EAA AIRVENTURE - WARBIRDS

WARBIRDS

Oshkosh is famous when we speak about warbirds. I have never seen so many warbirds and different types together. When you never attended EAA Airventure before you are surprised how close you are with all those nice birds. Even when they taxi you are only a few meters away from the aircraft. 

We have seen Mosquito's (If I am not wrong only 4 are flying all over the world) , Dakota's, Mustangs , Spitfires, Texan's, Trojan's, Yak's, Superfortress, Mitchell's.......

We even witnessed an impressive lineup of about 18 Mustangs to take off in honor of Col. Clarence "BUD" Anderson and all other WII veterans. In total 30 Mustangs visited this event.

Also the Twin Mustang XP-82 was one of the highlights during EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2019. 

Furthermore we noticed a Grumman F6F-3N Hellcat, several F4U Corsairs, Sea Fury FB.10 and even a very nice Fairey Firefly AS.6. 

All above mentioned is without the Jet Warbirds who also attended this beautiful event.

Here we have seen Skyhawks, T-33 Shooting Star, F-86 Sabre, and even a Soviet-era Mig-17.

Too much aircraft and pictures to show everything, I ended a six day visit with more than 8,000 pictures......, enjoy below pictures which is a small selection.

1. De Havilland Mosquito PZ474 : more than 75,000-man hour's restoration work....PZ474 is a British built de Havilland DH98 Mosquito. Geoffrey de Havilland's DH.98 Mosquito showed (on loan) in the EAA Museum is the second Mosquito in below pictures.  This example in the museum was built as a B.35 but later converted to a TT.35 model. 

2. The only Twin Mustang flying in the world in below pictures. The Twin Mustang is created from 2 x P-51 fighters and was needed to have even a greater flight range compared with the normal Mustang. They started with a North American XP-82 Twin Mustang prototype. After testing 3 prototypes the USAAF ordered 500x P-82B fighters but at the end of the war only 20% was produced. In 1946 the USAAF ordered again 250 P-82's including 100x P-82E for escorting and 150x P-82F night fighters. All productions with B to-G variants received the marking F-82.  The latest version was the F-82H needed for winter use in Alaska. On 31 December 2018 and after a long restoration of 10 years and 207,000 labor hours below XP-82 (N887XP) Twin Mustang flew again for the first time since 14 December 1949! During Oshkosh Airventure 2019 it received the Grand Champion - Post WWII Phoenix award, two golden wrench awards. A beautiful plane, I am glad that some people restore such kind of historic aircraft. 

3. North American P-51 Mustang : one of the most effective fighters during WWII. Production started with NA-73X built in April 1940. A lot of versions are produced. P-51A version with V-1710-81 engines (1200pk) and armored with four 12,7 machine guns. In total 310 ordered by the USAAF. In 1943 production was started for the P-51B with Merlin engines, 1,988 built in the North American factory at Inglewood. Almost at the same time version P-51C was produced in a new factory at Dallas. 1,750 produced from this version in the Dallas factory. But the most important version was the P-51D version with an improved cockpit, modified rear section and six 12,7 machine guns. After the D-version almost 1,500 identical P-51K 's will be produced. Some of them delivered towards the RAF as Mustang Mk IV. Tests with prototypes XP-51F, XP-51G and XP-51J resulted in a last version P-51H. But only 555 pcs built because of the victory against Japan. Because of that same reason 1,700 x P-51L's , 1,628x P-51M's, 2,000x P51H were cancelled. In total a final 15,386 Mustangs would be built in the US. However, a small company in Australia, named Commonwealth Corporation continued with small quantities under license. Under restrictions concerning Lend-Lease 50x P-1D's were delivered towards China and 40 towards the Royal Dutch Air force for use in the Pacific area. 

Below a lot of pictures including different types of Mustangs at Oshkosh. About 30 Mustangs visited EAA Airventure. A great fighter and machine......love the sound of freedom.

4. North American B-25 Mitchell : January 1939, first flight of prototype NA-40. NA-40B was delivered towards the USAAC for testing in March 1939 but crashed after a pilot error. Because of the good testing results a new prototype NA-62 was available in September 1939. The NA-62 was ordered under B-25 and Mitchell. The first flight of an official B-25 was in August 1940. After the production of 24 aircraft the version changed towards B-25A (40 aircraft). The next order was for version B-25B (120 aircraft). A new version B-25C was produced with new engines and extra bom racks of which 1,619 aircraft were built. This production was followed by the almost identical B-25D version of which 2,290 aircraft are produced. Later on more versions were produced : B-25G / B-25H and last version and most built B-25J (4,390 aircraft). Below pictures taken at Oshkosh are H and J versions.

