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Britain’s Red Arrows Launch North American Tour in August

Charles Atkeison
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Britain’s Red Arrows Launch North American Tour in August

NEW YORK, NY — The British are coming to America!

The red jets of England’s Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team are coming to North America in four weeks on a goodwill tour as they perform over several air show sites.

The nine-plane precision jet team known as the Red Arrows are scheduled to perform at eight air show sites in the United States and Canada. Their seven-week tour will see the squadron perform in their BAE Systems Hawk T1 aircraft.

The Red Arrows will begin their first tour of North America in 11 years with a stop at the Aero Gatineau-Ottawa Airport on August 13. Their single-day performance in Quebec will be the first of only four planned aerobatic demonstrations in Canada.

“This day promises to be very British and very exciting with the Red Arrows putting on a thrilling afternoon display along with performances by the fighter aircraft and trainers from Vintage Wings of Canada and stunning solo aerobatics by Rick Volker in his Sukhoi 26,” Aero Gatineau-Ottawa spokesperson John McKay said.

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The pilots, maintainers, and logistics squadron members of the Royal Air Force Red Arrows. (RAF)

One day later, the Red Arrows will arrive in the United States to take part in the 61st annual Chicago Air and Water Show. They will perform with the Navy’s Blue Angels over North Avenue Beach on August 17 and 18.

“Extensive preparations are well underway to bring the Red Arrows to Chicago, where we aim to present a safe, memorable, and visually-exciting formation display to new audiences,” Andrew Keith, Wing Commander for the Red Arrows said on Tuesday. “The visit to the Chicago Air and Water Show will form a big part of the Red Arrows’ largest ever tour of North America, which underlines the long-standing partnership between the United Kingdom and the United States.”

The aerobatic team will travel to their third show top at Atlantic City, NJ for the Thunder over the Boardwalk. The one-day event on August 21 will see the British Air Force demonstration team fly with the U.S. Air Force demonstration team — the Thunderbirds.

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The Red Arrows will perform at eight air show sites in the United States and Canada this summer. (RAF)

The next day, the Red Arrows will hop over to Newburgh, NY for the New York Airshow at the Stewart International Airport. The weekend show will see the team perform with the GEICO Skytypers and rejoin with the Blue Angels.

“We’re excited that the RAF Red Arrows will be performing at the New York International Air Show,” Chris Dirato, Director of Public Relations, said on Tuesday. “They are considered one of the world’s premier aerobatic display teams, so we’re honored to be one of only a handful of air shows in the U.S. to host them. Our fans are already getting pumped up for their appearance.”

The squadron will travel to Toronto on August 26 to take part in the Canadian International Air Show Labor Day weekend. This show will mark the Red Arrow’s second and final Canadian visit.

The aerobatic team has scheduled stops in St. Louis, MO on Sept. 7 and 8, and Portland, OR on Sept. 20-22. Their final U.S. stop at Huntington Beach, Calif. maybe one of their largest shows for 2019.

The Great Pacific Airshow expects beach crowds of nearly 2 million for one of the largest air shows in California. Scheduled for October 6 and 7, the Red Arrows will perform with the Canadian Snowbirds, and several U.S. military demonstration teams.

“We hope thousands of people will get to enjoy our displays, which demonstrate teamwork, precision, and excellence – both in the air and on the ground,” Keith added.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

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Britain's Red Arrows Launch North American Tour in August 4

Four-Time Shuttle Astronaut Inspiring Today’s Youth at SpaceCamp

Charles Atkeison
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Four-Time Shuttle Astronaut Inspiring Today’s Youth at SpaceCamp

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The early days of America’s space program inspired a future four-time space shuttle astronaut who now works to inspire the youth of today to reach for their goals — including a voyage to Mars.

Dr. Donald Thomas ventured into space during four flights on the space shuttle. Each flight was a personal hallmark of achievement and a passion he shares with children and teens around the globe.

On Friday, Thomas will visit the U.S. Space and Rocket Center — home to the popular SpaceCamp and Aviation Challenge STEM-related camps. He hopes to inspire future engineers, pilots, and astronauts on the day they graduate from SpaceCamp.

