Rare Birds in Everett, WA

[buffnut453]

Ok...a few more. A brace of Brits followed by an American duo.


Hawker Hurricane MkXII, originally built as a Hurricat but later returned to standard MkXII layout and served in the RCAF:

Supermarine Spitfire MkVc which served operationally with 312 (Czech) Squadron. It was restored wearing markings that it wore during WW2:

P-47D that previously served in the Mexican AF wearing the markings of Seattle pilot Ralph Jenkins:

And one of my personal favourites - P-51D wearing the markings it carried durin operations with the 8th AF during WW2. The pilot was reunited with his P-51 in 2003:

 

[buffnut453]

Got to see the other airworthy Mossie at Virginia Beach last year. Definitely want to come back to WA to see this beauty fly!

 

[Micdrow]

Its an awesome museum, was there last year thought the third hanger was still being built. On my wish list to go back.

Great set if pictures

 

[Airframes]

Beaut shots !

 

[nuuumannn]

According to the blurb, the Lanc was formerly at the British Historic Aircraft Museum which, I believe, was located at Southend.

It was, but not the whole thing. This nose section is from a 'Lincaster' or a 'Lancoln', whichever you may prefer! Lincoln RF342, serialled G-APRJ had Lancaster I TW911's nose grafted onto it and ended up at Southend as the odd hybrid. The Lincoln remains I think are in Australia now. Interesting to see it in your photos, Mark.

G-BCOH, the former Strathallan Lanc was Canadian built KB976 and is Kermit Weeks'. Bits of it ended up in New Zealand for Wingnut Wings (!) to make a full scale repro for Peter Jackson's Dambusters remake, although I think these have returned to the USA.

 

[Crimea_River]

Got to see the other airworthy Mossie at Virginia Beach last year.

There are actually now 4 airworthy Mossies: this one, Jerry Yagen's in Virginia Beach, Bob Jens' in Vancouver (now or sale), and the soon-to-be-displayed one owned by Rod Lewis in San Antonio.

 

[buffnut453]

Its an awesome museum, was there last year thought the third hanger was still being built. On my wish list to go back.

Great set if pictures

Third hangar is now complete and in use.

Agree it's an awesome museum. I walked through the door and was hit by that "old aeroplane" smell. I knew right then that this organization understood aircraft. If you can't smell oil and fuel and old leather in an aircraft museum then it's just not right IMHO.

 

[Micdrow]

Third hangar is now complete and in use.

Agree it's an awesome museum. I walked through the door and was hit by that "old aeroplane" smell. I knew right then that this organization understood aircraft. If you can't smell oil and fuel and old leather in an aircraft museum then it's just not right IMHO.

I hope the collection stays together, with the death of Paul Allen I wonder how it will affect this museum as this was his collection from what I was told last year when I visited and he was still alive. Also by chance did you make it across the other side of the airport to the Kilo 7 museum. Less than 10 minutes away from where you where at. Link below.

Historic Flight

 

[Gnomey]

Lovely shots!

 

[jetcal1]

 

[nuuumannn]

There are actually now 4 airworthy Mossies: this one, Jerry Yagen's in Virginia Beach, Bob Jens' in Vancouver (now or sale), and the soon-to-be-displayed one owned by Rod Lewis in San Antonio.

With yet another undergoing work here in NZ as we speak! The Mossie looks great in its new colours. This is how it looked for a bit while it was here. It was being dismantled as I took this picture.

TV959 103

 

[buffnut453]

Ok...a few more while I have a couple of minutes to spare.

According to the Museum, this Fieseler Storch is probably an authentic German model rather than a licence-built Morane-Saulnier Criquet. Either way, I love the spindly look of this bird:

 

[buffnut453]

Sticking with the German theme, someone said they were interested in Focke-Wulf 190s?

Firstly, the D-13:

And secondly, their A-5 with various panels opened to show the naughty bits:

 

[buffnut453]

Just for interest's sake, I took a couple of pics of this LST. Sadly, I didn't take a pic of one of the most impressive exhibits - a flag that had been flown on one of the D-Day landing craft. The LCT went ashore on 6 June and, at the end of a long day, the Ensign in charge instructed a rating to run up a new flag because the original was somewhat battle-damaged. The young sailor asked if he could keep the original...and so he did, in a shoebox for over 70 years. Now it's on display in the Museum. A most evocative artifact. Anyhoo...here's a Higgins boat for those interested:

 

[buffnut453]

And, last but by no means least, 2 of my favourite exhibits from the Museum:

Unique airworthy Bf109E that participated in the Battle of Britain. Damaged in combat over Dover in July 1940, the aircraft limped back towards France but crashed just short of land, killing the pilot. Fast forward 40+ years and a man walking along a beach near Calais saw a piece of metal protruding from the sand which turned out to be the wingtip of this Messerschmitt.

The other really amazing restoration piece was the ongoing effort to return a Stuka to airworthy condition. It looks simply marvelous but they're also conserving the original pieces that have been used as templates to make new structures like the wing panels. Can't wait to see this one take to the skies again! Also on display was a restored gun pod which took me back to my youth and the Matchbox Stuka which I completely messed up. Anyhoo...hope you enjoy these pics:

That's all from the Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum but don't despair...I have a few more pics to share from the Seattle Museum of Flight Restoration Facility and Reserve Collection.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Micdrow]

Keep them coming. Great shots

 

[Crimea_River]

With Paul. Looking forward to more.

 

[buffnut453]

Not far from the Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum, also at Everett Airport, lies the Seattle Museum of Flight Restoration Facility and Reserve Collection. This is a small museum and costs just $5 to enter but I thought it well worth the investment. Here are a few pics I took:

Firstly, who doesn't like Snoopy in any form on any aircraft? This Cessna O2-A was suitably marked and, as an added bonus, saw combat over Vietnam.

I just had to get a few pics:

 

[buffnut453]

There were a couple of oddities in the display, including this rather lovely fire engine and the kit biplane below that wasn't captioned and which I couldn't identify: