Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom Tour
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The Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom Tour: Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N93012 Nine-O-Nine, North American TP-51C-10 Mustang NL251MX Betty Jane and Consolidated B-24J Liberator N224J Witchcraft arrived at the Mesa Gateway Airport on Wednesday, April 217, 2010 and departed for Marana Regional Airport on Friday, April 23. The warbirds made a number of revenue generating flights, taking aviation enthusiasts aloft for about a half hour. These pictures were taken on Friday, April 23.
North American TP-51C-10 Mustang NL251MX Betty Jane has been restored as a dual-control TP-51C trainer. During World War II, some single-place Mustangs were modified in the field with a second set of controls to serve as trainers and high-speed VIP transports. This Mustang carriers construction number 103-22730. The original 103-22730 flew for the Army Air Corps as 42-103293 and was condemned as salvage due to battle damage on May 3, 1944. John Muszala collected P-51B and P-51C parts. Muszala and Max Chapman agreed to assemble a flying example of a dual-control TP-51C. Chapman reserved the registration N24177 for it in June 2003. It first flew after restoration on May 5, 2004. The registration NL151MX was reserved for the airplane on June 25, 2004 and taken up on August 28, 2004. It won Best P-51 at Oshkosh that summer. In 2006 it was painted as P-51B 43-106511 Betty Jane of the Fifteenth Air Force. It was registered to the Collings Foundation on April 30, 2008.
TP-51C-10 Mustang Betty Jane is powered by a Packard built V-1650 12-cylinder Merlin engine.
TP-51C-10 Mustang Betty Jane
The Consolidated construction number of B-24J Liberator N224J Witchcraft is 1347. Its original Army Air Force serial number was 44-44052. It was delivered to the Royal Air Force as a Liberator B. VII. After its tour of duty in the RAF it was transferred to the Indian Air Force. In the 1970s, it was used as a training aid by the IAF technical college at Jalahalli, India. Warbirds of Great Britain Limited, Blackbushe transported it to England aboard a Heavylift Belfast in May 1982. The Collings Foundation bought it in 1986 and returned it to flightworthy status in August 1989. Its civil registration is N224J.
Thirteen years earlier: Witchcraft was named the All American when it appeared at the Nellis Air Force Base Golden Air Tattoo in April 1997.
B-24J Liberator Witchcraft
Radio compartment of B-24J Liberator Witchcraft. the cockpit can be seen through the open door at the front of the compartment.
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress N93012 Nine-O-Nine was built under license by Douglas. Its Douglas construction number is 32216. Its original Army Air Force serial number was 44-83575. It was used by the Air Force for atomic weapons testing support at Yucca Flats, Nevada. Valley Scrap Metal of Phoenix, Arizona bought it in 1965. It was stripped for spare parts at Falcon Field near Mesa, Arizona. While sitting derelict it wore the name Yucca Lady. Aircraft Specialties Inc. converted it to a fire fighting tanker in 1979. From 1981 to 1985 it fought fires as tanker #99. The Collings Foundation acquired it in 1985 and restored it to its original military configuration in 1987. Its civil registration is N93012. Now it carries the serial number 42-31909. The white triangle on the tail indicates assignment to the 1st Air Division of the Eighth Air Force. The letter A in the triangle and the code OR on the fuselage denote the 91st Bomb Group.
Thirty-four years earlier: Nine-O-Nine as it appeared when it was known as Yucca Lady and cannibalized for parts at Falcon Field near Mesa, Arizona on May 7, 1971.
Nine-O-Nine appeared at the Nellis Air Force Base Golden Air Tattoo in April 1997.
B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine
Bombardier and navigator stations of B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine. Browning 50-calibre machine guns are installed on both sides of the compartment.
TP-51C-10 Mustang Betty Jane taxis out for a revenue flight.
TP-51C-10 Mustang Betty Jane
TP-51C-10 Mustang Betty Jane
B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine
B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine
B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine
B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine
B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine
TP-51C-10 Mustang Betty Jane returnes from a revenue flight.
TP-51C-10 Mustang Betty Jane
TP-51C-10 Mustang Betty Jane
TP-51C-10 Mustang Betty Jane
TP-51C-10 Mustang Betty Jane
TP-51C-10 Mustang Betty Jane
B-24J Liberator Witchcraft
B-24J Liberator Witchcraft
B-24J Liberator Witchcraft
B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine
B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine
B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine
B-24J Liberator Witchcraft is powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-1830 2-bank, 14-cylinder Twin Wasp radial engines.
B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine is powered by four Wright R-1820 9-cylinder Cyclone radial engines.
Nose art of B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine
Nose art of B-24J Liberator Witchcraft
B-24J Liberator Witchcraft
B-24J Liberator Witchcraft
B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine
B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine
B-24J Liberator Witchcraft
TP-51C-10 Mustang Betty Jane took off for Marana Regional Airport near Tucson at 1:03 PM.
B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine took off for Marana Regional Airport near Tucson at 1:14 PM.
B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine
B-17G Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine
B-24J Liberator Witchcraft took off for Marana Regional Airport near Tucson at 1:15 PM.
B-24J Liberator Witchcraft
B-24J Liberator Witchcraft
Collings Foundation Displays
Link to the Collings Foundation web site for more information about their historic aircraft and their tour schedules.
The former Williams Air Force Base is now known as Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. In addition to serving as a civil airport, it is frequently visited by military aircraft taking advantage of its limited traffic. Several pilot training schools operate at the airport. Allegiant Air provides passenger service to airports around the country on a fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-83s. An air tanker base occasionally hosts fire fighting tankers. Boeing has a test facility for hot weather tests and Advanced Training Systems Incorporated refurbushes Douglas A-4 Skyhawks.
You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring my photographs of Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine, Liberator Witchcraft, and Mitchell Tondelayo.
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N93012 Nine-O-Nine, Consolidated B-24J Liberator Witchcraft, and North American B-25J Mitchell, NL3746G Tondelayo are operated by the Collings Foundation. The bombers tour the country making revenue generating flights, taking aviation enthusiasts aloft for about a half hour.
Put a copy of the Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine, Liberator Witchcraft, and Mitchell Tondelayo: 2020 Calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.
You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring my photographs of Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Aluminum Overcast.
A dozen photos of Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N5017N Aluminum Overcast visiting the Santa Barbara Airport and Deer Valley Airport.
Put a copy of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Aluminum Overcast: 2020 Calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.
You can buy a 2020 Calendar featuring my photographs of Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Fuddy Duddy.
A dozen photos of Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N9563Z "Fuddy Duddy" at Santa Barbara and Chino.
Put a copy of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Fuddy Duddy: 2020 Calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.
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