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Candid view of NASA astronaut Don Thomas in space with a pouch drink. [NASA]

“I was inspired to become an astronaut when I was just six years-old as I watched the launch of Alan Shepard,” Dr. Thomas said as he stood near a large scale mock-up of the space shuttle. “That forever changed my life and career direction and motivated me to become an astronaut.”

Dressed in his official blue flight suit, decorated with the NASA mission patches, Thomas always carries a smile as he speaks to groups. His travels have taken him to the Kennedy Space Center, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom during the last year.

Thomas has visited the Alabama space center with his special brand of educational outreach for 11 years. His multimedia space flight presentation and great stories continue to keep every child’s attention during his visits.

“I see the spark in the eye, I see the enthusiasm of the students, and I enjoy answering their questions,” Dr. Thomas explained as we walked past the historic Saturn V rocket on Monday. “I told the students recently that ‘I am so envious of your youth because you are looking at missions to Mars in your future'”.

Thomas will visit the Space and Rocket Center on Friday, July 5 and August 9, 2019, to meet with graduates of SpaceCamp and the public. He will also take center stage for Lunch with an Astronaut, where guests listen to fun conversation and ask questions of his career.

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The crew of space shuttle Columbia, with Dr. Thomas second from right, after landing in July 1997. [NASA]

Thomas’ book Orbit of Discovery: The All-Ohio Space Shuttle Mission (2014) details his second space flight with great inside stories and full-color photographs. The book also gives a tip of the hat to the 26 fellow astronauts from his home state of Ohio, including John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, and Dr. Judy Resnik.

The astronaut added with a smile, “I always make the students promise if anyone goes to Mars, that they have to promise to call me when they get back. I want to hear about their mission.”

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

The End is Near For American MD-80 ‘MadDogs’

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The End is Near For American MD-80 ‘MadDogs’

Whether you love them or hate them, the shrinking MD-80 fleet at American Airlines will soon be just a memory. American Airlines announced this week that the remaining 26 MD-80 aircraft will be retired on September 4th, 2019. A final flight, appropriately named flight 80 will depart from DFW to Chicago O’Hare at 9am.

While the MD-80 fleet is a little long in the tooth with smaller bins and well-worn seats, the aircraft is still beloved by many avgeeks and passengers who appreciate the additional legroom and 2 by 3 seating. The MD-80 was the backbone of American’s domestic fleet for over 30 years. At one time, American had over 300 in their fleet. Most of the remaining aircraft still flying for American today are the result of American’s merger with TWA back in 2001.

A recent check of the availability for American’s final flights show some seats still available. Flight 80 has been sold out though for over a week. When that final flight was loaded, word spread quickly and the flight sold out in the blink of an eye. Some tickets in coach were over $900 for the final flight.

A list of the final flights on September 3rd and 4th is below:

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Continental is Officially Dead…Long Live United Airlines

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Continental is Officially Dead…Long Live United Airlines

United Airlines announced today that they are renaming their company from the merger-friendly “United Continental Holdings” to the simpler but less inclusive “United Airlines Holdings”. In a filing, United posted the following:

Effective June 27, 2019, United Continental Holdings, Inc. amended its Certificate of Incorporation to change its name to “United Airlines Holdings, Inc.”
(the “Company”). Stockholder approval of the name change was not required pursuant to Section 242(b) of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware. The Bylaws of the Company have similarly been amended to reflect the name change, also effective on June 27, 2019. The Company’s common
stock will continue to trade on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbol “UAL” and its CUSIP number will not change.

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Main photo by Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The change makes sense on many fronts. United has made a concerted effort to move past the merger between the ‘equals’ of United and Continental Airlines. In recent months, they have refreshed their livery and announced a number of service enhancements to improve the customer experience. Still, for many Avgeeks and former Continental employees, the company name was a nod to an airline that went from worst to first under famed CEO Gordon Bethune. When United merged with Continental, they were known for friendly service and a customer first culture. During the merger, the new United adopted the Continental livery, but lost some of the splendor during the merger of two different cultures and operations. United looks to regain the excitement with a ‘United’ image and a company name that clearly reflects a post-merger airline.

