CWAM visits the CAF WWII Air Expo - Dallas

We are lucky to be in an area that keeps so much aviation history alive. This weekend the Dallas area saw one of the biggest gatherings of flying WWII aircraft we have seen in a long, long time.

Several of the Cold War Area Museum Directors are also Life Members of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and several of the CJ's from the CWAM group flew to the event. 

In addition to the many aircraft we are used to seeing, others flew in, to help attract attention and support for the creation of a new area aviation museum and headquarters for the CAF.

These CAF aircraft, based in this, and other areas, have all been beautifully restored and maintained. If the new facility is built, some will base here and others may come for display on a rotating basis.

Families came and children got to see and touch a part of history that their grandparents (or great-grandparents) may have been part of. Rides were also available in many of the planes. All of the aircraft on display were flown to the event.

The centerpiece for the event was Fifi, currently the only fully restored and flying B29 in the world.

Our hat is off as always to Charlie Wood, who has helped co-ordinate so many joint events for the CAF and Cold War Air Museum at Lancaster. Now a National Officer for the Commemorative Air Force, Charlie was, as usual, actively recruiting new members in support of keeping these wonderful machines on display and flying.
 

If all that is being discussed comes to pass, Dallas Executive Airport, a few miles from where the CAF/DFW and CWAM museums are currently located may gain a new facility, a home for permanent and rotating display of these fine historic aircraft.

Director Boede and several volunteers took time out to contemplate the event.

And to contemplate as well, the changing times and changing trends in acceptable nose art.

Cold War Air Museum - Labels

Projects at the Cold War Air Museum often involve a number of people and many details.

Placing N numbers and labels on an aircraft is one of the many details necessary to complete each project.

Changing critical labeling in the aircraft to English makes the aircraft safer and more convenient to operate. Many of the English label sets were still available from the original Polish factory. Others had to be made.

With some of the original non-critical labeling still in place, there is an interesting mix that adds to the feel and authenticity of the aircraft.

The aircraft lighting system is equipped with both red and white lights for variable lighting conditions and night ops.

Rheostat adjustments allow lighting levels to be increased or decreased. The overall effect at night is dramatic and suitable for fine low budget movie special effects.

Medal of Honor Parade and Fly-Over

An annual program at Gainesville, Texas honors Medal of Honor recipients.

Our intrepid Cold War Air Museum associates, Jon and Miguel took flight shortly after O'dark-thirty last Saturday to arrive in time for the required pre-flight brief.

Arriving early, they got the chance to watch and photograph the arrival of more planes this year than last. The weather this year was better than it was for last year's event. More pictures of the participating aircraft can be found on Miguel's Flickr page.

The flyers had an opportunity before the parade to visit and pose with the men being honored.

As in previous years, Yaks and CJ's joined in formation flight over the parade to honor the Medal recipients.

With this beautiful B-25 joining the group, Jon got another opportunity to get his picture in the blog.

Thanks once again to Miguel for his excellent photography, More pictures of this year's event can be found on his Flickr page. For coverage from last year's event click here.

MigMan

We have fun whenever we can at the Cold War Air Museum and fortunately most of us maintain a sense of humor, most of the time.

Phil completed a project this weekend to attach the Mig21 wing so that Charles can finish fabricating the replacement short spar in the right wing leading edge.

Jon arrived just in time to help with setting the wing attach pins in place and to demonstrate a Victory Dance on top of the wing (we like airplanes we can walk on - or dance on, none of this wimpy Cessna stuff, thank you).

We had a delay from our earlier work bringing the Mig-21 together when we discovered some damage on one of the pieces of the wing. Our airframe consultant recommended replacing the piece and fortunately one of our volunteers was capable of fabricating a replacement.

The replacement piece is shown with the damaged piece above. The person fabricating this piece has made many "one of a kind" pieces for special U.S. aircraft and he was surprised at the techniques and technology embodied in the part (bearing in mind our belief about what we thought their capabilities were at the time).

The temporary attachment allows the replacement piece to be positioned so that rivet holes joining it to the wing skin and leading edge spar can be drilled in place, ensuring that the new piece perfectly replaces the old. After these holes are drilled, the replacement piece will be removed and a surface treatment applied before final attachment.

The wing will be removed and re-attached at least once more before final attachment. The lessons learned in each experience are incorporated as we go along.

Here, the wing dance floor and the wing attach bolts are shown prepped and ready for Jon's arrival.

Happy Birthday Jon!

Jon gets a surprise at lunch today!


Since Jon was the lead man on the MiG-23 project, it seemed fitting that the cake have a MiG on top. (Besides, we didn't have enough candles.) Sean brought the cake and ice cream and fixed the cake up with the model on top. Thanks, Sean!


The only MiG model Sean had available was a MiG-29. We hope Jon doesn't get any big ideas about what he is getting for his birthday. Happy Birthday, Jon!