Gathering of Mustangs

[Jeff Murphy]

They also had this cool Ryan PT22 Recruit trainer:

[Jeff Murphy]

And in some ways the coolest plane they had there:



A C-47 Dakota that was a participant in D-Day, dropping paratroopers behind German lines. It was fully restored and they allowed you to go inside.

[Woj]

Wow, that is some sobering history on these planes, and I'm sure that is only the tip of the iceberg. Great shots. Wanted to get to the show, but this is one too many airshows this year.

Phil Woj.

[SS427]

It always amazes me about this site. So many Muscle Car lovers and just as many Warbird lovers with new ones popping up every day! Jeff, thanks for posting those pictures.

[Jeff Murphy]

No probs! My grandfather engineered/built Mosquitos and Catalinas at the Boeing plant in Vancouver and one of his closest friends was a Hurricane/Spitfire pilot. Tough not to like these planes.

Every time I see a P-51 fly by at low altitude I feel like the kid in the movie "Empire of the Sun" and want to jump up and down yelling "Cadillac of the Sky!!!" just like he did. BTW that P-51 was, in fact, Fabulous Frankie.

As an aside, I think my kids will end up liking them too. At the British Science Museum, which is about a 10 minute walk from my house, they have an extensive collection including a complete, disassembled Spitfire display, a Messerschmitt Me-163 Komet, the Schnieder Trophy winning Supermarine S.6B and a bunch of other cool stuff. I'm actually using a cutaway RR Merlin to teach Max how an internal combustion engine works