People and Planes - Warbirds on Parade

The Cold War Air Museum once again joined with the DFW wing of the CAF to put aircraft on exhibit for this annual event at the Lancaster Airport.

An estimated 6,000+ people attended the day long open house this year. With dozens of aircraft on display and dozens more flying, it was a busy and exhausting day for the Cold War Air Museum and Commemorative Air Force volunteers working at the show.

The MiG-23 was popular. Homer and Jon assisted visitors and answered questions throughout the day. The MiG-23, MiG-21, L29, L39 and CJ were on display.

Pete assisted visitors with the UH-1. In addition to the UH-1B, AH-1, Mil-2 and Mil-24; a Bell47, UH-1H, Chinook and Black Hawk also flew to the event.

Zane, from Warbird Radio is shown here interviewing Phil Davis, one of the Directors of the museum.

Phil's jeep, in the background, was called into extra service for moving aircraft and people from the museum to the display area and back. Technically a MUTT (Multi purpose utility tactical truck), it is also an authentic relic of the Vietnam era.

Of course a number of the aircraft associated with the museum also flew. Larry and Johnny are shown here in the Mi-2.

As usual, the Mi-24 was a hit with the crowd.

One of the Army Blackhawk aviators was heard to remark "Holy Cow" (or words to that effect), while watching the Hind in flight. We appreciate the contribution of the First Cav bringing their Black Hawk and Chinook to the show. Our Hind and Hoplite will both be going to the airshow associated with Ft.Hood next weekend and we look forward to a report and pictures from that event.

We've recently reloaded the T-shirt locker. One of our volunteers is shown here wearing one of the new designs.

Another of the new series which features our Huey is demonstrated by another of the volunteers.We hope these will be a hit at the upcoming events and plan on having these, and other new designs available online soon.

Warbirds on Parade!, Saturday Sept 4th

Come visit us this Saturday!

This Saturday, September 4th, the Cold War Air Museum will be participating with aircraft flying and on display along with the Commemorative Air Force DFW wing.

Many more of our aircraft, including the MiG-21 and MiG-23 will be on static display with CAF aircraft as well as helicopters and armor Ft Hood. A Blackhawk, Chinook, Bradley fighting vehicle and M1 "Abrams" tank are expected.

Our UH-1B, 62-1890, a veteran aircraft in need of restoration will be on special display. Come help raise funds to restore this veteran aircraft to flying condition.


Check the museum schedule and location page for an aerial view of the airport and parking areas or click here for an area map. Select "get directions" for driving assistance.

Thousands attended last years event, pictures from l;ast years event can be found on our previous blog post. Pictures from this year's event will be posted after the event. Be sure to be in one of them!

Feature Associate - Pete Coz

From time to time, the Cold War Air Museum takes pleasure in announcing a new museum board member. While we value all of our associates and volunteers and respect their input, it falls to the board to help set a final direction and goals for the museum. Recently (and regretfully), one of our founding board members passed away. We are fortunate in having someone of experience and ability to fill in.

Pete Coz (on the left), is shown here being congratulated by Museum President Bruce Stringfellow.

Although he is originally from Massachusetts (and received his College degree in Maine), Pete has diligently been studying (be'n stud'den) “Texan” for the last year in order to be able to communicate with the other Directors. His ability to flawlessly mimic John Wayne and his repertoire of classic movie lines, as well as his great sense of humor has helped him to be accepted by most of the natives.

A veteran of Desert Shield/Desert Storm, he has amassed over 3600 flight hours while advancing through positions of increasing responsibility during 21 years of service. Pete holds all instructor designations for the AH-1W and pioneered the training program for the first Cobra pilots in Taiwan in 1993. Now holding FAA Commercial Fixed and Rotary wing ratings, he is one of the few in the U.S. to hold a civilian rating in the Mi-24 Hind helicopter.

Lt Col (U.S.M.C. Ret.) Pete Coz and our other veteran associates bring a level of professionalism and experience to the museum which we greatly appreciate. With the increasing number of events to which our associate's aircraft are being flown, flight safety is always on our minds. His serious side (reflected below, studying before a flight review) is complemented by an ability and desire to communicate with the troops about what needs to be done and why.

With two “Pete's” active in the group (see feature associate Pete Taylor), Coz has been frocked with the nickname “Colonel Pete” to avoid confusion.

Welcome aboard, “Col. Pete”.

SR-71 Simulator

What aircraft is more emblematic of the Cold War than the SR-71 Blackbird? Museum associate Tracey Austin met Colonel Richard Graham (ret. USAF) at the EAA's AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin when he was signing the three books he'd written on the SR-71 and his adventures as a pilot and commander of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing.

She was surprised to learn that he lives right here in the Dallas area! Moreover, he's made a special project of working with the Frontiers of Flight museum to display the SR-71 simulator that's been placed on loan with them.

Colonel Graham offered Tracey a personal tour of the simulator and told her that she could bring a friend. One of the museum directors, Jon, wasted no time in accepting her offer to go see the simulator.

Here, Colonel Graham is showing Tracey the front cockpit of the simulator. As it sits, the simulator could possibly be made operational (all the equipment is there) but a substantial effort needs to take place to hook everything up and get it working again.

Pilots trained in the simulator for 100 hours before flying the SR-71. After that it's only 5 flights in the dual-control version of the Blackbird and you're off to operational missions.

The reel that pulls the pilot's legs back to the ejection seat just before Elvis leaves the building. That, or Col. Graham is interviewing Tracey's legs.

Colonel Graham went over all the systems with a laser pointer and was very detailed in his descriptions. It was a fantastic briefing. He logged 600+ hours in the Blackbird in the seven years he flew it.

Here Jon is seen with the navigator's trainer in the background. The navigator's cockpit is a separate cabinet. One new crew is selected per year and they get individual training before they get "married'. Once formed as a crew they always fly together (unusual)... so much so that if one gets sick the other doesn't fly.

The fabulous J58 continuously afterburning engine. The SR-71 uses ramjet magic such that 80% of the thrust produced is by the ramjet and only 20% by the engine at Mach 3+.

The Frontiers of Flight Museum is also the permanent home of the Apollo 7 capsule.

The three books that Colonel Graham has written are available on Amazon.com.

It was interesting to learn that Colonel Graham is also retired from American Airlines, where he was a pilot. Still active as a Flight Instructor, he prefers teaching  primary students... imagine learning the first basics of flying from a former SR-71 pilot!