2019 Tacoma Freedom Fair

An airshow over Commencement Bay is just one portion of the July 4 Tacoma Freedom Fair, but it certainly is the most interesting part! A few photos of of this years event, which returned in force after a short absence.

Ace Maker II (N133HH) is an ex-RCAF CT-133 Silver Star (CAF 133452).

The Marines brought an AV-8B Harrier to the event.  The hovering is really only a party trick, but it is a very cool party trick. The Navy provided a EA-18G Growler from NAS Whidbey Island as pictured in the header photo.

The F4U-7 Corsair (N1337A/BuNo. 133722) from the Erickson Aircraft Collection in Madras, Oregon.

The ex-RCAF Kittyhawk (N940AK/AK940/RCAF 1058), also from the Erickson Aircraft Collection in Madras, Oregon, makes a dirty pass.

It was pointed out by the commentator that both types were flown by Tacoma native Pappy Boyington.  No idea if that was on purposeful choice by the airshow organizers or just a happy coincidence.

HFF Biplane Weekend

On Father's Day weekend 2015, the Historic Flight Foundation held its annual Biplane Weekend. One of the highlights was the Foundation's new Travel Air 2000 NC2937.

Ex-RCAF Mitchell Mk. II KL161/N88972 was back in town after a winter repaint. The B-25D still wears the markings of Mitchell Mk. II FL176/VO-B of 98 Squadron Royal Air Force, but the new paint looks much better. The original Grumpy flew a record setting 125 Ops before being retired from action in August 1944.

The Museum's Texan N512SE sitting on the grass.  Notice the B-52 in the background.

Who let the Cats out?

Bad Kitty...

Two fine North American types.

T-28B Trojan N63NA in U.S. Navy training colours.

Also in attendance was the Commemorative Air Force's Rise Above traveling exhibit.  It is not unique to see a high back P-51 parked in front of the trailer, but usually it has a red tail.

As a side note, these photos also show how variable the Seattle weather can be; they were all taken over the span of 48 hours.

Hello My Lovely

The biggest surprise of the 2015 Chino airshow was the first public appearance of Curtiss P-36C Hawk 38-210/NX80FR.  This restoration project had been kept amazingly secret until it was revealed on Facebook on the Thursday before the show.  No question that seeing the P-36 fly was the highlight of my trip and a very pleasant shock.

Hawk 38-210 was the final P-36C built for the USAAC and delivered to the 27 Pursuit Squadron at Selfridge Field, Michigan in May 1939.  The P-36 was among the aircraft flown at the Cleveland Air Races in September 1936 in temporary camouflage.

Apparently, after being struck off strength by the USAAF, the P-36 was acquired by a Pratt and Whitney technical instructor from Canada.  Stored in Canada for many years, it was later sold to a Florida collector.  The Hawk was purchased by the Fighter Collection over a decade ago and held in storage until restoration commenced four years ago.  Beautifully restored by Matt Nightingale in its original 27th PS Squadron markings, the aircraft is headed to Duxford and should appear at Flying Legends.

Modeler's Note: The best 1/72 kit of the P-36 was issued by Monogram sometime in the 1960s. Though lacking in detail, the kit is a little gem.  Detail can be improved by using the Starfighter resin cockpit and wheel well set.  (Starfighter also has two P-36 decals sheets available.) Revell had their own Hawk kit which has been sold as both a Hawk 75A and P-36, but also reboxed the Monogram kit at least once as a Hawk 75.  AML had a series of limited run Hawk 75s which look nice in the box but have a reputation for being difficult builds.  Heller issued a Hawk 75, now reboxed by Smer, but the Monogram kit is a substantially better choice for a 1/72 P-36.  Special Hobby had a series of P-36/Hawk 75s and Aoshima issued a P-36 back in the day, but I've not seen any of these kits in person.

FHC Battle of Britain Day

A couple of weeks ago (Saturday August 25, 2012 to be precise), I attended the Flying Heritage Collection Battle of Britain Fly Day.  The photos can be found here.  (Sorry, I'm too lazy to upload them to the blog.)  Aircraft participating included ex-RCAF Hurricane XIIa BW881/N54FH painted as Hurricane XII 5429/L of 135 "Bulldog" Squadron RCAF, Spitfire Vc AR614/N614VC in wartime RAF Czech Squadron markings, and Spitfire IXe SL633/N633VS in post war Czech Air Force markings.  (A historical side note:  Spitfire AR614 also has a Canadian connection.  It was imported to Canada in the early 1960s by Lynn Garrison for the Air Museum of Canada.  It later moved on to Don Campbell of Kapuskasing, Ontario and was registered as C-FDUY, before returning to the UK for restoration in the early 1990s.)  The two interlopers are a Paine Field firetruck and a Japanese Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner (JA828J) on a shakedown flight.

2011 Holloman Air Show Part 2

Another highlight was a RAF Hawk T.2 which was part of BAE's sales pitch to sell the Hawk to the USAF as a T-38 replacement. I got a chance to fly the Hawk simulator as well which was kinda fun. Sadly due to paperwork issues the Hawk could not fly in the show as planned.



The F-16 flew an impressive display in the show.

A UAV with pilot's and crew chief's names on it?

Aerobatics in a Beech 18? Yes indeed and pretty amazing.

The CAF's ex-Royal Canadian Navy TBM was on static display.

There were some nice L-39s at the show

This T-28C did an aerobatic routine complete with wing tip smoke.

2011 Holloman Air Show Part I

Saturday I attended the Holloman AFB Air Show. Here are a few pictures of the event.

The highlight of the show were the QF-4Es which I understand are used in the drone program at Holloman. On aircraft was on static display and one flew in the show. I've really missed seeing the Phantom at air shows. (These aircraft carry TD tail codes. Does that mean they are really from Tyndall and not Holloman?)

Another highlight were the Holloman based German Air Force Tornados. It was nice to be treated to a four ship flypast during the show including a air to air refueling demo.

It was interesting to note only one Luftwaffe Tornado had gone grey.

While the rest of the aircraft were still green. Here is the tanker bird.

The Holloman badge incorporates the New Mexico flag.

The static display Tornado was all loaded up with weapons. Here is something you don't see much in the U.S. an IRIS-T missile.

Geneseo 2009

Whew, it has been a busy couple of weeks. After the Trenton show, it was back to work for a few days before heading off to Geneseo, New York, for the 1941 HAG's annual airshow. This year's theme was U.S. Naval aircraft, and while the total number of aircraft on the field was down, there were quite a few nice theme aircraft in attendance. Saturday hosted a two hour monsoon, but some flying took place early in the morning and late in the afternoon. After the poor weather Saturday, Sunday was a beautiful day for an airshow. As always, Geneseo is a fun time, and it is good to catch up with friends. See below a few photos from the show.