Warbird Information Exchange

Nice to see her in fresh paint & heading back on tour.

https://www.facebook.com/cafredtailsqua ... 568623716/

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

That's great news!

Glad to see it back in the air, you can probably pencil it in for Oshkosh too...
I like how they have made subtle changes to the paint scheme with each rebuild.
Let's hope this paint scheme does not change for a long time....

Below is a link to the CAF Red Tail squadron schedule as of now:

http://commemorativeairforce.us11.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=35b9240eea62c41cd5b5d9184&id=3123189cbd&e=17a00683cd

Hope that helps. Randy

So what were the subtle paint changes?

AirCorps Aviation provided all of the design work/guidelines for the markings, which although are largely based on the same markings which were used previously, were redone wherever deemed necessary to be more historically correct/authentic - probably the most noticeable is the "By Request" artwork, which now matches the original wartime artwork, as well as all of the stencils across the airframe (correct types/font/placements). The stripes around the nose are a bit different now, and some of the paints used seem to be different.

(The outcome I like most about this latest restoration, is that gone are the previous leading edge wing-fuselage fairings, from the 2004-09 rebuild, which had some awfully large/eyesore welds - with this latest rebuild, it got some great brand new fairings. The aircraft, overall, looks absolutely fantastic following this latest rebuild.)

She sure is pretty (again)! Though I sure miss having her based just a stone's throw away too.

The most notable change between the first and second rebuild is the location of the yellow stripe on the wing.
Rebuild #1-
Red Wing Airshow 2004 my photo:
0019305-R1-000-XA by Bryan Darnell, on Flickr

Rebuild #2-
Wings of the North's AirExpo 2014 my photo-
IMG_2545 by Bryan Darnell, on Flickr

Here's a photo of an original Dick Phillips photo (too big for my little scanner) that I'm fortunate enough to have in my possession, taken on June 1, 2001, during one of the early test flights following the first rebuild, with Bob Odegaard at the controls (Gerry Beck was flying the SNJ camera plane).



Another difference in the markings, now, is that the red "no step" border has been added back onto the port-side flap again - something that was painted on the original rebuild, but wasn't applied after the second rebuild. The "Tuskegee" name on the cowlings used to be insignia blue I think, and it is now applied in black. Although subtle overall, the revisions to the paintwork, in addition to adding a further level of historical authenticity, has resulted in a sharper looking aircraft too, I think.

Bob Odegaard and Gerry Beck ... sniff ... gone, but be a long long time before forgotten.

Such a COOL a/c, great to see it back in business!

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Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas

PIC, Ford 6600 pulling Rhino batwing up and down the runway

If you want to go way back, here is what it looked like the first time I saw it. This is from the CAF airshow at Holman Field (Downtown St Paul MN) from 1989 or 1990...
oldskoolcavtar by Bryan Darnell, on Flickr

Growing up, seeing it in that state at each of the annual (Southern) Minnesota Wing CAF airshows through the early-mid 90's, there was no way I'd ever not have the B/C Mustangs be my favorite of all the variants. Back when this photo was taken (1996), prior to the project moving to Beck's and Odegaard's shops, it was one of only four P-51B/C's known to exist in the world - today, the number of examples flying, alone, doubles that, with three more underway to fly (one of which should be ready in time for Oshkosh this year).

At this time in the project, the plan was initially for the aircraft to be restored/painted as "Skipper's Darlin' III", flown by Capt. Andrew Turner, CO of the 100th FS, but the direction later changed to be inclusive to all of the Tuskegee Airmen/Squadrons.

If you are interested in looking deeper into the repair. I wrote monthly pictorial updates you can see here:

http://www.projects.aircorpsaviation.co ... -red-tail/

Are any pictures available of the plane after the crash?

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remember the Oogahonk!
old school enthusiast of Civiltary Warbirds and Air Racers

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.