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Nov-Dec 2008
- Battling Buzzards and the Black Sparrow
- Duxford
- Fragile Fighter Hawker Hurricane – Lone Star Flight Museum
In its ninth year, Thunder over Michigan has evolved into one of the premiere warbird airshows in the United States. Greg Morehead sat down with the principal organizers to get the inside story on what it takes to put the event together.
The 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team has partnered with the Commemorative Air Force’s Great Lakes Wing to take military reenacting to a new level. They now have the ability to bring airshow spectators a glimpse of U.S. airborne operations during World War Two. Greg Morehead and Trey Carroll recently went along during on the group’s performances.
Trey Carroll, a teenage warbird enthusiast and up and coming photographer, recently traveled across the Atlantic to visit the amazing Flying Legend’s airshow. He brings his perspective to the event.
The Lone Star Flight Museum recently began operating their freshly restored Hawker Hurricane. Unfortunately, an operational accident and the recent flooding wrought by Hurricane Ike means that it will be some time before this magnificent aircraft will see air under its wings. Fortunately, Scott Germain was able to capture the Hurricane in the air and speak with LSFM pilot Charlie Tilghman and restoration expert Ray Middleton prior to the unfortunate events.
Bill Lewallen recently completed the total rebuild of his Yak-11. Peter Ruddle describes the significant restoration and its conversion from a Reno racer to an ultimate sport-plane warbird.
The 2008 edition of the National Championship Air Races was the first in many years to feature all of the top contenders in the Unlimited Championship race. There was plenty of activity and drama leading up to those seven laps and Scott Germain was there to report for Warbird Digest readers.