Showing posts with label #neverforget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #neverforget. Show all posts

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Indy Transponder 11-SEP-2014 1200z

http://liveairshowtv.com/video.php?vid=183
2014 Reno Air Races - Wednesday Report * LiveAirShowTV | It's the final day of qualification for all classes at the 51st Reno National Championship Air Show! See what happened today, and what's planned for the weekend! Live coverage begins Friday morning at 8:00am PDT! #RaceOn

Warbirds over the Rockies 2014: Sept. 12-14 - 9NEWS.com | Warbirds Over The Rockies air show is coming to Arvada, from Sept. 12 - 14.  It will be held at the Arvada Associated Modelers field on Highway 93, just north of Golden. It features a 750 foot runway with 100 foot over runs on each end and 250 acres of fly over space.  The banquet will be held at the Wings Over The Rockies Air and Space Museum, a Colorado tourist attraction that features various aircraft such as F-84, F-86, F-100, F4, B1 and B-52 parked outside. The event officially begins Friday morning....

Jennifer Franciotti takes flight with Blue Angels * WBAL | "Wow" doesn't even begin to describe http://www.wbaltv.com/news/jennifer-franciotti-takes-flight-with-blue-angels/27990492#ixzz3D0P7e1lqwhat it's like to fly with the Blue Angels.

Star-Spangled Spectacular Air Show  | The Star-Spangled Air Show features high-precision aviation acts from the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and others over a two hour period between 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. on September 13 and 14....

World War II vets fly for free at this year's Ruidoso Mountain High Fly In - Ruidoso News | The sixth annual Ruidoso Mountain High Fly In and Pine Top Car Show will fire up its engines for the public on Saturday with a line up of exciting exhibitions, events and static displays that will usher visitors on a sentimental journey through time....

Strategic Air & Space Museum's remembrance service, art exhibit will honor ... - Omaha World-Herald | The Strategic Air & Space Museum will hold a special remembrance service and art exhibit Saturday to honor those who died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, as well as our nation’s veterans. The program is called “Remembrance” and will feature a talk by Alfred Buckles, who was director of operations and logistics at the U.S. Strategic Command — which is based at Offutt Air Force Base — on the day of the attacks....

New Century AirCenter to host WWII Warbirds and Veterans * GardnerEDGE | JOHNSON COUNTY, KAN. – (Sept. 10, 2014) This weekend the New Century AirCenter will serve as the site for a welcome back celebration for a unique World War II Bomber. The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Heart of America Wing will host Air Expo...

Mayor Ed Lee Announces Return of The Blue Angels To Fleet Week 2014 - CBS Local | SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – During his daily announcements on Wednesday, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and San Francisco’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) confirmed the return of the Blue Angels to 2014’s Fleet Week celebrations in early October.....

Plymouth Aero Club getting ready to host air show * Wicked Local | Hosted by the Plymouth Aero Club, the air show will feature Mike Goulian, who will perform in his Extra 330SC, an aerobatic monoplane. The show also will include rides in helicopters, airplanes and the RE/MAX hot-air balloon. Many aircraft will be on...

VIDEO: Red Arrows wow Stratford at the royal Invictus Games - London24 | The Red Arrows kicked off the sporting event which celebrates the achievements of servicemen and women who have been injured in the line of duty - and gone on to become sporting heroes as well as war heroes....

Bombing run, making memories - Richfield Reaper | ...However, his chance to fly in a WWII bomber came Monday when he rode seated behind the pilot of the Maid in the Shade, a B-25. The B-25 is perhaps best known for its role in the Tokyo Raid following the attack on Pearl Harbor...

B-25 bomber production started 75 years ago - seattlepi.com (blog) | North American started producing what became one of the most successful bombers of World War II 75 years ago, on Sept. 10, 1939. The B-25 Mitchell twin-engine, medium-attack bomber "was perhaps the most versatile aircraft of the war," according to a writeup from Boeing, which later subsumed North American. "It became the most heavily armed airplane in the world, was used for high- and low-level bombing, strafing, photoreconnaissance, submarine patrol and even as a fighter."... 

29-year Army aviator lives for 'being in game' - The Fort Hood Sentinel | ...For the 29-year Army veteran, advising in Afghanistan comes naturally, since he wrote the book on it. During his last deployment, which ended only about four months before his current one, McClellan wrote the aviation procedure guide for Afghanistan while assigned to International Security Assistance Force Joint Command....

National Park Service continues historic preservation at Pearson Air Museum - The Reflector | As part of its historic preservation mission, the National Park Service at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site has announced the initiation of two major painting projects at the national park’s Pearson Air Museum & Jack Murdock Aviation Center. Through these projects the exterior of the national park’s main Pearson Air Museum hangar facility will be repainted, along with the west façade of the air museum’s Historic Hangar....

Gathering of Eagles Raises More Than $2 Million in Support of EAA Youth ... * AviationPros.com | The Gathering of Eagles was held at the EAA AirVenture Museum in conjunction with the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in. In previous years, the event has drawn such personalities as actors Harrison Ford, John Travolta and Morgan Freeman, sports...

There's MORE HERE.   Updated frequently.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Indy Transponder 11-SEP-2013 1030z

2013 Reno Air Races - Tuesday Race Report - LiveAirShowTV | Qualifying continued at the 50th

Reno Air Races. Close call for Strega, and more struggles for other top teams. Get the Inside Story on Tuesday's Race Report. Reminder:  LASTV will be broadcasting the air races live via the internet this year also! So, if you can't make it to Reno, tune in and enjoy the National Championship Air Races! 

National Championship Air Races - Official website

Visit the LASTV FB page for plenty of pictures each day.

National Aviation Heritage Invitational - Visit them on the East ramp at Reno and experience the classic aircraft that have been restored. Preview of the competitors via LASTV.

Air Races to open 50th year with salute to fans - RGJ.com | When the Reno National Championship Air Races kicks off its golden anniversary event Wednesday, it will be with a hat tip to fans and longtime volunteers who have kept the event alive in the Truckee Meadows....

F-16 pilot was ready to give her life on Sept. 11 - Washington Post | Late in the morning of the Tuesday that changed everything, Lt. Heather “Lucky” Penney was on a runway at Andrews Air Force Base and ready to fly. She had her hand on the throttle of an F-16 and she had her orders: Bring down United Airlines Flight 93. The day’s fourth hijacked airliner seemed to be hurtling toward Washington. Penney, one of the first two combat pilots in the air that morning, was told to stop it....

From the archives: Heather's interview with LASTV - 2010 air races

Luscombe Dawn Patrol Video - Antique Airfield | The Luscombe crew were out flying dawn patrols at the 2013 Fly-In. Thanks to Mike Bowen for compiling!

