RED TAIL P-51 at Hartford, CT 's AOPA National Meeting! Pics

[Jerry O'Neill]

I'll be working the AOPA Convention at Brainard Airport in Hartford, CT all week. Doug Rozendaal brought the Red Tail P-51C Mustang in Monday night and the new Red Tail Squadron trailer is there with a magnificent, 180 degree movie screen inside. The film is wonderful and stunning in the super wide venue! the seats even rumble to the sound track!
Please, if you're in the area, stop in and say hello and watch a wonderful film about some unique American Heroes...The Tuskeegee Airmen!

And for those of you who might be local inhabitants, George Hardy, Tuskeegee Airman, makes an appearance in the film!

See you there!
Jerry

Here's the press release!

P-51C Mustang and Traveling Exhibit

Honoring Tuskegee Airmen Coming to AOPA Aviation Summit



The CAF Red Tail Squadron's rare P-51C Mustang will be in Hartford, Connecticut at the AOPA Aviation Summit on September 22-24, 2011. The WWII-vintage airplane has a bright red tail and flies to honor America's first black military pilots, the legendary Tuskegee Airmen.



The Mustang will be joined by the new CAF Red Tail Squadron RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit, a customized 53' trailer with expandable sides that houses a 160-degree curved movie screen and seating for 30 in climate-controlled comfort. A 14-minute original movie called "RISE ABOVE" focuses on what the Tuskegee Airmen - pilots and their support personnel - had to overcome to be allowed to fly and fight for their country during World War II. It also features some great flying footage - in the Mustang -that is enhanced by the long curved screen. The movie was sponsored by the Texas Flying Legends Museum.



The CAF Red Tail Squadron, a volunteer-driven non-profit organization that is part of the Commemorative Air Force, completed a $1 million restoration of the Mustang - named Tuskegee Airmen - in 2009 and the airplane has been on the air show circuit ever since. [The Mustang had been restored once before and toured the air show circuit for three years starting in July 2001 before it crashed due to catastrophic engine failure at a Minnesota air show in 2004.] At each stop, its pilots and crew take every opportunity to tell audiences the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first black fighter pilots to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps (now U.S. Air Force) and the thousands of other black men and women who supported them.



About the CAF:

Collecting, restoring and flying vintage historical aircraft for more than half a century, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) ranks as one of the largest private air forces in the world. The CAF is dedicated to Honoring American Military Aviation through flight, exhibition and remembrance. A non-profit educational association, the CAF has more than 8,000 members and a fleet of 156 airplanes distributed throughout the country to 74 units located in 27 states for care and operation. For more information, visit http://www.commemorativeairforce.org or call (432) 563-1000. For more information about the CAF Red Tail Squadron, visit http://www.redtail.org.

Last edited by Jerry O'Neill on Wed Sep 21, 2011 10:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Warbird Kid]

Don't know if Ill be able to make it, though Im sure Phil will be there! Either way I wanna see pics!!!!!

[phil65]

Yep, Friday nite at Brainard airport, Saturday at the Convention Center & Saturday nite at the NEAM.

See you there,
Phil

[Jerry O'Neill]

Sweet! I'll post some photos tomorrow.
Jerry

[Red Tail]

Thanks for the plug on WIX Jerry. The new display has been very well received since its debut at Oshkosh. All of us on the Red Tail Crew are proud to be contributors furthering the story of the Tuskegee Airmen. Our target audience is youth, especially those in at-risk situations. The Tuskegee Airmen’s story is one they can embrace to understand the effort they put into bettering their situation is directly proportional to the success they will enjoy in life. As always, our ears are open to public comment. Let us know what you think!

Kind regards,
John Beyl
C/C Red Tail Mustang

[Jerry O'Neill]

Here are some photos of Red Tail and Doug Rozendaal doing the "Press" thing.
Cuba Gooding Jr. is suppose to be at the airplane tomorrow about 1:30pm if anyone cares!
Jerry













I made some 'aircraft specific" chocks for Red Tail!

[Django]

Thanks for the pics!

[Jerry O'Neill]

Cuba Gooding , Jr. stopped by today to help promote AOPA's Aviation Summit and George Lucas' upcoming "Red Tail's" film. Nice guy and he took the time to pose with everyone!
The day started out wet...but got better!


Me and Mr. Gooding!








Jerry.

[TAdan]

Just saw the pics over on the CAF Red Tails face book page. Nice to see some celebrity support turned out. Looks like a great event. I like the custom wheel chocks too.

[StangStung]

This is awesome. You have a real historic object presented in context to teach and preserve history, but more importantly, to inspire and new generation of citizens (and perhaps warbird fans). Kudos all around. I can't wait to see the entire package.

[Red Tail]

This is awesome. You have a real historic object presented in context to teach and preserve history, but more importantly, to inspire and new generation of citizens (and perhaps warbird fans). Kudos all around. I can't wait to see the entire package.

Thanks! That the aim and object behind the entire Squadron. I'd like to see a few actual historical artifacts added to the display but unfortunately, that probably isn't going to happen.

Jerry, did somebody on your crew make those sexy wheel chocks? Very nice!

John

[StangStung]

Well, I think you have the ultimate historical object there, but I get what you're saying. Think of it this way: you have a great foundation to add to in the future. You'll probably never run out of things to think about adding. But with the plane and the story that goes with it, everything else is pretty much a bonus.

[Jerry O'Neill]

Jerry, did somebody on your crew make those sexy wheel chocks? Very nice!

John

Like little Georgie Washington, I cannot tell a lie. It was I who cut down the cherry tree and carved those chocks out of the wood!

Actually I asked Marvona if they had a set last week and she said "no", so I took two of mine and repainted them.
Hardest part was finding the red rope!
Jerry

[krlang]

Dang,
Got a free pass via e-mail this week, but no time to get there.

Have fun guys.

K.L.

[Jerry O'Neill]

Here's a video link to the piece our local Fox News station aired last night:
http://www.ctnow.com/videobeta/ea52893a ... In-CT-9-22
Jerry