Photography by Ian L. Sitren

Posts tagged “P-51D

Mustang Ride

A little of the excitement of what it is like flying in the iconic World War II fighter airplane, the P-51 Mustang. This one is “Bunny” for the Palm Springs Air Museum. More great video with a GoPro.


Air To Air And For Veterans Day

Honoring our Veterans last Saturday flying out to Veterans Memorial Park in Coachella. I was flying and photographing from the backseat of a T-28 Trojan. And lots more flying coming up on Veterans Day Saturday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. More info below…

At the Air Museum, flight demonstrations going on all day. You will see our P-51 Mustang ‘Bunny” in the air along with our C-47 “What’s Up Doc”? and our T-28 Trojan. There will be a special appearance by a flight of six T-34 trainers too. Even more exciting you can watch and even go up in a Stearman Biplane trainer AND even fly in a World War II B-25 Mitchell bomber, both from right here!

Not to be missed! With us will be a very very special guest… Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. Bob Friend. A wonderful opportunity to meet and shake the hand of this true American Hero.

Also we are dedicating our newly finished Grumman F9F Panther which was the Navy’s first successful carrier based jet fighter. For that honor we will have with us another very special guest, a man who has been called “The Forgotten Hero”, Capt E. Royce Williams! On November 18th, 1952, then Lt. Williams in a carrier based engagement of the Korean War shot down four MiG-15s. Forty years later it was revealed that all four were flown by Soviet pilots.

There will be food and birthday cake celebrating the Museum’s 21st Anniversary. So much fun going on! You can reserve your flights on the Stearman Bi Plane trainer by calling us at 760-778-6262. For your seat on a flight in the B-25 Bomber call 805-377-2106 (please leave a message and you will be called right back). You can also fly on Sunday and next weekend Friday, Saturday and Sunday. What a great opportunity! Thanks!


Featured Reno Air Races Story

Great fun! My photographs and story about our trip racing at the Reno Air Races with the Palm Springs Air Museum

A big feature about our trip to the Reno Air Races racing “Bunny” our P-51 Mustang, just a few weeks ago. In the October issue of our Palm Springs Air Museum Member Newsletter “The Beacon”. Always good stories and history in “The Beacon” and upcoming events. So if you are not a Member yet, please join us and you can get your copy every month in the mail too! Thanks!

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Bunny Fly-By

How about a “Bunny” fly-by to get things going! Now come along with us and JOIN OUR TEAM at the Palm Springs Air Museum!

The “Red Tails Race Team” sending “Bunny” our P-51 Mustang to the prestigious National Championship Air Races Reno, September 13th – 17th! “Bunny” will be joined by and honoring the famed Tuskegee Airmen “Red Tails” of World War II. And you can be a part of it!

Lots of cool stuff coming your way for helping us and it’s great fun! You can even get our actual Team T-Shirt and the Official Poster and more. Please check it out and you truly have our biggest Thanks! Right here at… https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/red-tails-race-team

And a Big Thank You to BUZZBOX Premium Cocktails for being our Team Partner!


Everyone Stops And Looks!

No matter what you are doing, when “Bunny” flies by you stop and look! At the opening for the “Wings Over Camarillo” airshow earlier this month. “Bunny” will be in the show opening again at the prestigious National Championship Air Races Reno, September 13th – 17th! And we are asking for your help today please!

JOIN OUR TEAM! The Red Tails Race Team by helping the Palm Springs Air Museum send the Tuskegee Airmen and “Bunny” the P-51 Mustang to participate in this huge honor. Be part of it along with our incredible “Bunny” pilot Tom Nightingale! Even Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. Bob Friend is going at the age of 97 years old!

Lots of cool stuff coming your way for helping  and it’s great fun! Please check it out and you truly have our biggest Thanks! Right here at… https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/red-tails-race-team

Bunny Flag Flyby


Evening Run Up

A little evening engine check before we left for the Air Fair at Big Bear Lake this past Saturday morning. This is the historic World War II fighter, the P-51 Mustang. This one named “Bunny”, it is dedicated to the famed “Red Tails” Tuskegee Airmen.

I am personally asking you to help me and the Palm Springs Air Museum in sending “Bunny” and the Tuskegee Airmen to the National Championship Air Races Reno in just a few weeks! Do it for me! Please! Every few bucks helps!

You will be a part of our “Red Tails Race Team” and get some cool stuff too! Check it out and Thanks… https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/red-tails-race-team


It Was A Playboy Bunny When I Was A Kid!

When I was a kid it was exciting to sneak a peek of a Playboy Bunny. Now I am with an entirely different “Bunny” and it is pretty exciting too! Also for a good cause!
 
Come join me and the Palm Springs Air Museum “Red Tails Race Team” sending “Bunny” and the Tuskegee Airmen to the National Championship Air Races Reno in just a few weeks! Even if you can’t be there in person we will be bringing the fun like this to you and you get some cool stuff too! Even our Crew Member T-Shirt! Check it out and Thanks… Red Tails Racing Team

Reno Bunny!

Thought this is pretty great! My photo of the P-51 Mustang “Bunny” used for the poster for the “Red Tails Race Team”! The Palm Springs Air Museum has “Bunny” entered in the huge and very prestigious National Championship Air Races Reno coming up September 13th – 17th. “Bunny” commemorates the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. And actually you can join the “Red Tails Race Team” and help send “Bunny” and the Tuskegee Airmen to Reno! You can also get this poster and some really cool stuff! Check it out at “Red Tails Race Team“! Please do and Thanks!

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The Very First!

The very first of a new monthly feature in the “Palm Canyon Paradise” newspaper! Brought to you by the publisher of the long running “The Sun Runner” with a print edition circulation of over 50,000. The “Palm Canyon Paradise” will cover the Coachella Valley. The monthly feature written and photographed by me! Great Fun and Thanks!

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Bunny!

Not a Hugh Hefner Bunny! Memorial Day weekend was spent by me as photographer for the Palm Springs Air Museum. What incredible fun it was watching these warbirds take to the air doing flight demonstrations. Even had a chance to fly myself as well!

As one aircraft after another flew by with a crowd of 3000 people at my back, everyone applauded. But the biggest applause by far was for “Bunny”! Without question, the biggest airplane fan favorite, the P-51 Mustang from World War II.

This P-51 dedicated to the famed Tuskegee Airmen “Red Tails” and specifically to Lt. Col. Bob Friend who flew over 140 combat missions in an identical Mustang.

So while a runway filled with Playboy Bunnies might be fun, they just can’t compare to this “Bunny”! Flown by the very exceptional Tom Nightingale who obviously did some of that really cool pilot stuff! Thanks!

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Man ‘O’ War P-51 Mustang

Man ‘O’ War at the Palm Springs Air Museum. A P-51D Mustang WWII fighter plane. Courtesy of the Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. Truly amazing and exciting to see legendary airplanes like this flying close up.

Man 'O' War

Man 'O' War

Man 'O' War

Man 'O' War

Man 'O' War


Tuskegee Airmen Flies His P-51 Mustang Again!

Lt. Col. Bob Friend, 95 years old, flying in the P-51D Mustang made famous when he flew as a Tuskegee Airmen in World War II. “Bunny” has been fully restored and now flying at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Back on the ground, the Colonel was greeted by Air Museum Director Fred Bell, the man who made the restoration of this great aircraft possible over the last three years. The P-51 pilot for the Colonel and Bunny was Tom Nightingale.