(PDF Archives) A Tribute to 10,000: North America's Only Flying Lancaster Bomber

Among the British bombers that took to the skies on operations during the Second World War, the best known is undoubtedly the Avro Lancaster. Of the 7,377 built, only two are airworthy today. One is maintained and flown by the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the other, across the pond, is the flagship of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. This 16-page booklet looks at the CWHM Lancaster and provides information concerning the Lancaster itself, Canadians in RAF Bomber Command, Royal Canadian Air Force bomber squadrons and 'Lanc' squadrons, postwar RCAF use, and events surrounding the heroic actions of RCAF Pilot Officer A.C. Mynarski for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Originally published in 2012 as an article in the Aviation Miscellany No. 2 volume, this publication is free to view at the PlanePixelBooks Publications blog linked below.

PlanePixelBooks Publications 

(PDF Archives) Check Six: An Eye to The Past - A Floridian BUFF [PDF]

With its first flight recorded 70 years ago and the last version produced still forming a potent part of the airpower available to the USAF's Air Force Global Strike Command today, the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is very much a classic aircraft. In this 8-page booklet, we visit a B-52D preserved at Orlando International Airport in central Florida. Included is general information concerning the 'D' model, detail images, and short histories of the 306th Bombardment Wing, Heavy and 7th Bomb Wing.

Originally published in 2012 as an article in the Aviation Miscellany No.1 volume, this publication is free to view at the PlanePixelBooks Publications blog linked below.

PlanePixelBooks Publications 

(PDF Archives) American Airlines 737-800s: New Hopes with a Proven Design

A true classic airliner, Boeing's Model 737 has been an aerial workhorse in airline service for over a half-century. The type's first flight was in 1967 but despite great popularity it would be three decades before American Airlines placed an order for 737s. This 10-page booklet takes a look at early American Airlines 737-800 aircraft as well as a brief history of the type and specifications pertaining to the -800 version.

Originally published in 2012 as an article in the Aviation Miscellany No.1 volume, this publication is free to view at the PlanePixelBooks Publications blog linked below.

PlanePixelBooks Publications 

(PDF Archives) USN Blue Angels: Behind the Scenes - Arrival Day

Millions of people have watched aerial performances by the US Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the famed Blue Angels, since it was established in 1946. However, comparatively few have been present at a show site when the team's aircraft are directed to their parking spots on arrival day. Drawing from photos taken when the Blue Angels arrived for the the 2009 Canadian International Air Show, this 11-page booklet shows, and explains, the effort by all hands to prepare for the arrival of the team. The reader will also see the important post-flight work done by the team's ground support personnel who are often overlooked by the average air show spectator. Though set in 2009, the activities at a show site today remain basically the same as does the professionalism of the entire Blue Angels team.

Originally published in 2012 as part of the Aviation Miscellany No.1 volume, this publication is free to view at the PlanePixelBooks Publications blog linked below.

PlanePixelBooks Publications 

Thunderbirds at Lakeland

 As the residents of Lakeland, Florida and area were no doubt made aware of in short order, the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron was in town for the annual Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo last week. Known far and wide simply as the Thunderbirds, the aerobatic team arrives in advance of their air show performances to prepare for the show including familiarization with the local geography and landmarks used for reference. The team's members have long engaged with the community wherever they fly and, in more recent times, the Thunderbirds provide an orientation flight for a locally selected individual as part of their Hometown Heroes program.

The photos appearing here were taken on Friday, 8 April 2022 at Lakeland Linder International Airport.

(above) The morning dawned clear, cool, and bright following some wild, stormy weather the previous day but this F-16C looks sharp while awaiting the day's flight activities.

(above) Thunderbirds aircraft are not given a permanent team number while assigned and are often shuffled in the formation and, consequently, in the lineup when on the ground. Although numbers 1, 2, and 3 displayed numbers in the circle of stars on the engine intakes, these three F-16Cs did not. They are, however, in the positions occupied by Thunderbirds 4, 5, and 6.

