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Flying Tigers Warbird Restoration Museum
Kissimmee, FL
-ein Leserbericht von Peter Ernst-
Das
Flying Tigers Warbird Restoration Museum bietet den Besuchern einen Einblick in die
Geschichte der Bomber und Fighter des WWII. Bei einem geführten Rundgang hat der Besucher
die Möglichkeit die Restauration der einzelnen Warbirds hautnah zu erleben. Im
Aussenbereich sind z.B. B-25s, A-26, DC 3 und T6 zu sehen. Weiterhin besteht die
Möglichkeit mit der T6 Harvard, dem "Pilotmaker" gleich eine Runde über
Orlando zu drehen. |
Adresse:
231 N. HOAGLAND BLVD. KISSIMMEE, FL 34741
http://www.warbirdmuseum.com/ |
Ergänzende
Informationen:
Gleich nebenan ist stallion51 zu finden. http://www.stallion51.com/home.cfm
Dort hat man die einzigartige Möglichkeit eine P51 selber zu fliegen! Diese P51 sind mit
einer mit doppelter Steuerung und Instrumentierung ausgestattet. Nach einer kurzen
Instruktion kann es losgehen...Allerdings hat das ganze auch seinen Preis.
Etwa 20 Autominuten südwestlich von Orlando ist fantasyofflight zu
finden. http://www.fantasyofflight.com/ |
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Die Halle von Reilly Aviation - dort sind
alle "Restoration Projects" untergebracht. |
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Restoration Projects
B-17G "Suzy Queen" |
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Führung und Erklärung zum Restoration
Project P-40 under reconstruction. |
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Allison V-12
P51, A36 und AG345
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Man At Work: Restoration Project P-40
under reconstruction. |
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Restoration Project AT-6 |
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Flyable Aircraft 1942 Stearman B75 N1
Navy Type N25-3, Trainer
Flown on Dezember 15, 1942 at Minneapolis Naval Air Station by President George Bush sen. |
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Ausstellung im Innenraum
Funker |
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Restoration Project Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. (Original
Beschreibung): Frustrated in their efforts to acquire a fleet of strategic bombers for
service with the Army Air Corps, US Army planners - who were devotees of the theories
expounded by Brig. Gen. William "Billy" Mitchell - inserted the small end of an
important wedge when they ordered a small, number of YB-17 prototypes in January 1936,
ostensibly for the nations defense. Originating as the Boeing model 299, the
prototype was built as a private venture, Boeing gambling heavily on producing a winner
that would bring in a large military contract. It must have seemed to Boeing that
their gamble had failed when almost at the end of their military trials, the Model 299
crashed on take off. Fortunately, the investigation proved that the aircraft had
been flown with the flying controls locked and safety of the basic design was not suspect.
Specifications:
Power plant: (4) 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1820-97 radials
Performance:
Max T-O weight - 65,500 lb, Max level speed - 287 mph
Armament: (13) 0.50 machine guns plus bombs
Dimensions: Length - 74'4", Wing Span - 103' 9"
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Static Display Supermarine Spitfire
(Original Beschreibung): The Spitfire certainly needs no introduction, being one of the
most succesful fighters of World War II. It evolved through the initial Mark I version
(900 hp, 2-bladed wooden prop) into the highly sophisticated 2000 hp+ Mark 24 with
5-bladed propellor. In its last versions, the rear fuselage was cut down to allow the
pilot an uninterrupted view from beneath its
teardrop canopy. The tail had been gradually enlarged to counteract the massive engine
power, twice as much as originally envisaged. Yet, with all modifications introduced
during the Spitfire's production period, the pleasant handling qualities and exceptionally
good looks remained. |
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Static Display Lockheed F-104 Star
fighter 1959 (Original Beschreibung): The Star fighter had been designed for flight
performance with little room for weapons and equipment. The short-span unswept wing with
razor sharp leading edges enabled the plane to reach Mach 2.2 with a very impressive climb
rate. First flown in 1954, eventually over 2500 were built mainly for NATO use,
with less than 300 being ordered for the US. One seated fighter and two seat fighter
trainer versions are still flying in Greece and Turkey today. Specifications:
Power Plant: General Electric J79-GE 11A turbojet
Performance: 1146 mph
Armament: one 20-mm GE six-barreled cannon, wing-tip mounted Sidewinder missiles.
Dimensions: Length-54.6 ft, Height-13.4 ft, Wingspan 21.75 ft |
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Restoration Project Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
1960 (Original Beschreibung): A-4 on Carrier Deck, Era 1960's Designed to provide
the US Navy and Marine Corps with a simple low-cost lightweight attack and ground support
aircraft. The Skyhawk was based on experience gained during the Korean War. Heinemann's
"Hot Rod", as the A-4 was dubbed after its designer Ed Heinemann, was faster
than expected and lighter than required making it the most successful post war aircraft to
serve in the US Navy. The Summer of 1954 saw the first of over 2900 A-4's come from
the McDonnell Douglas plant to serve as carrier bases attack bomber. In 1965, a two seat
variant was produced designated as a TA-4 for training. During Vietnam, all carrier
air wings included at least two squadrons of Skyhawks. Of the almost 300 built,
substantial numbers are still in the frontline service today.
Specifications:
Power Plant: Wright J65-16A or Pratt & Whitney J52-P-8A
Performance: 676 mph
Armament: Two 20mm cannon, plus up to 9,155lbs of ordinance.
Dimensions: Length 40.25ft, Height 15ft, Wingspan 27.5 ft |
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Flyable Aircraft Grumman S-2 Tracker 1955
& C-1 Trader C.O.D. - 1955
S-2 Tracker (Original Beschreibung): Built as a replacement for the
"hunter/killer" Guardian, the Tracker's modest dimensions hide a bevy of radar,
sensor equipment and weaponry necessary to locate and destroy enemy submarines. The C-1
Trader is the general-utility version of the S-2 Tracker, designed to accommodate nine
passengers or 3500 pounds of cargo and operate as a COD (Carrier-On-board-Delivery)
aircraft to and from aircraft carriers. There were 87 built after the first one came
online in January of 1955. There were 1000 S-2 Trackers built starting in December
1952. The S-2 had enlarged bomb bay doors that housed two homing torpedoes and new
anti-submarine detection equipment. Since their retirement from the Navy in the mid-1970s
the Tracker/Trader have been used as fire bombers.
Specifications:
Power Plant: 2 Wright R-1820-82WA Cylcone (3050hp)
Performance: 287 mph
Dimensions: Length-42.25 ft, Height-16.3 ft, Wingspan-69.6 ft |
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Restoration Projects Douglas A-26 Invader
1944 (Original Beschreibung): The Invader was designed as a successor to the Douglas
A-20. The A-26 first saw action in the European theatre in November 1944.
Eventually, over 2500 Invaders were built. After 1948, the Invader was redesigned as the
B-26 after the Martin Marauder was no longer in service. 450 of the B-26s were made after
the original "Attack" designation was discontinued. The A-26/B-26 saw service in
Korea, Vietnam and as fire bombers after the war. Approximately 50 are still flying today.
Specifications:
Power plant: 2 Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 or -79 Radials
Performance: 373 mph
Armament: 20mm cannon & 4 .5 inch machine guns & 75mm gun
Dimensions: Length-51.4 ft, Height-18.4ft, Wingspan-70.0 ft |
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