Warbird Alley's
Warbird News
Here's the latest news from the warbird aircraft community.
We update this page on an as-needed basis, and items
are moved to the News Archive after approximately fourteen months.

Today's Date:

[Click the newspaper to jump to the latest news.]

May 2008:

• 17 May: A 1941 Boeing E75 / PT-17 Stearman, N4787V, was substantially damaged during landing in Cottonwood, Arizona.

• 18 May: A 1942 Boeing A75N1 / PT-17 Stearman, N450JN, departed the runway on landing at Joshua Tree, California, USA. The aircraft pitched onto its nose, caught fire, and burned. The pilot was unhurt, but the aircraft was destroyed.

• 19 May: The Evergreen Air and Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, USA has secured ownership of a rare Lockheed EC-121T (s/n 52-3417) that for years had been used as a training airframe at a technical college in Helena, Montana. The museum plans to have the aircraft restored in Arizona, then fly it to Oregon for permanent display.

• 22 May: A 1974 BAC Jet Provost Mk.5A, N78SH (XW336), force-landed in a field near Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA. Neither occupant was injured.

• 23 May: A 1972 Nanchang CJ-6, N81817, was involved in a formation mid-air collision with a RV-8 homebuilt aircraft in Decatur, Alabama, USA after the CJ-6 had participated in a flyby. The CJ-6 pilot safely returned for a landing. The pilot of the RV-8 was killed.

• 23 May: A North American T-6G Texan, N25KP, suffered the collapse of its main landing gear and slid off the runway during landing in Belmar, New Jersey, USA. The pilot was not injured.

• 29 May: The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) released a modified version of its security directive (SD-8G), the previous version of which would have severely curtailed the ability of aircrew to access certain airports. [More information here].

• 29 May: The Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force is pleased to announce the successful first flight of their North American B-25N Mitchell, N125AZ (s/n 43-35927), called "Maid in the Shade," in Mesa, Arizona, USA. Crewmembers Tim Jackson, Russ Gilmore, and Spike McLane reported that the aircraft performed very well. The aircraft last flew in 1981, and during its restoration it was returned to authentic wartime configuration.

B-25 N125AZ. Photo courtesy Francois Bergeon.

June 2009:

• 4 June: A rare 1939 Messerschmitt Bf-109E-4, CF-EML, operated by the Russell Aviation Group, made an emergency landing in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, after hitting a flagpole near the end of the runway after takeoff. One of the aircraft's wings sustained damage, but pilot John Romain landed safely. The pole was allegedly one of several erected shortly before the incident by a disgruntled man who owns property adjacent to the airport.

• 4-6 June: The National Biplane Association held their final Biplane Expo in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA. The event had been held every year for 23 years.

• 6 June: A 1947 deHavilland DH-115 Vampire Mk.3, N6878D, owned by Wings of Flight, Inc., lost engine power after takeoff at Rochester, New York, USA, and made a forced landing short of the runway. Pilot Peter Treichler was injured, but is expected to make a full recovery. This particular aircraft was once owned by actor John Travolta, and it is generally considered to be the oldest jet aircraft still flying.

• 6 June: A 1944 Lockheed P-38 Lightning, N79123 (s/n 44-27231) ("Ruff Stuff") experienced an apparent "runaway propeller" during takeoff at an airshow in Fairmont, Nebraska, USA. Pilot Rob Ator did a great job aborting the takeoff, but a tire blew in the process. The aircraft was not damaged.

• 8 June: A 1996 Yakovlev Yak-11, N7YK, veered off the runway and struck a concrete barrier during a landing in Culpepper, Virginia, USA. The pilot was not injured, but the aircraft was substantially damaged.

• 8 June: A 1948 Meyers OTW-145, N34335, came to rest in a ditch upon landing in Haskell, Texas, USA, after the right brake locked. Neither occupant was seriously injured.

• 9 June: The Canadian Warplane Heritage's rare Westland Lysander, C-GCWL, made its first post-restoration flight, with Rob Erdos at the controls. The flight was reported to be a complete success.

• 17 June: A 1979 Dornier Alpha Jet, N707XA, landed gear-up at Arlington, Washington, USA. The aircraft was only slightly damaged.

