Warbirds in Review 2023: P-51C "Thunderbird"

History, Heritage, Heros... a great one hour long interview covering the backstory on the P-51C Mustang named Thunderbird. The 1949 Bendix winning racer. This was filmed by EAA Warbirds of America at Oshkosh 2023. It is worth every minute!

Link - Restoration of Thunderbird 

P-47 Bonnie and P-51C Thunderbird Walkaround

Two of the highlights at Oshkosh 2023 for us was the Air Corps Aviation restorations of Bonnie, a P-47 Thunderbolt and Thunderbird, a P-51C Mustang. More posts to come featuring photos and videos of these amazing aircraft. (Video from Vintage Aviation News)

P-47 Thunderbolt restoration

P-51 Thunderbird restoration

Constellation Returns to Flight

Congratulations to Lewis Air Legends on returning their Lockheed Constellation to the air! After a 6-7 year restoration in Chino, California the Connie has made several local flights and the plan is to attend the Airventure Airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Lewis Air Legends 

EAA Video of Monocoupe 110 Special

Monocoupes really are a special breed of airplane. The Clipwing was the "hot rod" of the skies back in the 1930s. Today they are a rare aeronautical treasure. I have been fortunate to fly with Kelly Mahon in Clipwing N2347. This EAA video tells the story well! Hats off to Kelly for sharing this airplane and to Connor Madison for the awesome photos.

Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum Opening

 

April of 2023 will see the opening of the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum in Atchison, Kansas. At the center of the museum is a surviving example of a Lockheed 10E, the same model as Earhart's. 149 Lockheed 10s were built and only about 13 airframes survive around the world. The story of Amelia, her aviation exploits and mysterious 1937 round the world flight will be told at this new museum. It will be worth the visit.

Links - Amelia Earhart Museum and Lockheed 10 survivors

Curtiss Robin video

 

Recently we assembled a collection of photos and videos of the Mid America Flight Museum's Curtiss Robin. Enjoy a bit of history of the 1929 Robin.

Mid America Flight Museum

Surviving Curtiss Robins

Dragon Rapide Restored to Flight

Nigel Hitchman photo

 

Great news from New Zealand and the AvSpecs restoration shop. A de Havviland Dragon Rapide restoration is complete and has made its first post restoration flight. Vintage Aviation News website has the story by James Kightly and photos by Nigel Hitchman. 

Link here to the Vintage Aviation News coverage.