North American Yale Prototype

When hangar flying discussions turn to rare airplanes I pay attention. Especially when the word prototype is tossed in! While visiting a friends hangar he said he had completed the fabric and paint work on the rudder of a North American Yale. Not just any Yale but the prototype NA-64. The fixed gear trainer from the T-6 family of aircraft. The project was coming together after about two years of refurbishment and I wanted to see it!

It was an odd Thursday afternoon in February 2017 that I had taken off work to spend time with my son. He loves to visit the local airports so we drove around Hicks Airfield in Ft. Worth. After stopping to visit a few friends and asking about the Yale we were coming up with no clues on it’s whereabouts. Feeling pretty bummed we started to leave the airport. At the last taxiway I looked back over my shoulder and spotted the Yale! It had just been pulled out of the hangar for an engine run! We found it!

The owner, Mark Cyrier, told me the story of finding the airplane, Yale NX13397, and it’s refurbishment. Some photos and part of the story are posted on the Warbird Information Exchange forum - follow this link…

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=56209

We almost missed it... so it was very cool to finally find the Yale that I had been hunting for.

Mark sent me an email today to report that it has flown 15 hours. This just might be the oldest flying North American trainer currently airworthy.

Mid America Flight Museum - World War Two Glider and Troop Pilot Reunion

Fall of 2016 my dad and I made the short trip out to East Texas for the National World War Two Glider and Troop Pilots reunion. The Mid America Flight Museum in Mount Pleasant, Texas hosted the event. Dad and I enjoyed walking around the airplanes on the ramp, checking out the museums hangars and visiting with some of the pilots. The museum was very generous to the veterans and their families with airplanes rides and open hospitality. Be sure to follow Mid America Flight Museum on Facebook and Instagram. They have an amazing collection of airplanes. Photos and link to a highlight video below. (Highly recommend Erik Johnston's videos!)

Dan and Dad with the C-41

C-47 Sky King

General Hap Arnold's C-41

Sky King and the C-41 stayed busy giving rides

Links: Mid America Flight Museum - Glider Pilots Association

Legend Cub Ride

In the Fall of 2016 our son Brennen took his first small airplane ride. We were attending the Texas Antique Airplane Association Fly-In. Family friend Billy Copeland offered me a ride in his Legend Cub when Brennen quickly stated “I want to go to!” so he rode in my lap. I could not think of a more memorable airplane to get his first airplane ride in than a Cub!

Strapping in the Legend Cub

All smiles from our ride

Brennen, Dan, Jana and Billy

Earlier in the day Brennen took a ride on this little train. I likes the Cub!

Curtiss Robin Cowling

In April of 2016 I took delivery of my Curtiss Robin cowling parts. These are from an OX-5 Robin. They are a fun addition to my collection. The coolest thing about their delivery is that they were flown to me on a Challenger 300 business jet! The pilot had permission from the owner to pack them in the back for the trip to Texas. With the help of a new aviation acquaintance who worked the ramp we loaded them up on the "follow me" cart and took them to my car. Yes... I made them fit!

1920s airplane parts flying in a corporate jet!

The coolest baggage loaded on THIS cart!

Yes the cowling fits

Trunk full of cowling

Looking back on 2016

We are well into 2017 but I see that I did not post any in 2016 so here is a look back…

Most of my time is spent with family these days and that includes outings with our son. He has caught the aviation bug from me for sure!

We have enjoyed a few visits to the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field.

Frontiers of Flight Museum

Our three most frequently visited North Texas airports are Propwash in Justin, Northwest Regional in Roanoke and Hicks in Ft. Worth.

J-3 restoration at Northwest Regional

Luscombe at Northwest Regional

T-6 Project at Propwash

My son and I have also jumped into my old model building hobby. We pull out a plastic model kit from my stash and build about one airplane a month.

Skyraider plastic model build

When we can we visit local North Texas aviation events. An open house at Propwash, a museum visit at Meacham, Addison and Lancaster.

Our son, Brennen, airplane spotting at Propwash

Daddy and Brennen in the shade of the Navion

Checking out the Vintage Flying Museum at Meacham

Mustang at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum

Woody and Mustang at Lancaster

In the Fall of 2016 us boys gave Mommy a break and did an overnight trip to the Antique Airplane fly-in held in Gainesville. Plenty of cool airplanes to spot and we even watched a fun T-6 airshow at sunset.

BIG T-6 at Gainesville Antique Fly-In

 The coolest part of the weekend was our sons first little airplane ride. Our friend Billy took us up in his Legend Cub.

First Cub ride!

As I sort back through my photos I will hit so more highlights from 2016. Stop back by soon!

