Vance AFB Airpark Aircraft Moving To New Home

[JBoyle]

Speaking of AETC pilot training bases with airparks...
Laughlin has a nice one. It has thge usual suspects...T-6, T-28, T-33 but also a U-2.
The also had a nice display on Major Rudolph in one of the Ops building.

I did a TV story on them when I was in Abilene (and got to fly the new T-6), but since I was working, I didn't take any personal photos. Sorry.

[Randy Haskin]

Another update from the base paper:

http://www.vance.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123219237


(follow the link for a high res version of the photo)

8/26/2010 - Vance Air Force Base, Okla -- -- The citizens of Enid, Okla., will get a close-up view of aircraft from Vance AFB's past when an air park outside the main gate is completed.

The air park, due for completion in November, will display five training aircraft that Vance has used to train more than 31,000 pilots since 1941.

The aircraft will include the BT-13 Valiant, T-6 Texan 1, T-41 Mescalero, T-33 Shooting Star and T-28 Trojan. The aircraft are currently located on the flightline being repaired and painted by Vance maintenance technicians.

"We conducted extensive research, in coordination with the AETC History office, to ensure the historical accuracy of the airplanes markings. We look at everything from old newspaper articles to air force records from the time period in which the plane flew here at Vance AFB. " says Master Sgt. Markus Schnellhammer, the Historic Property Custodian.

Construction of the lighted concrete pads where the aircraft will be displayed is scheduled for completion by the end of August.

The air park will include a memorial to Vance AFB's namesake and Enid native, Lt. Col. Leon Vance, recipient of the Medal of Honor during World War II.

Although the aircraft are supposed to finish being painted in October, some delays such as weather and underlying damage hidden by the current paint layer, could possibly delay the completion process.

[Trey Carroll]

You could probably buy that T-6 dude, just leave it in flat pitch and change the oil every two or three years...

[Randy Haskin]

You could probably buy that T-6 dude, just leave it in flat pitch and change the oil every two or three years...

Ya know, I got very similar advice from a pretty smart warbird pilot, too. Hmmm.

[Green Goggles]

I live in Alva and visited Vance a couple months ago for a T-38 ride. What an awesome place that base is!
I hope to be able to visit again soon and see these planes in their new home. Thanks for sharing.

[Randy Haskin]

The BT-13 is out of the paint shop!

Looking very good, IMHO. Any BT experts care to comment on the authenticity?





The T-6 appears to have gone in for it's re-paint, as it's no longer on the flightline.

[Old SAR pilot]

Last time I was at Cannon was back in 1980. F-111's were everywhere.., what's there now?

27th Special Operations Wing (SOW) AFSOCOM, with AC-130H/Us,MC-130Ws, CV-22s, Pilatus PC-12, M-28 Skytruck, and the DeHavilland Dash 8.