War Eagles Air Museum

[Clifford Bossie]

Today was "moving day" at War Eagles. A friend who works at the museum got to shuffle a few airplanes around to get the latest addition (an L-5) into the hangar. Unfortunatley for me he told me too late to get there for the moves. Seems because it is still frickin hot here he had to do it all in the early morning! Anyway, a few shots:

[Clifford Bossie]

And a few more:

[Clifford Bossie]

Something Dirk Pitt might like:



A Rolls Royce Nene:



And the Soviet copy:





Oh yeah, and the airplane that started it all:

[skydaddy61]

What's the story on that gloss-black P-38? That's one spiffy looking plane!

[tex-fan]

how about the tweet, where did they get this one, and is more museums going to start getting them now that AMARG is full of them? and are they selling them to the public? [not that i could afford one i was just wondering] i went to this museum in 2001, it's a really NICE museum, i hope to get back there some day. thanks for the pics

Last edited by tex-fan on Thu Aug 06, 2009 5:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Lynn Allen]

Do you have a N number for the bare metal mustang? The glossy P-38 is the one that gary Levits use to race at Reno many years ago...

Lynn

[Speedy]

What's the story on that gloss-black P-38? That's one spiffy looking plane!

That is the old Gary Levitz N345 Double Trouble, race #38.

Ran for a while in a pseudo-military, CAF scheme in the early-mid-70's. Then, as Gary became disenchanted with the way the CAF was going, he pulled out of there and ran it bare metal from '78-80.

In 1983, the late Ralph Payne painted it black with a big red 38 on the tail--which he said made a very big airplane look really small--and Gary brought it to Reno.

The crew guys got a little too excited, and wanted to get the plane up and running before the support truck arrived on site against Ralph's wishes. The late Richard Rasnopher (aka 'Rotten Richard') towed the plane out on the ramp to do an engine check, while Ralph and Gary looked on. At some point during/after climging into the cockpit, Richard bumped the landing gear selector valve into the 'up' position. As soon as the right engine started and power went to the systems, the right main gear retracted--as it sat there on the ground.

Gary just turned around and walked away in disgust. Ralph told me later "If Gary had had a gun on him at that moment, I believe he would have shot Richard."

Dinged up the right prop, wingtip, and bent the tail boom.

Gary sold the plane to some guy on the east coast, who kept it at Stead the rest of '83 and '84 while repairing it, and then it got re-registered and sold to John MacGuire for the War Eagles Museum.

I think it is fantastic that they decided to keep it in the black/polished paint scheme, as it really looks sharp. Still has the modified exhaust system (turbochargers removed) and the clipped tip props on it from it's racing days. Only missing the red 38 on the tail.

I know for a fact that in the years before he died, Gary regretted having sold the P-38. He loved that bird. And at some point in the mid-90's, he ferried the Evergreen Aviation Museum's P-38...and it really got the old feelings stirred up to get her back. Unfortunately, Gary died in an accident at Reno before that could ever happen--whether or not the Museum would have even sold it back to him.

[cg51]

Do you have a N number for the bare metal mustang? The glossy P-38 is the one that gary Levits use to race at Reno many years ago...

Lynn

http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/su ... 5024.shtml

[steve dickey]

Thanks for those Clifford, I haven't been there in some time and I need to re visit . I grew up in southern N.M. and always enjoyed visiting the place. I have folks in Deming and go see them every Christmas and this time around I think its gonna be a must do . Thanks again. Oh regarding the engine mounts on the P-40 in the other thread, why would they want to change them if it is not flown, I thought the city had no interest in flying anything since Mr. McGuire has passed on and deeded the aircraft to them? Is anything ever taken out and run up or flown Thanks.

[Michel Lemieux]

Still has the modified exhaust system (turbochargers removed)

Tks for the history Speedy.

For the amount of time I've seen pics of it I always wondered what was bugging me about it & never got around to find why

Never noticed they removed them HEHE

[Clifford Bossie]

Thanks for those Clifford, I haven't been there in some time and I need to re visit . I grew up in southern N.M. and always enjoyed visiting the place. I have folks in Deming and go see them every Christmas and this time around I think its gonna be a must do . Thanks again. Oh regarding the engine mounts on the P-40 in the other thread, why would they want to change them if it is not flown, I thought the city had no interest in flying anything since Mr. McGuire has passed on and deeded the aircraft to them? Is anything ever taken out and run up or flown Thanks.

Hey Steve, the engine mounts came up when I asked about the P-40 at the museum this morning. It is in very good dhape but would not be surprised if it also need an annual.

Several of the aircraft are airworthy and are flown at times. I think the T-6 is airworthy, the BT-13 was until very recently.

[Ethan]

that loks like a really nice museum,i just wish they could still fly .

[steve dickey]

Thanks again Clifford, where did the L-5 come from?

[Clifford Bossie]

Thanks again Clifford, where did the L-5 come from?

I can't remember the name of the individual that owned it. It had been at El Paso International. It only moved about 10 - 15 miles to Santa Teresa, NM.

[Jack Cook]

I thought the city had no interest in flying anything since Mr. McGuire has passed on and deeded the aircraft to them?

He gave the city all those a/c Holy cr*p!
So when the city budget hits the red zone are the airplanes for sale