A Century of Women in Aerospace | Saturday, September 14, 2013 | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | Throughout the Museum in Washington, DC | Admission: Free | For over 100 years, women have contributed to technological advances in aviation and space. Meet women who are today’s role models and hear about the historic women who have inspired them. |Timed Events | Join astronaut Kay Hire (STS-90 and STS-130) as she shares her experiences as an astronaut and a naval officer.

Sgt. Hugh Bennett was radio operator on B-24 dubbed: ‘The Hard Way’ in WW II - War Tales | Sgt. Hugh Bennet of Englewood, Fla. had returned from World War II when this picture of him was taken. He was 21 and it was shortly before he was discharged from the Army Air Corps. Photo provided Hugh Bennett of Englewood, Fla. was a radio operator on a B-17 “Liberator” bomber dubbed “The Hard Way.” They were part of the 854th Bomb Squadron, 491st Bomb Group, 14th Wing of the 8th Air Force flying out of a base 90 miles north of London at Mayfield, England....

Two Taiwanese Northrop F-5 Jets, Swapped for an A-26 Invader, Arrive in Oregon - Warbirds News | Two decommissioned Taiwan Air Force warplanes, a Northrup F-5E and an F-5F, sent to the US for display, were recently revealed to the public at the Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum in Hillsboro, Oregon. The pair of airworthy jets were swapped for an airworthy Douglas A-26 Invader in a trade so mired in international red tape, that it required the assistance of the US State Department and the approval of Congress....

Watch this: F-104 Starfighter “missile with a man in it” buzzes people on landing - The Aviationist | The F-104 represented a huge leap forward for all those countries that passed from old subsonic and “forgiving” jets to a multirole bisonic aircraft which called for a much greater concentration on the part of pilots who were often faced with split second decisions....

AOPA Kills Off Future 'Aviation Summits' ...WILL Hold 2013 Summit In TX - Aero-News Network | Organization Will Instead Put "New Focus" On Grassroots Events In 2014

Wanted: Your photos for The Photo Issue · General Aviation News Staff | Airplanes are among the most photogenic beings on — or above — earth. Have you taken a picture you are particularly proud of? Would you like to share it with our 92,000 monthly print readers? If so, send it to Janice Wood with image details by Oct. 14.

Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman Donates Two Cessna 400 Series Aircraft to Georgia Northwestern Technical College - Aviation.ca News | MCLEAN, Va. – Sept. 10, 2013 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) recently donated two Cessna 400 Series aircraft for training purposes to the Georgia Northwestern Technical College, continuing the company's commitment to the educational development of future science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) engineers....

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Indy Transponder 04-DEC-2011 0330z

In wake of Reno crash, feds to probe air show, race safety - USA Today | RENO, Nev. – A federal hearing will examine the safety of air races and air shows after a horrific crash killed 11 people and injured more than 70 at an event in Reno.  The hearing announced Friday by the National Transportation Safety Board is not solely related to the Sept. 16 disaster at the National Air Race Championships, but the 47-year-old competition will be included in the review, agency spokesman Terry Williams told The Associated Press....

NTSB To Investigate Air Show Safety - AVweb | The NTSB will hold a hearing next month to gather information about the safety of air races and air shows, the board said on Friday. During a one-day meeting on January 10, the board will hear from regulators, aviation organizations, industry groups, and airport authorities to learn about safety practices, procedures, and protocols. The board also will gather information about the safety regulations and oversight in the planning and execution of these events. In September, a pilot and 10 spectators were killed in an accident at the Reno Air Races, and several performers died in U.S. air show accidents over the last season....

Penny Wise/Pound Foolish??? USAF Reduces Air Show Support In 2012 - Aero-News Network | A major draw for air shows large and small is the ability for the public to see military aircraft much closer than they would probably be able to otherwise. But looming defense budget cuts may spell at least a temporary end to the displays by Air Force planes at many shows, often seen as an effective recruiting tool....

Innovators Recognized at Air & Space Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - Scoop San Diego | (Mission Times Courier, San Diego, CA) - He’s a six-time World Series champion, a Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster and an integral figure in the San Diego community. Coleman’s biggest accomplishments, however, lie outside of the baseball diamond, he says. “I’ve done a lot of great things in baseball. There’s no question about that,” said Coleman, who’s served as a radio broadcaster for the Padres for nearly four decades. “But nothing surpassed that day (April 1, 1944) when I became a naval aviator and the second lieutenant in the [U.S.] Marine Corps,” he said, while boasting a smile.  Coleman isn’t the only person to have taken pride in his military feats.On Nov. 5, the San Diego Air & Space Museum recognized him, and several others, during its 48th Hall of Fame Induction Celebration, Legends of Flight, an...

Betty Haas Pfister, a Woman With Wings, Dies at 90 - New York Times | Ms. Haas Pfister, a two-time winner of the All Women's International Air Race, died on Nov. 17 at her home in Aspen, Colo., her daughter Suzanne said. She was 90. After that first flight, Suzanne Pfister said, “Mom made a deal with her father that she ...

WASP First Day Cover  - You Fly Girl | A First Day of Issue Cover or First Day Cover is a postage stamp on a cover, postal card or stamped envelope franked on the first day the issue is authorized for use within the country or territory of the stamp-issuing authority. Sometimes the issue is made from a temporary or permanent foreign or overseas office. There will usually be a first day of issue postmark,...

First Responder F-15 Gets New Home - PacificFlyer | More than 1,000 people attended the unveiling last month of the 9-11 First Responder F-15A at the Pacific Coast Air Museum (PCAM), the fighter aircraft that patrolled the skies over New York City after the attacks began.  This F-15, 77-0102 ("102") is now on permanent display in a one-of-a-kind exhibit at the museum, located at Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, Calif. During a somber ceremony ...

Flabob Salutes Vets - PacificFlyer | In a series of touching ceremonies reminiscent of life in this country 60 years ago, Flabob Airport in Riverside, Calif. honored America's veterans on Nov. 12.  Despite some early showers, thousands of people from the surrounding communities turned out to dine in a military mess tent complete with SOS (officially it's known as "creamed chip beef on toast," but if you don't know what SOS stands for, ask a vet....

9 ° THE WING AIR FORCE ONE REALITY 'IN EVOLUTION - Air Units | The 9th Wing was born February 26, 1934 at Ciampino bomber and which department has the baptism of fire fighting in Somalia in 1936. The Flag of War received the Silver Medal for Valor for the participation of the Department operations in North Africa during World War II.  The 9th is in the "framework" until September 1967, when reconstituted as a Fighter Wing Interceptors about "Carlo Romagnoli" Grazzanise (Caserta) on 1 January 1969 is called the ace Francesco Baracca, a World War II assuming, along with the 10 th Fighter Group, the "Prancing Horse" black as a symbol....

