Aircraft Association
Warbird Information Exchange Member Dan K Posts some Monday Warbird Images - from the Warbird Information Exchange
Aero-News correspondent John Dorsey profiles the Grumman RV-1D Mohawk - from Aero-News Network
July 24th & 25th Photos of AirVenture - from EAA AirVenture Staff
General Information for Warbirds at AirVenture (Includes procedures, accomodations, programs, judging standards, etc.) - from EAA Warbirds of America
EAA AirVenture Highlights: July 24
July 24, 2006 8:02 pmF-86 Fatal Crash in Hickory, NC
5:43 pmIt has been a very tragic week for the jet warbird community. After the crash of Hunter J-4061 and the loss of pilot Bob Guilford last week, another terrible piece of news came to us today. The very sad news arrived at our desk when it was confirmed that F-86 Sabre #RCAF 23367 owned and operated by Flying Fossils of Hickory, NC crashed on takeoff from the Hickory Regional Airport in Hickory, NC early this afternoon. Wyatt Fuller, the pilot and well-known airshow performer, was killed in the crash.
The crash happened only yards away from the end of the runway, and firefighters were quickly on the scene, but the post-crash fire had already consumed a large portion of the aircraft. Investigators are currently at the location and are looking into the cause of the crash.
The aircraft was departing for the EAA AirVenture 2006 Fly-in and Airshow in Oshkosh, WI.
The staff of the Warbirds Resource Group are very saddened by the loss of Mr. Fuller and our condolences go to his family and friends.
LINK: WSOC-TV Coverage
LINK: WCNC-NBC Coverage
Former National Warplane Museum Announces New Direction
July 23, 2006 9:25 amFor those of you who have been following the situation at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, formerly known as the National Warplane Museum, surprising changes have been the order of the day. Starting with the sale of their B-17 Flying Fortress “Fuddy Duddy” to Gen. William Lyons in California, followed by the sale of their PBY-6A Catalina to the American Airpower Museum of Long Island, and the posted sales of their R4D-5 and C-45, the museum seems to be taking a direction away from warbirds.
A recent article by the Elmira/Corning Star-Gazette further reinforces this change. The Wings of Eagles Discovery Center is attempting to fill an education gap in Chemung County. The museum/center will partner with local schools and colleges to establish camps and out-of-school programs to bring aviation and high-tech to the youth of the area. The museum will still act as a tourism focus, but in that role alone, it remains underutilized. The addition of education programs would hopefully increase the utiliation of the facility and build a future for the oft fragile museum.
Speaking about the reason for the change, County Executive Tom Santulli said, “There’s a lot of history in that building of flight. But static displays and World War II veterans that used to be the backbone of that museum are going away… There is no future in my opinion. There’s a future but it’s not a growing future. I think the best move they have made so far is when they decided to become an educational institution.”
LINK: Star-Gazette Article
Possible P-51 Parts Buried at Yakima, WA School?
July 21, 2006 7:06 pm
The Yakima Herald-Republic is reporting a story today about the possible recovery of P-51 parts from the grease pit of the Naches Valley School bus garage. An anonymous individual from Western Washington is willing to pay $10,000 for a wing that is supposedly buried there. The wing evidently comes from a P-51 that was purchased by the school district for $217 in 1946 on war surplus and was used for years afterward as a training aid for the high school mechanics program.
The plane, its delivery, and its deposition in the 1970’s has become a part of local lore another article describes, and the result of the excavation will be known by summers end. Stay tuned!