Old Rhinebeck Spirit of St. Louis Flies

Great news for the long running Spirit of St. Louis project with Old Rhinebeck. Their very accurate replica flew on December 5, 2015! In one Facebook post it showed photos of the Curtiss Robin they used as the training aircraft for the Spirit of St. Louis first flight. The Robin had a large piece of cardboard placed between the front and rear seats to simulate the lack of visibility in the Spirit! Hats off to the Old Rhinebeck crew and supporters!

Photo via EAA/Old Rhinebeck

Click here for the news from EAA.

Links - Old Rhinebeck - EAA

Awesome Antiques - Blakesburg Iowa Antique Fly In 2015

It was a last minute trip to Iowa this past September. The effort was worth it as the weather was sunny and the aircraft turned up in good numbers. Here are some highlights from the Antique Airplane Association Fly-In 2015 in Blakesburg, Iowa. This grass strip event provides the perfect setting for vintage airplanes and photography. It is another on my list of "must see" aviation events in the United States.

The St. Louis Robin - the record breaking Curtiss Robin

Two Curtiss Robins in flight

180hp Chipmunk

450hp Mullicoupe with Mr. Mulligan in the background

Waco Model D

Ryan SCW

Fairchild 71

Beautiful line up of Cessna 140s

Custom Travel Air

Spartan 7W Executive

Stearman Model 4

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome - An Aviation Must See

There are aviation museums and events around the United States that are on my "must see" list. So in conversations with friends and family these must see's come up often. To name a few.... the "big one" at Oshkosh, The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum (downtown and at Dulles), National Museum of the U.S. Air Force... along with one of the places that I HIGHLY recommend be visited if you are a die hard aviation enthusiast or just a casual observer is Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. This grass airfield in rural New York will take you back to another time. Early aviation lives and flies there! I visited there in June of 2005 with my parents and my sisters family. Quite the scene to pull up on the vintage hangars and buildings full of aircraft from the 1910s thru the 1930s. A stroll around the grounds and watching the afternoon airshow will be a site you will never forget. So if in New York... GO!

Dan enjoying the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome

I saw a bit of news a couple days ago. Old Rhinebeck is fundraising to rebuild their gift shop and model museum building after a fire last month. Read the article here on AvWeb.

Let's support the rebuild. Visit the donate page on the Old Rhinebeck site here.

Go and see the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome!!

Links - Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome

Rimowa Fokker F-13 Replica

One of the cool announcements to come out of Oshkosh 2015 was that Rimowa, the luggage maker, would be offering Fokker F-13 replicas for sale. The Rimowa company has a dedicated web site for the project... click here for the full details.

Photo via Fast Company magazine

For the press from EAA at Oshkosh.... click here.

The EAA press states that it will cost about $2.2 Million... cruise at 86 knots... and be powered by a Pratt and Whitney 985.

For some press from FAST COMPANY magazine... click here.

I guess you will spend quite a bit of money to fly slowly... BUT you will be THE COOLEST airplane on the ramp at every airport you land at!

Cowtown T-6 Texan

In June, just as we pulled into the Propwash airport, a radial engine broke the silence and pealed off to land. My boy and I were on an outing to drop in on the Cowtown Aerocrafters hangar in Justin, Texas. We watched as Lanny Parcell and his son landed in the newly restored AT-6 Texan. The gang at Cowtown had this T-6 in storage for a long time and spent the last few years bringing it up to flying status. A fine T-6 now graces the skies over Texas. The glint off the polished skin will have you reaching for your sunglasses! On our visit preparations were being made for the big trip to Oshkosh. (Lanny and Tom Swindle made the trip up and back successfully.) Below are a series of photos from the visit in June.

Cowtown T-6 Gleaming in the Texas sun

Search for "Cowtown Aerocrafters" on Facebook to follow along on their restorations.

Central Texas Wing CAF - South Texas Trip

I am In review mode for this summers activities so posting more photos from a few months back. In June our family headed south for a good friends wedding near Austin. Brennen and I dropped Candice off for some outlet mall shopping (air conditioned!) while we headed out into the warm sunshine to check out a local airport. We drove around the San Marcos, Texas airport until we found the Central Texas Wing of the Commemorative Air Force hangar. They have one COOL hangar! Big open hangar space and plenty of wooden beams with character. Equally eye catching is the variety of vintage aircraft on display. B-25, P-39, AT-6, Beech 18 and more! It was fun to run into a pilot from back in the Breckenridge Airshow days and catch up. If in the Austin/San Marcos area this is a great stop for the aviation enthusiast. Below is a series of photos highlighting the visit.

"Dad... that is NOT a REAL Zero!"

B-25 Mitchell "Yellow Rose"

P-39 Airacobra

Check out the cool hangar structure!

P-39 up close

Hangar overview

Plenty of aircraft on display!

Links - Central Texas Wing CAF - Commemorative Air Force

Are you a Warbird Airshow enthusiast? Check out the book Breckenridge Warbirds! 

Follow this link to preview and purchase.