Warbirds Still in Civil Configuration/Paint Schemes

[Noha307]

I was wondering what warbirds are still around that haven't been "re-militarized" or repainted to a military scheme. In other words, those that were in civil service after the war and still look that way.

For example, there is a former Forest Protection Limited TBM at the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum and another outside at the Central New Brunswick Woodsmen's Museum - both lacking the top turret and still in the colors of their former owner. Another example would be Charles Blair's P-51 at NASM.

I guess you could also include Neptune Aviation's P2Vs or Buffalo Airways C-46s, although I was thinking more along the lines of airframes no longer in commercial service.

As an aside, while its nice to see so many looking like they did during the war, I think would be nice to keep one or two in non-military schemes to commemorate their time in civil hands.

[Blackbirdfan]

Mike Couch's Bearcat is in civilian colors.

Will

[Chris Brame]

B-25C 41-13251: http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b25regis ... 13251.html

B-23 39-51: http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b23regis ... 90051.html

B-23 39-63: http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b23regis ... 90063.html

I believe B-23 39-31 in Ecuador is displayed in a civilian paint job as well. Then there are a lot of C-47s and Lodestars...

[JohnTerrell]

Some Mustangs (flying and static) - "Strega", "Miss America", "Voodoo", "Ole' Yeller", "Archie", "Miss Van Nuys", "Goldfinger"(N551MB), "Second Fiddle", "Excalibur III", N335, N51T, and N13Y
(Many more than this in "faux-military" schemes - a few other examples, which had survived for years in civilian markings, are currently under restoration/future paint/markings undetermined.)

P-38 N345 at the War Eagles Air Museum (not sure if you'd include examples like the Red Bull P-38 and B-25)

F2G "Race 57", "Rare Bear", Sea Fury D-CACE, "Spirit of Texas", "Riff Raff", "September Fury", "September Pops", "Furias"

I'd love to see the (recently now flying again) Spitfire MT818/G-AIDN in one of its old civilian schemes again. It would also be really neat to see Kermit Weeks' FG-1D, currently under restoration, emerge in its Cleveland Air Racing markings, but I'd imagine there is hardly a chance there (if/when it gets completed).

A few A-26 Invaders are around in non-military schemes.

Last edited by JohnTerrell on Thu Apr 20, 2017 7:12 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[CJAM427]

Aren't there a handful of DC-3/C-47's in civilian schemes?

[JohnB]

...and C-130s, and countless Hueys, H-58s, Sea Kings, H-34s, H-13s.

Basically, any warbird that is working for a living will probably be in civil colors

[Zac Yates]

I'm pretty sure the ex-Howard Hughes A-20 and B-25 are still in their TWA-inspired civil schemes and configurations. I don't have the s/ns but they've featured on this board many times. EDIT: the B-25 is 41-13251 as Chris Brame pointed out.

Mustang Miss Bardahl II was restored by GossHawk in the late 90s in her racing scheme of black and white checks, apologies if she's been mentioned already.

JohnT - I agree on G-AIDN, and I daresay several regulars at the Key Publishing Forum would be with us on that. A yellow Spitfire would make for a fun airshow display!

[quemerford]

As an aside, while its nice to see so many looking like they did during the war, I think would be nice to keep one or two in non-military schemes to commemorate their time in civil hands.

I'm with you on that one!

On a sort-of related topic, when the RAF Museum restored its Hawker Tempest I recall there being a number of people who thought it shameful that a late WW2 scheme hadn't been chosen. But those lesser-often seen colours are also part of aviation history and it's easy to forget that brave men and women also died whilst doing 'mundane' jobs like towing targets, training to fly, or dropping fire retardant.

[Noha307]

Thanks for all the recommendations guys!

P-38 N345 at the War Eagles Air Museum

Interesting, I had no idea there was a P-38 still around that was painted like that. What's the story behind that all-black (dark blue?) paint scheme? It doesn't seem like a leftover from a racer or commercial operator. The complete lack of any sort of markings is really strange. I mean there doesn't appear to be even a single bit of text on the airplane anywhere.

I'd love to see the (recently now flying again) Spitfire MT818/G-AIDN in one of its old civilian schemes again.

I had never even considered that there would have been British warbirds in non-mil schemes. Postwar civil operation of warbirds in non-commemorative roles seemed like such an American thing to me.

As an aside, while its nice to see so many looking like they did during the war, I think would be nice to keep one or two in non-military schemes to commemorate their time in civil hands.

I'm with you on that one!

On a sort-of related topic, when the RAF Museum restored its Hawker Tempest I recall there being a number of people who thought it shameful that a late WW2 scheme hadn't been chosen. But those lesser-often seen colours are also part of aviation history and it's easy to forget that brave men and women also died whilst doing 'mundane' jobs like towing targets, training to fly, or dropping fire retardant.

It would be cool, but unfortunately because everyone expects warbirds to be commemorating military history (and 99% of the public would have no idea what they're looking at) I don't think it will ever happen. Also, I thought the one in the RAFM was in a late/postwar scheme. I might be thinking of the wrong airframe though.

[quemerford]

Also, I thought the one in the RAFM was in a late/postwar scheme. I might be thinking of the wrong airframe though.

I'm pretty sure it's still in a silver early '50s target tug scheme: it looks beautiful and certainly stands out.

[Chris Brame]

But those lesser-often seen colours are also part of aviation history and it's easy to forget that brave men and women also died whilst doing 'mundane' jobs like towing targets, training to fly, or dropping fire retardant.

Don't get me started on that... at least there are a lot of trainers in training colors flying. Toulouse Nuts and Louisiana Heatwave are excellent examples of peacetime Mustang schemes. But it wouldn't take much to add the original training codes "BA" - and name Patricia - to the B-17F 42-29782 Boeing Bee, especially since it's in a plain scheme already...

[Lon Moer]

Thanks for all the recommendations guys!

P-38 N345 at the War Eagles Air Museum

Interesting, I had no idea there was a P-38 still around that was painted like that. What's the story behind that all-black (dark blue?) paint scheme? It doesn't seem like a leftover from a racer or commercial operator. The complete lack of any sort of markings is really strange. I mean there doesn't appear to be even a single bit of text on the airplane anywhere.
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That is the ex-Gary Levitz "Double Trouble". He had it painted in black with the "Oriental" style race number when it had the gear collapse at Reno and he sold it. Also notice that the prop blade tips were clipped.

[Lon Moer]

Mike Couch's Bearcat is in civilian colors.

Will

And this, the Mike Coutches Bearcat is under restoration but is reportedly going to retain its civilian paint colors.
Its also still listed for sale, so its going to be mine when I win the Lotto.






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[Xrayist]

Greenamyer's (sp?) Conquest 1 in the Smithsonian. As for jets, the Starfighters F-104's, the Red Knight that starts(ed) the Reno Races and I think that a F-86A is still in white and blue scheme.

[CJAM427]

Another one that I don't think has come up yet. Although this one works (or was working) for a living.

Mars inbound! by Connor Madison, on Flickr[/img]