Warbird Information Exchange

http://www.tnairmuseum.org

This is usually a pretty good event with many visitors. Of course, seeing two P-47's in formation up close and personal is pretty sweet too!

Dave

I plan on going there Saturday. I have no idea what visiting planes might show up this time around. Wings of Valor http://www.wingsofvalorairshows.com haven't posted a schedule yet but apparently they have added some new planes that might show up. I've seen just about every plane type there at one time or another. Some aircraft stop by on their way to Sun n Fun.

BK

they are calling for 100% chance of rain for Saturday and about 40% on Sunday. Usually they do some flying and the huge hangar will be open of course, but it rained hard last year on Saturday as well. Come to think of it, it rained and HAILED at Tullahoma last year too. So much for Spring in TN.

Dave G.

Sometimes you shouldn't listen to the weatherman. I got there at 11am and as I was driving up Neal Melton's Hun Hunter was making passes over the field. The weather was pretty good and the rain held off until just after 3pm. The weather did keep visiting aircraft from from attending but they did take some of the museum planes up. Both P-47's flew as did the Beech 18. John Shoffner who owns Wicked Wabbit had a couple of other planes he owns there. A SNJ-4 and a 1957 HU-16E Albatross. I had never seen an Albatross in person before so that was a nice surprise. If the weather had held he would have flown it. Red Bull sponsors the plane and it is based in CA. There are a couple of new displays as well. A nose of a A-4 Skyhawk that they kids (and older kids) climb into and a P-51 frame (on a pole) used in a movie. It has the markings of Tom Hayes "Frenesi." Anybody know what movie this was used in?

Another surprise ws that P-47 fighter pilot Frank Luckman gave talk about his time during the war. He flew with the 365th FG Hellhawks. His talk might have been a little too detailed for most but I loved it. What I really liked about it was his talk was he gave you the big picture (in detail). It wasn't just "this is what I did." He didn't mention he had shot down a FW-190 until I asked about it when I saw the swastika marking on his plane in one of his photos afterwards.

BK

yeah, silly me. I really felt like a goof going over during a drizzly Sunday to see what I missed on Saturday. The answer? Everything. No flying at all. I did get some hangar shots of the Albatross and will post those soon. A lady at the counter said that a T-33 flew on Saturday. They have two there. One is gray and the other polished aluminum but I've never seen them fly before. Hate I missed that. Also, Neal has a MiG-21 engine displayed near the MiG...don't remember that either.

Dave G.

I was there from 11am until after 4pm and didn't see a T-33 fly. I doubt anything flew after I left as it was raining hard with lightning. I'm not sure the museum's T-33's are airworthy and they were parked behind other planes in the hanger so I doubt they flew. The only thing I can think of is Chris Rounds Red Knight (based out of Tullahoma) might have made some passes early on, on his way to Sun n Fun.

In other museum news, one of the ramp rats told me Neal should be taking delivery of a A-1H Skyraider is the next year or so.

B