Alberta Aviation Museum fights the clock to buy fastest plane in Canada - Edmonton Journal | EDMONTON - The Alberta Aviation Museum has only 10 days left to raise $47,000 for a fighter jet that’s a major part of the province’s aerospace history.  For seven years, the museum has been looking for a Starfighter F-104, the fastest plane ever operated in Canada and a key part of Edmonton’s aviation repair industry. They just found one, at a cost of $70,000, and have collected $23,000 in donations so far....

Working on Fire - Air Strike | Working on Fire recruits and trains young men and women from marginalised communities as skilled wildland fire fighters to reduce the personal and economic harm caused by unwanted wildfire. There are currently more than 4000 people deployed at over 100 WoF bases across South Africa....

APR issue V3N2 now available - The Unwanted Blog | At long last, Aerospace Projects Review issue V3N2 is now available....

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Indy Transponder 14-SEP-2011 1600z


   
Reno's National Championship Air Races could be faster than ever - Reno Gazette-Journal | This year, the US Thunderbirds are set to give a full show on Thursday, with partial shows on Wednesday and Friday. Because of the Sept. 11, 2001, anniversary, the Thunderbirds are in big demand this week. However, the Navy Leap Frog team of ...

2011 Reno Air Races Event Schedule - KOLO TV

From Warbirdbabe's Blog

Blue Angels Take to the Sky - KPTM-TV | This weekend's Guardian of Freedom air show drew quite the crowd. Fox 42 News had the chance to take a flight in one of the planes; it is a view that is very different then what you saw on the ground. We took a flight on Fat Albert, ... 

A Petal of Remembrance from www.californiacapitalairshow.com | Most fans are excited to leave an Airshow with a t-shirt, cap, autographed poster or an aviation souvenir of some sort. But who would have thought that a thrilling day at the Airshow could evoke such great emotion and thousands of fans would leave clutching a rose petal as their special keepsake? On September 11, 2011, the California Capital Airshow (CCA) hosted a special tribute in honor of the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, wrapping up an exciting day of performances. Attendees literally ran toward the flight line when Tora!, Tora!, Tora! took the field and were captivated by the F-15E Strike Eagle, USAF Heritage Flight, F-18 Super Hornet and Legacy Flight, Patriots six-ship jet demonstration, Patty Wagstaff, Tim Decker, Shockwave Jet Truck, Otto-the-helicopter, Greg Colyer and the T-33 Shooting Star, and so much more… but the US Coast Guard C-130 Hercules releasing a mile of colorful flower petals falling gently across the runway towards the crowd was simply awe-inspiring and breathtaking – you could hear a pin drop as the flowers began to ...

Attendance nosedives at annual AirFest event - Janesville Gazette | The show tried something different this year, offering a musical performance Saturday only by country singer Aaron Tippin. Morgan attributed the drop to "a lot of competition" and the weak economy. The turnout means AirFest will make a ...

Check Out What the Neighbors Are Up To from Flight Monkeys | Sun ‘n Fun is a world famous Fly-In that draws visitors from all over the world. It traditionally signals the end of winter and the beginning of the general aviation year in earnest, too. Everyone goes home smiling with thoughts of Sun ‘n Fun dancing around in their heads. So it’s no ...
   
Classic war planes bring back memories - SouthCoastToday.com | An emotional Clifford Dartt walks around a B-17 bomber like the one he flew in during WWII and identical to the one that he was in when he was shot down over France. The Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom Tour brought historic WWII aircraft to New ...

Grumman FF “Fifi” from Travel for Aircraft | Grumman FF Fifi The FF, it would be Grumman’s opening act for decades of service in providing excellent and hardy aircraft for the U.S. Navy. Leroy Grumman founding the company only two months after the 1929 Stock Market crash! The general lines of the design — the narrow track landing gear and full bellied fuselage — would [...]
   
Vintage WWII air exhibit inspires veterans to open up - SouthCoastToday.com | NEW BEDFORD — Ninety-year-old Clifford Dartt walked around the B-17 "Flying Fortress," explaining to a visitor where the bombardier would have fired from, and recalled his experience being shot down over Vichy, France, in 1943. ...

Vultee A-31 Vengeance from Planeshots | More great shots here.

Former spy plane airman to speak at CAF - My West Texas | Upcoming talks at the CAF include a dinner in November featuring World War II veteran Louis Zamperini, who was the subject of the best-selling book "Unbroken." A former member of the Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration team will come to Midland in ...

Ohio Air News #165 - Charles Johnson | Saturday night and Sunday morning, heavy rains, thunder and lighting, put tents on the ground, flags spinning in the air and planes under cover.

Book Review: Lloyd S. Jones "U.S. Fighters" from Aviation Heritage by Chris | Although almost as old as I am, thsi volume is still worth picking up if you're looking for 3-view plans of USAAC/USAAF/USAF fighters through the 1970s, as each type is briefly discussed and then given a full-page scale view. Also covered are US Navy fighters that were in service during the 1962 designation consolidation, including the F-1 (FJ-4) Fury, F-2D (F2H-4) Banshee, F-6 (F4D) Skyray, F-8 ...

Monday, September 12, 2011

Indy Transponder 11-SEP-2011 2315z


Willow Grove was at the center of 9/11 storm - phillyBurbs.com | The Blue Angels highlighted a weekend air show that drew an estimated 700000 people. The base was basking in the glory of its decades of military service focused on protecting our freedom. Just days later, the nearly 900-acre installation was on ...

Pilot Ordered To Shoot Down Any Hijacked Planes Following Attacks - WGRZ-TV | BUFFALO, NY - One of the pilots performing this weekend at the Thunder of Niagara Air Show at the base has a special perspective on the 9/11 anniversary. In the days after the attacks, Lt. Colonel John Klatt was an Air National Guard pilot who flew an ...

In Honor of an Aviation Hero: from Flight To Success by Karlene Petitt | Captain Jason Dahl Scholarship Fund ...  While 9/11 was a devastating day for the world and the aviation community, Captain Dahl's memory lives on. His support of aviation and helping students fulfill their dreams, is a legacy to his life. Thank you Captain Dahl, you made a difference in the world that day, and you continue to impact the lives of aviators. ...

Blue Angels have masses soaring - Omaha World-Herald | LINCOLN — When Keisha Scott caught a glimpse of two men in Blue Angels uniforms, her face lit up. Keisha, 10, stood patiently in line to get the autograph of Sean Kirby, who maintains the team's famed F/A-18 Hornets. ...

Air show celebrates America's resilience - WIVB | NIAGARA FALLS, NY (WIVB) - The 2011 "Thunder of Niagara" air show happens to fall on the ten-year anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. It is full of special touches to remember those the people we lost, and to celebrate America's resilience. ...

California Capitol Airshow Inspires New Generation - KTXL | At the California Capital Airshow, the acts range from lighthearted chopper tricks to the deadly serious. For organizers, the display of aviation power at Mather Field is a chance to inspire a new generation of leaders. "The best way to inspire our ...

