The Red Tail Flew yesterday!!-Updated with Pics and a Video

[Green Goggles]

Woot!!

[Matt Gunsch]

it looks great, too bad it will be getting a tramp stamp soon.

[kk]

The first flight was the result of 5 years of hard work. Everyone involved was thinking of two friends no longer with us. Please enjoy the fact that Redtail is flying, and save the CAF logo debate for another time.

[RyanShort1]

The first flight was the result of 5 years of hard work. Everyone involved was thinking of two friends no longer with us. Please enjoy the fact that Redtail is flying, and save the CAF logo debate for another time.

Good for you for saying that. Great first post. Welcome to the forum!

Ryan

[mustangdriver]

The CAF crew should be proud to return this Mustang back to the air. This is your time to shine guys! Good job!

[ColFord]

Well done to all involved! It is great to see this aircraft back in the element where it belongs as a living tribute to those whose colours it carries - the Tuskeegee Airmen - and those who sought to tell their tale.

I am sure that Don and Gerry both would look down on this and both smile and blame some 'airfield dust' for that irritation in their eyes.

I look forward to more posts as she makes her first public appearances before a hopefully appreciative audience.

I too am awaiting "Red Tail Reborn - Pt 2"

Great work guys, she is a beauty!

[warbird1]

Congrats to the team for putting this aircraft back in the air - a daunting task that would probably have never been completed by many other organizations. The challenges they faced, both technical and financial is a testament to their hard work and determination!

Well done!

[Obergrafeter]

Great job of photo shopping out the trash stamp.

[Robbie Stuart]

Congrats to all involved. Good job!

[Speedy]

So good to see this Mustang airworthy again. I know that people who know me are going to roll their eyes about hearing this AGAIN, but its kind of a personal thing.

My buddy, the late Ralph Payne, was sent by the CAF to check this bird out and get it flightworthy back in the 1960's when it was sitting derelict up in Montana. During the time he was there, he met his future wife Norma, who was a school teacher in town.

I think they ferried the plane down to Harlingen shortly afterwards (from which point I think it sat and deteriorated again, until finally made airworthy in the early 2000's). But to me, that will always be "Norma's Mustang", which is what Ralph referred to her as.

Ralph's gone now, but I have to admit, as soon as I saw these pics of it on it's test yesterday....my first thought was "She's back where she belongs, Ralph." I know he's got to be smiling somewhere.

Congrats on the CAF crew for getting "Norma" back up again!!! She's beautiful.

[groundpounder]

so this is a restored wwll veteran is it ?

[JohnTerrell]

This aircraft has been a great fixture in my life, as I was born around the same time the CAF Minnesota Wing acquired the aircraft and were finishing up the restoration of Miss Mitchell (both of which were greatly responsible in getting me interested in warbirds). Living just a city away, I always saw it at local air shows when then strapped to a flatbed trailer, and it amazed me to see the results of the first rebuild, given its condition beforehand. Now it amazes me even more to see it once again restored to fine, flying condition, given the results of the off-airport landing in 2004 that took Don's life. I'm elated at what the folks at TSA and OWI, and all of the volunteers, were able to accomplish, not once, but twice. If I can make it to Oshkosh, I will be thrilled to see it, and hopefully meet the individuals responsible for the rebuild, and it will be just as exciting to watch when it arrives home in South St. Paul.

Groundpounder,
The aircraft served as a trainer throughout its service in WWII, mainly in Florida, as well as Georgia. For a great history on the aircraft, you can read this page:
http://www.cafsmw.org/aircraft/P-51C/

[Steve Nelson]

Fantastic! Great work, and congrats to all those who have put their hearts and souls into this project. I saw the Mustang at Thunder back in '03, and hope to see her make a triumphant return next year!

SN

[John Beyl]

Thanks for all the kind words. Helping to put this airplane back in the air has been one of the most satisfying experiences of my life and Wednesday evening was a true watershed moment for the project. While the airplane will be to honor the Tuskegee Airmen and encourage at risk youth to reach inside themselves and find their true inner strength, the restoration was for ‘Beck’ and Don Hinz. Without them this project would have never been born into existence in the late ‘90’s. Putting the airplane back in the sky was the least we could do to honor those two guys and their visions.

This airplane has truly risen like a Phoenix from the ashes over the last 5 years and has done so through the pure determination of everybody involved. While the volunteers did as much as possible to help with the restoration, the bulk of the work was done by the crews at both Odegaard Wing and Tri-State Aviation. This airplane would likely never have flown again if it was not for those two shops and certain key individuals inside them. The guys at TSA are still putting in long hours so the Red Tail can appear at Oshkosh for all to see.

A special thanks goes out to Erik Hokuf as without his help over the last two weeks the goal of making it to Oshkosh would not have been met.

The plan is for the airplane to arrive at OSH Sunday afternoon or Monday and be there all week. I’ll be there Wed. through Friday. Stop by for a visit.

Blue Sky’s,
John
CC Red Tail Mustang

[Warbirdnerd]

Thanks for posting that John.
I couldn't have/didn't say it better myself....