Open Hangar Day, American Aero Services

This past weekend, the family and I traveled up to New Symrna Beach to visit American Aero Services during one of their Open Hangar Day, in which the shop is open for people to walk around and see the restoration and maintenance work that they are doing. The Collings Foundation has selected American Aero as their vendor of choice to do maintenance on their B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-25 Mitchell, F4U-5NL Corsair and P-51C Mustang. The Collings Foundation is also restoring a A-36A Apache at American Aero.

Also being restored at American Aero for Shelby Burch is N5444V, P-51 Mustang.

There was a Grumman TBM Avenger, N452A, in attendance as well, getting maintenance.

The balding red-headed guy with the blonde 2 year old are us. The wife was taking photos.

XMAS gift ideas for a Warbird lovers

For those you looking to get someone who loves Warbirds a gift this holiday season, check out this two suggestions.

First, Warbirds Directory is now available in CD form and updated to the latest possible information. I still have the first paperback edition.

Ordering info is available here.

Second, Final Cut, the postwar history of the B-17 is covered in extreme detail. Ordering info is available here.

Weeks to be inducted into Florida Aviation Hall of Fame

Kermit Weeks, along with Zack Mosley of CAP and Smilin’ Jack fame are going to be inducted into the Florida Aviation Hall of Fame on 12 Dec 08 at the Sun N Fun museum in Lakeland. Mr Weeks is the owner of the Fantasy of Flight museum. More details about the ceremony to follow.

2009 Collings Foundation Tour Dates

The Collings Foundation website is starting to list the 2009 dates for the first two months of the Florida tour. There are some holes in the calendar so look for some updates. Looks like the B-24, B-17 and P-51 start the tour with the B-25 joining later on. This schedule as of: 12 Nov 08.

Dates Details
January
1/16 – 1/19 Ocala, FL (B-17, B-24 & P-51)
Airport: Ocala Regional / Jim Taylor Field

1/19 – 1/21 Zephyrhills, FL (B-17, B-24 & P-51)
Airport: Zephyrhills Municipal Airport

1/21 – 1/23 TBD

1/23 – 1/26 TBD

1/26 – 1/28 Fort Myers, FL (B-17, B-24 & P-51)
Airport: Page Field Airport

1/28 – 2/1 Boca Raton, FL (B-17, B-24 & P-51)
Airport: Boca Raton Airport

February
2/2 – 2/4 Vero Beach, FL (B-17, B-24 & P-51)

2/4 – 2/6 Pompano Beach, FL (B-17, B-24 & P-51)
Airport: Pompano Beach Airpark

2/6 – 2/8 Fort Lauderdale, FL (B-17, B-24 & P-51)
Airport: Fort Lauderdale Executive

2/9 – 2/19 Maintenance Break

2/20 – 2/23 Keystone Heights, FL (B-17, B-24, B-25 & P-51)
Airport: Keystone Airpark

Last stop on the Colling’s Foundation Tour, 7-9 Nov

The Colling’s Foundation Tour makes it last stop the weekend of 7-9 November at the St Augustine Airport before heading to American Aero for its maintenance cycle. The B-17, B-24 and P-51 will be in attendance. Another excellent year.