Trip to Fighter Factory and Kill Devils Hill

[flightsimer]

Last week I went on my first vacation in two years to the Outer Banks. It was my first time there and one the way down I stopped at the Fighter Factory. However, due to over 3hrs of traffic delays, mainly heading towards Norfolk and Virginia Beach, I didnt arrive at the museum until 4:40PM, 20 minutes before they closed.

I drove past Kitty Hawk on the way down as well, so I wanted to stop there on the way home. I also stopped at the FF again though I didnt get to stay as long as I would have liked as I had to drop someone off at BWI at a certain time, but these are the photos I got from both locations.

Kitty Hawk
Kill Devil's Hill

Aviation's Holy Land

The monument

[flightsimer]

And for the planes...
The Air Force hangar was packed, so there was limited photo angles and some of the planes, i just couldnt get any good shots of. The P-51 was in the Navy hangar as it wouldnt even fit in the Air Force Side. I have pictures of the WWII hangar, but have not gone through them yet.


Air Force Hangar
Hurry

Spit IX



Mossy



Tiger Moth

Not sure what this is




I-16

I-15



P-63

P-40E


B-25J


OVerviews

[flightsimer]

Navy Hangar

P-51D


A-1D

SNJ

FM2

N3N

PBY-5A

[flightsimer]

Cottbus and FF hangar

The photo of the Dragon Rapide was actually shot from outside through the glass looking into the FF hangar as it is closed on weekends. I was impressed how nicely the blue tinting of the windows was able to be removed from the picture. You can see the nose of Jerry's Aerostar to the left and the wingtip of the SNJ-2 to the right.


And now for the German's. I actually am not that big into German planes, but for some reason, I am absolutely obsessed with this hangar and aircraft. If i had the money, I would buy the hangar and aircraft in a heartbeat!

FW-190A-8


Signature of WWII 190 Pilot



JU-52






ME-108

[wgrosz]

the one hanging from the army hanger ceiling that you couldn't identify is a static Avro 504k. Also that is not the FW-190A8 in the Cottbus hanger that is a replica FW-190D9. The FW-190A8 that was sold to Tillamook is in the corner of the Fighter Factory, in the right hand corner closest to the windows that you took your photo from.

Last edited by wgrosz on Mon Jul 22, 2013 10:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Rob W]

Thanks for the photos from both locations. I can remember going down to Kill Devil Hill when I was a wee lad. Neat place!

The MAM/Fighter Factory, well, everyone knows what dire straights the museum and the collection is in. Sad. Those are some of the most comprehensive photos that I have seen from within the "Cottbus" hangar. Didn't realize that it was so large (large enough to house the Junkers, apparently...).

A quick observation, the 190 you photographed is the D-9, the most exotic and one of the rarest warbirds to be found anywhere on the planet!

Thanks for sharing!

[flightsimer]

the one hanging from the army hanger ceiling that you couldn't identify is a static Avro 504k. Also that is not the FW-190A8 in the Cottbus hanger that is a replica FW-190D9. The FW-190A8 that was sold to Tillamook is in the corner of the Fighter Factory, in the right hand corner closest to the windows that you took your photo from.

Yup, your right. I dont know why I put A-8 down as I knew that was sold and I knew this was a Dora. And thanks for the Avro.

[flightsimer]

Thanks for the photos from both locations. I can remember going down to Kill Devil Hill when I was a wee lad. Neat place!

The MAM/Fighter Factory, well, everyone knows what dire straights the museum and the collection is in. Sad. Those are some of the most comprehensive photos that I have seen from within the "Cottbus" hangar. Didn't realize that it was so large (large enough to house the Junkers, apparently...).

A quick observation, the 190 you photographed is the D-9, the most exotic and one of the rarest warbirds to be found anywhere on the planet!

Thanks for sharing!

I think that the hangar itself is so photogenic, especially if you can get the rafters in the picture. The third picture of the 190 is probably my favorite of the set due to the reflections in the rafters.

As for the size, the JU-52 fits in there just barely. I think they might actually bring it in sideways since it was not parked straight in.