Navy’s Super Hornet TacDemo Team Cancels 2019 Airshow Season

Charles Atkeison
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Navy’s Super Hornet TacDemo Team Cancels 2019 Airshow Season

PENSACOLA, Fla. — The U.S. Navy’s Super Hornet demonstration team cancelled the remainder of their 2019 air show schedule on Wednesday due to extra time needed to train new pilots.

The Navy Tactical Demonstration (TACDEMO) Team is made up of F/A-18 Super Hornet instructors who train new students. Known as VFA-106, their mission is to also demonstrate the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet for air show crowds located on the eastern half of North America.

“The mission of VFA-106 is to provide the fleet with superbly trained replacement aircrew to support fleet readiness,” VFA-106 Commander Brandon M. Scott said on Wednesday. “This mission will always take priority over displaying the remarkable Super Hornet across the country.”

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The Navy’s VFA-106 TacDemo Team perform at air shows across the eastern United States. (Charles Atkeison)

Nicknamed the Gladiators, the TacDemo Team had five air show dates remaining. They were scheduled to arrive on Thursday into Traverse City, Michigan, for the popular Cherry Festival Airshow.

“Our dedicated, volunteer air crew and maintainers must focus their efforts on training the next generation of Super Hornet aviators and flight officers,” Cmdr. Scott added. “We appreciate all the support that you have shown us this year.”

The West Coast’s VFA-122 Tailhok Legacy Flight will continue to perform this season. The Navy Tac Demo Team said they are optimistic they will return to performing next season.

The announcement, although unrelated, comes as the Navy is preparing the Blue Angels for their own Super Hornets next autumn. The Blues will perform a shortened air show season in 2021 as they move from the current Legacy Hornet to the Super Hornet.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

Blue Angels to Receive Upgraded ‘Fat Albert’ from the UK

Charles Atkeison
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Blue Angels to Receive Upgraded ‘Fat Albert’ from the UK

PENSACOLA, Fla. — The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command announced on Monday that it was awarded a replacement logistics C-130 aircraft to support the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron beginning in 2020.

The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence said in March that the Navy asked to purchase one of their C-130J Hercules to replace the Blue Angels aging C-130T, known as Fat Albert. The replacement logistics aircraft is scheduled to be handed over to the Blue Angels in April 2020.

“The (American) government requires a suitable replacement aircraft, which must be delivered in an expeditious manner, to avoid a gap in logistical support of the Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron,” The Ministry said in March. “The aircraft being procured from the UK MOD has the requisite amount of life and technical capability to support the Blue Angels mission.”

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The Blue Angels C-130 known as Fat Albert sits poised during a 2015 air show. (Charles Atkeison)

The purchase by America’s Naval Air Systems Command PMA-207 creates a savings of nearly $50 million versus the construction of a new C-130J. The price tag for the used C-130J is $29.7 million.

“This is a win-win for the U.S. Navy and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence,” Capt. Steven Nassau, PMA-207 program manager, said on Monday. “Just as the Navy recognized the imminent need to replace the Fat Albert aircraft, the UK MOD was divesting of an American made C-130J aircraft, allowing us to acquire a suitable replacement aircraft at a major cost savings.”

PMA-207 is the Tactical Airlift Program Office responsible for procurement of specialized military aircraft. The new C-130J will become the fourth Fat Albert Airlines since 1970.

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The pilot’s cockpit display of the Blue Angels C-130 Fat Albert in 2016. (Charles A Atkeison)

Bert’s all-Marine crew flies the C-130 to air show sites loaded with spare parts and personnel. The hulking aircraft is also a crowd favorite during shows as it traditionally flies the first 12 minutes prior to the the Blue Angels’ six jet performance.

The most recent Fat Albert was officially retired in May, after 17 years and over 30,000 flight hours with the squadron. The second Bert, known as C-130 891, is parked behind the Naval Aviation Museum, located next door to the home of the Blue Angels at NAS Pensacola.

