Warbird Information Exchange

I have finally posted all my pics on Webshots. This was my first trip using a digital SLR, and I discovered I need more practice! I am sure like wine I will get better with age.

Anyway... I posted links to a few photo albums before. I later discovered the laptop I was using on the trip is not very good for photo editting. I ended up redoing all of the pictures and reloading them. The links from before are still good, but the following are new links.

Me-262 Project
I took a quick tour of the hangers. White 1 is still on site. Apprarently tax season is a busy time for the owner, and he is therefore waiting to pick up his new Schawble. The third airframe is very well advance with the wing in position under the fuselage. Mating can't be too far away if it hasn't happend already. My tour guide indicated the previous two buyers are funding this build so far. If they approve purchase of the engines their could be taxy tests by the end of the summer. I wasn't allowed to take pictures in the hanger, but they did have the hanger doors wide open. I got a few shows from the car before I left...
http://community.webshots.com/album/549415807uMmhRg

Flying Heritage Collection
Sorry folks, NO PICTURES! Apparently Mr. Allen himself says who and when publishes pictures, including on the internet. Since I would like to be welcomed back I won't be posting any. I can tell you about what I saw. There wasn't much change in the hanger from my last trip, but this time I did get to see the Po-2. They also make an effort to tell the story about the Russian "Night Witches" and the Po-2. In addition they have a newly restored ball turret for their B-17 on display. The P-51 was undergoing it's annual in the other building and the tour took us there. In that same hanger I could see the to F-8s and a F-105 tightly packed in together. Unfortunately the P-47 hadn't yet arrived. Apparently they are waiting for good weather up the length of the coast for a delivery flight. No sign of the Bf-109 or Fw-190 either, but I didn't ask.

Air Station Museum
This museum is now closed, but some of the aircraft are still there. The volunteers from this museum now volunteer for the FHC, and one of those volunteers, Norm (an occasional poster on WIX), gave me a tour of the planes still in the hanger. I was pleased to see the Wildcat I once had spotted at the PoF in Chino in 1997. There was also an A-26 (one of my most favorite types), and F-84G and the nose section of a Neptune. Apparently the Neptune was an east coast bird and not a west coast bird. That is all I know. If anyone knows any more please let me know. I took some pictures, but it was a rainey day and dark inside the hanger. Combined that with me learning how to use my new camera... well forgive the poor quality of these shots...
http://community.webshots.com/album/549570390kROLoh

Arlington Airport
The airport itself (the location of the FHC and the Air Station Museum) is an interesting place because of a few interesting types. I let you just browse the photo albums. I included information in the captions for whatever I could, but many of the airframes I photographed are not identified. If you have any info to add let me know!...
http://community.webshots.com/album/549562854uSQwHx

SeaTac International Airport
I had some time to hang out at the gate before my flight home on the Friday. While I was there I got some practice using the camera. If you like airliner shots you might like this album...
http://community.webshots.com/album/549571669wdximj

As I mentioned above, these are only the most recently added albums. I added some pictures to my other Seattle albums for which I posted links previously. For a complete list of my most recently created photo albums visit...
www.aerialvisuals.ca/Albums.html

Also, I just posted a new desk top calendar for your PC for May. You can find it here...
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/Calendar.html
It features a picture of the Vintage Wings of Canada (Michael Potter) Mustang.

That is it for now.

Regards,

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Mike, which Wildcat is at Arlington? Any idea who the owner is ?

The wildcat is stored in the old hanger formally run by the "Air Station Museum". Apparently it is owned by the same guy that owns the A-26 in the same hanger, but I have not been able to find a c/r for it. This what I have...FM-2, s/n 86774 USN, c/n 5832

You can click the link for the Air Station Museum above, or go right to the first pictures of the wildcat at...
http://community.webshots.com/photo/549 ... 1775IXzgWK
...Please forgive the poor pictures. The lighting was low and I really didn't know what I was doing with my new camera.

This Wildcat was at the Planes of Fame in Chino until a few years ago.

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Ooooppsss... Double post!

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Thanks, Mike.

Pictures look good...

What model of Dig SLR did you get?

Canon Rebel XT for starters. Maybe next year if the $$$ are available I'll make a step up. I also picked bought an 18-55 IS lens and a 28-135 IS lens. I hope to obtain a 100-400 before the start of air show season.

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Nice Digital Combo...

I am looking for a 2XTeleconvertor for my Nikon D50 before Airshow starts...

Andrew

I also bought a vertical battery holder/grip for the body. It holds a second battery and give you the ability to use AAs if you are in a tight spot. It also make's holding the smaller body of the XT really easy like a larger camera. You also get a shutter release and a few other duplicate controls in another position to facilitate the vertical shots.

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Mike,

Thank you for the info on the collections you visited. I am starting a similar tour next week. I have a few questions.


I start in Vancouver, can you tell me if the Martin Mars flying boats are still kept on Vancouver Island as the website states (FlyingTankers)?

Is the B-17E that belongs to the Paul Allen Colection on display, can you see the aircraft?

Another B-17 question. The F model belonging to the Museum of Flight, is it on display or can you make arrangments to see it?


Thanks again for your info.

Take care,

Chris

I can't help you with that one Chris. Hopefully someone here can. I thought they were kept at Moses Lake, WA, but I am from the east, not the west, so I don't really keep up with new on that side of the continent.



You can see parts of it. There is an inner wing section on display, an outer wing/wing tip, an engine nacelle and a newly restored ball turret. I was told they recently resume restoration of the bomber, so for liability reasons they are no longer allowing visitors into that hanger.



No it is not on display. I don't know if you can make arrangements, but if you can let me know!

HTP

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Mike,

Thank you for the info.

I will go over to Vancouver Island tomorrow, I checked with some seaplane pilots in Vancouver, they said the planes are still on Sprout Lake.
I guess I will find out tomorrow.

Thanks again,

Chris

Mike,

Were you at least allowed to take photos for your own personal collection?

If you are referring to the FHC the answer is yes. Shoot as many pictures as you want.

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Hi Chris,

FT Inc are still operating the two Martin Mars on Sproat Lake, named after a man, not a vegetable! Normally, if they aren't too busy, they'll give you a tour. If the a/c are on the water, it's possible to hire a canoe or boat from one of the campsites and have a paddle out and around them - just don't get under the wing-float!

HTH

_________________
Raven