• 17 June: The U.S. Air Force's venerable Cessna T-37 "Tweet" flew its final student training flight at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Over 78,000 pilots were trained in the T-37 during its 50+ years of service. [Including this editor, who has fond memories of the "6500-lb. Dog Whistle"... Ed.]

• 19 June: A Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber has been recovered from the bottom of Lake Michigan, where it had rested since 1944. Former McDonald's CEO Fred Turner financed the recovery, and the aircraft will be restored in Pensacola, Florida, before being permanently displayed in a museum in Hawaii. [More details here.]

• 19 June: A North American T-6A Texan, N9793Z, incurred damage in Olympia, Washington, USA as the result of a bounced landing, during which the right wing contacted the ground.

• 23 June: The Florida-based Valiant Air Command's Douglas C-47A Skytrain, N3239T ("Tico Belle"), made its first flight after an eight-year long restoration following a landing accident in 2001.

• 24 June: A 1973 Nanchang China CJ-6, N6339V, suffered the collapse of its landing gear after landing in Aurora, Oregon, USA. The pilot was not injured.

• 26 June: The American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale, New York USA, might lose its historic hangar home at Republic Airport due to a federal airport improvement project. [Details here.]

• 29 June: A 1941 Boeing A75N Stearman, N38978, flipped over while landing at Quinton, Virginia, USA. The pilot was not injured.

July 2009:

• 4 July: A North American T-28 Trojan suffered an engine failure shortly after a formation takeoff from Midlothian, Texas, USA and made a force landing in a field. Owner/pilot John Sledge was injured but is good condition. The aircraft was badly damaged and is believed to be a "write-off."

• 4 July: Two people were killed in the fiery crash of a 1968 Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin jet, N97869, in Tehachapi, California, USA. Local airport manager Dave Zweigle and former Air Force test pilot (and retired airline pilot) Bob Chamberlain were lost after performing a formation lag roll at low altitude. [NTSB report].

• 8 July: David Lindsay, founder of the Cavalier Aircraft Corporation in Sarasota, Florida, has passed away at the age of 86. He was considered one of the world's leading experts on the refurbishment and re-design of the P-51 Mustang. Many of his Cavalier Mustang conversions are still flying today.

• 9 July: A 1944 North American SNJ-5/T-6 Texan, N212TC ("Mystical Power'), crashed while performing aerobatics near Kiowa, Colorado, USA. Well-known air-race and airshow pilot Gary Miller was killed.

• 9 July: A 1955 Percival P56 Provost T.1, G-AWVF / XF877, crashed near Bishop Norton, Lincolnshire, UK, killing pilot John Fairey.

• 11 July: The Collings Foundation will soon be taking delivery of a two-seat Saab Viggen SK 37E jet fighter, believed to be one of only two flyable examples in the civilian world.

• 15 July: A Canadair CT-133 Silver Star Mk. 3(T-33) jet, N3648 (Ser. No. 133648), enroute from CFB Trenton, Ontario, Canada, to its new home in the USA, went off the end of the runway during its takeoff roll, coming to rest in a ditch near the perimeter fence. The pilot was taken to a local hospital with unknown injuries. [News link] This particular aircraft was the final CT-133 produced by Canadair, as was used as an ejection seat test-bed during its military service.

• 16 July: The Royal Australia Air Force Museum and the Temora Aviation Museum in Australia are pleased to announce the first flight of their recently restored CA-27 Sabre (A94-983). [Photos and video here]. 

• 17 July: The Commemorative Air Force's "Red-Tail Mustang," (a rare C-Model North American P-51Mustang), (N61429, Serial No. 42-103645) has made its first engine run following a five-year restoration.

• 18 July: A 1944 North American SNJ-6 Texan, N1044C, made a forced landing in a field near Castle Rock, Colorado, USA after reporting an engine problem. Neither person on board was injured.

• 18 July: A 1944 Beechcraft TC-45J/SNB-5 Expeditor/Kansan, N6688, crashed near Verdel, Nebraska under unknown circumstances. The pilot was killed.

• 22 July: A North American T-6G Texan, N555Q, ground-looped on landing in Ely, Nevada, USA, and was substantially damaged.

• 22 July: The "Red-Tail" P-51C Mustang [see 17 July news above] has made its first post-restoration flight in Wahpeton, North Dakota, USA.

• 23 July: Pride Aircraft, of Rockford, Illinois, USA, announced that they are offering for sale an airworthy pair of the first (and only) privately-owned Sukhoi SU-27 Flanker fighter jets.