[shrike]

The other unidentified airplane hanging from the ceiling is a Laister-Kauffmann TG-4A

[Rajay]

Awesome photos - thanks for posting them!

Do you recall how long a drive it was from Kitty Hawk to the Fighter Factory facility in VA Beach?

I'll be down at Kitty Hawk week after next and one of my nephews from LA who will be there is an airplane nut like me. He's spent almost as much time at the Museum of Flight in Seattle as I have and I took him flying in a Piper Seneca a couple of years ago after our Annual beach trip. He was only about 5 or 6 at the time - the headphones were huge on him and he could barely see over the instrument panel, but he loved it nonetheless.

It occurs to me that a little side "field trip" to the museum on VA Beach would be well worth the time and trouble this year - before the Yagen collection is broken up and shipped off to who-knows-where.

[sandiego89]

Do you recall how long a drive it was from Kitty Hawk to the Fighter Factory facility in VA Beach?

It occurs to me that a little side "field trip" to the museum on VA Beach would be well worth the time and trouble this year - before the Yagen collection is broken up and shipped off to who-knows-where.

The Museum in Virgiania Beach is well worth the trip from Kittyhawk. ~90 minute drive. Do not make the drive on a Saturday or Sunday however. Saturday is the big check-in/check out day in the outer banks and the main access road to the outerbanks (route 168) can be bumper to bumper. Sunday also busy, but Saturday is much worse. Weekday no problems. From Kittyhawk to the museum budget 90 minutes. Couple ways to do it. Take 158 North to the 168N to the Knotts island car ferry in Currituck NC. Take the ferry over and drive north on Princesss Ann to the museum. Won't save you time, but a fun way to travel, but you have to time the ferry. Best way is take 158 north from Kitty hawk, turning into 168N. Soon after you enter virginia, left exit to Battlefield blvd N. Take Battlefield N to Indian Creek road. Work your way east on Indian River to Princess Ann via Pungo landing road. 2 lane road, farmland, some winding roads. A longer way, but freeway much of the way is to take 158, then 168 up to 64 to 264 in Virginia Beach.

I can attest the museum is well worth it for WWII fans. Wife and easily bored kids maybe not so much.

A side tour if you are into Navy jets is Oceana Naval air station. F-18's galore, and a pretty good static display inside the main gate- Requires base access, or a vistor pass (registration, valid ID, valid insurance)

Go for it.

[flightsimer]

Do you recall how long a drive it was from Kitty Hawk to the Fighter Factory facility in VA Beach?

It occurs to me that a little side "field trip" to the museum on VA Beach would be well worth the time and trouble this year - before the Yagen collection is broken up and shipped off to who-knows-where.

The Museum in Virgiania Beach is well worth the trip from Kittyhawk. ~90 minute drive. Do not make the drive on a Saturday or Sunday however. Saturday is the big check-in/check out day in the outer banks and the main access road to the outerbanks (route 168) can be bumper to bumper. Sunday also busy, but Saturday is much worse. Weekday no problems. From Kittyhawk to the museum budget 90 minutes. Couple ways to do it. Take 158 North to the 168N to the Knotts island car ferry in Currituck NC. Take the ferry over and drive north on Princesss Ann to the museum. Won't save you time, but a fun way to travel, but you have to time the ferry. Best way is take 158 north from Kitty hawk, turning into 168N. Soon after you enter virginia, left exit to Battlefield blvd N. Take Battlefield N to Indian Creek road. Work your way east on Indian River to Princess Ann via Pungo landing road. 2 lane road, farmland, some winding roads. A longer way, but freeway much of the way is to take 158, then 168 up to 64 to 264 in Virginia Beach.

I can attest the museum is well worth it for WWII fans. Wife and easily bored kids maybe not so much.

A side tour if you are into Navy jets is Oceana Naval air station. F-18's galore, and a pretty good static display inside the main gate- Requires base access, or a vistor pass (registration, valid ID, valid insurance)

Go for it.

Actually, it was less than 90 minutes for me on Saturday from the time I left KItty Hawk to the museum. It was around 12 when i was leaving KH. I took the second route you mentioned as that was the way i came down. I would highly suggest not taking 168 to 64 though as all of the beach traffic is typically on 64.