Warbird Information Exchange

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

I know it's unlikley, but I would love to see some of these airplanes (especially the Lightnings and the Hunters), brought to the U.S. and end up on the air show circuit.

Probably one of the few countries with the people with the cash (and a regulatory authority who would say yes) where it would happen.

I didn't know Thunder City was in liquidation. When I used to have a subscription to Flypast, hardly an issue would go without containing some mention of Thunder City or its founder, Mike Beachy Head.

Sorry to see this.

_________________
Kevin Kearney
Vice President
Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation


C-54D "Spirit of Freedom" 43-17228
C-97 "Angel of Deliverance" 52-2718 (painted as YC-97A 45-59595)
C-54E/R5D-4 "Spirit of Freedom" 44-9144 BuNo 90414 (wfu April/2020)
http://www.spiritoffreedom.org

I believe they were effectively shut down by the South African version of the FAA.

I'm not sure if the SA's CAA shut them down or not, but they had already suspended operations after their 2-seat Lightning crashed and its pilot was killed about 18 months ago during practice for an airshow. After the accident, between the loss of expertise that he embodied and the emotional hit, their insurance also skyrocketed. I think it just became too much of a financial burden for them to tread water and the decision was made to shutdown and liquidate.

Cool planes! I think the buccaneer is a neat plane and the Lightenings are just sharp. But they are such pricey beasts to fly.

Tom P.

They did suspend TC's licence for operations, or rather for pleasure flights and such like, so effectively ending the fee earning side of the business. I believe they continued to operate solo pilot continuation check flights etc., for a while after the loss of the Tub, but with no business left as such, the sale or auctioning of the fleet was almost enevitable.