• 30 July: A 1943 North American AT-6D Texan, N7517, departed the runway on landing roll in Redmond, Oregon, USA. No damage was reported.

August 2009:

• 4 August: A 1943 Boeing A75 Stearman, N5195N, crashed south of Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, under unknown circumstances. One of the two people on board was killed.

• 8 August: A 1943 Fairchild PT-19A Cornell, N54804, crashed on takeoff from a private airport near Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. The pilot was seriously injured.

• 10 August: A 1942 Boeing A75 Stearman, N75263, flipped over on takeoff in Salina, Kansas, USA, and was substantially damaged. The pilot was not injured.

• 16 August: A 1942 Curtiss P-40N Kittyhawk, VH-MIK (s/n 42-104977), suffered the collapse of its landing gear during landing at Mareeba, North Queensland, Australia. The aircraft slid on its belly for nearly 1000 feet before coming to rest. The owner/pilot and his passenger were not injured.

• 22 August: A North American T-6G Texan, N5599L (s/n 51-14333) groundlooped during landing in Ocala, Florida. The sole pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft suffered significant damage to its propeller and left wing.

• 26 August: Midwest Texans, a restoration facility in Huntington, Indiana, USA, known for their near-perfect, white-glove restorations of North American T-6 Texans, has announced that it has ceased operations. An auction of its remaining assets will be announced shortly.

• 28 August: A 1942 deHavilland DH-82 Tiger Moth, CF-DHQ, operated by the Vintage Wings of Canada organization, crashed at Gatineau Airport, near Ottawa, Quebec, Canada, seriously injuring pilot Howard Cook. The aircraft reportedly lost power after takeoff.

September 2009:

• 1 September: A 1980 Israeli Aircraft Industries Kfir-C2, N404AX, operated by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), veered off the runway and into the grass during operations at Newport News, Virginia, USA. The pilot was not injured.

• 4 September: A Siai Marchetti SF-260, N517P, landed off the runway at McCollum Field, Kennesaw, Georgia, USA. Neither the pilot nor passenger were injured.

• 4 September: The pilot/owner of a 1970 PZL/WSK TS-11 Iskra jet, N315JB, was forced to land with only the nosewheel extended after experiencing a failure of the airplane's main gear extension system at Cleveland, Ohio, USA. A nearby F/A-18 pilot joined up and confirmed the gear's position before the uneventful emergency landing. The aircraft sustained damage to its wing and belly, but is expected to be repairable.

• 28 September: The assets of Midwest Texans, formerly one of the world's premiere restoration shops for the North American T-6/SNJ Texan, will go under the auctioneer's gavel on 17-18 October, in Huntington, Indiana, USA. Parts, tools, avionics, vehicles, and several aircraft projects will be sold. [For more information, see Starman Brothers Auctions, Inc.]

• 29 September: Divers searching the waters off Los Angeles International Airport have located the wreckage of a long-lost Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star that disappeared in October 1955. (They had been searching for a P-51D Mustang flown by Gertrude "Tommy" Tomkins Silver, the last missing WASP pilot, who disappeared in 1944.) The T-33 crewmembers were Lt. Richard M. Theiler and Lt. Paul D. Smith. [More information]

October 2009:

• 14 October: The Commemorative Air Force's Gulf Coast Wing is pleased to announce that after 7-1/2 years of major restoration and Airworthiness Directive compliance, their B-17G Flying Fortress, "Texas Raiders," (N7227C) made its first post-restoration flight.

• 15 October: The Collings Foundation, operators of a collection of diverse warbirds in the USA, was notified that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had denied their request to operate four of their aircraft in a passenger-carrying role. The aircraft are the McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom, Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, Fieseler Fi 156 Storch, and a replica Messerschmitt Me-262.

• 22 October: A 1957 Fuji LM-1 Nikko, N2121J, crashed in Athens, Georgia, USA, shortly after takeoff. Both the owner/pilot and his passenger were killed.

• 24 October: A Curtiss P-40E Warhawk, N4420K, suffered the collapse of its right main landing gear while turning off the runway in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. This aircraft won the Grand Champion Warbird award at EAA AirVenture this year.

