The jet has been assigned to a newly established Super Pinto Sponsor Group, which will be based at the CAF hangar in Memphis. Group members noted the aircraft will divide its time between Memphis, Pensacola, and Dallas. The group also hopes to be able to start offering living history flights in the Pinto in 2024.
Commemorative Air Force
Picture of the Day: Winter maintenance
John Schmidt submitted this photo and note: “Commemorative Air Force members Ron Bombeck, crew chief Dan Bombeck, and pilot Jeff Knutson inspect the Pratt and Whitney R-985 on the nose of the Minnesota Wing’s Oshkosh-award-winning BT-13 in the hangar at South St. Paul Airport (KSGS). Winter maintenance has begun, and it’s an excellent time to see the warbirds, with inspection panels off, as crews of volunteers prepare the airplanes for another air show season.”
Picture of the Day: The opportunity of a lifetime
Steve Rush submitted this photo and note: “The Commemorative Air Force left its B-17 ‘Sentimental Journey’ on the ramp at Arlington Municipal Airport (KAWO) in Washington, one Saturday, and I just couldn’t pass up the photo opportunity of a lifetime to get my RV-8 in the same photo.”
World War II pilot surprised with visit from P-51
Officials with the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Georgia flew its P-51 Mustang fighter to Florida recently to help surprise a World War II veteran and former P-51 pilot who was celebrating his 100th birthday.
Video: Warbirds and Wheels
Smitty Smith of FunPlacesToFly.com just uploaded a video to YouTube shot at the Commemorative Air Force Warbirds and Wheels aviation event in Lancaster, Texas. The video, which features warbirds, experimentals, and other general aviation airplanes, does not include music, so you can hear all the wonderful engine sounds as the planes takeoff, land, and taxi.
Bittersweet end for the last B-17s in the Air Force
Radio-controlled B-17s were first used to bomb Germany, but after World War II, the Air Force found several other uses for the drones, known as QB-17, including taking radioactive samples, water ditching tests, and testing antiaircraft missiles.
Air Power History Tour visits Air Force museum for July 4th
The public is invited to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, to see three World War II-era aircraft flown by the Commemorative Air Force: The B-29 Superfortress “FiFi,” B-24 Liberator “Diamond Lil,” and a T-6 Texan, the legendary trainer of World War II.
Picture of the Day: Bomber readiness
Cheryl Goodwin submitted this photo and note: “A beautiful May morning at the Commemorative Air Force Museum in Mesa, Arizona, as the Bomber Squadron prepares to leave on their summer tour. The Stearman takes center stage as the B-25 “Maid in the Shade” taxies out to depart and the B-17 “Sentimental Journey” sits in the background. Due to the AD currently issued on the B-17s, she didn’t depart this day. However, we were able to have an educational static tour of her.”
World’s oldest Liberator is the CAF’s crown jewel
The Commemorative Air Force’s B-24 Diamond Lil has been flying more than 80 years. More than a half-century of that time has been under CAF stewardship. Lil has never looked better.