5. DOUGLAS A-1 SKYRAIDER SUPER 'SPAD' : In 1946 Douglas and the United States Marine Corps asked themselves if the Skyraider was getting too old. 10 years later the production line was finally closed with 3,180 aircraft produced. This 'SPAD' even scored success against MIG's! This aircraft is known as BT2D, AD, A-1, Spandy, Spad and Flying Dump truck. Almost 30 different variants are produced in the past. Nobody knows when the last fighter mission was flown by a Skyraider. In 1979 Skyraiders were still involved in a civil war in Tsjaad. In the mid 60's 2 squadrons from the US Marines shot down each a fast Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig17! This aircraft was able to operate from aircraft carriers. Maximum speed 518km/h at 5,485 m.

6. Preserved FAIREY FIREFLY AS.6 (NX518WB) in below pictures flying in Korean War-Style markings.

One of the highlights for me was this nice Fairey Firefly, a second World War carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft. Built by British aircraft manufacturer Fairey Aviation Company Ltd. First flight occured 22th December 1941. First production of the Firefly F.Mk.1 was delivered in March 1943. 459 aircraft built concerning this version. Until 1956 other versions were used, also the Dutch Marine flew with some Firefly variants like T.Mk.2 trainers. 

7. CURTISS P-40 WARHAWK : The famous Curtiss Hawk fighter was the highlight in the development taking place between 1925 and 1940. When Pearl Harbor was attacked this was the main US fighter at that moment. The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engined, single seat, fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. Also about 30 different types are produced, too many to describe each type. Below pictures are P-40E WARHAWK (N4220K / DESERT SHARK / AK75315134) and P-40N WARHAWK (NL977WH / P-40N-5-CU) versions. In total 16,802x P40's are produced including 4,887 aircraft ordered by the British Government.

8. 1940 NORTH AMERICAN P-64/NA-50 (N840) - Little Bull :  the North American P-64 is often compared with the AT-6 Texan but the P-64 is smaller. The P-64 at the EAA museum in Oshkosh started life as the NA-68 which is an upgraded version of the NA-50. Six NA-68s were produced for the Royal Thai Air Force but were never delivered because of the attack in Pearl Harbor. Instead the NA-68s were stripped from their armamant and redesignated as P-64 (P for pursuit) and assigned to a training squadron in Arizona. Below pictures are showing the only P-64 surviving Pearl Harbor and still flying in the world. Normally this aircraft is showed in the Eagle hangar at the EAA museum but sometimes they get him out to show this beautiful aircraft in the skies above Whittman Airport. (OSH)

9. BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS : 'DOC' (N69972) in below pictures is one of only two flying B-29's in the world. The other one is 'FIFI' (also available on this website : see visit USA 2015). It's owned by Doc's Friends Inc. Almost 4,000x B-29's were produced in more than 20 different variants. The B-29 is unfortunately most famous because of the 2 atomic bombs used against Japan in WWII at Hiroshima and Nagasaki killing 226,000 and 129,000 people. Enola Gay was the name of the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb (Little boy) at Hiroshima. I visited Hiroshima in 2018 and hope that the use of atomic bombs is not considered anymore to resolve conflicts in the future!!! 

10. Douglas DC-3 / C-47 : In 1934 American Airlines asked Douglas to design a bigger version based on the DC-2. The Douglas DST (Douglas Sleeper Transport) had his maiden flight 17 December 1935. It played already a significant role used by civil airliners. After a study the US military was able to advice modifications which created the C-47 Skytrain. 

Douglas produced 10,692 aircraft and in the USSR about 2,000 aircraft were built under license named Lisunov Li-2.

A lot of variants are produced. 2019 was for myself the year of the Douglas DC-3 / C-47, after visiting the commemoration (75 years D-DAY) at Normandy I was able to see again more than 10 aircraft of this kind in Oshkosh. A great bird with a lot of history.

11. BEECH C-45H EXPEDITOR / BEECH FUJI LM-1 / BEECH T-34B / BEECH D18S :

- BEECH C-45H EXPEDITOR : see text Beech D18S.

- BEECH-FUJI T34A-B45 MENTOR : military trainer aircraft derived from the Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. Previous versions until C version included piston-engines. T-34C included a turboprop engine. The T-34s remained about 6 decades in duty after it was first designed. Below pictures show a version as USAF trainer.

