The Air Zoo - The Original Angry Birds

So I took the shuttle to the Flight Innovation Center which is now the main museum.  The Flight Discovery Center is where you park the plane and is where the original museum was until it expanded, and its where they do restorations - much more on that later.

 After you pay your admission fee, you walk in the Flight Innovation Center.

There as you walk in, you can see the original Angry Birds:

A P-38 Lightning.  Hanging from the roof, this twin engine fork-tailed devil struck fear into its enemies' hearts and had such storied missions as the interception and shoot-down of Admiral Yamamoto,

A Bell P-39Q Airacobra.  

Not having a turbo-charged engine hampered its high-altitude performance and it was not liked by US pilots. But, the Soviets in World War 2 on the other hand loved them for low-level fighting and ground attack missions that were common on the Eastern front, and over 60% of P-39s were sent to the USSR.

A B-25J Mitchell.  Because you can never have enough .50 caliber machine guns. This one, part of the 498th Bomber Squadron  (the "Fighting Falcons") was setup as a strafing attack bomber and has 18 fifty cals mounted, with 14 of them facing forward to fire on strafing runs.  Note the P-40 angry bird to the side as well.

Then there was much more to see in just the first room of the museum.

Thunder Over Michgian - Flight of The Mitchells

The Mitchells took to the air.

A sight that would make people below either cheer or run, depending on whose side you were on.

They had fun in formation and then many came by for close-ups.

Champagne Gal did a fly by with her bomb bay doors open.

Then she did a high speed pass with them closed.

Devil Dog came in for a close up

Georgie's Gal came by to let everyone admire the nose art.

Miss Mitchell was not to be outdone

Rosie's Reply flew over her home field with aplomb.

Show Me showed herself off.

Take off Time also wanted to show off her nose art.

Next, Wild Cargo also came in for a close up.

As did Yankee Doodle.

A bit more formation flying was done.

Then they came in to land.

 

An excellent display of formation flying by these wonderfully historic aircraft.  This may be the last time so many B-25s fly together.

Thunder Over Michigan 2021 - Mitchell Madness

The largest gathering in the world of B-25 Mitchell bombers in flying condition took place this weekend at Thunder Over Michigan.

Formerly The Yankee Warrior, the Yankee Air Museum's own B-25 now repainted as Rosie's Reply: 

 

Devil Dog, which I last saw with Murph in 2018 in Louisiana:

Georgie's Gal:

Wild Cargo:

Semper Fi:

Maid In The Shade:

Show Me:

Champaign Gal:

Miss Mitchell:

And quite a few others, and then they all took to the skies, with 15 B-25 Mitchells in flight.

Classic WWII Bombers

Two Classic US Army Air Corps bombers graced the skies and flew at Thunder Over Michigan, both owned by the Yankee Air Museum.

The B-25:

The B-17:

Both were giving rides to the attendees for a reasonable (considering the operating and maintenance costs of these beautiful birds) fee. Maybe one day I'll fly in one, but if I'm paying that kind of coin, I want the co-pilots seat!

More World War Two Warbirds

Quite a few more venerable World War 2 warbirds flew at Thunder over Michigan:

There was the Commemorative Air Force's Lockheed C-60A Lodestar, named "Goodtime Gal":

The beautiful AT-11 "Three Hits And A Miss" took to the skies. I had taken pictures of it on the ground last year but to see it airborne was a whole new experience:

The B-25 Yankee Warrior:

Tomorrow: The Texan Takeover, and more warbirds.