Now here's something noteworthy... FHC has finally released their summer flying schedule... I don't know about you folks, but I'm pretty happy with this lineup! They finally listened to the fans and have the 109 and 190 scheduled for two separate events.
Now here's a question, what do you think would be cooler to see? The P-40 vs. Zero, Hellcat vs. Zero, or IL-2 vs. Fw-190? I think for historical sake it would have to be the Eastern Front Fw-190 vs. the IL-2. Just think of that history! The ONLY original 190 (plus one that was an Eastern Front bird, nonetheless) flying with the ONLY airworthy IL-2? Man, that will be cool! The rest will be pretty cool (I LOVED seeing Bud Granley chasing the Zero last summer in both the Mustang and P-40!) so I'm psyched for this summer's events. Now lets just hope for decent (enough!) flying weather, and fewer gremlins!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fight2flyphoto/8622314087/" title="FHC 2013 Flying Events by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8400/8622314087_f6088ce46f_o.jpg" width="1200" height="911" alt="FHC 2013 Flying Events"></a>
OK, now that I've calmed down... enjoy a few extra photos of FHC's first flight of their Hellcat!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fight2flyphoto/8618717232/" title="IMG_7722 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8390/8618717232_ec04a2da60_c.jpg" width="800" height="534" alt="IMG_7722"></a>
Another nice smokey start with cowling panels removed.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fight2flyphoto/8617606499/" title="IMG_8076 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8386/8617606499_b3eb769085_c.jpg" width="800" height="534" alt="IMG_8076"></a>
With a puff of smoke, she comes alive, moments prior to first flight!
And another video, this time taking a small glimpse into its final restoration with a few pictures I was able to grab over the last year...
http://youtu.be/B0jNPZse4FkEnjoy!