SELECTIONS FROM RUSTY ALLEN AIRPORT (KRYW), LAGO VISTA, TEXAS, 2013:
FOUGA CM.170 MAGISTER, PIPER L-4 GRASSHOPPER & PIPER CHEROKEE SIX
FOUGA CM.170 MAGISTER, PIPER L-4 GRASSHOPPER & PIPER CHEROKEE SIX
(With some help of a friend from church, who also has his Beachcraft Sundowner parked there, the heiress and I made our way up the Texas hills to Rusty Allen Airport. By no means a big airport, it makes up in interesting private-owned aircraft...and their owners. Also lurking in the hangars, but unfortunately not shown here, are a Cessna O-1 Bird Dog, a Grumman OV-1 Mohawk, an Aero L-39 Albatros and odd assortments of older light aircraft.
Also had the chance to meet, Mr. Rusty Allen himself, 90+, pilot and former mayor of Lago Vista whom helped annex what was the Bar K Ranch airstrip into the city limits. Still a pretty sharp guy and the boss of the airport. Also has one of the most impressive private collections of Military Aviation memorabillia I had ever seen.
As for the Heiress, whom I've dragged along with me to a few airports to shoot plane pics, I think this visit piqued her interest in aviation more than before, especially the idea that you can own and fly your own airplane. Hope so. The world needs it.)
THE HEIRESS AND MR. DAVID IN THE SUNDOWNER, 2013
DOUGLAS C-47/R4D-5 SKYTRAIN, VALIANT AIR COMMAND WARBIRD MUSEUM, SPACE COAST REGIONAL AIRPORT (TIX), TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA, 2012
(Built in 1943, it was used by the United States Navy, and has been maintained with the colors of the Naval Air Transport Service of which it served (though the extra nose art is an add-on). After a little investigation, I found that this plane has traveled quite a bit. Besides whatever service it saw with its assigned naval squadrons during World War II, it has seen several owners in the U.S., Canada & Trinidad. A testament to the sturdiness of the DC-3/C-47 family.
Although parked near Valiant Air Command’s hangars, it’s actually registered to a private corporation out of Orlando. So it’s not clear whether the plane is or will become a part of the museum’s collection. It is airworthy, having been previously for sale by a dealership in Illinois.)
(Built in 1943, it was used by the United States Navy, and has been maintained with the colors of the Naval Air Transport Service of which it served (though the extra nose art is an add-on). After a little investigation, I found that this plane has traveled quite a bit. Besides whatever service it saw with its assigned naval squadrons during World War II, it has seen several owners in the U.S., Canada & Trinidad. A testament to the sturdiness of the DC-3/C-47 family.
Although parked near Valiant Air Command’s hangars, it’s actually registered to a private corporation out of Orlando. So it’s not clear whether the plane is or will become a part of the museum’s collection. It is airworthy, having been previously for sale by a dealership in Illinois.)
REVISITING THE T-33 (WITH THE HEIRESS), SAN MARCOS AIRPORT (HYI), TEXAS, 2011
(Including "movie poster". Note: Although it was parked in front of their hangar, this plane is not part of the Commemorative Air Force squadron as I had previously thought. Still researching whom it belongs to, but, a few hangers down saw two other T-33's parked and in different stages of restoration. Judging by the condition of this example and the other two, someone is putting a lot of loving care into these, and making them flight worthy. Good luck to them.)
(Including "movie poster". Note: Although it was parked in front of their hangar, this plane is not part of the Commemorative Air Force squadron as I had previously thought. Still researching whom it belongs to, but, a few hangers down saw two other T-33's parked and in different stages of restoration. Judging by the condition of this example and the other two, someone is putting a lot of loving care into these, and making them flight worthy. Good luck to them.)
NORTH AMERICAN F-100F SUPER SABRE, CESSNA T-37B TWEETY BIRD AND VOUGHT A-7D CORSAIR II, COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE HIGHLAND LAKES SQUADRON HANGAR/MUSEUM, BURNET AIRPORT (BMQ), TEXAS, 2011
THE PHANTOMS OF AUSTIN, 2011
(Photos 1-3: McDonnell Douglas F-4C of the147th Fighter Interceptor Group, Texas Air National Guard, on static display at Camp Mabry, Texas Military Forces HQ in Austin. Photos 4-6: RF-4C reconnaissance variant on static display in front of Del Valle High School near Austin-Bergstrom Intl. Airport. The later was a gift to the Del Valle school district by local veterans groups, since the current airport used to be Bergstrom Air Force Base, which was once home to several tactical reconnaissance squadrons.)
(Photos 1-3: McDonnell Douglas F-4C of the147th Fighter Interceptor Group, Texas Air National Guard, on static display at Camp Mabry, Texas Military Forces HQ in Austin. Photos 4-6: RF-4C reconnaissance variant on static display in front of Del Valle High School near Austin-Bergstrom Intl. Airport. The later was a gift to the Del Valle school district by local veterans groups, since the current airport used to be Bergstrom Air Force Base, which was once home to several tactical reconnaissance squadrons.)
NORTH AMERICAN F-86D SABRE, CAMP MABRY, AUSTIN, TEXAS, 2011
BELL AH-1 COBRA, CAMP MABRY, AUSTIN, TEXAS, 2011
LOCKHEED T-33A “SHOOTING STAR” TRAINER (AND THE HEIRESS), AT COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE CENTEX WING HANGAR/MUSEUM, SAN MARCOS AIRPORT (HYI), TEXAS, 2010
NAKAJIMA B5N “KATE” REPLICA, WITH A CHINESE-BUILT CJ-6A TRAINER IN BACKGROUND, COMMEORATIVE AIR FORCE CENTEX WING HANGAR/MUSEUM, SAN MARCOS AIRPORT (HYI), TEXAS, 2010
(Per internet source: "Both the North American SNJ/AT-6 and the Vultee BT-13 were used to construct the Kate replica. The rear monocoque and tail from a BT-13 were grafted to the rear fuselage bulkhead of a Texan and the entire fuselage was stretched. A new canopy, wingtips, wingroot fairings and a 3rd seat were also added to approximate the original appearance of the aircraft. Power is provided by a 600hp P&W R-1340. This aircraft is part of the CAF's 'Tora, Tora, Tora' demonstration group."
Note from myself: After the end of the Second World War, the Allied forces destroyed most Japanese, German and Italian warplanes, even those that were undamaged and perfectly flyable, per conditions of their surrender and disarmament. Thus, making any true Axis-built warplanes rare indeed, and thus necessitating the need to replicate a "Kate" from plentiful surplus American trainers.)
(Per internet source: "Both the North American SNJ/AT-6 and the Vultee BT-13 were used to construct the Kate replica. The rear monocoque and tail from a BT-13 were grafted to the rear fuselage bulkhead of a Texan and the entire fuselage was stretched. A new canopy, wingtips, wingroot fairings and a 3rd seat were also added to approximate the original appearance of the aircraft. Power is provided by a 600hp P&W R-1340. This aircraft is part of the CAF's 'Tora, Tora, Tora' demonstration group."
Note from myself: After the end of the Second World War, the Allied forces destroyed most Japanese, German and Italian warplanes, even those that were undamaged and perfectly flyable, per conditions of their surrender and disarmament. Thus, making any true Axis-built warplanes rare indeed, and thus necessitating the need to replicate a "Kate" from plentiful surplus American trainers.)
SELF-PORTRAIT ON AT-6 “TEXAN” NOSECONE, COMMEORATIVE AIR FORCE CENTEX WING HANGAR/MUSEUM, SAN MARCOS AIRPORT (HYI), TEXAS, 2010
