Tennessee Museum of Aviation's Weekend Warbird Gathering

[Zachary]

Did anyone attend the Weekend Warbird Gathering at the Tennessee Museum of Aviation this past weekend? Just wondering what all turned up and how it went.

Zack

[N3Njeff]

CRAP!!!!!!!! I am 30 min from there, I would have gone!!!!!!! Sat, was a crappy day but sunday was nice.

[DaveG]

I went both days...Saturday was overcast, broken up by showers. Not much flying and no visitors that I was aware of. Neal Melton flew his T-28 a bit and made about four passes.







I was told that they would do some flying on Sunday so I went back and got there around 1:30 or so. The museum opens at 1 on Sunday but apparently they opened up a bit early because they flew both Hun Hunter XVI and Wicked Wabbit before I got there

There were reports of a Mustang due to come in so that kept us excited while we waited for more activity. Neal fired up the RC-45J and took it up for a short spin. I'd never seen this one fly before and it was a nice treat.







With no sign of the Mustang, John Shoffner started up the Albatross, looking spiffy in its Red Bull colors. This was another first-time flyer for me.







The Albatross orbited a bit and then went off to form up with the Beech to do some formation flying over nearby Douglas Lake.

Two T-34 Mentors then took off and did some neat and tight formation flying.

Finally, around 4:30 or so that P-51 came screaming in. "Ain't Misbehavin'" came up from Birmingham, AL (I believe) and she did a few passes and then put her down.







Word then came that the Albatross had landed on Douglas Lake and then had an engine problem...only one would start! The Mustang driver then took off to reconnoiter the situation, and there were rumors that perhaps the P-47's might take to the air one more time but it was not to be.

Don't know if there is a wayward Albatross still on the lake.




Dave G

Last edited by DaveG on Mon Jul 09, 2012 12:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

[BK]

I was told that they would do some flying on Sunday so I went back and got there around 1:30 or so.

Dave, your killing me man! Nobody told me there would be any flying Sunday and I was there over 4 hours. Please, next time if you get that kind of info pass it along. This has been a single day event a while, so it never crossed my mind. I also think the museum could do a better job with promotion. They only update their site once or twice a year.

Word then came that the Albatross had landed on Douglas Lake and then had an engine problem...only one would start! The Mustang driver then took off to reconnoiter the situation, and there were rumors that perhaps the P-47's might take to the air one more time but it was not to be.

While I was there Saturday, they were working on the starboard engine.

BK

[DaveG]

Dave, your killing me man! Nobody told me there would be any flying Sunday and I was there over 4 hours. Please, next time if you get that kind of info pass it along. This has been a single day event a while, so it never crossed my mind. I also think the museum could do a better job with promotion. They only update their site once or twice a year.

BK

I'm really sorry, BK. It was billed as a one-day event this year. Last year I thought it was both Saturday and Sunday and I only went on Sunday. No flying. Anyway, a kid that I brought this past Saturday was helping on the ramp and he heard the museum folks talking about flying on Sunday so that's why we went back. It wasn't an official announcement or anything. And I agree about their promotion. There is a lot that they could do to improve on that.