Warbird Information Exchange

Thought some of you might be interested in these pictures. This is somewhat in continuation of The Beijing P-61 Missing Thread which I was able to contribute. OK, all I found was half a parking lot with airplane parts but I was hot on the trail I tell you There are two other links in that thread that Brandon AKA BDK solved a lot of mystery on the P-61's ID. I know in This Thread it was reported indoors but I wanted to complete my quest to satisfy my own curiosity and hopefully share some interesting pictures for my fellow WIXers.

I made it back to Beijing early this month and found the new museum next to the magnificent Computer Sciences building in Beihang University. There was a small sign to the right of the main doors in English that said “Tickets” with an arrow pointing to a small glass sliding window. Unfortunately I do not speak Mandarin except for the standard hello and thank you. I greeted the lady with a quick "nǐ hǎo", held up my index finger to ask for one ticket but the language barrier situation was immediately apparent. After several rounds of her Mandarin and my English, all I could understand was ID. All I had was my driver’s license which I handed to her. With a polite wave she said no and the glass window was shut. I stood there somewhat stunned and asked again what she needed. The window opened and several more phrases of Mandarin followed. I again apologized for my lack of understanding and tried again to ask for one ticket... pointing at the sign next to her window. She asked a student walking by if he could translate... no was the quick answer... and with a firm wave he was gone. The glass window was closed once again. “But they’re right in there”, I said to myself. As if the Gods answered my plea, another student exited the museum, noticed my frustration and asked what was wrong.

“I just want to pay for a ticket and see the planes”, was my exasperated reply. He tapped on the window, talked to the lady in perfect Mandarin, a ticket was thrust into his hand and the window was shut again. The young gentlemen handed me the ticket and said, “Here you go.”

“What did she want” I asked as he walked away.

“I dunno.” He said matter of factly.

Anyways, here are a few pictures. Please do let me know if I’ve got the wrong name or can identify where I have none. The full set is atThis Link – Click Here

Have to start with the elusive P-61.

Edit: The little blue guy under the P-61 in your first pic is a Mraz M-1D from Czechoslovakia (Credit K5083 aka August)

A view from above.


Another close up low and front.


A unique display of an IL-28 and an IL-10.


Each aircraft had an electronic sign but nothing in English. Could only see an “11” on this one, not sure of the manufacturer.
Edit: Lavochkin La-11 (Credit Mike)


The P-47 many of you have already seen.


Although it’s apparent from this angle the restoration wasn’t too thorough.


And I swear there was two different tires on this aircraft.


No idea on this one although it really has Storch characteristics.
Edit: Czech LET L.60 Brigadyr (Credit LysanderUK)


Lots of Migs – MIG-9.


MIG-15s
One of the MiG-15s, number 7501, is an early MiG-15, not the much better known MiG-15bis. Number 86101 is a 15bis. (Credit K5083 aka August)


MIG-19 or more accurately a J-6 III


Two other American aircraft, a C-47
Edit: Lisunov Li-2 from the USSR (Credit K5083 aka August)


... and a Texan.
Edit: Harvard Mk IIB (AT-16) FE499, a former RCAF machine and sold to the Chinese Air Force circa 1947 (Credit rcaf_100)


One for Dan Jones


One last very interesting – at least IMHO – a PE-2
Edit: Tupolev Tu-2 (Credit K5083 aka August)

Nice shots!


Actually Harvard Mk IIB (AT-16) FE499, a former RCAF machine and sold to the Chinese Air Force circa 1947.

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The fighter marked '11' is a Lavochkin La-11.

A recent write-up by Karl Drage of Global Aviation Resource will help you identify some of the other types.

http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v ... niversity/

The Storch-like aircraft is a Czech LET L.60 Brigadyr. It looks like a very interesting museum, thanks for the pictures. I'm glad you managed to get in, top marks for perceverance!

Edited to add- the Pe-2 is actually a Tupolev Tu-2.

Thanks for the pictures lightjug. So happy this Black Widow (and other aircraft in the collection) are indoors.

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I was there last May. Here's my gallery, mostly similar pics to yours.

http://aircraft-in-focus.com/beijing-ai ... ce-museum/

I had no trouble getting in, even though I too was alone and spoke only tourist-phrase Mandarin. Just depends whether the person at the door thinks you're cute I guess.

There are several unique treasures there.

The "PE-2" is a Tupolev Tu-2.

The "C-47" is American designed, but not American made. It's a Lisunov Li-2 from the USSR.

The little blue guy under the P-61 in your first pic is a Mraz M-1D from Czechoslovakia.

One of the MiG-15s, number 7501, is an early MiG-15, not the much better known MiG-15bis. Number 86101 is a 15bis.

August

Thanks for posting. Can anyone comment on the upper turret guns on the Black Widow as displayed here? I know the inners on the quad mount are higher than the outer guns, but somthing looks askew here. Are they dummy wooden dowels?

Thank you for sharing the great pictures Lightjug, much appreciated.

One question, under what circumstances would grey on top and green on the bottom be effective camo?!!! Maybe flying upside down over the jungle?

Thank you RCAF_100, Mike, LysanderUK, TAdan, August, sandiego89 and C VEICH – edited as required.

So the P-61 hadn't collapsed upon itself from all the "corrosion"?

Looks like they replaced all the sheet metal window coverings with plastic. Definite improvements to all the aircraft!

Thanks for the photos.

I wonder what has happened to the Ryan ST-M fuselage they had at the old place.

"I wonder what has happened to the Ryan ST-M fuselage they had at the old place".

exactly what I was thinking as well
hopefully not scrapped!

You are welcome Sir



I checked my video and pictures - I do not see the the Ryan anywhere in the new museum nor in the pictures of the airplane parts from my 2012 visit.

Mark