Archive for the 'News' category
Spitfire crash lands at Masterton Aerodrome, New Zealand
January 15, 2009 5:58 pmAt approximately 3pm today, Supermarine Spitfire Tr. Mark 9, ZK-WDQ was forced to crash land at Masterton Aerodrome in New Zealand. The two seat Spit was practising for the upcoming Wings over Wairarapa airshow. The cause of the accident is currently unknown. The pilot, Doug Brooker, is reported to have walked away uninjured after the crash. The aircraft, while severely damaged, will undoubtably be repaired and will fly again.
At the NZ Warbirds open day, Dec. 7, 2008.
Video: 3 News in New Zealand
Discussion: WIX
Image: Courtesy of WIX Member Hairy
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Yankee Air Museum’s time short
12:56 pmby Khalil Hachem | The Ann Arbor News
Monday January 12, 2009, 2:49 PM
After a fire destroyed the building in 2004, the Yankee Air Museum took up quarters in a large building on the south side of the Willow Run Airport.
Museum officials hoped to stay there until a new facility can be built. But they learned last week they may have to move as early as next month because the Wayne County Airport Authority plans to close the building to save money.
“We’re unhappy about it,” said Frank Ernst, development committee chair with the museum. “We’re disappointed with the decision, and we feel we are taking a huge step backward.”
Airport spokesman Michael Conway said the number of tenants in the aircraft hangar has dwindled, and the authority is losing about $250,000 a year in utility costs for the 191,000-square-foot building.
“We can’t afford to heat it anymore,” Conway said.
Full Article: mlive.com
Discussion: WIX Forum
Gone West… Ralph D. “Hoot” Gibson
January 12, 2009 7:17 pmTUCSON, AZ – Colonel Ralph D. “Hoot” Gibson (ret), a Korean War ace and former lead pilot for the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds demonstration team, passed away on January 2nd, 2009.
Mr. Gibson retired from the U.S.A.F in 1974 and founded a Tucson, AZ real estate firm. His son, Scott Gibson, said that his father was showing a buyer a piece of property when he struck his head, later passing away from the injury.
Ralph D. “Hoot” Gibson was born in Keensburg, Illinois but raised in nearby Mt. Carmel. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943 and thus began a long and colorful career. He served as a fighter pilot with the occupation forces in Japan and later became the world’s third jet ace. He later served a tour in Vietnam.
He also served a tour as Leader of the USAF Thunderbird Air Demonstration Team. Colonel Gibson retired from the Air Force in 1974 and moved to Tucson, AZ to start a real estate business, Hoot Gibson Realty. He was active in numerous civil and military associations and organization as well as the Pima Air & Space Museum. In recent years he was inducted into the Illinois Military Aviation Hall of Fame as well as the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife, Donna; three sons, Scott, Duane and Craig; four grandchildren, Alexandra, Layla, Carrie and Michael; a sister, Opal Hamm and brother, Will Gibson.
Warbird Heritage Foundation’s F-86 Sabre Returns to the air
December 10, 2008 2:25 pmWarbird Heritage Foundation’s NAA F86F Sabre (N188RL/52-4986) took to the air on Dec. 7, 2008 at 10:45 AM for the first time in over a year. The WHF’s Sabre has been undergoing extensive maintenance in 2008.
The annual maintenace of this aircraft was covered in a thread on WIX that include numerous pictures and discussions on the project.
2008 AirVenture Oshkosh Warbird Awards
August 6, 2008 9:55 pm
Another EAA AirVenture Oshkosh has come and gone, and numerous awards for fine quality warbird restorations flying in to participate were taken home by pilots, owners, and mechanics alike. We have compiled the list of awards below.