“Fat Albert is a nickname given to the plane by the Marine Corps Blue Angel pilots in the 1970s because of its size and shape,” Blue Angels spokesperson “It is a reference to the popular children’s cartoon of the same era.”

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

F-16 Viper Demo Thunders Over the Ocean City Airshow

Charles Atkeison
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F-16 Viper Demo Thunders Over the Ocean City Airshow

OCEAN CITY, MD — The Air Force’s popular F-16 Viper jet unleashed the thunder and the thrust on Saturday as it performed over the crowded beaches during the Ocean City Air Show.

Unlike other clean jet demonstration teams, this Viper jet is here direct from Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. It can be turned around for combat operations within minutes if necessary.

Ocean City’s two-day air show will mark the Viper Demonstration Team’s sixth air show of the young season. They are scheduled to perform at 21 locations across North America this year.

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F-16 Viper Demo pilot Major Garett “Toro” Schmitz performs over Ocean City, Maryland on Saturday. (USAF)

“We go around the nation to demonstrate the combat capabilities of the F-16 Viper,” Viper Demo Team pilot Major Garett “Toro” Schmitz said from NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Thursday. “It’s gonna be a low show, a high show, it’s gonna be fast, it’s gonna be loud as we show the public the capabilities of the F-16.”

During the flight over the runway, air show guests will witness several close-up low passes followed by may dizzying rolls and high speed climbs. One maneuver known as the triple roll has Toro roll the aircraft 360-degrees three times in succession. The Block 50 F-16 and its pilot will push nine G’s about 20 times during its brief performance.

He then follows this up by quickly performing a tight 9-G turn to demonstrate the tights turns the viper can perform. Nine Gs is equal to nine times his body weight of pressure upon his body as he works to stay conscious during the turn. It is at these maximum Gs a pilot can black-out as blood flow leaves his head.

“The whole reason I got into being a fight pilot is because the Viper Demo Team ,” Toro began as a smile filled his face. “I saw them perform when I was 10, and remember seeing the pilot do the max performance climb, disappear and spiral into oblivion, and that made me do what I’m doing now.”

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The F-16 Viper does not perform with its external fuel tanks during an air show. (Charles Atkeison)

Midway through Maj. Schmitz 12-minute flight, he teases the sound barrier by piloting the Viper to a speed of nearly Mach 1. As he dives down toward the runway at 300 m.p.h. and levels off, Toro accelerates to nearly 950-feet per second or a crossing speed of three football fields per second.

During each show, Toro will join his F-16 with a classic Air Force aircraft to form the Heritage Flight. On Saturday, it was a P-51 Mustang. The Heritage Flight has become a crowd favorite during its 22 year history.

“It’s to commemorate the past and the present, and it’s really cool to get the modern and old warbirds together,” Maj. Schmitz added. “They’re priceless warbirds.”

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

Photo Essay: My Weekend at The Andrews AFB Air Show

Randy Jennings
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Photo Essay: My Weekend at The Andrews AFB Air Show

As one of the best East Coast air shows, this year’s show at Joint Base Andrews did not disappoint.  Located just outside of Washington D.C., it took place on May 10-12.

Advertised as the Joint Base Andrews Air Show: America’s Air & Space Expo, “Legends in Flight”, the show is held every other year. In the past, it was an annual event, but because of budget cuts and costing over $2 million per event it is now held every other year.  Friday’s show was reserved for distinguished visitors, military personnel, their families and retirees. The general public was allowed to attend Saturday and Sunday, though because of heavy rain the Sunday flying portion was cancelled.

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The most unique aspect of the 2019 show was aerial demonstrations by both the Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy Blue Angels.  Because of Department of Defense policy and stated recruiting missions, the Blues and Thunderbirds do not normally fly within 150 miles of one another.

Prior to the flying portion of the show, attendees could walk around and take in the forty plus aircraft on static display.  Besides the huge C-5 Galaxy and other military aircraft, there were plenty of civilian planes and especially warbirds from the Second World War.

