JessiandMatt.net

POFE 1996

Boeing PT-17/N2S-5 Stearman

Mr. Pond has two flyable Stearman and one “Project.” One of the flyable Stearman is painted in the colors of the Army Air Corps (PT-17), and the other is painted in the colors of the Navy (N2S-5). Mr. Pond’s project was a Navy Stearman that crashed in the early 1990’s while taking a passenger on a ride. While nobody was killed, the aircraft was extensively damaged.

Stearmans were used as primary trainers during World War II. Most of the civilian survivors today were crop dusters after the war. We used the aircraft to help our lower time pilots build up some hours in a relatively inexpensive tail dragger. We also sold rides to the general public in the aircraft to give people a taste of the world of the open cockpit. This often meant the opportunity to get some stick time in one which I did whenever I could.

Me taking a spin in the Army Stearman. One summer afternoon, my brother went up in the Navy Stearman while I went up in the Army Stearman. Our instructor pilots spent some time practicing their formation flying, which allowed my brother to snap this picture of me from a very short distance.

The Navy Stearman taking a break in the summer sun.

The Army Stearman taking a break in the summer sun.

Another shot of the Navy Stearman in the sun.

Douglas A-26C Invader

Mr. Pond owns two Douglas Invaders. In 1995, Planes of Fame East had taken delivery of his Navy painted invader N9425Z (ex 44-35721). Although this was not actually a Navy invader, it did provide an unusual paint scheme with the utility squadron colors of grey, orange and yellow. This invader is more noted for its civil use than its military one, having recently been retired from Lynch Air Tankers in Billings, Montana. It was the star of the Speilberg movie “Always” portraying tanker 57.

In the Winter of 1995-1996, my brother and I took over as honorary crew chiefs for the A-26. Basically this meant just making sure she was clean and everything was working. I ended up growing quite fond of the lady, and so I have a bunch of pictures.

Here she is in the spring sunshine serving as the welcoming committee for the spring hangar dance. During the months of June and July, a group of volunteers prepared the A-26 for a possible trip to the EAA fly-in during the first week of August. The aircraft hadn’t flown in 14 months, so we helped the director of maintenance perform an annual inspection. I got to perform the second runup (with lots of help from the Sean Haas-director of maintenance).

A photo of me after my successful runup.

Another photo of me after the runup

Notice the rag in my right hand, and the beer in my left. Also notice notice the oil streaking down the number one prop. This was a result of the cylinders spraying oil on the initial startup.Next, we have a series of air-to-air photos of pilot Sam Korth test flying the invader the day before we left for Oshkosh. Bob Luikens took the photos from the back seat of our T-6.

Overhead and over land.

Overhead and overland #2.

Overhead and over water #3.

Overhead and over water.

Underneath and dirty.

Underneath and dirty #2.

We arrived safely at Oshkosh and spent three days telling stories and flying in the air show.

On the way to Oshkosh - A view of the number two engine from the bombardier nose looking back.

Arriving at Oshkosh - Some of our Planes of Fame friends caught our arrival at Oshkosh.The show that year celebrated the contributions of veterans from the Korean War. Our invader was to be the star Korean War era bomber in the daily airshow. During the Saturday show, I had the opportunity to fly in the right seat with Sam. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We did our simulated napalm bomb runs and then flew up high to do a photo shoot for EAA.

Heading out for the daily show -This was Sam and Larry heading out for the Friday show to test the repairs to the emergency air brake system.

My view of our air support during the bomb run….Skyraiders!

Another shot from my point of view.

Here we are on approach for our napalm run.

And finally, the mushroom cloud!

On the ground - The folks seemed to flock around the unusually painted invader. We certainly didn’t mind.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress

In August, “Miss Angela”, the museum’s B-17 went to Offut Air Force Base in Nebraska for a late summer air show. The air to air photos were taken during the return trip by my brother from a Cessna 182RG flying in formation with the B-17. Tim “Action” Jackson was the lucky pilot of the B-17.