I'm coming over for the LARS in June and it occurs to me that Chino airport isn't far away. Any good/worthwhile/available warbird stuff to see there? I know there are at least a couple of warbird resto shops in the vicinity. The trip is for cars, but vintage planes are cool too, especially warbirds.
I know they have a Ryan Fireball, the M9M flying wing, and the only Mitsubishi Zero flying with it's original engine for starters. Google Planes of Fame for more info.
The Fireball I saw ten years ago (!)is a trip as well. It looks like a T-28, but it's got a jet engine buried in the tail too. It really has been ten years so thats why I suggested you check out their web site. They pride themselves on flying most of their aircraft so I'm not sure whats still around. Mayb the day shift guys will chime in with more info. Let us prop-heads know what you saw there when you get back down under.
My brother and I just toured the USS Midway in San Diego. It's parked right next to the street. At 1000' long it's pretty impressive. Lots of planes on display on the flight deck. Well worth the trip!
Ya have to go to Chino it is the warbird mecca!! There are several restoration shops, a couple of museum's, planes of fame and I think the other is yanks air museum, countless privately owned warbirds based there, and your chances of seeing something cool fly are really, really good!
To bad you arent coming over in May 19th and 20th, thats the Air Show out there. Went 2 years ago and it was amazing, lots of warbirds, flying too.
There's also the static museum at March Air Force base, just east of Riverside (30 - 40 minutes from Chino). The Palm Springs Air Museum is nice, but a bit further. Both have lots of WWII and Korean Era warbirds. Look up the Commerative Air Force web site, they've got a chapter in So-Cal, might have something to look at.
Here's Britt Deitz website, he is the photographer for POF. http://warbird-photos.com/pofairshow05-1/index.html This is POF '05, I know its a lot, but breathtaking. Seeing warbirds static is one thing but flying is whole different experience. Like the drags the sound and smell of 100LL really make it. Weather permitting they will probably have something flying or at least running.
the chino airshow was really cool! Lots of old stuff flying around. Theres also a museum in Palm Springs http://www.air-museum.org/index.htm *I also posted a separate thread about going to the chino airshow in may, lets see if we can arrange something so we can set up a H.A.M.B. display of traditional hotrods at the chino airshow!
I worked at Chino for 5 years painting planes. I did some stuff for the museum and for another big outfit that has since moved (Sanders Aircraft) You can see some very cool stuff flying there almost every day. Lot's of WWII and Korean era aircraft there. Weekends usually has something cool flying.
I've been to both Museums,and they are both worth the drive. I got to see them fly the Flying Wing. It was a treat.
Whats good about planes of fame is their actualy growing and adding more hangers and upgrades. Seems like they have a good board steering them in the right direction- which is rare for that type of group. If you have the coin you can schedule a flight in a corsair or mustang- it would be an expensive 15 minutes but i doubt you would ever forget it. Totally worth the short drive down from pomona. have fun, danny
any one going north to south or what ever..... on the 99 goin through Tulare theres a little air memorial next to the small air port right off the freeway...has a B-17G (im pretty sure it was a G) there...its been there since 59 i believe.cool plaque tells the story...name of it was Prestons Pride..pull right up next to it and take some pics of your ride next to it ....wayyyyy cool.....check it out if your ever through there....
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