Remarks: One of only three Bf-109 G-10/U4's in existence. This aircraft was captured by US troops, near Munich, early in 1945; transported to the US aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Reaper in Operation Seahorse. After arrival in the US it had a chequered career; at one time it even had a P-51 tail wheel, a P-38 propeller and a Fw-190 spinner... In 1958 it joined the collection of Ed Maloney (founder of the Planes of Fame museum) and was restored to original condition in 1978.
Remarks: Aichi D3A Val replica for the 1969 "Tora, Tora, Tora" movie; also used in the making of "Pearl Harbor" in 2001. Now with the Planes of Fame museum located at Valle, Arizona.
Remarks: Aichi D3A Val replica for the 1969 "Tora, Tora, Tora" movie; also used in the making of "Pearl Harbor" in 2001. Now with the Planes of Fame museum located at Valle, Arizona. The genuine Val has a sleeker fuselage; nice conversion though.
Remarks: Ex New Zealand Air Force NZ5648. A good view on the gullwing design, and the generous flap area.
According to the OFMC website the restoration of this aircraft took eleven years, 40,000 man hours, and approximately US$300,000. Wow....
Remarks: Leaving while the sun sets. One of the four men (for privacy reasons I will not point out which one) watching the nostalgic view of 'PH-AJU' starting its engines, is the son of one of the crew members who flew the original Uiver in the McRobertson Air Race in 1934. He and I worked for the same handling company, although in different functions.
Remarks: On this day a large air show was staged to commemorate 35 years of the Society of Aerospace Engineering Students ‘Leonardo da Vinci’, of the Technical University in Delft, The Netherlands. One of the finest air shows ever in this country! This aircraft was sold to a US owner in the early 90’s.
Remarks: Even the collegue on the catering shift came to assist in loading this L-100. We rotated the duties: baggage service, catering service, toilet service, water supply service, cleaning service etc. When there was no aircraft that needed your assigned service you just went out to assist where you were needed.
Remarks: Taxiing out to the runway. Feel the warm breeze from the propellors, take a sniff of the burnt avgas being blown back to you on this sunny spring day.....