Aerial acrobatics above airport: Expo takes flight in Paso - San Luis Obispo Tribune | Eyes were on the sky Saturday as airplanes showed off their aerobatic skills during the Paso Robles Municipal Airport's annual aviation expo. Radio-controlled models, warplanes, turbine jets, ...

Fast and furious show of might turns heads - Buffalo News | Tens of thousands found their way Saturday to the air show, where vintage aircraft, including a B-25 bomber, are on display on the ground, along with more contemporary models. Security is tighter than usual this weekend. Visitors have to empty their ...

Pilots, passengers wow crowd at Stearman air show - Galesburg Register-Mail | air show, featuring award-winning pilots John Mohr, Walt Pierce, Emerson Stewart and Darrel Massman. The color change sensation was how Clishan described what a pilot sees when doing rapid, consecutive rolls: sky, earth, sky, and so on. ...

Scott County Airshow boosts economy - WBIR-TV | Scott County's "Wings over Big South Fork" Airshow brought a boost to its struggling economy this weekend. Organizers started the event eight years ago to stimulate the county's businesses and show people what they have to offer. ...

Reno's annual Championship Air Races is part air show, part competition – and ... - Sacramento Bee | In honor of the event this year Breitling has brought out a "Reno Air Race" multiplayer online video game. "Always remember to fly low, fly fast, and turn left." What: This 48th annual event will feature plenty of daredevil aviatrics and a whole lotta ...

Gold Team Rocks Out Akron Coloardo from US Army Golden Knights by Richard Sloan | Gold Demonstration Team kicks off the Akron Air Show with signature blue skies and great weather over Colorado.  Gold Team performed their first jump into the Otis High School Friday night football game.  The show consisted of our mass formation followed by an impressive 3 stack canopy relative work formation.  Upon landing, Gold Team was [...]

Avro Vulcan XH558 'Howl' at RAF Leuchars Airshow 2011  - YouTube | As the last airworthy Avro Vulcan Bomber, XH558, does a flypast at the RAF Leuchars Airshow 2011 the pilot throttles up the four Rolls-Royce Olympus engines creating the distictive 'Vulcan Howl'. Unfortunately the overcast, windy conditions made photography difficult.

Red Arrows cancel Morecambe display due to high winds - BBC News | Their first public aerobatic display after the crash was at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire on 2 September. They flew in their famous diamond formation, leaving a space where Flt Lt Egging would have flown.

Gone West: Aviator/Actor Cliff Robertson from Aero-News Network | Cliff Robertson, One Of Aviation's 'Great Souls' Has Gone West, 09.09.23 - 09.10.11 Here is a test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: If you're alive, it isn't. Richard Bach As the aviation world shudders with the memory of what occurred barely a decade ago, we have received news of yet another loss -- this one quite personal and profound. Cliff Robertson was a man known to many as a fine actor in everything from "Charly" to "Spiderman" -- but, far more important to me, hew was known to those us in the aviation world as a quiet, friendly and uncommonly humble flyer with a heart of gold and a never-ending supply of flying stories. ...

WWII bomber pilot Super dies - Omaha World-Herald | Leonard V. Super flew 67 combat missions as an Army pilot in the Pacific theater in World War II, then worked in his own real estate business while raising a family. Super died of heart failure Monday at the Montclair Nursing and ...
BTTC New DVD Cover

Documentary showcases woman pilots of the 1920s - Knoxville News Sentinel | This picture taken in August 1929 shows Louise Thaden, left, Gladys O'Donnell and Ruth Nichols, right, all participants in the first Women's Transcontinental Air Race, that stopped off at Parks Air College on the seventh day of the ...

Breaking Through The Clouds: The First Women's National Air Derby (sometimes referred to as the powder puff derby) is available on DVD at  http://www.breakingthroughtheclouds.com. 

Amelia Earhart items up for auction in Oakland - KGO-TV | There is a pair of aviator goggles with a cracked lens. In 1921, Earhart wore them when she was learning to fly. She crashed that time. The goggles were kept by the woman who taught her to fly, Neta Snook Southern, and wrote a book about it. ...

Night Fighters - Vintage Wings of Canada | Announcing an exclusive and rare event open only to members of Vintage Wings of Canada - a night time photo shoot of our Corsair and Mustang.  On the evening of September 16th, 2011, as part of our Members Only BBQ and Aerial Demonstration, we will position two of our most famous Second World War fighters for a night start - complete with smoke and hopefully some exhaust flames. This unique event is just one of the many value added benefits of membership in Vintage Wings of Canada, so if you want to be part of it, join today!!! ...

Spitfire I P9374 from Vintage Aeroplane Writer by Vintage Aero Writer | Undoubtedly one of the most exciting aircraft restorations is the rebuild of Spitfire I P9374, the earliest configured Spitfire now flying. A great deal of interest has been shown on the early test flights (as yet, no public flying display) and it is clearly a symptom of the health and desire for authenticity that this rare Spitfire has been restored to as original condition as is possible; including awkward systems like the early...
   
WWII Plane Restoration Allows Greater Historical Learning - FOX 21 Online | HERMANTOWN-World War II veterans' memories fade as others criticize war education as incomplete. But a revival of old combat vehicles could revive learning. ...

Photo from Planeshots

Wreckage of Michigan WWII pilot's plane is located - MLive.com | (AP) — Like many men of his generation, Marshall native Charles Dobbins Sr. didn't talk much about his part in World War II. But several years after his death, an archaeological find in Florida brought his son and namesake, Chuck, a reminder of the ...

Today in Aviation History – September 11 - CRUFC

Video: 9/11: an astronaut's perspective from Spaceports

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Indy Transponder 11-SEP-2011 0300z

Bush says U.S. will never forget Flight 93 - Reuters | 1 of 4. Former president George W. Bush speaks at the ceremony marking the opening of the Flight 93 National Memorial and the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attack in Shanksville, Pennsylvania September 10, 2011. By Daniel Lovering SHANKSVILLE, ...

Female 9/11 pilot to compete in Reno air races | Sacramento Bee | AP RENO, Nev. -- A former military fighter pilot who was sent to ram a hijacked commercial airliner en route to Washington, DC, shortly after the 9/11 attacks will be competing in next week's National Championship Air Races in Reno. ...

A display of spirit -- both patriotic and collegiate -- at Airshow - Lincoln Journal Star | A B-2 stealth bomber makes a pass over the crowd at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow in Lincoln on Saturday, September 10, 2011. (ERIN DUERR/Lincoln Journal Star) Barb New and her great-grandsons didn't know it, but they arrived at the Guardians of ...

