The iconic P-51D Mustang, it just screams bad ass! This is Crazy Horse 2 of famed Stallion 51. It is the second Mustang in the Stallion stable so Lee named is “Crazy Horse 2.” When I asked him which was his favorite, he said “Crazy Horse’ was his favorite but “Crazy Horse 2″ is faster. You look at them closely and you see a slight difference in their canopies. Lee says that’s partly why #2 is faster. “Crazy Horse 2″ has dual control and is part of the Stallion 51 training and flight operations. This is a Mustang you can hop in and fly!

First flying in ’47 near the end of WWII, the HU-16 Albatross is another of the amazing aircraft from Grumman. It was designed for ocean use in rescuing downed flyers, working in seas up to four feet. With JATO assist, it was capable of taking off in ten foot seas! It was produced 1949 – 1966 with 466 produced. Over twenty-five countries flew the HU-16 using it for everything from search and rescue to fire fighting to passenger transport. Approximately 34 are still airworthy with this one being based out of Carson City, NV and often seen in the waters of Lake Tahoe, CA and Flathead Lake, MT.

Whistling Death is what the Japanese called the Corsair in WWII. The “original” Corsair was the F4U-1 designed and built by Vought. But like many aspect of our war machine, our ability as a country to turn car manufactures in to tank manufactures, we were able to do the same with other industries to increase productive of all our war material. So it was the Goodyear started to manufacture the Corsair building the FG-1D. This particular gorgeous Corsair is part of the Texas Flying Legends Museum and was at the Doolittle Raiders Reunion two weeks ago at Grimes Field. It will appear a number of location this summer in ME & ND. You’ll want to be sure to check out this great piece of our aviation history!

Two gorgeous aircraft over Grimes Field, OH. Texas Flying Legends P-51D “Dakota Kid” and P-40K “Aleutian Tiger” fly in formation of the port side of the B-25G “Panchito.” At the stick is Casey Odegaard and Warren Pietsch who make it look real easy and keep the planes in tight when they are working real hard at their craft!

Last week I had the opportunity to spend a little time with the Texas Flying Legends A6M Zero. One of the two original Zeros flying today, it is an amazingly simple aircraft. This one flying with a Pratt Whitney has been restored beautifully. When you read how fragile they were in combat, it’s a little hard to imagine until you get up close to it. At the reunion they had a person always with the Zero and not the other aircraft because the skin is so thin, the slightest touch almost leaves an impression.

You can’t but help smiling with you see a P-40 and when you see the Texas Flying Legends P-40K, the smile is ear to ear! This is a gorgeous aircraft taking you right back to the day at the beginning of the war when they were used on all fronts. The history of this particular aircraft is great, it’s story from from Texas Flying Legends, “This P-40-K was built in 1942 and sent to Russia as part of the lend lease program. It crash landed in Murmansk after a battle with 4 Nazi aircraft. It was recovered in 1991 and restoration was completed in 2006 by Warhawks Inc. of Granite Falls, MN. It takes you right back to CBI & the Flying Tigers..a great aircraft!

The “Bats Outa Hell” Squadron racked up an impressive record in the Pacific during WWII. The Texas Flying Legends Museum celebrates this history with “Betty’s Dream.” “Betty’s Dream” was part of the 499th Squadron and piloted by Capt. Charles E. “Pop” Rice who was operations officer. “Betty’s Dream” escorted two “Betty” bombers carrying the Japanese peace envoys to Ie Shima on August 19, 1945. By the end of her service, “Betty’s Dream” carried 22 mission symbols and two silhouettes representing sunken Japanese ships.

Maid in the Shade

Killer Bee

Panchito

These are just four of the 20+ B-25s assembling at Grimes and then in Dayton for the week long celebration for 70th Reunion of the Doolittle Raiders. This next week well be a great celebration of spirit, machine and patriotism. If you have the opportunity, be sure to get to the reunion as the last five remaining members of the Doolittle Raiders will be there telling their story. Be sure to tell them thanks!

70yrs ago, a gallant group of young men volunteered for a mission they didn’t even know what they were volunteering for. Once on board the Hornet, they found out they would be launching in the B-25s they had been training in to bomb mainland Japan. The Doolittle raid while not a huge military success since it inflicted little damage, had a huge morale impact. For Japan they found out they were not untouchable and for the US, we could strike back! That’s being celebrated next week in Dayton, OH. The AZ CAF Wing B-25 “Maid in the Shade” is one of over 20 B-25s that will be celebrating with the last members of the Doolittle Raiders. A piece of US history that cannot fade!

Midnight Miss III owned and piloted by Dennis Buehn is the National Air Race Champion at Reno in 2010. One of the fastest T-6 Texans in the sky, Dennis has restored over 70 of these during his career but Midnight Miss III is his favorite. Buehn started racing in 1972 with a speed of 194.5mph. In Reno in 2010, he took Midnight Miss III to 241.2 and he thinks he still can go faster. Dennis and I have become very good friends and one of the great pleasures is hopping into the back seat of his T-6 and going for a flight. Great plane, great plane, great part of our aviation heritage!