Planes of Fame Report

[mrhenniger]

Catherine and I arrived at LAX on the first day of our vacation on Sunday. After picking up our rental car we immediately drove to Chino which was on our way to Palm Springs. I was hoping that the Yanks Museum would be open, but since it was a Sunday the gates were closed. Oh, well that was to be another day. So we just continued down the road trying to enjoy the rural atmosphere (i.e. the rather aromatic scents of the large farms surrounding Chino), and made our way to the Planes of Fame.

It had been about seven years since I had last visited. As far as the layout was concerned, not too much had changed, and since many of you on WIX get there on a regular basis there isn’t too much I can share that would be considered news. The F7F had been moved off the grass to down near the fence bordering the operational area. There was also what appeared to be a Crusader cockpit on a trailer nearby. I assumed that maybe it was just a movie prop, but later when we visited the jets part of the museum, we found what appeared to be the fuselage section. Pictures and serial numbers will follow in the weeks to come.

In one of the buildings I got to peer though a window into the fighter rebuilders hanger. The Spit PS890 is still there! The cowl panels had been removed, but it was otherwise intact.

In one of the hangers (I don’t have my notes with me right now) was a Bearcat being restored. I am sure this airframe has been mentioned here before, but could someone remind me which airframe this is?

Before leaving Chino, Catherine and I made a quick stop at the Fighter Jets museum. I got some shots of the P-59 restoration, but there wasn’t any working on it to ask about the status. Outside there was a “new” A-4 Skyhawk, and has mentioned about a Crusader fuselage. When I first visited the museum in 1997, I photographed an F-84F, but there were no markings to indicate the ID of the airframe. No one, including nobody on WIX, has been able to reveal an ID. It has been annoying to me to have a picture of an airframe in my collection without an ID (the other serial number freaks here on WIX will understand). I then had a chance to look for a serial number or a data plate. It took about five minutes, but I found a plate in the starboard side main gear well. After brushing away some dirt I was able to find the serial stamped in the plate! Again I don’t have my notes with me, but I will post the serial when I post the pics.

That is all for now. I’ll post a report about my visit to the Palm Springs Air Museum soon.

Regards,

Mike