WIX Archives
Re: MAAM P-61 Black Widow
Posted by Jerry W on Wed Jul 10, 2002 09:49:27 AM
In reply top MAAM P-61 Black Widow posted by Jason Webb on Wed Jul 10, 2002 02:52:31 AM
: Anyone aware of any progress on this restoration???
:
: Having been checking the website but there have been no up
: dates since September 2000.
:
: Any news much appreciated.
:
: Many Thanks
:
: Jason
I posted this a while ago and nothing to add to it since.
In reply to: Reading Air Show posted by Karen on 8:39:01 6/10/2002 from 64.41.49.100:
Rather belatedly I decided to go along on Saturday and, eat your heart out Karen, it was a great event. The P-61 progress is extremely slow (and expensive)and a fellow I was talking with estimated another 5 years of work. The nose cone was new from last year but not much else. Members of the Mid Atlantic Air Museum ($45 a year - only $35 at the show) get periodic updates so I will look out the latest newsletter and update you all.
This event isn't just an airshow but a re-creation of the wartime period with lots of people walking around in 1940s uniforms and clothes. For example, in one of the hangars they have a 1940s radio station with a "live" broadcast being performed on and off all day and authentic 1940s radio station music, news, ads and clips is broadcast over the tannoy (public address)system. It is intended to be a 1940s experience and gets better each year.
As well as suitable aircraft there is a multitude of military vehicles and as part of the annual skirmish between the German troops (the Grossdeutschland group)and Allied forces (this year there were French Resistance as well)the tank managed to fire a few rounds with clouds of smoke (and that was just the exhaust fumes). Anyway I great time was had by the estimated 35-40,000 attending and the organization was much better this year so it was less congested.
I haven't yet gone back through my notes re attending aircraft but for me the highlight was the Hurricane from the Jerry Yagan's Fighter Factory in Virginia and the very spirited flying by the Yak-9 of Sean Carroll. A very smart P-51 ("Glamorous Gal")was new to me and the P-40 from Jeff Clyman's operation were notable. In time I will be putting together a list of attending items. If anyone is interested let me know.
Jerry W