T-34 Mentor Fly-In
| The annual T-34 “Mentor” Fly-In just this past weekend. Sponsored by the Air Force Association Palm Springs and the Palm Springs Air Museum.Developed as a replacement for the training aircraft of World War II, the T-34 Mentor still remains in service today as the T-34C Turbo Mentor. Many of the original T-34’s are privately owned. |
Mustang Passing On The Right
Doing a flyover with the P-51D Mustang “Bunny” from the Palm Springs Air Museum. I was in a T-28B Trojan also from the Museum.
T-28b In The Air
From one of our flyovers, the Palm Springs Air Museum T-28B Trojan in the air over the Coachella Valley. I was flying in the Air Museum C-47 “What’s Up Doc”.
Facing Off A Mustang
Today, yet again, I faced off a P-51 Mustang and forced it into submission. At the Palm Springs Air Museum.
‘Twas The Day Before Christmas
And I fueled airplanes to get ready for flying Sunday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Me in the red shirt and hat. Ho Ho Ho!
The “Movie Memphis Belle”
Now at home at the Palm Springs Air Museum. It flew in about a month ago.The actual B-17 “Flying Fortress” from the 1990 motion picture “Memphis Belle”. Look for it flying in later 2022.
Air Shows 2022
Last week at ICAS in Las Vegas for the Palm Springs Air Museum. The International Council Of Air Shows. Our aircraft will be at air shows in 2022 for performing, VIP, sponsor and ride flights.
Hotel View Las Vegas
The view from my hotel room last week for ICAS. The International Council Of Air Shows convention in Las Vegas.
Roy’s Airport
Last Monday had to stop on the way to Las Vegas for the ICAS convention. The International Council Of Air Shows. Always time for an airport.
Veterans Day Flyovers
Veterans Day this year the Palm Springs Air Museum did flyovers in the C-47 and other Museum aircraft. Alongside was the C-53 “D-Day Doll” from the Commemorative Air Force Riverside CA.
Reno Air Races Behind The Scenes
I was getting the Palm Springs Air Museum T-6 towed back to the race pits after doing a raffle ride for the Air Races. Shot a few photos as I was riding back on the tailgate of the truck. I think this is a pretty cool scene from the woman who is my wing walker to the couple by the jet and the other guys just there doing what they are doing. Reno Air Races 2021.
The Bachelorette
Photograph from the ABC series “The Bachelorette”. Why do I have it here? Well just to the right of that airplane is me. Much of the episode was shot at the Palm Springs Air Museum. So it was my job to send the airplane out, have it taxi back on cue and marshal it back to the spot marked by the director. The spot marked with 3 inches of green masking tape. Not easy but we did it in one take! The pilot Patrick and I have worked together a lot so we know each other like this really well.
A lot more was shot at the Air Museum over a few days and the video scenes are pretty cool. So watch it if you get a chance. It aired this week and it is Season 18, Episode 3, Week 3. https://abc.com/shows/the-bachelorette/episode-guide/season-18/03-week-3
C-130 Taxi At Sunset
A C-130 going by the Palm Springs Air Museum around sunset last Friday evening.
Reno Air Races 2021
Saturday morning I fly up to the Reno Air Races. I am on the team for the Palm Springs Air Museum. We are racing three airplanes, two P-51 Mustangs and a P-63 Kingcobra. We are also flying up our T-6 and a C-47. An entire Air Force! I will be flying up in another P-51 Mustang but if one of these guys could take me with them that would be great. I am all about being time efficient. Less travel time is good. Thanks in advance Thunderbirds if you could stop by and pick me up. Photograph from the 2019 Reno Air Races.
My Best Side
Me doing more of what I do at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Photograph by my good Air Museum friend Rob.
National Aviation Day
It is National Aviation Day as well as being National Photography Day. Both work for me! In the Palm Springs Air Museum T-33.
Great View
Doing something special flying in the Palm Springs Air Museum World War II C-47. The view is great this way. Thanks to my backup safety, Rob, for the some quick cellphone shots along the way.
77 Years Later Fueling A C-47
June 6, 1944 D-Day, the Allied Invasion of Europe. The aircraft most remembered in the invasion was the C-47, dropping paratroopers and supplies. We did not fly today at the Palm Springs Air Museum but I did fuel the Museum C-47. It is painted in the D-Day invasion stripes of the time. Just interesting to think what I was doing these 77 years later.
C-47 Flight Today
Today’s flight in the Palm Springs Air Museum World War II C-47. From and back to Palm Springs doing approaches at March Air Reserve Base. The March tower asked “How old is that airplane?” This one was built in 1944. That makes it 77 years old.
Over March Air Reserve Base
This was our last pass today through March Air Reserve Base. The prior pass was right down the runway at 50 feet before we pulled up, but I was too busy to get some video. We were flying in the grand-daddy of those C-17’s down there; the Palm Springs Air Museum World War II C-47.
Flyover For WWII Nurse 101 Years Old
June 1942, Doris Howard arrived in Palm Springs as an Army nurse at the newly converted hospital, previously the famous El Mirador Hotel. Serving throughout the war, taking her to other countries, she even survived a Kamikaze attack.
Returning to Palm Springs and what is now Desert Regional Medical Center all these years later, we were honored to do a flyover for her in the Palm Springs Air Museum WWII era C-47 on Friday May 14, 2021. The full story and more photos from the ground in the Desert Sun newspaper at http://bit.ly/DorisHoward
My Friday Morning
Doing the start up and watching the run up on the P-51 Mustang “Man O’ War” at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Rob shot the photo, good call!
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