- BEECH T-34B MENTOR : to continu above text 423 of the C-type were built by Beechcraft. A and B versions produced by Beech. This B version was used as a trainer until 1976.

- BEECH D18S : After the market for model 17 was working very well the company Beech started with the development of the Beech Model 18. The wing was placed much lower compared with the previous model. But the real good sales started only with the Model 18D which had better engines. Below model is a D18S which was a civil version. (also C45 EXPEDITOR) used by the US military for staff members. A lot more to tell about this aircraft but too much to add everything here. 

12. North American T-28 Trojan : with success North American built two XT-28 prototypes (design NA-159) to replace the NA T-6 Texan trainer. First flight 26 September 1949. After successful tests, production was started concerning T-28A Trojan. This first production order included 266 T-28A's.

First deliveries towards the Air Training Command.  In total 1,194 aircraft were produced. The US Navy ordered mainly the T-28B version which had another motor compared with the A-version.

The quantity for this B version was 489 aircraft. Followed by 299 T-28C's with an additional landing hook. In 1962 the conversion started from T-28A's towards T-28D. North American would finish 321 conversations and Fairchild Hiller another 72. A certain quantity was changed towards the AT-28D version. In France, Sud-Aviation produced 245 T-28D's for use in Algeria. In below pictures you see mainly B and C versions.

13. DIFFERENT TYPES - MAINLY LIASON AIRCRAFT :

- NORTH AMERICAN RYAN NAVION : below pictures including :  RYAN NAVION L-17B (reg : N4238A) / RYAN NAVION A 1948 (reg : N4560K) / RYAN NAVION A 1948 (reg : N4438K)

- STINSON SENTINEL : below pictures including : STINSON L-5 SENTINEL 1943 (reg : N64669) / STINSON L-5G SENTINEL 1956 (reg : N60440)

- TAILORCRAFT - GRASHOPPER : below pictures including : TAYLORCRAFT L-2 GRASHOPPER DCO-65 1943 (reg : N50417)

- DE HAVILLAND - CHIPMUNK : below pictures including : De HAVILLAND CANADA DHC-1 CHIPMUNK (NX146DK) / DE HAVILLAND CANADA DHC-1 CHIPMUNK 1952 (N801WP) / DE HAVILLAND DHC-1 Chipmunk 1950 (reg : N22777) / De HAVILLAND DHC-1 CHIPMUNK (reg : N26JH)

- Different CESSNA types : below pictures including : 

* CESSNA UC-78C 1943 Bobcat Bamboo Bomber (reg : N88878) / CESSNA O2-A 1966 (reg : N202A) / CESSNA 305A 1951 (reg : N5170G) / CESSNA L-19A Bird Dog 1951 (reg : N90671) & CESSNA L-19E Bird Dog 1957 (reg : N3946K) / CESSNA TO-1A Bird Dog 1966 (reg : N5190G)

14. YAKOVLEV Yak-52 / NANCHANG CHINA CJ-6 : 

- Yakovlev Yak-52 : The Yakovlev Yak-52  is a Soviet trainer aircraft which made his first flight in 1976. It was produced in Romania from 1977 to 1998 by Aerostar, as Iak-52, licenced within/under the COMECON socialist trade organisation. The Yak52 flies currently also more and more in the West.

- NANCHANG CHINA CJ-6 : 1982 NANCHANG CHINA CJ-6 (reg N40369), the NANCHANG CJ-6 is a basic trainer built by Nanchang Aircraft Factory. Some 8 variants are produced of this aircraft.

15. North American Texan/SNJ/Harvard : with more than 17,000 produced this type of aircraft is probably the most produced trainer of all times. This type is coming from the North American NA-16, the prototype had is maiden flight in April 1935. After official tests a production was planned for a BT-9 version. But the contract included the requirement to have a close cockpit instead of an open cockpit. Below pictures are showing AT-6D, F and G versions. The United States Army air Corps and USAAF designed it as the AT-6, the United States Navy the SNJ and the British Commonwealth air forces the Harvard.

16. Consolidated Vultee / Boeing Stearman / Naval Aircraft / Fairchild Cornell :

- BOEING / STEARMAN 75 KAYDET : In 1939 Stearman Aircraft Company (founded 1927 by Lloyd Stearman) joined the Boeing Airplane Company under the name Wichita Division. In 1933 Stearman was already involved to built a biplane for training purposes. (Stearman X-70) Later on the USAF ordered 61 Stearman 70. Later on a lot of different versions of this attractive biplane and two-seater were produced. In below pictures you notice reg N222FK which is a 1943 Boeing/Stearman A75. (PT-17 KAYDET) & reg N65693, 1942 Boeing/Stearman B75 (N2S-3 KAYDET).