Day 9.1 from per Ardua ad Astra by Grant Piper | Well, the results are out for the technical contest, and with some surprises.   I missed Francois Levot's HZ for a positive crossover snap instead of a negative snap (downward iverted 45 leg of a humpty).   This dropped him down the standings considerably.  Phillipp's HZ also cost him - same applies as at home, NO DONUTS.  Some lovely flying in the last seven,  ...

WAC Day 10 - 4 Minute Freestyle from per Ardua ad Astra by Grant Piper | Just back from the 4 minute Freestyle.   Great flying on show with Hannes Arch, Ramon Alonso and Eric Vazeilleadded to the classic competitors.   I don't expect any results to be announced until the closing ceremony this evening,    My picks were Kairys, Sonka, Holland and Marmy (maybe not in that order).  A lot of  ...

Coach Lindy Ruff Takes To The Skies - WKBW-TV | NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, NY – Lindy Ruff, the longest-tenured coach in the National Hockey League, received an aerobatic aircraft flight with the John Klatt Airshow Team at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station on Friday, ...

Winston-Salem Air Show 9/10/11 - Winston-Salem Journal | Members of the Black Daggers Parachute Jump team and the Aeroshell Teasers open the aerial performances with the delivery of the American flag to Smith Reynolds Airport during the Winston-Salem Airshow Saturday, September 10, 2011. ...

Airshow is a Take-Off - WHIZ | The airplanes were on their way to the 3rd annual air show put on by Home Depots Lead Generator Frank Berlo. Berlo has been partnering with the Y-City Flying Service since the beginning. "We had a car show here and then I heard talk about many, ...

The Breitling Jet Team in BD - Apache Roll | S i you are used to air shows, you probably met the friendly staff of the publishing house "Ideas Passion + BD " ... They are usually in their booth located at the end of a queue of players waiting for the dedication of bought the book.  You can not miss them, they always smile and passionate and if you talk comics and Aviation, become inexhaustible! Make a comic about the exploits of Team Breitling Jet Team is part of their dreams and hope it will happen one day soon. Why not! For the "Laverdure" series, they are torn between Douky and Gaston ...

Astronaut Chris Hadfield Flying the Golden F-86 Sabre ... - Marketwire | As he once said: "we must keep our aviation heritage alive and continue to challenge and inspire today's explorers both in aviation and aerospace". He certainly will be inspiring Canadian youth when he embarks in his third space mission. ...

Air Marshall confirms three more years of Leuchars airshow - stv.tv | The RAF's top officer has guaranteed the future of the Leuchars airshow for at least three years. But Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Dalton said no decisions have been made about whether it will continue once the base is handed over to the army. ...

B-17, Teterboro airport 9.10.11 - YouTube | Wing and Wheels expo, Teterboro Airport, NJ

See the Historic Warbirds That Swooped Into Wall Airport - Patch.com | The Collings Foundation, a Massachusetts-based non-profit organization devoted to aviation history, brought its 22nd annual Wings of Freedom Tour from to Monmouth Executive Airport in Wall Township over the long Labor Day weekend. ...

Wreckage of Michigan WWII pilot's plane is located - MiamiHerald.com | Like many men of his generation, Marshall native Charles Dobbins Sr. didn't talk much about his part in World War II. But several years after his death, an archaeological find in Florida brought his son and namesake, Chuck, a reminder of the dangers ...

Supermarine Stranraer – the last flourish of the military biplane flying-boat from Shortfinals's Blog | During WWI, both Britain and the United States built numbers of large, biplane flying-boats and used them to patrol far out over the oceans, searching for enemy surface fleets, downed aviators and the new menace, enemy submarines. By the 1920s, the original stocks of early flying-boats were just about worn out. Even though the Royal Air Force had very little money to spend, it recognized that control of the sea lanes and maritime reconnaissance was vital for an island nation (with an Empire, no less), so a new ...

Display of aviation heritage - Toronto Star | Air shows are an incredible display of our aviation heritage, combining modern and historic aircraft. Where would we be today if it wasn't for our military aircraft in World War II? I volunteer with a historic aircraft association and am proud to see ...

Biplanes Take Center Stage At Tulsa Air & Space Museum - News On 6 | TULSA, Oklahoma -- Vintage aircraft and a children's book about a biplane took center stage at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium Saturday. As the museum highlighted its traveling exhibit "Our Lives, Our Stories: America's Greatest Generation ...

Top photo from Airfighters.com - The damage to the tailpipe was caused by a AIM-120 AMRAAM fired at it by a F-15 on February 22nd 1988.

Opportunity to Earn Your Aviation Merit Badge! by Aaron Weissman | Hello Scouters!! Please get this out to all of your Scouts and other Scouters! (including Cubs, Webelos, Boy Scouts and Venture Scouts) Please see the flyer for info.  The Aviation merit badge was one of the Original 57 Merit Badges issued by the Boy Scouts of America in 1911. Working with Lt Col Carlton of the MT ANG, we’ve been able to arrange for District Boy Scouts to work for their Aviation Merit Badge and attend the Flight Over the Falls Air Show. VOLUNTEERS for the AIR SHOW are also needed; Scouters, Cubs, Venture Scouts are all welcome to participate. ...

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Indy Transponder 10-SEP-2011 0430z

F-16 pilot was ready to give her life on Sept. 11  - The Washington Post | Late in the morning of the Tuesday that changed everything, Lt. Heather “Lucky” Penney was on a runway at Andrews Air Force Base and ready to fly. She had her hand on the throttle of an F-16 and she had her orders: Bring down United Airlines Flight 93. The day’s fourth hijacked airliner seemed to be hurtling toward Washington. Penney, one of the first two combat pilots in the air that morning, was told to stop it.  The one thing she didn’t have as she roared into the crystalline sky was live ammunition. Or missiles. Or anything at all to throw at a hostile aircraft.  ...
Also - Here's an interview on CSPAN.

We Will Never Forget from Nuts About Southwest | It’s hard to grasp that it has been a decade since the terrorist attacks on our country in September 2001. The world and our industry were changed dramatically with the repercussions of that vicious attack reverberating today.  That Tuesday morning in Dallas was an absolutely gorgeous day and I was getting ready for a workout as I  ...

Pilot's tie to 9/11 - KTVO | KIRKSVILLE, MO -- Retired military pilot Jim Maroney will be in Kirksville for the upcoming Air Fest at Kirksville Regional Airport. Maroney graduated number one out of fifteen hundred pilots from the Naval Flight Training School in 1981 ...

Air Force One journey on September 11: no escort during the attacks, 11 fighters when the airspace was completely free of airliners from David Cenciotti's | Here’s the second episode of the 9/11 series. The first one, titled US Air Defense response to the September 11 attacks: known and unknown facts described how the NORAD reacted to the hijackings. This article will explain the tour across the US of the Air Force One on that day. ...
   