• 26 October: Gary Austin, a noted warbird mechanic, crew chief and influential aircraft restorer/pilot known for his work as the Director of Maintenance for the Commemorative Air Force, passed away at the age of 39.

November 2009:

• 2 November: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled in favor of the National Museum of the United States Air Force (USAFM) in an ownership dispute with the Commemorative Air Force for a rare North American F-82 Twin Mustang. The ruling supports the original judgment of the District Court in July of 2009.

• 7 November: A rare 1951 Piasecki PV-18 (HUP-1) Retreiver helicopter, N183YP, crashed after hitting power lines near Adelanto, California, about 70 miles northeast of Los Angeles. All three persons on board were killed.

• 7 November: A Los Angeles Times online report published today includes a video of a pair of L-39 Albatros jets making low passes and aggressive pull-ups near the Santa Monica, California pier last year. The video also shows the frightened responses from the public, and contains recordings of several concerned calls to 911. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has since revoked the pilot's license of pilot David Riggs. He now faces civil charges over the incident. Riggs, who is a movie producer, claimed he buzzed the pier in an attempt to promote his new movie. The second pilot, noted air racer and test pilot Skip Holm, was apparently not cited. [Read the whole story]

• 9 November: The world's only airworthy North American FJ-4B Fury, N400FS, made its first flight after repairs following a gear-up landing almost exactly one year ago. The following day, the aircraft was flown to Pensacola, Florida for the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels homecoming.  

• 11 November: A North American P-51D Mustang, N151AF, operated by the Heritage Flight Museum, made an successful emergency landing in Bellingham, Washington, USA, after the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit. The smoke was apparently caused by a resistor, and ceased after the pilot shut off the electrical system.

• 11 November: A Douglas DC-3 owner in Spaulding, Georgia, USA had a rather bizarre run-in with the law when he apparently nearly struck a police officer with his airplane, then taxied away and attempted a takeoff, before being apprehended. Officers were attempting to issue citations to Dan Gryder for airport vehicular violations, but he refused to sign them. He then boarded his 1937 DC-3A, N143D, and taxied away, ignoring police demands to stop. Gryder's Herpa DC-3 is well-known in the vintage aircraft community.

• 14 November: An English Electric Lightning jet (XS451/ZU-BEX), operated by the Thunder City organization, crashed during an airshow at the Overberg Air Show at Bredasdorp, South Africa. Thunder City's chief pilot, Dave Stock, was killed after an apparent hydraulic failure and the simultaneous failure of his ejection seat.

• 21 November: A Boeing A75N1 Stearman, N56099, flipped over upon landing in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. The pilot was not injured.

• 22 November: A Boeing B75 Stearman, N5521N, crashed next to the Creve Coeur Airport, Maryland Heights, Missouri, USA, after an engine failure immediately shortly liftoff. Neither the pilot (airport owner Al Stix) nor the passenger were injured.

• 30 November: A Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat that crashed during a carrier-landing training flight in Lake Michigan in 1944 was recovered and brought to shore in Waukegan, Illinois, USA. This is the sixth Hellcat recovered from Lake Michigan. The original pilot, Walter Elcock (now 89), could not attend the recovery, but his grandson did. The aircraft is destined for display at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Florida. The recovery was funded by Andy Taylor, the chief executive officer of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, whose father flew Hellcats in WWII.

December 2009:

• 1 December: The Warbird Heritage Foundation is pleased to announce that their Douglas A-4B Skyhawk, N49WH (s/n 11366 / BuNo 142112), made it first post-restoration flight, and was also moved to its new home in Waukegan, Illinois, USA. "Oshkosh" attendees will no doubt remember this aircraft as the one displayed at the convention grounds since the early 1990s.

• 3 December: A two-seat Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IX, ZK-WDQ (MH367) owned and flown by Doug Brooker, had its second serious incident in less than a year. This time the aircraft's landing gear collapsed after an apparent bounced landing at Ardmore, New Zealand. The pilot was not injured.

• 6 December: A 1941 Boeing A75 Stearman, N1431C (s/n 75-1702), suffered the collapse of its landing gear upon landing at Corona, California, USA. Neither occupant was injured.

• 10 December: Pride Aircraft of Rockford, Illinois, USA, announced they had successfully flown the USA's first civilian-operated Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker jet fighter. N131SU will be followed into the air by a second Flanker soon. [More information here.]

January 2010:

• 13 January: A Nanchang CJ-6, N75483, suffered the collapse of its left main landing gear and veered off the runway upon landing at Concord, California, USA. The pilot was not injured.

February 2010:

• 7 February: A Nanchang CJ-6, N6263D, made a successful emergency landing next to a recreation center in Mesa, Arizona, USA, but swerved to miss a man and his dog, and ended up crashing into a restroom building. The pilot and his passenger were not seriously injured, but the plane was substantially damaged.

Nanchang CJ-6 N 6263D. Photo by Thom Shivka

• 8 February: A 1985 Yakovlev Yak-52, N52VY, crashed shortly after taking off from Redlands, California, USA, killing the pilot and his passenger.

• 9 February: The CAF's Devil Dog, a North American B-25J (PBJ-1J) Mitchell, N9643C, has finally returned to its home in Georgetown, Texas USA, after an engine change following its Oshkosh appearance last summer. The bomber's sponsor group had to raise over $75,000 for a new engine, a process that was greatly expedited by a recent anonymous donation of $30,000.

• 17 February: A 1962 Fouga CM-170 Magister, N6222N, veered off the runway during takeoff at Imperial, California, USA. The aircraft was substantially damaged, but the pilot was not injured.

• 20 February: A 1942 North American AT-6C Texan, N76BZ (formerly N7690U), left the runway surface and nosed over upon landing at Mesa, Arizona, USA. The pilot was not injured.

• A husband/wife team have become the first graduates of a Commercial Spaceflight Training course at NASA's Kennedy Space center, utilizing the fleet of Lockheed F-104 Starfighters owned by Starfighters, Inc.

March 2010:

• 2 March: Today marks the 100th anniversary of military aviation. On 2 March 1910, Army Lt. Benjamin D. Foulois lifted off in a Wright B Flyer from the parade grounds at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, USA. Happy birthday to warbirds!

• 4 March: A 1992 Short S.312 Tucano T Mk.1, N411ZF, suffered the collapse of its landing gear during landing at Nacogdochez, Texas, USA. The pilot was not injured.

• 6 March: A North American SNJ-6 / T-6 Texan, N47LF, crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, USA, while performing aerobatics. Both the pilot and his wife were killed.

• 11 March: Owner/pilot Nazzi Hirani was killed when his 1944 North American P-51D Mustang, N514NH (c/n 44-84850) (named "Su Su"), crashed during landing at Stellar Airpark, Chandler, Arizona, USA. The airplane clipped several stone walls and fences, and came to rest inside a hangar, part of which caught fire.

• 17 March: A 1945 North American SNJ-6 Texan N75AG (s/n 44-81418) (Race name "Warlock") crashed in a field 20 miles west of Bakersfield, California, USA. Noted Reno air racer Al Goss and his pilot-rated passenger, Steve Ballard, were killed.

• 18 March: Loggers working in a heavily-wooded area near Tillamook, Oregon, USA discovered the WWII wreckage of a Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. Authorities have not yet identified where the plane originated, or if any human remains are present at the crash site.

• 21 March: An Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros, registered YV100X, crashed into several homes in Cumaná, Sucre, Venezuela, killing the pilot and five people on the ground. Some media reports claim the pilot stated he was going to make a simulated engine-out landing prior to the accident. [News report and photos]

• 22 March: A Yakovlev Yak-3UPW, N153U, (a modern replica of a Yak-3) suffered the collapse of its left main landing gear upon landing at Half Moon Bay, California, USA. The owner/pilot was not injured.

April 2010:

• 8 April: Air racing legend Lyle Shelton passed away at the age of 76 after a short illness. Shelton was the holder of multiple speed and time-to-climb records in his famous Rare Bear racer, a highly-modified Grumman F8F Bearcat. Among other records, he still holds the world's absolute propeller-driven speed record over a 3-kilometer course at 528.329 mph. [Rare Bear information]  [Racing for the Gold book]

• 10 April: A 1958 North American AT-6D/SNJ-5 Texan, N7300C, landed gear-up at Romona, California, USA, sustaining minor damage in the incident.

