Tennessee Museum of Aviation Visit- Long Post

kalamazookid · **Posted:** Sat Jul 21, 2012 4:20 pm

A couple weeks ago, I stopped by the Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville. It was my first visit to the museum and I definitely plan on going back in the near future. The staff was very friendly, the facilities are very clean and well-lit, and there was a good variety of aircraft and other displays. Below is a photo recap of my visit with info regarding each of the aircraft pictured:

First up was a B-25 nose section, which was recently obtained from Aero Trader. This nose section was part of an aircraft modified by Tallmantz Aviation. The nose art on the right side reads "Riley's Girl" and the museum is researching to determine which movies the aircraft may have appeared in. If anyone knows, I'm sure the museum would love to hear from you.

Next up was 3/4 scale P-12. This replica dates the 1961 and the paint scheme honors a local pilot.

The MiG-21 and the first of two MiG-17s are displayed together. The -17 is displayed with the cannons lowered, which is kind of neat. I would assume the aircraft doesn't have an engine because if it did, it would probably be a tail-sitter without the weight of the cannons in the nose.

The P-51 is a full-size fiberglass replica. I was told by a docent that it was one of five made from this particular set of moulds.

The UH-34 was an absolute timepiece. The airframe was turned over the SVNAF towards the end of the Vietnam War. The aircraft still shows battle damage, including bullet holes and skin patches, and is displayed in "as found" condition.

The T-33 is a Canadian aircraft in generic USAF markings.

I have no idea what the story on the markings of this OV-10 are. Anyone know?

L-5 project under restoration to fly.

The C-45 is airworthy and flies quite regularly.

P-47 wreckage recovered from, as the sign put it, "somewhere in the South Pacific." If you look close you can see the dull dark green color in the cockpit that modeler's trade blows over. It appears the spinner used to be yellow, which could be a clue as to where it served.

Next up were the two stars of the collection- the P-47s "Wicked Wabbit" and "Hun Hunter XVI." These aircraft make the rounds on the airshow circuit. Even though I've seen them fly together, it's still special to see two Thunderbolts under one roof.

The Skyraider is one of the finest examples I've seen. This aircraft has been featured in Warbird Digest.

The T-34 is a static display only. I think the markings are civilian.

L-19 restoration project.

The other MiG-17.

Wrapping things up was the F-86. I was told by a docent that the museum would like to fly the aircraft, but are lacking mil-spec parts for the leading-edge slats. If anyone knows where to locate these, I'm sure the museum would love to hear from you.

The Red Bull HU-16 Albatross was on the ramp, but I was unable to get clear photos due to rain. The museum also has a T-28 in annual in a neighboring hangar, but that is unaccessible to the public. On the way out, I spotted this UH-60 on another ramp across the airport.

Enemy Ace · **Posted:** Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:52 pm

Black OV-10 is former Dyncorp drug sprayer that worked Dept. of State eradication missions I believe. The yellow T-34 and L-19 are former North Carolina Forestry fire spotters or maybe US Forest Service IIRC.
Nice museum and super people. I wish Neal Melton would write a book about how it all came to be.

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Sat Jul 21, 2012 8:01 pm

Thanks for the report and the photos. It looks like a great place to visit. I wish a certain museum in Dayton,Oh was as wel lit as this place is.

BK · **Joined:** Sun Oct 09, 2005 4:23 pm **Posts:** 593

The OV-10 is still in the drug sprayer markings but plans are to re-paint it back to it's military livery. It served with the USMC (VMO-2 and H&MS-11) in Vietnam. The T-34 is indeed from the NC Forest Service and was flown to the museum this year. There have been rumors that the B-25 nose was used for the movie Catch 22 but there is no proof of it so far. Good to hear they want to fly the F-86, that was news to me.

Sep 29 would be a good day to visit, the 365th FG are having their reunion at the museum and the Thunderbolts and likely other museum aircraft will fly.

K5DH · **Posted:** Sat Jul 21, 2012 9:01 pm

Are the nose markings on the Bronco perhaps indicative of former service with South Africa?

gary1954 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 21, 2012 9:06 pm

BK wrote:

There have been rumors that the B-25 nose was used for the movie Catch 22 but there is no proof of it so far.

I would find that hard to believe since all of the Catch 22 Air frames are accounted for with the exception of N1203 supposedly lost on a alleged drug run down south. there is no mention of a Hollywood cockpit anywhere that I have ever seen.

gary1954 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 21, 2012 9:12 pm

I sure as heck would be interested in learning which airframe this nose came from. Is that a navigators dome mount up there just aft of the cockpit canopy? And the window on the starboard side appears to be indicative of an early model B-25 unless it is a mod added in post military service....hmmmmm

JDK · **Posted:** Sat Jul 21, 2012 9:54 pm

Interesting report, thanks!

k5dh wrote:

Are the nose markings on the Bronco perhaps indicative of former service with South Africa?

Certainly looks like a South African scenario - Chaka Zulu was a person, Kwa-Zulu was a place (homeland) in what is now the Republic of South Africa, often given as 'RSA'. That's just on a quick bit of research, we'd need input from one of our South African members to trust some accuracy!

Regards,

DaveG · **Posted:** Sun Jul 22, 2012 12:08 am

These birds look similar, but were in Colombia, not South Africa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wx00Aq9Vsk

Enemy Ace · **Posted:** Sun Jul 22, 2012 12:17 am

Re the zulu thing: No SA Service, maybe had a pilot from there who named it ?

JDK · **Posted:** Sun Jul 22, 2012 12:21 am

South African pilots or crews? Certainly unlikely to be a South African operated / based aircraft anyway, AFAIK.

Snap, with EA...

DaveG · **Posted:** Sun Jul 22, 2012 12:44 am

BK · **Joined:** Sun Oct 09, 2005 4:23 pm **Posts:** 593

Enemy Ace wrote:

Re the zulu thing: No SA Service, maybe had a pilot from there who named it ?

That's likely it. Scroll down to the bottom:
http://www.ov-10bronco.net/OBA/Events/B ... s-igor.cfm

"Here is the name stenciled on the nose... "Lone Star Rising" The story behind the names on some OV-10s are slightly obscure, but they were so dubbed by pilots in the past."

Enemy Ace · **Posted:** Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:51 pm

Dyncorp employed/ employs pilots from all over the world, it is not at all impossible that there could have a been a SA pilot who flew this plane. Or maybe some crew chief just watched some old Michael Caine Zulu movie on the late show and named it that cause of the paint job.
As an aside, you had to be a fairly experienced Ag pilot to be hired into the spraying program, so the net was thrown pretty wide trying to find Ag pilots who could adapt to the military style living and working conditions and still hold a security clearance. One of the few flying jobs out there where the Sierra Hotel F-14 jocks were turned down for country boys who couldn't program an FMS if their life depended on it.
Paid well too, for pilots and mechanics.

Cherrybomber13 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 22, 2012 5:18 pm

Do you have any better shots of the CH-34? Id love to some other shot of her.

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Tennessee Museum of Aviation Visit- Long Post

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