Palm Springs Air Museum honors our defenders - The Desert Sun | Madison, a former P-38 pilot, contacted his friend Bob Pond, a Navy aviator who had amassed an impressive collection of warbirds and classic cars for a number of years. Pond, who had his collection of planes at the Eaton Prairie airfield near ...

What it Takes to be a Thunderbirds/Blue Angels Pilot from Warplanes Online Community | One of the many ways to promote the U.S. military is by flight demonstration squadrons, namely the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds. They help the military recruit more people and give the public more understanding and education about what the military does for them.  Some of you might be interested on joining these elite teams. Well, here’s how you can be an eligible candidate . ...

Shined up from AF.mil Photos

President Lescinski Flies With 'The Angels' - St. Ambrose University | It isn't everyday that you see a university president don a flight suit—let alone one with a "Blue Angels" emblem on it. Even so, on Wednesday, Sept. 7, Joan Lescinski, CSJ, president of St. Ambrose, did just that and "flew with the Angels. ...

Bad weekend forecast won't stop air show - Buffalo News | NIAGARA FALLS — Poor flying weather during the past couple of days drowned out some practice flights and delayed the arrival of the US Air Force Thunderbirds precision military jet team, but the 2011 Thunder of Niagara air show ...

WAC Day9 from per Ardua ad Astra by Grant Piper | The final seven have flown.   The re-fly's went first.  Victor Chmal had a solid flight, but Tom Cassels' problems reoccurred and he again landed and went to the technical area.  I doubt he will fly again, but this has not been confirmed.  next up was Oleg S. and it was a neat flight, though I...

IMAGES: Japan holds the Misawa Air Fest 2011 - Cavok [Translated] | Thousands of visitors from all over northern Japan were present at Misawa Air Fest held on September 4. The event was organized by the Self-Defense Force Air of Japan and the 35th Fighter Wing of the USAF, which together with local volunteers were visited by nearly 100,000 people in the Misawa Air Base. ...

Battle of Britain Weekend - Urgent Update from What's On at RAF Museum London | 10 September 2011 - 11 September 2011 | The Museum's annual pageant commemorating Veterans of the Battle of Britain inclusive of talks, tours, tableaux and concerts. STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS As of 11.30 am on 9th September we have been informed that this weekend's Lancaster Flypast has now been cancelled due to predicted high winds at RAF Conningsby tomorrow. We would like to apologise in advance for any disappointment that  ...

Airfest to feature 1940s planes, stunts - Culpeper Star Exponent | Planes will litter the skies at Culpeper Regional Airport's 12 th annual Air Fest on Saturday Oct. 8. The free event will feature several types of aircraft including World War II-era and civilian aerobatic. Attendees will watch as planes fly in ...

Video: DAV B-25 Performs at NAS Patuxent River Air Expo 2011 by DAV Flight Team
   
Wings Over Pittsburgh Takes to the Sky This Weekend at 911th Airlift Wing - Patch.com | The show will feature aeronautics displays from the Heavy Metal Jet Team, a Lancaster-based group of former Blue Angels and Navy pilots, the Northeast Raiders Demonstration Team and the Viper West F-16 air show. By Jenna Staul More than 250000 ...

Expect thrills, chills at Courtland air show Sept. 23-24 - The Huntsville Times | The Red Thunder Air Show Team offers lots of smoke, big radial engine airplanes, precision warbird demonstrations, the Russian YAK-52 and Chinese Nanchang CJ-6. Family entertainers Greg Koontz and The Alabama Boys Comedy Team do aerobatic ...

Organisers insist Leuchars Airshow is not the last - Scotland Courier | Saturday's Leuchars Airshow will not be the last despite the imminent closure of the RAF base. This year's show will feature an emotional return by the Red Arrows. By Dave Lord The annual extravaganza is sure to be laced with added poignancy this year ...

UARC Air Race School? - Aviation Criminal | The photo album is entitled “UARC Air Race School”. These appear to not have been taken the day of the “Qualifying” run that the UARC had that helped them find the 7 worlds greatest pilots. That was in May and this guys ...

Liaison Pilots Gave New Meaning To The Term "Sitting Duck" by CAF Red Tail Squadron | 997 cadets received their pilot wings after training at Tuskegee Army Airfield. Of this number about 30 were USAAF Field Artillery Liaison Pilots who flew light observation airplanes for the 92nd Infantry Division (Buffalo Soldiers), which saw action assigned to the American 5th Army. This ...

Slidell skydiving is wish come true for 85-year-old birthday girl from You Fly, Girl by Cathy Gale | From 2nd:  From Nola.com: Slidell skydiving is wish come true for 85-year-old birthday girl  Skydiving for your 85th birthday may seem a bit out of the ordinary to some. But for the friends and family of Willa Cristina of Harahan, it’s just “classic Willa.”  ...

Video: F-35 rollout ceremony from Latest Vlog 

Eurofighter photo comp from Flight Image of the Day | Eurofighter has just released details of the winner of its first annual Eurofighter Typhoon amateur photo contest.Top of the heap was Ian Ramsbottom, with his stunning shot of a 17 Sqn Typhoon in the Mach Loop in Wales, UK. ...

Texas Chapter September 2011 Newsletter from Antique Airfield News | 2011 Fly-In Award Winners, Final Aircraft Count for AAA/APM Fly-In,

Preserving and Displaying the “Bat-Wing Ship” – August Update from AirSpace by The National Air and Space Museum | ... German artisans formed the wood around the nose of the H IX center section using steam to make it soft and pliable, and then bending it to shape. Said Melvin Wachowiak , Senior Conservator, Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute, "I am still impressed by the bending of the laminated plywood into a ...

S-92® "Legacy of Heroes" Demo Tour Begins from PR Newswire: Airlines/Aviation | sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today launched a "Legacy of Heroes" demonstration tour by its S-92® helicopter, commencing a multi-country visit from its Sikorsky Global Helicopters facility that will recognize first responders to natural...

An Electric Helicopter Lifts Off – Briefly from CAFE Foundation Blog | Gizmag apparently beat everybody to this story, with even Popular Science quoting from the online gadget hunter’s web site.  They report that in mid-August 2011, Pascal Chretien piloted his creation, a coaxial rotor, twin Lynch-motored helicopter that he built for Solution F, a Swiss racing engine development firm.  He performed the flight “in the presence of a court appointed witness,” according to a press release from Lithium Balance, the firm that supplied the battery management system (BMS) for and acted as consultants to the project.   ...

Friday, September 9, 2011

Indy Transponder 08-SEP-2011 2345z

Skydivers Will Fly Largest US Flag Over Ground Zero in New York City on 9/11/11 - DigitalJournal.com | The team has also jumped over balloon festivals, air shows, NASCAR, Indy Car, symphony performances, golf courses, amusement parks, mall parking lots, tennis courts, Red Bull Air Races and Veteran support events. The tribute is sponsored by ...