- CONSOLITADED VULTEE (with red noise) : 1942 BT-13A VALIANT, 41-22384 USAF (reg N69041)

- NAVAL AIRCRAFT FACTORY N3N :  this was an American two-seater with open cockpit.

Primary used for training built by the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia during the 1930s.

Below pictures shows a 1941 N3N-3 with reg N44963.

- FAIRCHILD CORNELL : 1943 FAIRCHILD M-62A-3 CORNELL II (reg N9279H)

17. Grumman F8F BEARCAT & CHANGE VOUGHT F4V-5 : 

- Grumman F8F 'BEARCAT' :  This aircraft was developed to operate from different types of aircraft carriers. First flight occurred 21 August 1944. From February 1945 onwards the first production of F8F-1's with folded wings was started. Shortly after the test program was started in 1944 about 2,023 F8F-1' were ordered by the US Navy. But with the victory against Japan not only WWII was ended but also the production of this aircraft. The leftovers of the orders including 1,258 aircraft which were cancelled. Also 1,876 F8M-1's ordered at General Motors would be cancelled. After the production was finished in 1949, Grumman produced 1,266 Bearcats in total.

- CHANGE VOUGHT V-166 (F4U 'CORSAIR') : Below pictures includes F4U-5 type which is a post war variant. This Change Vought Corsair is seen as the best aircraft operating from aircraft carriers. His development started in 1939 as type V-166B. XF4U-1 prototype made his first flight 29 May 1940. A first of 585 F4U-1 was ordered in 1941. But the tests on aircraft carriers was not satisfying and resulted in modifications concerning landing gear and higher position for the cockpit to improve visuals for the pilots. The new version was named F4U-1A. In 1943 so many orders were received that a second and third company joined production. Brewster and Goodyear, last one produced aircraft with non foldable wings. In 1952 production was stopped. Including the British versions Corsair Mk I/II/III and IV about 20 different versions were produced. In total 12,571 aircraft built of this magnificent Fighter Bomber mostly operating from aircraft carriers. 

18. B-17 Flying Fortress (Model 299) : Boeing started and proposed in 1934 towards the US Army a bomber with 4 engines named model 299. First flight occurred 28 July 1935 and tests were very positive. Nevertheless this prototype crashed 30 October 1935 but investigation proved a take off with locked controls which was a mistake. Despite the accident, the USAAC ordered thirteen YB-17's (later model Y1B-17's). After different test versions 39x B-17B's were ordered in 1939.

Also for this aircraft a lot of variants are built, mostly used for special purposes and operations.

In total about 13,000 B-17's were built but only a few hundred remained in USAAF- duty after WWII.

Unfortunately October 2, 2019 a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress owned by the Collings Foundation crashed at Bradley Int. Airport at Windsor Locks, Connecticut killing seven of the thirteen people onboard. In the US only 9 B-17's were airworthy at that time.....

Boeing B-17G-110-VE "YANKEE LADY" (N3193G) is owned by the Yankee Air Force. 

WARBIRDS : JETS

1. MIKOYAN-GUREVICH MiG-17F : 

In 1946 the British Labor party made the wrong decision to export 25 Rolls-Royce turbine jet engines towards the USSR. This resulted that the Soviet Union was able to produce his first jet fighter. The MiG-15. Below pictures shows his successor : the MiG-17F. (code name NATO : 'FRESCO C')

Of the total 6,000 MiGs produced about 5,000 are MiG-17's.

Also a lot of variants are built of the MiG-17.

Furthermore Poland also built this Mig-17, about 1,000 aircraft are built in this country. (variant LIM-5)

It was a great aircraft and used in many countries. (Afghanistan, Angola, Bulgarije, China, Egypt, Hungary, Iraq, North-Korea, Poland, Syria etc....)

Below pictures showing MIKOYAN-GUREVICH PZL MIELEC MiG-17F 'BORIS' LIM-5 (reg : N1713P) & MIKOYAN-GUREVICH MiG-17F (reg : N217SH)

2. (C)T-(1)33 SILVER STAR/SHOOTING STAR : 

With the P-80 the jet era started for the United States. In a few months this design from Clarence 'Kelly' Jonhson was built. It would be used for many years in the T-bird family and used for many different purposes.