Preservation Award
Lewis Shaw, Dallas, TX, North American P-51 Mustang, N6168C
Preservation Award
John O Connor, Downers Grove, IL, North American P-51D Mustang, N151MC
Preservation Award
Charlie Grott, Jim Johnson, Pat Devine & Bob Vasquez, St. Charles, MO, Aeronca L-16A Grasshopper, N1143V
Preservation Award
Timothy McDonald, Niceville, FL, North American AT-6G Texan, N92778
Preservation Award
William L. Greene, Groveland, IL, North American T-6G Texan, N3172G
Judges’ Choice: SNJ
Open Cockpit LLC, New York, NY, North American SNJ-5, N3259G
Judges’ Choice: T28
Malte Lorenz, Islip, NY, North American T-28B Trojan, N128BS
Judges’ Choice: Primary Trainer
Mark Howard, Edmond, OK, Fairchild PT-26A Cornell, N9279H
Judges’ Choice: L-19
Stephen Frushour, Storm Lake, IA, Cessna L-19 Bird Dog, N140R
Judges’ Choice: CJ-6
Ron Lee, Palos Verdes Estates, CA, Nanchang CJ-6A, N250RL
Judges’ Choice: Yak 52
Ed Noel, Houston, TX, Yakovlev Yak-52, N713YK
Judges’ Choice: L-Bird
Joseph J. Miller & Tim Trimble, York, PA, Aeronca L-3B Grasshopper, N39563
Judges’ Choice: T-6
Nathan Davis, Tipton, IN, North American AT-6D Texan, N43826
Best T-6
A & M Flight, Eden Prairie, MN, North American T-6 Texan, N85696
Silver Wrench: Gary Allan, Seattle, WA
Best Yak 52/CJ-6
Dave Jester, Pensacola, FL, Yakelov Yak-52 TD, N152TD
Silver Wrench: Dave Jester, Elmore, AL
Best Primary Trainer
Commemorative Air Force – Wisconsin Wing, Waukesha, WI, Fairchild PT-26 Cornell, N103JC
Silver Wrench: Joe and Mark Denest, Westchester, PA
Best O/L-Bird
Duncan Cameron, Lebanon, TN, Consolidated Vultee OY-1 Sentinel, N452WB
Silver Wrench: Duncan Cameron, Lebanon, TN
Best Military Classic
Lil’ Dawg Aviation Inc, Huntsville, AL, Hiller OH-23D Raven, N2770
Silver Wrench: Pat Pockrus, Mineral Wells, TX
Silver Wrench: Bob Tumlin, Oxford, MO
Best T-34
George Frey, Fredrick, MD, Beechcraft T-34B Mentor, N5QN
Silver Wrench: Blackwell Aviation, Belle Vernon, PA
Best Jet
Stewart Fred, Houston, TX, Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatross, N626SF
Silver Wrench: Worldwide Warbirds, Phoenix, AZ
Best P-51
JTS Historical Aviation Foundation, Seattle, WA, North American P-51B Mustang, N5087F
Silver Wrench: Pacific Fighters, Idaho Falls, ID
Best Fighter
Rod Lewis, San Antonio, TX, Supermarine Spitfire MK VB, N628BL
Silver Wrench: Warren Denholm, AVSPECS, Auckland, NZ
Returning Best of Class
Frank Vranicar, Corona Del Mar, CA, Cessna L-19A Bird Dog, N5199G
Returning Grand Champion
Randy Maiville, Onondaga, MI, Cessna O-1G Bird Dog, N16886
Phoenix Award
JTS Historical Aviation Foundation, Seattle, WA, North American P-51B Mustang, N5087F
Dirty Bird
Barry Hancock, Provo UT, Nanchang CJ-6, N8120L
Reserve Grand Champion World War II
Jack Roush, Old Crow, Livonia, MI, North American P-51B Mustang, N551E
Gold Wrench: Cal Pacific Airmotive, Salinas, CA
Grand Champion World War II
North American P-51D Mustang, NL74190
FTRESC LLC, Happy Jack’s Go Buggy, San Antonio, TX
Gold Wrench: Midwest Aero Restorations Ltd., Danville, IL
Warbird Headlines: 13 June 2008
June 13, 2008 8:40 pmFather’s Day Fly-In Set For Columbia Airport
MyMotherLode.com, CA
Moments later it’ll be the Warbird flybys to be followed by the always popular stock car-airplace race. Other Saturday events will include the RC aircraft …
Snowbirds, Musical Ride at Borden Air Show
Alliston Herald, Canada
The sky will also be full of planes from the past, with Vintage Wings of Canada flying propeller aircraft from the Second World War, including a Spitfire. …
Restored B-17 bomber to be on display in South Dakota
Sioux Falls Argus Leader, SD
The Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force will fly the bomber, the Flying Fortress, to Rapid City Regional Airport. The World War II vintage bomber is …
AVCARD and World Fuel Services Present Vintage Aircraft at CBAA 2008
AMTOnline.com, MD
… Museum Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane and you have a unique gathering of special aircraft representing an important part of Canada’s aviation …
War bombers missing parts help wanted
The Northern Scot, UK
It also works closely with an aviation museum at Dumfries. Mr Evans is appealing for help from Moray people in finding missing parts. …
Tomcats In Titusville
Central Florida News 13|, FL
… Air Command Warbird Museum. Inside this hangar, you’ll discover the aircraft the kept America safe along with a treasure trove of aviation history. …
Olympic Air Show brings aviation enthusiasts to town
The Olympian, WA