• 10 April: The pilot of a Nanchang CJ-6A, ZK-JQS, successfully made a precautionary landing near Marlborough, New Zealand on a rough section of 4-wheel drive path. Neither he nor his passenger were injured. After an inspection of the airplane (and some mechanized improvement of the improvised "runway"), the aircraft made a successful takeoff and returned home. [Watch the takeoff video]

• 16-18 April: One of the largest gatherings of North American B-25 Mitchells since WWII took place at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, USA, as part of a tribute to Doolittle's Raider's. At least 17 of the twin-engine bombers took part.

• 23 April: A Grumman TBM Avenger firebomber, operated by Fire Protection Ltd., crashed after takeoff from Miramichi Airport, New Brunswick, Canada, killing the pilot.

• 24 April: The pilot of a Yakovlev Yak-52, G-YKCT, made a successful forced landing in a field in Ayrshire, Scotland, after the plane's engine failed. The airplane sustained minor damage, but neither occupant was injured.

May 2010:

• 4 May: The Collings Foundation is seeking to acquire a Republic F-105 Thunderchief and restore it to flying condition! To do this, they need your immediate help by making a simple phone call. [More information here]

• 6 May: A 1944 North American P-51D Mustang, N55JL ("Cloud Dancer"), made a precautionary landing in Curtis, Nebraska, USA, due to a partial loss of engine power.

• 6 May: A 1959 Hawker T.58 Hunter jet, N330AX, landed with its landing gear retracted at Point Mugu Naval Air Station, California, USA, suffering minor damage.

• 13 May: Sue Parish, legendary owner/pilot of a pink Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, a WWII WASP, and co-founder of the Kalamazoo, Michigan-based Air Zoo museum, passed away at the age of 87. [1999 article about Sue Parish]

• 15 May: Both the pilot/owner and passenger of a 1980 Yakovlev/Aerostar Yak-52, N6868Y, were killed when their plane crashed into the ocean near Nettles Island, Florida, USA, while apparently performing low-altitude maneuvering.

• 22 May: A 1941 Boeing E75 Stearman, N1193N, ground-looped and was substantially damaged while landing near Yerington, Nevada, USA. The pilot was not injured.

• 27 May: A 1949 North American T-28A Trojan, N128AF, was damaged after an emergency landing in Piedmont, Oklahoma, USA, after suffering a loss of engine power. The landing gear collapsed during the subsequent hard landing. Neither occupant was injured.

• 27 May: The EAA has announced that two extremely rare warbirds will appear at Oshkosh this year: A Focke-Wulf Fw-190A-9 and a Nakajima A6M2 Model 21 "Zero." Both aircraft will fly together at last once during the week. [More information].

• 30 May: A 1951 North American T-28A Trojan, N51705, touched down with its landing gear only partially extended in Hayward, California, USA, resulting in minor damage to the airplane.

June 2010:

•  8 June: A 1942 Boeing A75N1 Stearman, N52652, nosed-over and ended up on its back upon landing at Washington DC's Reagan National Airport during a flight promoting a new 3D movie called "Legends of Flight." Neither the pilot nor his journalist passenger were injured. It appeared that one or both of the aircraft's brakes locked up upon touchdown. [Video from the airport terminal] [Video from the cockpit].

• 11 June: "Swamp Ghost", a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress recovered from a swamp in from Papua New Guinea after crash-landing there in 1942, returned to the USA today. Crewmembers' families, recovery team members, aviation archeologists, and other dignitaries attended a ceremony in Long Beach, California to welcome the aircraft back home and pay tribute to the men who flew her. Swamp Ghost is expected to be restored to museum display condition. [More information.]

• 12 June: A FlugWerk / Focke-Wulf Fw190A-8N replica, F-AZZJ ("Black 1") suffered an apparent engine failure and ditched into the Bay of Hyères, on the south coast of France. The pilot was unhurt, and was assisted to shore by some nearby jet-skiers.

• 17 June: A 1945 North American SNJ-4 Texan, N43NA, went into the grass during landing in Suffolk, Virginia, USA, causing the collapse of its left main landing gear. Neither occupant was injured.

• 20 June: A 1943 Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper, N61720, lost engine power and crashed into a wooded area near Sippo Lake Park, Ohio, USA. The pilot was not injured.

• 21 June: The movie producer who buzzed a Santa Monica, California pier in 2008 in a Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros jet to promote his movie was sentenced to 60 days in jail and fined for recklessly operating an aircraft in a manner that endangered life and property. The Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge also placed David Riggs, 48, on three years' probation, imposed court fees, and ordered him to clean city beaches for 60 days as community service. The jail sentence was stayed pending an appeal.