The United States Army Golden Knights parachute team kicked off the show with an impressive precision drop before the audience.  Civilian aerobatics were carried out by: the Geico Skytypers, Team Oracle, and three time U.S. national aerobatic champion Patty Wagstaff.

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The warbirds were on hand to provide a historical perspective. On static display the crowd could enjoy seeing the: Navy’s TBM Avenger, C-47 Skytrain, and the B-17 Flying Fortress.  While flying demonstrations were carried out by a B-25 Mitchell, F4U Corsair and two P-51 Mustangs.

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Transitioning to more modern times, the Air Forces A-10C Thunderbolt II, aka Warthog, took to the sky.  As the lead element of the Air Combat Command’s A-10C Demonstration Team, the audience was thrilled with the plane’s extreme maneuverability and simulated strafing runs.  Still the A-10 only served to warmup everyone for the main event.

First off was the Air Force Thunderbirds.  Lt. Col. John Caldwell, the Thunderbirds commanding officer, started the performance by leading the four aircraft diamond formation takeoff.  Immediately after, they were joined by the two opposing solo pilots.  The Thunderbirds stunned one and all, by combining various loops and rolls, through solo maneuvers or with four and six ship formations.

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The weather worsened a bit as the Blue Angels prepared to take flight.  As CAPT Eric Doyle led the Blues diamond formation on takeoff, they quickly disappeared into the cloud cover.  Because of the marginal weather and mandated safety restrictions, the Blue Angels flew their “low” show.  Still the combination of the opposing solo aviators with the diamond and delta formations was incredible to be seen. 

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The next Andrews Air Show will be held in 2021, though the date is to be determined.  Keep a look out for this incredible show not to be missed.  

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Great Tennessee Airshow Triumphs Over Tropical Rains

Charles Atkeison
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Great Tennessee Airshow Triumphs Over Tropical Rains

SMYRNA, Tenn. — Periods of rainfall did not stop the heartbeat of The Great Tennessee Airshow as large numbers of guests turned out and pilots navigated a wet airport runway to keep the show on course this weekend.

Periods of rain did not dampen the guests enthusiasm for watching up close top military and civilian aircraft. The performers did not disappoint either as vapor clouds enveloped along many of the aircraft thanks in part to the high humidity.

Meteorologists and airport officials aided the Air Show Boss with keeping the two-day event on schedule.

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    The GEICO Skytypers soar in their 4v2 maneuver. (Charles Atkeison)
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    The Navy’s Blue Angels created vapor during the Great Tennessee Airshow. (Charles Atkeison)
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    The F-16 Viper Demo performs over Smyrna, Tennessee. (Charles A Atkeison)
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    Rain showers did not stop the Great Tennessee Airshow for long on Saturday. (Charles Atkeison)
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    The Blue Angels begin their taxi out to perform on Saturday. (Charles Atkeison)
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    The DC-3 performed during the Great Tennessee Airshow. (Charles Atkeison)

Photographers and crowds alike gasped in awe as the aircraft wing tips created long vapor trails. The humidity also caused at times huge vapor clouds over the wings and fuselage.

Blue Angels officials explained on Sunday, “Those vapor trails around our jets are caused by a rapid drop in air pressure and temperature around the wing and flight surfaces. This causes the water molecules in the air to quickly condense into vapor.”

The Navy’s Blue Angels and the F-16 Viper demonstration team provided the high speed turns and climbs each day. Civilian performers included the GEICO Skytypers, Rob Holland, Sean Tucker, and Mike Wiskus performing aerobatics across a cloudy sky.

“We can fly all the way down to a thousand feet ceiling and three miles visibility,” Blue Angels slot pilot Major Jeff Mullins said prior to Saturday’s show. “We will always try to push to make a show happen, as long as we do so safely.”

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

Blue Angels Looking Forward to the Great Tennessee Airshow

Charles Atkeison
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Blue Angels Looking Forward to the Great Tennessee Airshow

SMYRNA, Tenn. — The thundering sound of the Blue Angels’ jets heralded their arrival over middle Tennessee on Thursday, announcing that the squadron is back for The Great Tennessee Air Show.

