Yankee Air Museum (Pt. 2)

Other aircraft on display at the Yankee Air Museum are this nifty Spad S.XIII. It's a hand-built replica, but still pretty sharp.

And they've got a Republic F-84F "Thunderstreak" inside, too. This is one of two that they have.

This one is decked out on the colors of the Thurderbirds, the Air Force's exhibition team. The Thunderbirds actually started out flying the straightwinged version of this aircraft their first two years (1q953-1954) and transitioned to this model in 1955 when they were commanded by Jacksel Broughton, who had a very interesting Air Force career. (Get his books, Thud Ridge and Rupert Red Two.)

Here's a nice halftrack inside.

Brings back memories. In the late 80's, while still a teen living at home, I acquired title to one in much worse shape. Oh, the plans and dreams I had for that thing. But my father for some reason would not let me put it in our suburban back yard until I could make it run so I had to sell it where it was. Sigh. I think I got $300 for it.

Here's the other Thunderstreak outside, an RF-84K photo-reconnaissance variant known as the "Thunderflash". This one here was the last one to fly with the Michigan Air National Guard from nearly Selfridge ANGB.

Also outside is this Russian AN-2R Antonov biplane, a rugged utility aircraft produced in the Soviet Union from 1946 until 2001 and still in use around the world. It's known for being sturdy and dependable and able to carry heavy loads in and out of very small, rough strips.

Hopefully they get her moved indoors and cleaned up when their new museum building is finished.

If you're ever near Ypsilanti, Michigan, stop over and see this place. Just look for the B-52 out front.

Phound a Phantom (and other things with wings)!

So a brief visit into the Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, MI, brought me into contact with this:

F-4 Phantom II, McDonnell-Douglas's finest creation--and proof that even a brick will fly if you give it big enough engines.

Hey Juvat, this button you told me about--it don't do anything. (I made sure to stand well off to the side when checking it out though.)

Yo, Old AF Sarge...Any of this look familiar?

I wonder why they would paint something like this on the aircraft?

This was in there, too.

Be still, my heart. It's a Cessna O-2A.

This humble warbird may not have had the power and punch of a Phantom or a Thud, but then again, it was the brains of airstrike, telling the fast-moving heavies where to put the bombs and rockets.

Two engines, centerline thrust. And three hundred pounds of radios allowing a very busy pilot to talk to units on the ground, fighter-bombers in the air and ATC and command back at base, all while trying to spot targets and dodge ground fire while flying low and slow right over the enemy.

Twice now I have seriously contemplated buying one. And someday perhaps...

They have a heckiflopter, too.

Bell UH-1D "Iroquois", better known as "Huey".
(Look familiar, Old NFO? I seem to recall a few of your stories revolving around these.)

They just got this one in:

A-4C Skyhawk! Cute little sucker, ain't it? Introduced in the mid-1950's, it could carry more bombs that a World War 2 B-17 and deliver them more accurately. It was also the smallest aircraft that could deliver a nuclear weapon at that time.

They did it up as Paul Galanti's bird. That's an honor well-deserved. (Hey Sarge, you might want to consider this warrior for your blog Honor Wall too.)

More later. Stay tuned.

Well that was quick...but airplanes!

So Wednesday I flew up to Michigan to see family. But then as soon as I leave...Hurricane. So I had to call the airline up and turn around and come back on Friday. I need to be here for work and my friends and my stuff.

But while I was there, I saw THIS at Willow Run Airport.

Out on the ramp by the FBO--A Super Constellation!!

This Lockheed Constellation was the Navy variant of the old EC-121D "Warning Star" Early Warning aircraft, known in Navy talk as a WV-2 (because they always gotta rename everything). They were the military version of the Lockheed L-1049, a mediocre airliner that became a military classic.

Of course I had to go through the FBO and sweet-talk them into ramp access to go see it up close. Just to see if Old NFO's name was written on it somewhere, of course.

Looking a bit worse for the wear back here, but certainly fixable easily enough. I didn't know those control surfaces were fabric.

Super Connie nose. So sleek and tall. If planes were dogs, the Connie would be a greyhound.

Engines looking good. Pratt and Whitney R3550 powerplants and from where I stood I could see nothing missing on any of them. Love to try to spin one up.

Another engine view, with the dorsal radar antenna visible on top of the fuselage.

Big radome underneath too.

These things could monitor all sorts of radio communications, track numerous other flying aircraft (and missiles) and do all sorts of Secret Squirrel stuff back in their Cold War days.

Needs a little work, but the Yankee air Museum plans to make it fly again and put it on the airshow circuit in the next year or two!!

They just got this one here in July. Looks like it's last flight was back in 1983 though, and that one apparently didn't go too well.

History of BuN 141311

Can't wait to see it fly again. I'll support the Yankee Air Museum just for this!