Lewis Mosquito

[k5083]

There are very few preserved warbird types, worldwide, that have not touched the runways at Chino at one time or another. (Yes, we can all think of some.) It's nice to see the airport put another notch in its belt!

August

[Lon Moer]

Thats a pretty cool fact BDK. Any idea what year that would have been?

Its not entirely clear when it made its last flight there. It arrived from NZ after a long ferry flight in 1955, and registered as N9909F, and was supposedly used by the CIA in South America on intelligence gathering flights. Photos of it exist still all complete and looking OK, parked up at Whiteman in the early 1960's, but by the end of the '60's it had fallen into a derelict condition and it was cancelled from the civil register in December 1970.

[Chris Brame]

The cut-up remains of FB. Mk VI PZ474/ZK-BCV/N9909F flanking a derelict Cessna Bamboo Bomber at Whiteman Airport, Pacoima, CA. Still frame from the 1969 movie Pit Stop. Also briefly visible in the 1964 movie Fate Is the Hunter.

[JohnB]

I have a press kit for the film Fate is the Hunter, and in it is a brief article on the old (almost 20 years old!!!) aircraft collected for the WWII scenes.

[bdk]

Tempest! . Just had to say it...

There are very few preserved warbird types, worldwide, that have not touched the runways at Chino at one time or another. (Yes, we can all think of some.) It's nice to see the airport put another notch in its belt!

August

[Mike]

That’s probably because there hasn’t been a Tempest flying anywhere for over 60 years.

[Lon Moer]

Keep in mind he is restoring a Connie.

Picture of the Connie under restoration from today, posted on FB.

[k5083]

That’s probably because there hasn’t been a Tempest flying anywhere for over 60 years.

Yes, of course I meant that we could probably all name some types that have been flying in the warbird era that have never kissed the runways at Chino. But it does take some effort, and most of the correct answers would be types that are flying in 1s and 2s and mostly or exclusively overseas.

For example a Blenheim/Bolingbroke may never have flown at Chino although there certainly have been carcasses of them there.

Swordfish, probably never flown there.

A Lysander probably HAS. The Lysander currently at the NASM was restored and flown in SoCal and likely dropped in at Chino.

Perhaps a real Bf 109, or even a German-engined Buchon, has never flown out of Chino, even though at least two real static 109s have been displayed there.

We could debate whether Frasca's Fw 190 ticks that box or if only FHC's counts.

Meteor? Ki-43? We have to reach pretty deep into the rarities.

August

[Mike]

A Meteor should be flying from there shortly , so that’s one you’ll be able to tick off your list.

[Firebird]

Perhaps a real Bf 109, or even a German-engined Buchon, has never flown out of Chino

The first air test flights of Bf-109E, Wk.Nr.3579 owed then by Dave Price were performed by UK pilot, Charlie Brown. out of Chino back in 1999.

[sandiego89]

A Meteor should be flying from there shortly , so that’s one you’ll be able to tick off your list.

"shortly" as is P-59 Airacoment "shortly", or actually "shortly"??

Neat. Which Meteor is this? Would like to see one fly. Soft spot for early jets.

[Dan K]

...Perhaps a real Bf 109, or even a German-engined Buchon, has never flown out of Chino, even though at least two real static 109s have been displayed there...

August

Did POF's Buchon never fly any test flights out of Chino following its first rebuild in the 1980s?


https://www.key.aero/sites/keyaero/file ... NX700E.jpg

[C VEICH]

...Perhaps a real Bf 109, or even a German-engined Buchon, has never flown out of Chino, even though at least two real static 109s have been displayed there...

August

Did POF's Buchon never fly any test flights out of Chino following its first rebuild in the 1980s?


https://www.key.aero/sites/keyaero/file ... NX700E.jpg

Indeed it did, and participated in at least one airshow as well. However, August's comment was referring to Buchons that have been re-engined with the DB.

[Dan K]

Indeed it did, and participated in at least one airshow as well. However, August's comment was referring to Buchons that have been re-engined with the DB.

But of course. It appears my dessicated brain didn't make it past the "Buchon" part. Thankfully WIX is a (mostly-)forgiving bunch.

And remember to always be patient with the elderly; they'll usually buy the first round!

[k5083]

Regarding Dave Price's BF 109E, I'm not surprised. Usually, when you think somethng hasn't flown out of Chino, you just haven't heard or thought of something!

August