Heavy Bombers Weekend July 25-27

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AluminumOvercast

MADISON, Wisconsin — In a second annual rare gathering of World War II-era aircraft, the Commemorative Air Force and the Experimental Aircraft Association are joining forces for a “Heavy Bombers Weekend” in Madison the weekend before EAA AirVenture.

The three-day event starts Friday, July 25, and will feature the B-25 Mitchell “Miss Mitchell,” the B-17 “Aluminum Overcast,” (pictured) and the P-51 Mustang “Gunfighter.” Other attending aircraft include a T-6 Texan, Canadian Harvard MK IV, Vultee BT-13, Ryan PT-22, L-5 Sentinel, T-33 Shooting Star and an OV-1 Mohawk.

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GA in the military

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Drew2

There are warbirds at every airshow. Oshkosh, of course, is a feast. But what always grabs me are the veteran GA aircraft adapted for military use. They say to me that “our airplanes” are not toys, but capable, useful flying machines. Some military pilots believed differently, but I’m sticking to my story!

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The Big Birds return to American Aero Services

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B-24
By BILL WALKER

The surest sign of winter in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., is the appearance of some unusually big birds migrating south. These birds, the Collings Foundation B-17G and B-24J, fly in every year for their annual maintenance appointment.

On a sunny Saturday this past November, the public got its yearly opportunity for an up-close view of the bombers and also the Collings TP-51C Mustang at American Aero Services, based at New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport (EVB).

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Speak up now to protect historic flights

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BudDay

By HUNTER CHANEY, Collings Foundation

With the sun glinting off the polished canopy, Bud Day grasped the yellow boarding ladder of his F-100F “Hun” and proceeded to make the long climb to the cockpit. Strapping into the ejection seat, he scanned the tarmac below. He had done this countless instances before — counting down the minutes before the start of anther sortie. This time, however, he was not looking at the surroundings of Phu Cat Air Base in South Vietnam. Instead, he viewed his family and friends, all eager to see him take to the sky for one last mission. Over four decades had passed since his last combat flight in the venerable “Hun,” but as the jet engine roared to life and the aircraft taxied to the runway, “his” airplane felt like home.

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FAA to re-evaluate historical flight rules

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The FAA said on Tuesday it’s ready to “reevaluate its policy” regarding the operation of historical aircraft for hire, and announced a series of public meetings on the topic. According to a report at AVweb, the meetings, which are open to the public, will be held June 26, 27, and 28 at FAA headquarters in Washington, D.C.