Cactus Fly-in 2013

[RobC]

Saturday, March 3 at the Cactus Fly-in. I am not a photog, so hoping someone with a camera will post.

After a rough winter, including the coldest January on record, there was a sea of smiles as the Cactus Fly-in in Casa Grande, AZ got underway with sunny skies and temps getting up to 80. Shortly before 10:00 a.m. FiFi, the CAF B-29, paid a visit - cirling the field a couple of times before shooting a missed approach, gear down and looking like she was going to land. Awhile later, the B-17 Sentimental Journey gave us a sedate fly past at altitude. On the large warbird side of things, there was a C-47 in civie colors from Flabob, Ca, joined later by the desert camo C-47 that is based nearby.

The most spectacular departure came from a silver Lockheed R-50, with a fast flyby before heading out to the East. A civie painted Albatross visited for a couple of hours. In addition, just about every variety of Twin Beech, from tri-gear H, to polished C-45, along with more Stearmans than you could count.

An SNJ took off and gave us a number of fly-bys with the gear down. Several thought he had forgotten, but I think he was just jealous of the Yale. I mean, who wouldn't be? Later in the day, he did another round, this time noticeably faster with the gear up.

The big surprise came after lunch when a formation of 20 trainers in five diamond-fours made a spectacular fly-by, heading off to the East. You guys were fantastic! Was hard to grasp all that was up there, but for sure a diamond of T-6's, leading the whole shebang, two of Nanchang/Yak, one mixed, and one of T-34's with maybe a Debonair in the lead?

All in all, a fabulous fly-in, oblivious to the "S" calamity, pulled off safely without Federal assistance, no control tower, no DHS, just regular folks having a good time on their own dime. Long may it be so.

[Dan K]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9kSiJ7DP4I


After a rough winter... (in Casa Grande, AZ??)

[TAdan]

Glad to see the PB4Y2 was there. The autogyros look like alot of fun too.

[Mike]

Glad to see the PB4Y2 was there.

It is based there.

[pjpahs]

Wasn't it tanker 121, BU # 66302. Is it flying or soon to be?

[Dan K]

Wasn't it tanker 121, BU # 66302. Is it flying or soon to be?

Flier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj1-MbeE3Yk

[wendovertom]

What is the plan for this tanker? Restoration or just fun to fly as is?

Tom P.

[bilwor]

Boeing Stearman N2S-3 (75-6451) E75 USN BuNo 05277 Kaydet N802RB Red Baron


Boeing Stearman VN2S-4 (75-4894) A75N1 USN BuNo 5657Kaydet N7025J Registered as PT-17


Being Stearman N2S-4 (75-3717) A75N11 USN BuNo 37978 Kaydet NC67957 Registered as PT-17


Boeing Stearman N2S-3 (75-2599) B75N1 USN BuNo 4269 Kaydet N3188

[bilwor]

Douglas C-47A Skytrain-Gooney Bird N53ST 42-23518


Douglas C-47A Skytrain-Gooney Bird N103NA Flabob Express 42-23669


Lockheed R5O-5(18-56-24) Lodestar N631LS BuNo 12474


Grumman HU-16C (UF-1) Albatross N7025J BuNo 131910

[wendovertom]

Who does that desert camo Gooney bird belong to?

Tom p.

[bilwor]

It is registered to PRESCOTT DC3 INC in Mesa AZ

[kalamazookid]

Love that civvie scheme on Stearman N3188. Sharp-looking bird!

[ChrisK48]

The SNJ maneuvering with the gear down.

[bilwor]

North American SNJ-4 Texan Boll Weevi N75964 88-9830 USN 1011



North American NA-64 Yale Bierkutche/Beer Truck 64-2207 RCAF 3363 N64FL

[cwmc]

The Learstar is awesome.
Chris...