Alberta Cobras?

Two P-39s are being restored in Edmonton as a joint venture between the Alberta Aviation Museum and the Reynolds Alberta Museum.  

But why restore a U.S. type in Canada in which only one was operated by the RCAF?  

Most Russian P-39s passed through Canada on their way to Alaska as part of the Northwest Staging Route. Blatchford Field in Edmonton was often a stopping point.  While both aircraft were ex-PNG, many parts from P-39M 42-4725 that crashed in Wetaskiwin in December 1942 are included in the restoration.  One of the aircraft will be restored in the marking of 42-4725. 

Modeler's Note: By far the best P-39 Airacobra in 1/72 is the newish Arma kit.  Buy one; you won't regret it.  There are also kits by Academy and Heller that aren't awful, but Arma just blows them out of the water.

Tulsa Air and Space Museum

While in Tulsa, I visited the small, but interesting, Tulsa Air and Space Museum. It is not often that I see aircraft types I've not seen before but the Tulsa Museum had two.

A former American Airlines MD-80 has been donated to the Museum and it will be modified into a park ornament and classroom.

A nice looking Spartan NP-1 has traveled to to quite a few places in its lifetime; including Grosse Ile, Michigan, Wooster, Ohio, Seattle, Washington, and now Tulsa, Oklahoma.  (For the eagle-eyed, the red airplane is a Spartan C-2.)

I've seen Spartan Executives before, but never a nose gear version.  This is the Spartan 12W Executive.  It was the only example of its type built.  Nice looking plane.

Another new aircraft to me was the Rockwell/DASA Ranger 2000.  A competitor in the USAF JPATS evaluation, three were built in Germany.  N204NA was the third prototype and the aircraft was derived from the German Fantrainer.  Of course, the T-6A Texan II was purchased by the USAF instead of the Ranger 2000.

They have an F-14 too, Goose.

National Museum of the USAF

In late February I took a quick trip to Dayton to visit the National Museum of the USAF. Sadly, I didn't have a chance to cross the field to see the Avro Aerocar, but I did get to tour the main museum. While the collection is stunning, they have decided to display it all in a cave. Actually, that is an insult to caves; they probably have better lighting. Anyway, these are the best pictures I could get...and they are woefully poor.

The ex-RCAF Hurricane XII done up as an Eagle Squadron bird. Most online sources say it was RCAF 5390, but I have no idea if that is correct or not. Many of the surviving RCAF Hurricanes have confused IDs.

The Australian Beaufighter A19-43 has also been restored in US markings. Really nice to see a restored Beaufighter...but why isn't there one in Canada?

This Avro 504K was part of the Imperial Gift to Canada as G-CYEI. It was restored by the RCAF as part of a Centennial Project in 1967 and flew as part of the Old Gold team. Again, now displayed in US markings.

A neat Kellett Autogyro.

The former Confederate Air Force P-82B is now on display in the Korean War Gallery.

Also in the Korean War Gallery is this nice T-6D Mosquito FAC.

An RAF Tornado GR.1 in Gulf War Markings.

Watch out for the bad guys...a MiG-29 in this case.

Another bad guy...a beautifully restored A6M2 Zero.

In need of Rocket Fuel...a German V-2 on its transport trailer.

Finally CF-100 Mk.4A RCAF 18241.

Wings Over the Rockies Air Museum

While in Denver, Heather and I visited the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum located on the site of the former Lowry Air Force Base. Now mostly a residential and shopping area, the Museum has a few interesting aircraft in their collection.

The star of the collection is James Axtell's FG-1D Corsair N194G BuNo. 92050. It has some rather interesting racing modifications including radically clipped wings and wooden ailerons. I wonder if it ever flew with these modifications?





The other rare gem in the collection is Douglas B-18A Bolo s/n 39-025.



This French Nord 2302 N2254R was a pleasant surprise.


Every Museum needs a Piper J-3 Cub. This is N42427.


Another very rare bird is NC2568, an 1926 Alexander Eaglerock.


Finally we have a Beechcraft AT-11 s/n 42-37496. While it was built as an AT-11, it is on display as a C-45.


Flying Banana anyone? This nice banana is Boeing-Vertol H-21 Shawnee s/n 55-4218.

Tri-State Warbird Museum FG-1D Corsair Restoration

One of the most interesting displays at the Tri-State Warbird Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the Corsair restoration project based upon Goodyear built FG-1D BuNo. 92132. Now registered N3466G this Corsair, which was built in Akron, Ohio, has spent most of its life in storage. The FG did not see combat and was retained in the U.S. Post-war it was on display with the Air Museum at various California locations. In the 1970s it was sold to David Tallichet and became a television star. After being brought back to airworthy shape, it was flown for the TV show "Baa Baa Black Sheep." Once filming wrapped up, the Corsair was placed in storage first in California, and then in Illinois. A few years ago the project was placed on the market and the aircraft was purchased by the Tri-State Warbird Museum. Since that time the airplane has been under a slow but methodical restoration back to airworthy condition. As this Corsair has not been previously restored in civilian life, and as it is a complete aircraft and not a wreak, it is a unique time capsule and will one day look stunning when it takes to the air.

Restoration has focused on the wings and the tail section. The center section is on display in the Museum in its unrestored state.

Tri-State Warbird Museum - The Flyers

Back in October while attending the Cincinnati Scale Modelers' Contest and Swap Meet, Matt and I took a side trip to the Clermont County Airport to visit the Tri-State Warbird Museum. It was a little hangar of some nicely restored airplanes, though it wasn't much of a Museum. Here are a few of the flying aircraft on display. (And yes I realize it is August and I took this pics in October...I'm a little slow...)

Ex-Royal Canadian Navy TBM-3E BuNo. 53420/N420GP was forlornly stuck in the corner.
TB-25N s/n 45-8898/N898BW "Axis Nightmare."

Every Museum needs a PT-17 Stearman. This is N224DF.
The Museum flagship is P-51D N83KD "Cincinnatti Miss" with the assumed identity of s/n 44-84410.

AT-6 s/n 42-84779/N7RK masquerading as "Tweety" the SNJ-5.

Later in the week I'll post some photos of the Corsair restoration project.

Since our visit the Museum has added a Strikemaster, FW-190 recreation, and a P-40 project to the collection. I'm not sure how they fit all the new additions in the hangar.

The USS Midway Museum

Back in August, Heather and I visited San Diego. It was mainly to relax and enjoy the sun, sand, and surf, but I did get a chance to visit the USS Midway Museum. Here are a few pictures from the visit:


A few shots of the deck with the skyline in the background:



World War Two Aircraft inside the hangar deck included TBM-3E BuNo. 85957, SNJ- BuNo. 91091, and an A-24B painted up as a SBD Dauntless:




Most of the jets and more modern aircraft are outside on the carrier deck. First off are a couple of Grummans, F9F-5 Panther BuNo. 141136 and F9F-8P Cougar BuNo. 141702:



The Vietnam collection includes F-8K Crusader BuNo. 147030, A-4F Skyhawk BuNo. 154977, A-6E Intruder BuNo. 151782, and EKA-3B "Whale" BuNo. 142251:





Finally, F/A-18A BuNo. 162901 represents the USS Midways's swan song during the Gulf War:


Besides the aircraft, the carrier itself is a great museum piece. Thankfully it has been kept in original condition and many areas are open for tour. Defiantly worth a visit if you are in the area.