Showing posts with label ORH. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ORH. Show all posts

Friday, August 31, 2018

Wings of Freedom Tour at Worcester Airport



   The Wings of Freedom Tour of World War two aircraft will be at the Worcester Airport, Worcester Massachusetts on September 22 and 23. The actual airplanes themselves will be flying in on Friday September 21.  This is great as how often can you see a B-17 fly into a airport and land.  If you live in the area please drop by as it is a pleasure to see these planes up close and personal and to actually see them fly.  Of course, you can also actually fly in them also. This is very expensive but a once in a lifetime experience.







Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Oh bother....



   No posts since new years due to the real world intruding into my life.

   Winter storm Grayson has disrupted my month.  After a wonderful holiday it was back to normal which is anything but in the airline industry.  The days preceding the storm saw our flights filled to capacity with customers trying to escape the coming sno-ageddon.  Frantic calls of can I rebook my flight were non stop throughout the day.  Flights were cancelled for the storm itself and we did not have to come into the station.  This is a new experience for me as when I
worked ground operations in Boston we had to be there no matter.  Airport operstions, at least in a tiny airport are quite different I guess.  After the storm flights were again booked to capacity but  weather, crew changes and such along the way caused flights to be delayed coming into ORH.  Our shift extended into the evening past midnight at one point.  Things are just getting back to normal now.

   And of course shoveling the snow.  Luckily my son was home from school to help.  Between the two of us we got the job done in record time.  On the weekend enjoyed watching the wild card round of the NFL playoffs.  Some very good games, and one not so exciting game.

   All of which left little hobby time.  No painting yet.  Instead we played a few games of World War One airplanes with the Wings of War game.  This is a fun game just perfect for a snowy day.  Of course my son consistently shoots me down as I am too busy talking about the delightful model planes while he plays the game.  And excellent models they are too.  I have repainted a few planes for aces not yet covered by the extensive range.  After a little research i repainted a spad to represent the lt. David Endicott Putnam's plane.  A local  from the area who not many have heard of but a great favorite of mine.  Also redid a few nieuport 17's to represent members of the Lafayette  escadrille.  I will be posting a few pictures in the future.

   Lastly I have started to add some sorely needed houses to my terrain collection.  The high cost of resin buildings have made them unaffordable to me so I have opted to go with paper card models.  These look very nice and are inexpensive.  There is also a great variety out there to choose from.  Two years ago at Cold Wars I took a class at the hobby university on how to make paper buildings.  It has been very helpful.  Once I get a few more done I will be posting my efforts.  here's looking forward to more time!

Friday, October 20, 2017

CURTISS P-40B TOMAHAWK at ORH









I was leaving work at Worcester Airport  (ORH) when I noticed another aircraft from The Collins Foundation parked by The hangers.  The story about The plane is fascinating.

The text is from The Collins Foundation website
at http://www.collingsfoundation.org/aircrafts/curtiss-p-40b-tomahawk/

The P-40 was the third-most numerous US fighter of World War II.  An early prototype version of the P-40 was the first American fighter capable of speeds greater than 300 mph.
Thanks to a very generous sponsor, the world’s only  P-40B and only surviving airworthy American fighter from the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor joined the Collings Foundation.
One of the 131 P-40Bs built at the Curtiss facility in Buffalo, New York during 1940-1941 and allocated the Bu No. 41-13297, this fighter was delivered to the US Army Air Corp in March 1941. It was quickly sent to Wheeler Field, Hawaii in April of that year, becoming part of the 19th Pursuit Squadron of the 18th Pursuit Group. In October 1941, seven months after delivery, this P-40 was involved in a wheels-up landing, requiring her to be placed in a maintenance hangar for repair.
This aircraft was still in the hanger undergoing repairs when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. That seemingly minor twist of fate most likely saved P-40B 41-13297 from being destroyed. Following repairs it was returned to flight worthy status. Then, on January 24, 1942, in another ironic twist of fate, with only nine months of service and 56 hours of flight time, while on a routine training flight the plane spun out of control. The pilot, Lt. Kenneth Wayne Sprankle, was unable to recover from the spin, crashing into the side of a mountain, killing him. The crash occurred in a rather inaccessible area of the island. So, after recovery of the body the aircraft was left in place.
In 1985 the Tomahawk’s remains were ‘rediscovered.’ After some preliminary investigation, it was determined the air frame was not severely damaged and if it could be removed was restorable. Some parts were recovered during 1985. A second recovery mission in 1989 salvaged the rest of the air frame.
In 1989, the Curtiss Wright Historical Association in Torrance, California was formed and serious restoration of the recovered P-40 began. The restoration was named “Project Tomahawk.” Whenever possible parts indigenous to the plane were used. Two other P-40B’s, the 39-285 that also crashed in Hawaii in 1941 and 39-287, that went down in a severe storm over the Sierra Nevadas October 24, 1941 were utilized for parts. When completed, the Tomahawk eventually joined “The Fighter Collection” at Duxford (UK) in 2003. P-40B Tomahawk 41-13297 flies wearing the scheme she wore during her time in
Hawaii with the 18th Pursuit Group.


Friday, September 22, 2017

Wings of Freedom Tour at Worcester



  A very different day at work at the old Worcester Massachusetts airport. This weekend is the Wings of Freedom tour by the Collins foundation World War 2 aircraft.  While the show is on Saturday and Sunday, on Friday they fly in the aircraft that will be on display.  Because of the large collection they seldom have all their aircraft at any event. Today they flew in only those aircraft which you can actually fly in.  The B-17 is $450 per person good a 30 minute flight.

  So, while getting my job done (it was a work day after all) I got to watch many of the aircraft actually fly in and land at the airport.  It was quite exciting for me!  One of our flights was almost late due to the captain and first officer touring the B-17.

The aircraft that is at Worcester this
weekend are:

TP-51C Mustang



B-24J  Liberator






B-17 G Flying Fortress



The event is Saturday and Sunday September 22-23 from 10:00 to 5:00.  For more information please visit the Collins Foundation website
 http://www.collingsfoundation.org

Thursday, August 17, 2017

SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE MK.IX



After watching the Spitfire that landed here at Worcester airport the other day I wanted to learn more about it.  What I found out was truly amazing.

Supermarine Spitfire MK.IX tail number BR601 first flew in June 16, 1942.  It was the sixth conversion from a model M.V into a MK.IX.  During its history it flew 116 combat missions and was piloted by two aces.  These were Australian ace Tony Gaze who had 12.5 victories and also Colin Grey from New Zealand who had 27.5 victories.
So what I saw landing the other day was a true piece of history in front of me.

For more on BR601 and it's long distinguished history please see the Collin's foundation website.  Here is a link with much more details:
http://www.collingsfoundation.org/aircrafts/supermarine-spitfire-mk-ix/

And if you are in the area please come to the Worcester airport on September 22 - 24, 2017 to see many of these restored aircraft fly once again.






Monday, August 14, 2017

Always something interesting at Worcester airport!



At work the other day, while waiting for flight 2020 to land a customer ask what kind of aircraft that was that just landed.  Distracted by printing off the flight dispatch and other items for the arriving flight I mentioned that there are a number of small private planes which use the airfield.  Turning to look out the window I was shocked to see a Spitfire!  It had just landed and was taxiing past us and up to the hanger.



  The  spitfire is owned by the Collins Foundation.  It is part of a fleet of aircraft and other vehicles from WW2.  Turns out they rotated smaller aircraft around the country for air shows. There are a few others coming in soon.  If you are interested there will be a show here at the Worcester Massachusetts airport the weekend of September 22 to 24.  More information to follow.