Johnson's design resulted in a F-80 hunter / T-33 trainer and F-94 interceptor.

The T'Bird T-33A (trainer) was produced in 3 companies : 5,691 aircraft by Lockheed, 656 aircraft by Canadair (CT-133A) and 210 by Kawasaki. (in total 6,557 built)

Below pictures are showing a Canadair CT-133 Silver Star 3 (regs : N133KK / N133CN) & T33A with history in the Belgian Air Force as FT-15 (51-17445) during 1953-1978 period (reg : N133CK).

3. NORTH AMERICAN F-86 SABRE/FURY : 

To meet the specifications asked by the US Army Air Force, North American started with design NA-140.

After producing two XP-86 prototypes the first flight took place 1 October 1947.

First production version P-86A was produced 20 May 1948. A year later they changed this type towards F-86A with the name SABRE.

After the first production a lot of variants were built, in several countries like Australia  (Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation), Canada (Canadair Ltd.), Italy (FIAT), Japan (Mitsubishi).

Below pictures is the last produced version FJ-4B (reg : N400FS) of which 222 aircraft are produced, an improved attack type with a total new airframe. After this version North American produced the F-100 'SUPER SABRE'.

4. McDONNELL DOUGLAS A-4 SKYHAWK : 

This Skyhawk is one of the best aircraft ever used after WWII in the US Navy. 

This US Navy was looking for a jet powered successor for the Douglas AD-1 Skyraider.

McDonnell Douglas had already internally a design ready before the question was raised by the Navy with even better specifications than asked, better performances concerning speed and weight.

First flight 22 June 1954. The production of this aircraft was ended February 1979 and resulted in a total production quantity of 2,960 aircraft (including trainers).

Other countries used also the Skyhawk : Argentina, Indonesia, Israël, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore.

Below pictures showing TA-4J (reg : N234LT and N518TA), A-4B (reg : N49WH).

5. SIAI MARCHETTI S211 : 

The first prototype of a basic trainer was produced 10 april 1981. First flight was made from the Malpensa airport in Milan (Italy).

A year later it was showed with a second prototype at Le Bourget (Salon de Aèronautique).

The first official delivery (this type was mainly developed for export) was in 1984.

The production of the S211 was not really a success (and this is not a real warbird).

The S.211 JPATS : version with Grumman as an American partner to join the USAF/USN Joint Primary Aircraft Training System with final assembly in the United status in cooperation with AGUSTA. Grumman offers an improved S.211A version.

Below pictures includes S211 (regs : NX250CF & NX877B).

6. NORTH AMERICAN T-2 'BUCKEYE' :

In 1956 North American received from the US NAVY a contract to built his North american NA-241 design. This trainer ordered as T2J-1 (later on T-2A) was a combination of wings from the FJ-1 Fury and operating systems from the T-28C. First flight 31 January 1958. 

In total 217 T-2A's were built. After this version the prototype YT-2B followed. 

One J34 jet engine was replaced with two Pratt & Whitney J60-P-6 jet engines.

First flight 30 August 1962. 97 produced of the T-2B version.

Later on also 273 T-2C were built. 

The Buckeye was a primary trainer for the US Navy until the T-45A 'Goshawk' arrived.

Below pictures showing a T-2A version (N27WS) and T-2B version (reg : N212TB) 

7. AERO L-29 DELFIN : 

More than 3,500 aircraft are built of this aircraft with NATO code name 'MAYA'. 

First flight concerning prototype XL-29 took place 5 April 1959. 

In 1961 air forces from the Warschau-pact tested this Delfin together with the YAK-30 and the PZL-MIELEC TS-11. Besides Poland (supported there own TS-11) all other countries decided to use this L-29 for training.

The first production was done in April 1963, the last production ended in 1974.

Also a small amount of aircraft (L-29 Delfin Akrobat) was produced for aerobatics.

Below picture shows AERO L-29 DELFIN built in 1966 (reg : N6171M).

8. AERO L-39 ALBATROS :

The L-39 Albatros was a successor of the previous L-29 (see above).

Aero started with 3 prototypes, first one flew 4 November 1968. 

The same test pilot Rudolf Duchon flew the first flight, he did the same thing with the L-29.

In 1971 a first production was finished with 39 aircraft produced.

But the real production started end of 1972. In the beginning of 1990 about 2,500 aircraft were produced. The L-39 had different variants. 

This version was followed by the AERO L-59.

Below pictures are showing the L-39C version which is the basic type.