(above) As evidenced by significant heat waves behind it, one of the squadron's two-seat F-16D aircraft sits idling while final pre-flight checks are done by a member of the Thunderbirds maintenance team.

(above) In a rare scene, at least in this photographer's experience, Thunderbird 7 and 8 wheel out for a minimum interval takeoff. Aboard the two F-16Ds are hometown hero Sgt. Chad Mumbauer, Lakeland Police Department and a member of the local media.

(PDF Archives) Generations Apart: Stearman and Sukhoi Air-to-Air

Their designs are a half-century apart and their intended use quite different. Nonetheless, the Boeing Model 75, forever known unofficially as the Stearman, and the Sukhoi Su-26 proved very popular for aerobatic display flying before air show audiences around the world. In this 9-page booklet, we fly a formation photo shoot along the shore of Lake Ontario with aerobatic pilots John Mohr and Rick Volker ahead of the 2007 Canadian International Air Show. Also included is some background information about the pilots and the two aircraft types along with a comparison of the Boeing PT-17 and Sukhoi Su-26.

Originally published in 2012 as an article in the Aviation Miscellany No.1 volume, this publication is free to view at the PlanePixelBooks Publications blog linked below.

PlanePixelBooks Publications 

(PDF Archives) 2010 CFB Borden Air Display

Known as the birthplace of the Canadian Air Force, later renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force, CFB Borden has been associated with military aviation since 1917. The base has a long tradition of hosting public open houses and air shows and the aerial portion of the 2010 event is covered in this 10-page PDF booklet. It features images of participating aircraft - military types, warbirds, and civilian aircraft - along with captions that include historical notes and information related to the aircraft as well as serial numbers and registrations for the more serious enthusiast.

Originally published in 2012 as part of a larger Aviation Miscellany No.1 volume, this publication is free to view at the PlanePixelBooks Publications blog linked below.

PlanePixelBooks Publications

A Century Later

LEST   WE   FORGET

The War To End All Wars

1914-1918

Major Mustang Milestone at 2017 Sun ‘n Fun

(above)  Gleaming in the morning sunshine, Crazy Horse 2 is one of a pair of hard-working two-seat P-51 Mustang trainers flown by Stallion 51 Corporation.  Here, N351DT is seen taxiing in at Bartow Municipal Airport, Florida during the airport’s open house in December 2014.

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For fans of North American’s famous P-51 Mustang who are within driving distance, or even a last minute flight away, an event of note is planned for the 2017 Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In and Expo at Lakeland, Florida.  This year marks 30 years of P-51 pilot training at the well-known Kissimmee, Florida-based Stallion 51 organization and they have organized a mid-week Mustang gathering at the six-day Sun ‘n Fun event to mark the achievement.

During this year’s Fly-In and Expo, which runs from 4 April to 9 April, Sun ‘n Fun will present its usual broad array of educational activities and ground displays as well as its traditional afternoon air show each day.

Word has it that some 30 P-51s will be in attendance this year with most aircraft arriving at Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport on Wednesday 5 April.  A segment of the Thursday air show is set aside for P-51 flight ops and as many aircraft as possible will take to the sky for flypasts, aerobatics and a USAF Heritage Flight display.

Such large-scale themed warbird events are few and far between these days.  Neither are they in any way guaranteed in the future so take advantage of this opportunity while you can.  This one should prove to be memorable indeed.

For more information about the 2017 Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In and Expo (4-9 April):

http://www.flysnf.org/#

For those interested in Stallion 51 and its flying activities:

http://www.stallion51.com

(above)  Stallion 51 two-ship departure.  Crazy Horse 2 leads N851D Crazy Horse as the formation roars down the Bartow runway for the short flight back to Kissimmee Gateway Airport.  Such formation takeoffs are certainly not uncommon whenever the great fighter aircraft of bygone days gather for public display.  With 30 P-51s scheduled to appear, more than a few scenes like this will likely be witnessed at Sun ‘n Fun.