• 21 June: In other news about pathetic jerks, thieves broke into the Aero Space Museum of Calgary, Alberta, Canada over the weekend and stole both precious historical artifacts and cash from a donation box. [More information here] 

• 23 June: A DeHavilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk, N6540C, made an emergency landing in a field near South Kitsap, Washington, USA, following an engine malfunction. The aircraft was substantially damaged, but the pilot suffered only a minor hand injury.

Chipmunk N6540C. Photo courtesy of the Kitsap Sun.

• 25 June: The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) announced that their famous and ultra-rare Boeing B-29 Superfortress, named "Fifi," will return to the air shortly, after several years of extensive engine rebuilding and related work. The aircraft's troublesome R-3350 engines were rebuilt with parts from two different models of the engine, and it is believed this combination will give Fifi a good chance at a long, lower-maintenance future. [Editor's note, 28 July: The flight has been postponed due to an FAA administrative delay. Please check back for updates...]

• 26 June: A 1954 Lockheed P2V Neptune, N1386C (Tanker #44), operated as a firebomber by Missoula, Montana-based Neptune Aviation, overran the runway after an apparent brake failure at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, Colorado USA. Neither of the pilots were injured. The aircraft sustained serious damage.

Neptune N1386C. Photo contributed by ZEdge.

• 26 June: A Boeing A75 Stearman, N469RH, ran off the runway and was substantially damaged in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Neither occupant was injured. This aircraft was also involved in a similar accident in August 2006.

July 2010:

• 2 July: A North American T-6G Texan, N92778, crashed into the water off the coast of Destin, Florida, USA, killing the pilot and his passenger. The plane had been observed performing aerobatics shortly before the crash. This particular aircraft was the first signature T-6 restoration from Midwest Texans, and was a multiple Grand Champion award winner.

• 3 July: A Bell P-39 Airacobra, N6968, operated by the Commemorative Air Force, landed short of the runway in Tyler, Texas, USA. The aircraft suffered relatively minor damage to its left landing gear, left wing, and the under-fuselage drop tank, but it managed to taxi to the parking area and is expected to be repairable. The pilot was unhurt.

• 3 July: A 1951 Cessna O-1E/L-19 Bird Dog, LX-PAB, was heavily damaged during a hard landing at the Luxembourg-Findel Airport, Luxembourg. The pilot was not injured.

• 8 July: A McDonnell-Douglas A-4L Skyhawk jet, N132AT, operated by the Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), crashed shortly after takeoff from Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, USA due to an apparent loss of thrust. The civilian pilot successfully ejected, and is in good condition. The crash ignited a brush fire that was extinguished by fire crews.

• 17 July: An Aerostar/Yakovlev Yak-52, N52MY, crashed shortly after takeoff from Portland, Maine, USA after an apparent engine failure. Both the owner pilot and his pilot-rated passenger perished. [Donate to the families here.] 

August 2010:

• 1 August: A 1954 Fairchild C-123K Provider, N709RR, operated by All West Freight, crashed in Denali National Park, north of Anchorage, Alaska, USA. All three crewmembers perished. The cause of the accident is unknown. [Side note: This aircraft was the flying star of the movie "Con Air" in 1997. More info here.]

• 5 August: "Fifi," The Commemorative Air Force's famous and rare Boeing B-29 Superfortress, has returned to the air after more than four years of engine work and thousands of man-hours of restoration labor. The aircraft completed a 39-minute test flight with its new engines, and the crew reported no problems. [Congratulations to everyone involved in this huge project!  -Ed.]

• 20 August: A Curtiss SB2C-4 Helldiver that ditched in 1945 in the Lower Otay Reservoir near San Diego, California USA was raised to the surface. Shortly after, it was shipped to the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, where it will be restored. [Recovery photos here.]

• 21 August: The pilot of a 1945 Supermarine FR Mk.XVIIIe Spitfire, G-BUOS (SM845), was killed after the aircraft flipped over upon landing at Tynset airfield near Trondheim, Norway. The plane apparently left the grass runway and headed into a field of thick wheat directly adjacent to the runway. The aircraft is registered to a Swedish company and the pilot is reported to be one of Scandanavia's most experienced pilots. He was preparing for an airshow the following day.
     

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