All Entries in the "Features" Category
B-17 Recovered, Home At LGB
After years of salvage efforts in the steamy New Guinea swamps, a group of Americans has recovered a B-17 Flying fortress that went down during the war and returned her to the United States.
The forward fuselage of the plane they’re calling “the Swamp Ghost” was unveiled at a Long Beach ceremony on June 11, attended [...]
Were The Wright Brothers Wrong?
The Wright Story
By Joe Bullmer, 311 pages
BookSurge Publishing
We all know the history of the Wright Brothers and their first flight in 1903, correct?
It’s been drummed into us how flying successfully was their idea, due to their inspiration and their innate understanding of the four forces of flight that eventually resulted in the hallowed Wright flyer.
Guess [...]
Madera Was An Eyeful and Then Some
Story and Photos
By Jim Mumaw
After a lengthy hiatus, the Madera Gathering of Warbirds came back recently with a flurry of excitement and action.
If you liked WW II bombers, there were four B-25s. Merlin Man? Beautiful P-51s. Prefer jets? How about a gorgeous T-33?
The Mitchells were “Executive Sweet,” “Heavenly Body,” “Old Glory” and “Maid in the [...]
How They Pulled Off The Dreamliner Flight
Editor’s Note: When we first saw the formation pictures of the Boeing Model 40 with their 787 Dreamliner, we were as impressed as anyone - the world’s oldest Boeing airliner with their newest. Model 40 owner/pilot Addison Pemberton of Spokane spoke with us about the flight and the details in coordinating the vast differences in [...]
From Warbirds To Unicycle Racing
Story And Photos
By Roger Cain
The 20th annual Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show at California’s Half Moon Bay Airport brought in 20,000 fans of mechanized equipment for a one-day show April 25 and there was some pretty weird machinery.
The airport is located on the scenic shores of the Pacific, 20 miles south of San [...]
Father’s Plane Coming Home
It only took four decades but a son and his father’s beloved airplane have been reunited and will fly home.
Former Riverside resi-dent Scot Douglas will pilot his father’s Cessna 310 to historic Flabob airport in Rubidoux, Calif. on June 17th, his father’s birthday. Douglas, a 1976 Rubidoux High School graduate, grew up hanging around his [...]
Da Plane! Da Plane!
Hang around Long Beach harbor long enough and you’ll see a colorful little seaplane that looks somewhat like a miniature version of a PBY.
It even has “Navy” on the wings, although its paint design is closer to the Coast Guard’s. Owner/pilot Tom White calls it “Da Plane” in some sort of testament to [...]
Chino Airshow Salutes Greatest Generation
Story And Photos
By Jim Mumaw
A cool, brisk morning greeted the throngs who flocked to Chino, Calif. last month for a Salute to the Greatest Generation at the annual County of San Bernardino Planes of Fame Airshow.
To those who remember the unseasonable heat wave of 2008 that blasted the ramp with temperatures in excess of 115 [...]
Riverside Airshow Inherits Those Devil Winds
Story And Photos
By Jim Mumaw
A record crowd estimated at more than 95,000 windblown thrillseekers showed up for the annual Riverside, Calif. Airshow recently and it was a good time to get a new hat as plenty were flying about.
And remember those winds that plagued the El Centro Blue Angel show, as reported in last month's [...]
Last Of The Doolittle Raiders Gather In Ohio
Four of the remaining eight Doolittle Raiders, known for their nearly impossible bombing raid on Japan during World War II, reunited for the 68th year at the National Museum of the United States Air Force April 16 through 18.
The annual gathering was held at Wright-Patterson AFB in. Ohio. In attendance were retired Lt. Col. Richard [...]