Getting Ready for the Air Races from aroundthepattern.com by Tracy | ... In addition to the local traffic today we saw Rare Bear out and about and sounding strong. It’s good to see it in the air before qualifications week – the crew is historic in their all-nighters to get the plane flying well enough to qualify. We also saw Marilyn Dash’s racing biplane out flying today – testing the new drag reduction modifications the crew has been working on lately. Nemesis NXT racer preparing for the 2011 Reno Air RacesWe also saw a French Nemesis NXT ...

Video: Reno Heritage Trophy from Latest Vlog | It's almost Reno time with the air races starting September 13-18, 2011. Here's a look at the national heritage invitational where  ...

WAC Day 8 from per Ardua ad Astra by Grant Piper | Day 7 was a rest day and the organisers put on a trip to the Italian Air Force Museum in the morning and Trevi on the way back.   The family and I went to Siena, Florence and San Gimignamo instead.  Tuscany in a day, as Annette says!  Again, the weather fine and beaut for flying with 37 pilots to get through, plus the warm-ups.   The remaining top 75% of pilots were again split into three groups,  ...

Harvard flying duo fills performances with high energy - Northwest Herald | The first thing Dave Dacy wants you to know about his airshow routine is that it's real. “People look at this and say, 'There's a gimmick there,' ” said Dacy, of Harvard, a pilot who performs with Wingwalker Tony Kazian, also of Harvard. ...
   
Aerobatics - WIVB | allie meets lt. col. john klatt.

Wood, Fabric & Tailwheels Comes To Lee Bottom from Aero-News Network | Event Has Grown, But Faces Economic Pressures The unofficial end of summer has passed, and the official Autumnal Equinox isn't far behind, but the fly-in season has some life remaining. Lee Bottom Flying Field in Hanover, IN has its 15th Annual Wood, Fabric, & Tailwheels Fly-In scheduled for the weekend the seasons officially change, September 23-25.

Kirksville Air Show - KTVO | KIRKSVILLE, MO -- The 2011 Kirksville Air Show will start September 10th and 11th at the Kirksville Regional Airport. The kick off day for entertainment begins September 10th with a kids zone free all day play, tandem sky diving, ...

Spirits high for upcoming UC Air Show - Sparta Expositor | The preparations are almost complete for the 2011 Air Show at the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport, on Sept. 17. Gates open at 9 am for visitors to get an up-close view of some unique aircraft, as well as other fun activities for the ...

Wings and Wheels Expo at Teterboro Airport - NorthJersey.com | The World War II B-17 bomber 'Yankee Lady' and the Batmobile will be among the featured attractions at the expo at Teterboro Airport this weekend. TOP GUNS: This family event has World War II airplanes and helicopters, as well as unique and antique ...

Don Weaver presenting EAA Webinar on Acro from UCAP Blog | On Thursday September 15 at 7 PM AcroCamp CFI Don Weaver will be presenting an EAA Webinar on The Aerodynamics of Basic Aerobatic Flight.

Fly in to Marshall for the weekend - Battle Creek Enquirer | In 2006, a fly-in was marked by Michigan Air National Guard's A-10 Warthog fighter jets thundering overhead. All of these events took place near or under a hangar roof that seems unchanged since it was built. An old wooden ceiling, contrasting with the ...

Photo: Great Reno Balloon Race preparation this morning | The Great Reno Balloon Races are getting underway. Marilyn Newton/RGJ

80000 chatsworth turnout as red arrows make emotional return - Sheffield Telegraph | One of the highlights was a display by eight Red Arrows pilots who made their first public performance since the death of Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, aged 33, at the Bournemouth Air Festival last month. Squadron Leader Graeme Bagnall said it was a ...

Guernsey Red Arrows display cancelled due to weather - BBC News | The Red Arrows, The Blades, Brietling Wingwalkers and a Skyraider aircraft were among those unable to take part. Those gathered along the island's east coast also observed a minute's silence for all RAF pilots who lost their lives serving their country ...

Clacton Air Show has been saved - Gazette | CLACTON Air Show will go ahead next year – despite Tendring Council's decision not to fund it. Tourism boss Stephen Mayzes said he was confident the show would be staged, even though a bucket collection at this year's event raised ...

Podcast: A7 / A4 Pilot Dan McClung – Warbird Radio LIVE! – Thursday from WarbirdRadio.com by Matt | THURSDAY – Back in the day Dan McClung was a hot shot A4 / A7 pilot in the US Navy.  Today…Dan is entertaining air show audiences across the country as Team Lead of the PPG Aerospace Red Eagles aerobatic team.  Hear his story this Thursday morning at 10am (EASTERN) on Warbird Radio LIVE!  For more [...]

World War I drama coming to National Museum of the U.S. Air Force from National Museum of the USAF Top Stories | One of the nations' premier historical aviation events will bring the excitement and adrenaline of World War I air power to the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Sept. 23-25.  The World War I Dawn Patrol Rendezvous will feature vintage reproduction full scale and 7/8 scale aircraft,  ...

Battle Of Britain Air Display 2011 - Island FM | Today's display will also include a new 8 piece formation from the Red Arrows, following the tragic death of Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging last month. A minutes silence will be held for him, and all other RAF Pilots who have lost their lives both at war ...

World War II Navy pilots reunite in Fargo after 66 years - In-Forum | Theirs was one of many reunions fostered by Friday's luncheon for naval aviators, part of Navy Week being held here in conjunction with the Fargo AirSho today and Sunday. Bass, 90, and Frankel didn't find each other again until five years ago. ...

Bomber crew recalls close calls from Warplanes Online Community by Tynibelle | SHELBY — It has been 67 years since Carmen Fox flew his last bombing mission over the Third Reich.  “Our crew flew 26 missions and that was enough,” Fox said. “When we first arrived in England the number of missions per tour was 25. Later it was 30. But for most of us 26 was more than enough.”  Fox, who just turned 90, was a radio operator and sometimes gunner aboard a B-24 Liberator called “On The Ball.”  When the B-24 plane and its crew arrived at Hardwick Airfield in England they  ...

Podcast: Phil Boyer, Former President of AOPA from AVWeb Podcast - Podcast | Ten years ago this weekend, general aviation was faced with an unprecedented challenge -- first, how to get back in the air at all and then, how to cope with scores of new regulations as the government struggled to minimize the threat of future attacks. As president of AOPA, Phil Boyer was on the front lines of holding back the restrictions and preserving our freedom to fly. He talks with AVweb's Mary Grady about the events of September 11, 2011 and his assessment of how we're doing 10 years later. ...