As the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Team arrived in a delta formation, the six pilots provided a smoke-on salute to the town of Smyrna. The community demonstrated an outpouring of support for the Blue Angels during the last three years when the team need it the most.

The military aircraft touched down at 10:30 a.m. into Smyrna-Rutherford County Airport, site of this weekend’s two-day air show. Moments later, the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron’s aircraft maintainers went to work to turn their F/A-18C Hornets around for two practice flights that afternoon.

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Memphis native Major Jeff Mullins loves returning home to Tennessee. (Charles A Atkeison)

The team’s arrival coincided with the 75th anniversary of the Allied invasion of northern France during an event known as D-Day. The historic aerial and water landing surrounding Normandy Beach quicken the end of the Second World War on June 6, 1944.

The Blue Angels number 4 pilot Major Jeff Mullins, himself a United States Marine, discussed his thoughts on the special anniversary. The Memphis native feels a special relationship with those who fought during the Longest Day.

“D-Day is the epitome of what happens when not just our young men and women who serve our country, including our allies, come together to work toward a common goal can accomplish,” Maj. Mullins said from the Smyrna flightline on Thursday. “All we can do is put these jets in the sky and give some sort of legacy to what they did on D-Day 75 years ago.”

Navy logistics specialist and crew coordinator LS1 Derrious Austin carries a strong sense of pride in teamwork everyday. He is one of only two Blue Angels coordinators who’s job it is to make sure the aircraft maintainers and support teams stay on schedule.

“It’s a privilege for me, and I take a lot of pride in it, because I know this team represents the Navy Sailors and Marines that we have throughout the world,” Austin said. “To be able to lead a group of Sailors and Marines that carry that weight on their shoulders is awesome.”

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Blue Angels Derrious Austin says the team is excited to perform in Smyrna this weekend. (Charles A Atkeison)

The Blue Angels were all smiles as they arrived into middle Tennessee, including Austin. The team continues to train and prepare for each show six-days a week.

“We take a lot of pride in coming back to Smyrna to put on an awesome air show,” Austin added as we walked past those blue and gold jets. “We would really appreciate it if everyone would come on out and experience it.”

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

Massive WWII Aircraft Fleet to Retrace Historic D-Day Route

Charles Atkeison
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Massive WWII Aircraft Fleet to Retrace Historic D-Day Route

Nearly 50 World War II-era aircraft on Wednesday will retrace the route many of those same aircraft flew 75 years earlier as they soared into the history books of an important moment known as D-Day.

A fleet of around 32 American and European C-47 Skytrains and Dakotas, and several fighter aircraft will depart Duxford, England and follow the path flown to Normandy, France, on June 5. The massive tandem flight will be flown beginning at 1:40 p.m. local time (8:40 a.m. EDT).

As the aircraft head south to the English Channel, the flight path will cross over Colchester, Southend-on-Sea, Maidstone, and Eastbourne. The fleet of warbirds are scheduled to arrive over Sannerville, France nearly three hours into the flight.

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The American C-47 Rendezvous with Destiny arrived at Duxford, England on Friday. (Dax Over Normandy)

Hundreds of Paratroopers to Descend on Normandy

It is over Sannerville that the United Kingdom released several waves of paratroopers jumping from C-47s into a dark unknown exactly 75 years earlier. A recreation of the historic event will occur at about 4:40 p.m. (local) as the skies will be filled again by round army parachutes descending upon the coastal town.

The American D-Day Squadron will have their mighty 15 of C-47s/ DC-3s fly in a joint formation with their European counterparts known as Daks over Normandy. Many of them will carry volunteer paratroopers on board for the symbolic drop above France.

Prior to sunrise on June 6, 1944, several waves of paratroopers and supplies dropped beyond Normandy Beach to help clear a path for the surviving soldiers arriving via water craft.