“We’ve had over 100 members come here, and we’ve been in every aircraft that (Olympic Flight Museum President) Brian Reynolds and the air museum owns. …
Veteran’s Peacetime Mission to Vietnam Reunites Him With Former Foe
Air Force Magazine, VA
… the Phantom is a centerpiece for the new Aviation Heritage Park. Moving and restoring the plane was done with the cooperation of the National Museum of …
World’s largest, oldest aviation museum preserves history
Schriever Air Force Base, CO
The museum is the world’s largest and oldest aviation museum and has more than 17 acres of indoor exhibit space. It has 96 employees and 475 volunteers. …
How to… Make an Airfix diorama
Daily Mail, UK
Commandos scale the cliff face to the left, while overhead a rocket-firing P-51 Mustang provides air support as empty landing craft pull away from the shore …
Roush relishes racing and airplanes
SI.com
A source of pride for years has been his P-51 Mustang, which Roush flies any chance he gets. Even hitting power lines and crashing an experimental aircraft, …
Gathering of Eagles
Maxwell Gunter Dispatch, AL
A P-51 Mustang pilot who flew 68 missions with the Tuskegee Airmen during WWII, Roscoe Brown said GOE is “clearly a teaching experience. …
Air Show to Take Off Saturday
Rexburg Standard Journal, ID
Bagley will fly a World War II era P-51 Mustang and an L-39 Albatross, which is a Czechoslovakian jet trainer that was used to train Communist Bloc pilots …
History invades Narrows Airport
Peninsula Gateway, WA
The aircraft including the iconic North American Aviation P-51 Mustang fighter plane, will be participating in the Collins Foundation’s Wings of Freedom …
Cape May County’s other history: World War II
Cape May County Herald, United States
You know, planes the B-17, the B-24, and the B-25 – which will be flying in for a little visit this August 27 and 28th. A recent distinguished Lecture …
Eleven Missing WWII Airmen Identified
April 26, 2008 9:53 amB-24 Liberator Crew Went Missing In December 1943
aero-news.net: The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced Friday (April 25, 2008) that the remains of 11 US servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.
Full Article: www.aero-news.net
Russian Mig 29 shoots down Georgian UAV
April 23, 2008 6:24 amMuseum Of Aviation Receives A Bronco
March 25, 2008 12:52 pm
Warner Robins, GA, February 29, 2008. –The Museum of Aviation will take possession of a Vietnam-era forward air control aircraft tomorrow known as the OV-10 Bronco. The twin-turbo prop twin-seat short takeoff and landing aircraft was used in combat during the Vietnam War and also saw action flying tactical air control missions in Germany and Korea during the 70s and 80s. It was retired in 1991 and was acquired by the Museum of Aviation from another Museum in Amarillo, Texas. Two airmen from the 653rd Combat Logistics Support Squadron at Robins Air Force Base helped the Museum disassemble the aircraft and transport it from Texas to Georgia on a flatbed trailer.
A total of 157 OV-10s were produced for the U.S. Air Force from 1967 to 1969 by North American Rockwell. The Bronco’s missions included observation, forward air control, helicopter escort, armed reconnaissance, gunfire spotting, utility and limited ground attack. It was equipped with four machine guns in the fuselage plus 3,600 lbs. of external stores. Adding to its versatility is a rear fuselage compartment with a capacity of 3,200 pounds of cargo, five combat-equipped troops or two litter patients and a medical attendant.
The Museum of Aviation plans to restore the aircraft to its Vietnam-era paint scheme and markings and display it along side other Vietnam-era aircraft in its collection like the UH-1 helicopter gunship, and the O-1E Birddog and O-2A Skymaster forward air control aircraft.
The Museum now has more than 120 aircraft, missiles and cockpits in its collection.
Source: Museum Of Aviation
Collings Foundation acquires a Mustang
March 15, 2008 10:00 amIt’s official folks!
The Collings Foundation acquired Max Chapman’s North American TP-51C Mustang “Betty Jane” (42-103293) as of last week and the P-51C will be joining the B-17, B-24, and B-25 on tour as part of the Wings of Freedom Tour!
Beginning at the Dallas, TX visit, visitors will be able to view the “little friend” alongside the bombers it defended. Since the aircraft is a full-dual control “T” model, flight training in the aircraft will be offered.
For more details, see http://www.cfdn.org