Ice Pilots Spinoff In Production from AVwebFlash Current Issue | Fans of Ice Pilots NWT can look forward to a sequel of sorts. A dramatic spinoff of Ice Pilots, called Arctic Air, is now in production in Vancouver by OMNI Film and will air on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation starting in January. Ice Pilots NWT, which is airing on the

After Record-Making Flight, Martin Jetpack Will Soon Be on Sale from POPSCI | Buy one next year for just $100,000 | In May, inventor Glenn Martin-along with fire-rescue officers and crews on board a pair of chase helicopters-watched as his jetpack flew for nine minutes and 43 seconds, soaring 3,500 feet into the New Zealand sky. Had the machine been holding a live person instead of a 150-pound dummy, it would have  ...
   
U.S. Navy/Northrop Grumman X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Honored by Defense ... - MarketWatch | The company has built two X-47B aircraft to fulfill the demonstration objectives of the UCAS-D program, which is intended to reduce risk for potential unmanned systems operating in and around an aircraft carrier. "It's an honor for the X-47B UCAS to be ...

Monday, September 5, 2011

Pacific Coast Air Museum to Host 9/11 Remembrance and Open New F-15 Eagle First Responder Exhibit


The PACIFIC COAST AIR MUSEUM (PCAM) is proud to host a ceremony on 9/11/2011 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11 to honor the brave men and women who responded on that day, to honor the memory those who perished and to display the untold story of heroism in the air by U.S. Air Force pilots and on the ground by Air Force and FAA controllers on that day.  This free event is open to the public and will be held at 2:00pm on Sunday September 11, 2011 at the Pacific Coast Air Museum at the Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, California. 

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Lt. Col. Tim “Duff” Duffy of the 101st fighter squadron, 102nd Fighter Wing based at the Otis Air National Guard Base (ANGB) Massachusetts near Cape Cod, MA and his wingman, Major Daniel “Nasty” Nash, were on active alert.  That morning “Duff” received orders from NORAD to respond to a report of a commercial airliner hijacking.  As the leader of the flight of two F-15A Eagle fighter jets “Duff” and his aircraft were the first American airborne fighter response on that day. 

The aircraft flown by Lt. Col Duffy on September 11, 2001 was F-15A Eagle 77-0102.  “102” flew combat air patrol missions that day to clear the New York City airspace of almost 100 aircraft.  “102” and the 102nd Fighter Wing continued to protect the skies over the eastern United States for several months.  By February 2002 the wing flew 2,388 combat patrols. 

The historic “First Responder” aircraft “102” was retired to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) at Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ on July 31, 2006 after nearly thirty years of service.  “102” was the wing commander’s aircraft and was the lead aircraft that responded from the alert shelters at Otis ANGB that day.

In the spring of 2009 the National Museum of the United States Air Force awarded the Pacific Coast Air Museum the honor to take possession of “102” and put it on display.  The aircraft was partially disassembled and transported from AMARC in Tucson the museum December 2010.  Since then the aircraft has been reassembled, an exhibit has been designed and the first phase of the F-15 “First Responder” Exhibit will be unveiled on 9/11/2001.

Our goal is to build a world class exhibit to honor those involved in 9/11 and to provide a venue for the public to see it and learn more about the events of that day.  To that end the museum has already begun an intensive fundraising campaign to raise $250,000 for the exhibit.  We evaluated several design concepts for the exhibit and selected a winning design firm.  The concrete foundation for the exhibit was poured in early August and the aircraft was hoisted into place just this week.  Finishing touches on phase one of the exhibit will be in place for the ceremony on 9/11.

At 2:00pm on Sunday, September 11, 2011 the museum will conduct a brief ceremony to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and to dedicate the F-15 “First Responder” Exhibit. The ceremony will include short presentations by museum leadership and local dignitaries, a moment of silence, unveiling of the exhibit and possible flyovers by local first responder aircraft.  CHP Captain Greg Tracy and Tom Reed, former Secretary of the Air Force, will lead the commemoration and dedication ceremonies.

Visit our website at www.WingsOverWineCountry.org for more information.

ABOUT PACIFIC COAST AIR MUSEUM

Pacific Coast Air Museum (PCAM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the acquisition, restoration, safe operation and display of historic aircraft, preserving aviation history and to providing an educational venue for students and the community. We also honor those heroic aviators who have contributed so much to the growth and defense of our way of life.

Located in Santa Rosa, Calif., PCAM operates both an indoor museum with exhibits featuring famous military and civilian pilots and aviation innovators, as well as historical photos and artifacts; and an outside museum featuring more than two dozen excellent examples of both contemporary and antique aircraft.    

For more information contact the Pacific Coast Air Museum at (707) 575-7900. Website: www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org.

California Capital Airshow Pays Homage to 9/11

Airshow plans a heartfelt 9/11 tribute honoring all of the heroes and innocent victims that gave their lives, responded without question and sacrificed everything on that day and beyond

On Sunday, September 11, Airshow attendees will be witness to a heartfelt and moving tribute, honoring all of the heroes and innocent victims that gave their lives, responded without question and sacrificed everything on that tragic day, September 11, 2001.

The Airshow’s special tribute will begin with a memorial flower drop, one of the largest ever seen. The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento will proudly fly a C-130 Hercules, along the entire length of the runway at  Mather Airport, (one of the longest runways in the western United States) filled with colorful flowers, generously sponsored by local florists, Jim Relles of Relles Florist and Allan Nishita of Flora Fresh, as well as host of other floral suppliers from as far as South America, to be dropped along the mile-long crowd line.

The Airshow narrator will share a few important words accompanied to music that will leave the crowd breathless.  Petals will gently fall to the ground providing several minutes of silence in honor of those who are no longer standing by our sides.

The Airshow’s special tribute will conclude with a Missing Man formation, which is an aerial salute performed as part of a flyover of aircraft at a memorial event, typically in memory of those fallen. The formation most commonly used in the United States is based on the "finger-four" aircraft combat formation composed of two two-aircraft elements. The aircraft fly in a V-shape with the flight leader at the point and his wingman on his left. The second element leader and his wingman fly to his right. The formation flies over the ceremony low enough to be clearly seen and the element leader abruptly pulls up out of the formation while the rest of the formation continues in level flight until all aircraft are out of sight.  The aircraft performing the pull-up, split off, or missing from the formation, represents the fact that the person (or persons) being honored has died.

The Airshow’s Missing Man formation flight will be unique as it will feature WWII fighter aircraft rarely seen together, carving a distinctive pattern through the sky, and flown by four of the finest and most highly-regarded pilots in the flying industry, led by Steve Hinton. The music, choreography and narration will be emotional, moving and unforgettable.  Attendees will literally feel the rumble in their chests as these priceless warbirds roar by.

WHEN:           The 9/11 Tribute will conclude the Show on Sunday (Sunday Only)

WHERE:        California Capital Airshow | Mather Airport

For additional information about the Airshow, tickets, performers, etc., please visit www.californiacapitalairshow.com.