“(The aircraft) will drop more than 200 paratroopers over the original 1944 drop zones in Normandy commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day,” Moreno Aguiari, executive director of the D-Day Squadron, said on Sunday. “The event will honor the citizen soldiers of the war, whose bravery led the Allies to the liberation of France, and then to an end of the devastating war in Europe.”

Aguiari broke down the numbers of June 6, 1944, this way: 13,000 paratroopers were dropped behind enemy lines, prior to and as 156,000 troops stormed five Normandy Beaches. And, of the 11,000 aircraft used for aircover (of the transports) and support, 925 were C-47s.

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Paratroopers drop from the American C-47A Skytrain That’s All – Brother! in May. (Charles A Atkeison)

“Few veterans of D-Day are still with us, and this celebration may be our last chance to honor these brave war heroes,” Aguiari added. “We are committed to ensuring their significance and sacrifice is fully appreciated for generations to come, and are developing an education program to honor these citizen soldiers and their impact on D-Day, and ultimately the Allied victory in World War II.”

Several of these World War II-era aircraft, including C-47A Skytrains That’s All — Brother! and Placid Lassie, make frequent visits to American air shows and events each year. You can follow their journeys, and their sister-ships flights this week, Live via their social media.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

Flying Museums: B-29 and B-24 Squadron Touring the U.S.

Charles Atkeison
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Flying Museums: B-29 and B-24 Squadron Touring the U.S.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A squadron of World War II-era aircraft began touring the United States this week as a B-29 Superfortress and a B-24 Liberator travel to select cities offering tours and flights to the public.

Owned by the Commemorative Air Force, the two bombers began a 27-city tour on May 16 stopping in Montgomery before arriving in Chattanooga. Popular smaller warbirds are scheduled to join the B-29A Superfortress known as FiFi and the B-24 Liberator nicknamed Diamond Lil.

“Our mission is to bring history to the people — we are a flying museum,” CAF spokesperson Don Boccaccio said as we stood on the flightline of Chattanooga’s Lovell Airport on Sunday. “Most of the time we get veterans at our stops who flew on them or worked on them. We have alot of good veteran stories of how they return to fly with us after 75 years.”

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The B-29A Superfortress known as “FiFi” arrives back following a visitor flight on Sunday. (Charles A Atkeison)

These “flying museums” allow both young and old to get up close with the aircraft and even go inside. For family members of fallen World War II veterans, the tour has given them a since of closure for those who never made it back home.

“We had a woman who’s dad was the B-29 pilot for Straight Flush, which was the lead weather B-29 for the dropping of the atomic bomb,” Boccaccio continued. “So she flew in FiFi with us, she was very emotional, crying as she sat in the navigator’s seat.”

The public can purchase flights aboard one or both aircraft during each city visit. The flight fee covers the great fuel consumption associated with the multi-engine, 75 year-old hulking aircraft.

“FiFi costs us over 10 thousand dollars an hour to run”, Boccaccio added. “It uses 400 gallons of gasoline an hour and 1.5 gallons of oil per engine an hour.” In other words, that’s six milk jugs of oil each hour.

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The B-24 Liberator “Diamond Lil” departs Chattanooga on a visitor flight Sunday. (Charles A Atkeison)

Memorial Day weekend saw huge turnouts to witness the rare sight of a B-29 and B-24 aircraft take-off and land. Veterans attending were recognized and allowed to board the aircraft first to honor their past service.

“Memorial Day is very emotional to us,” Boccaccio noted. “A lot of veterans came today because it’s Memorial Day. And, we chose to come early to Chattanooga to thank our veterans this week.”

The CAF B-29/B-24 Squadron Tour Continues

Tri-Cities – Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City, Tenn… May 29 – June 2

Salisbury, Maryland… June 3-5

Reading, Pennsylvania… June 7-9

Baltimore, Maryland… June 12-16

Lexington, Kentucky… June 19-23

​Click here for their full tour schedule including links to the local airport’s web sites. CAF is looking for volunteers during each city stop. Click here to help out at a location near you, or to donate and shop to keep these aircraft flying.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

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