Bravo Zulu US Coast Guard Aviation!

Today, 1 April 2016, marks the 100th Anniversary of US Coast Guard aviation.  Seldom receiving the level of attention given to the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force, the Coast Guard is, nonetheless, one of the armed services of the United States.

Normally part of the US Department of Homeland Security in peacetime, the Coast Guard’s maritime responsibilities ensure that the service is always engaged in operational activities.  Whatever the mission might be, aviation assets and personnel are often integral to the success of the service’s taskings.

A century of service is no small accomplishment and US Coast Guard aviation aircraft, personnel and displays will be in evidence at many air shows and events across the nation this year.  Making things even more interesting, some 16 aircraft are to receive retro paint schemes from the past 100 years for the celebrations.

Find out more about Coast Guard operations firsthand at one of the events this year.

For more information concerning events and dates: http://centennial-cgaviation.org/index.php/events/

(above) One type you won’t see this year, or again for that matter, is the Dassault HU-25 Guardian.  The type gave good service to the Coast Guard from early 1982 until the autumn of 2014 when the last example was retired.  Offering high transit speeds as well as modern electronics and sensors, the HU-25’s replacements are decidedly slower, but more versatile, CASA / EADS / Airbus HC-144A Ocean Sentry and ex-US Air Force Alenia C-27J Spartan turboprop transports.

US Airways 767 Service Ends

Yet another era in commercial aviation ended with the last passenger flight by a US Airways Boeing 767 on 12 February 2015.  The aircraft, 767-2B7ER N252AU, completed round-trip service from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Charlotte, North Carolina on 12 February 2015.

The airline operated a dozen 767-200s since 1997 when USAir became US Airways.  USAir inherited six of the aircraft from Piedmont Airlines, which had used them on its Charlotte-London, UK route, when the two airlines merged in 1989 and added six more between 1990 and mid-1993.

US Airways' merger partner, American Airlines, flew its last transcontinental 767-200 service when 767-223ER N319AA completed a flight from Los Angeles, California to New York City, New York on 8 May 2014.  That service is now flown with Airbus A321 aircraft.

Note: Pending the issuing of a single operating certificate by the Federal Aviation Administration, expected sometime in 2015, American Airlines and US Airways continue to operate separately.

(above)  One of US Airways’ last remaining Boeing 767s at the time, N250AY climbs out smartly in the early morning sun from Orlando International Airport, Florida on 6 February 2015.  Less than a week later, this 767-201ER was reportedly in storage.  It may not be the end of the line, however, since N250AY is apparently available for sale or lease.

Get ‘em While You Can: US Airways Birds Go American

With the last of the big US airline mergers – US Airways and American Airlines – well underway, aircraft of the former US Airways are shedding the familiar red, white and blue paint of the last 10 years for the most recent American Airlines paint scheme.  American’s new look, introduced in January 2013, was first applied to an ex-US Airways aircraft – an Airbus A319 – in January 2014.

Former US Airways aircraft, the vast majority of which are Airbus A319s, A320s and A321s, are scheduled to be painted in the new scheme by mid-2016.  That’s little more than a year from now so get out and capture some aviation history near you soon.

(above) Some 90 Airbus A321s were operated by US Airways when its fleet was transferred to American Airlines Group in September 2013. The first example entered service in January 2001 and, although the two airlines are now one, deliveries against the most recent order placed by US Airways continue.  In this view, crew and passengers aboard a fairly new N570UW, in service since October 2013, are minutes from arrival at Orlando International Airport, Florida in August 2014.

(below)  Eventually, the ex-US Airways A321s will be repainted in the new American Airlines scheme displayed here.  This aircraft, N126AN seen during an early morning departure from Orlando in February 2015, is not one of them but is representative of 65 A321s ordered by American and was handed over to the airline in October 2014.  The large wingtip winglets make American’s new A321s instantly distinguishable from the transferred US Airways machines.