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Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N9563Z Fuddy Duddy at the Santa Barbara Airport, April 30, 2005 |
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The Experimental Aircraft Association Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N9563Z Fuddy Duddy arrived at the Santa Barbara Airport on Thursday, April 28. It is based at the National Warplane Museum at Horseheads, New York. On Saturday it was joined by a pair of North American P-51D Mustangs. Several North American T-28 Trojans were also sighted at the airport.
Fuddy Duddy flew to San Luis Obispo on May 2 and on to Watsonville on May 5.
North American T-28B Trojan, N28RF in U. S. Army markings was parked next to Fuddy Duddy on Saturday morning.
I drove to the airport the moment that I saw North American P-51D Mustang, NL51PT Petie 3rd fly overhead. I set up to shoot its approach to Runway 15L or 15R, but it landed on Runway 25. I spent the rest of the day chasing the airplanes from runway to runway.
Locally based Waco YMF, N181AS took off a short while before Fuddy Duddy's first flight of the day. It is often seen in the sky above Goleta.
Fuddy Duddy takes off over Goleta beach on its first flight of the day.
Enormous Great Blue Herons share the airspace with the airplanes at the Santa Barbara Airport.
North American T-28C Trojan, N328AK and T-28A, N81643 taxi out for take-off from Runway 25. N81643 served the Air Force as 49-1643. Its construction number is 159-155. Norman B. Dennis Jr. of Brookneal, California registered it as N9674C in 1966. Robert Eggmann of Belleville, Illinois registered it as N28RE in 1978. Edward A. Buerckholtz of Chesterfield, Missouri registered it as N81643 in 1985. It has been registered to Round Power Limited of Reno, Nevada since March 4, 2004. Its owner, Gregg Weitzman, recently had it restored in the colors of a T-28A that was flown by the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in the 1950s. It is based at the Santa Barbara Airport.
North American P-51D Mustang, NL51MV Nervous Energy V taxis out for take-off from Runway 25. The Trojans and Nervous Energy V participated in a flyover of the city and harbor of Santa Barbara.
This P-51D was delivered to the Army Air Corps in 1945 wearing serial number 45-11391. It is restored in the colors of the 325th Fighter Group of the 15th Air Force, which was based in Lesina, Italy. 00 was the mount of Lt. Colonel Ernest H. Beverly, 325th Group Commander from September 11, 1944 to March 2, 1945.
Fuddy Duddy on approach to land on Runway 25.
T-28C, N328AK taxis out for take-off from Runway 25.
T-28A, N81643 taxis out for take-off from Runway 25.
T-28C, N328AK on approach to land on Runway 25 following the flyover of the Viet Nam Veteran's memorial during its visit to Santa Barbara.
T-28A, N81643 on approach to land on Runway 25.
Nervous Energy V made a high-speed, low-altitude pass over the airport and then pitched up into the pattern to land on Runway 25.
Fuddy Duddy taxis out for take-off from Runway 25.
Fuddy Duddy on approach to land on Runway 15L.
Fuddy Duddy about to touch down on Runway 15L.
North American T-28B Trojan, N6255 and T-28C, N528TC fly over the airport before breaking into the pattern for landing on Runway 25. Trojans come in a variety of stimulating colors.
Fuddy Duddy taxis out for another take-off from Runway 25.
T-28B, N6255 on approach to land on Runway 25.
T-28B, N6255 and T-28C, N528TC on approach to land on Runway 25. N528TC was delivered to the U.S. Navy as BuNo 146253 in 1957. Its construction number is 252-16. Southern California Aviation of Corona Del Mar, California registered it as N912KK in January 1986. Daniel W. Lawson of Las Vegas, Nevada acquired it in 1988. It has been registered to Sandpiper Aviation of Reno, Nevada since January 4, 2002.
North American P-51D Mustang, NL51PT Petie III was delivered to the Army Air Corps as 44-72145. Its construction number is 122-38604. It entered the civil registry as N6169C. John C. Seidel of Sugar Grove, Illinois registered it as N311G in 1963. Waldo Klabo of Pleasanton, California acquired it in 1978 and flew it as Race #85 Fat Cat. Don Whittington of Fort Lauderdale, Florida acquired it in 1984 and sold it to Peter McManus of Fort Lauderdale soon afterward. Peter McManus and Castlewood Realty of Miami, Florida registered it as N51PT in January 1985 and restored it as Petie 3rd. Castlewood Airmotive of Baltimore, Maryland bought it on August 29, 1986, It has been registered to Jeff Pryor of Santa Barbara, California since March 11, 2005.
North American P-51D Mustang, NL51MV Nervous Energy V
The Experimental Aircraft Association Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Fuddy Duddy arrived at the Santa Barbara Airport at 10:30 in the morning on Thursday, April 28.
Fuddy Duddy made four flights on Sunday, May 1. North American Mustang P-51D, NL51MV Nervous Energy V beat up the airport in the afternoon. Fuddy Duddy flew to San Luis Obispo on Monday, May 2. It will fly on to Watsonville on Thursday, May 5.
B-17G-85-DL, N9563Z tanker c24 at Falcon Field, Arizona on May 4,
1974. It was delivered to the U. S. Army
Air Corps as 44-83563. It was modified to a CB-17G cargo transport and then to a VB-17G
VIP transport. It was acquired by American Compressed Steel of Cincinnati, Ohio
on August 18, 1959. Aero American Corporation of Tucson, Arizona acquired it on May 9, 1960
and gave it its current registration. Columbia Pictures Incorporated of New York leased
it on October 11, 1961 to use it in the movie The War Lover. In the movie
it portrayed B-17F, 41-27742. It departed the United Kingdom on May 16, 1962. It spent
some time in storage at Ryan Field, Arizona. Aviation Specialties Incorporated
of Mesa, Arizona bought it
on February 2, 1963 and operated it as tanker e24, c24, #24, and #89. It was flown to
Hawaii in January 1969 to appear in the movie Tora Tora Tora. Globe Air Incorporated
of Mesa, Arizona acquired it on February 18, 1981. The National Warplane Museum at Horseheads, New York bought it in October 1985.
It is now named Fuddy Duddy and carries serial number 42-97400.
B-17G, N9563Z tanker 89 fires up its number 4 engine at
the Goleta tanker station at
the Santa Barbara Airport, California
on July 30, 1980. It was formerly tanker c24.
B-17G-85-DL, N9563Z tanker 89 taxies out of the Goleta tanker station on July 30, 1980.
B-17G-85-DL, N9563Z tanker 89 taxies out of the Goleta tanker station on July 30, 1980.
B-17G-85-D, N9563Z tanker 89 and B-17F-70-BO, N17W tanker 04 at Falcon Field, Arizona
on December 15, 1984.
B-17G-85-D, N9563Z tanker 89 at Falcon Field, Arizona
on December 15, 1984.
B-17G-85-D, N9563Z tanker 89 and B-17G-110-VE, N3193G tanker 34
at Falcon Field, Arizona
on December 15, 1984.
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortresses were used to fight fires unitl the 1980s. Subsequently, the tankers were restored to stock configuration. The restored Flying Fortresses tour the country, taking aviation enthusiasts aloft on nostalgia flights.
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