2015 WARBIRDS over ADDISON, TX USA
A few weeks ago, I attended the 2015 Warbirds over Addison show of the Cavanaugh Flight museum (CFM) just outside Dallas, Texas (USA). Being the most important collection of historic aircraft in the region, CFM is a non-profit organisation which protects America's Aviation heritage.
The yearly show which is held over a full weekend somewhere mid May, is not a full on airshow but more like an open-door of the museum. As most aircraft of the collection are airworthy, they try to fly a variety of them throughout the day.
On both Saturday and Sunday mornings, low clouds and rain hindered the arrival of some of the visiting aircraft that were meant to fly in from the surrounding airports, but sunny spells in the afternoon still allowed for a fair bit of flying.
To help pay for the maintenance and restoration, some of the museums aircraft are used to give passenger rides. The day I was there, this was the case with the following warbirds:
At the bottom of the price scale starting with the Bell OX-13 Sioux helicopter (150,-USD),
the Boeing Stearman Kaydet (250,-USD),
Cessna O-2A Skymaster (250,-USD),
Cessna O-2A Skymaster (250,-USD),
AD-5 Skyraider (1500,-USD for front seat and 250,-USD for 4 back seats),
and finally the mighty P-51 Mustang for 1995,-USD!
Amongst other warbirds that were flying throughout the day were this P-40N Warhawk,
and a duo of Corsair F4U's...
Unfortunately aircraft like this under Spanish license (Hispano) built Messerschmitt Me-109, didn't take to the skies the day I was there....
Years ago I logged some right hand seat flight-time in a civilian version of the Caribou. Needless to say I was interested in bringing back some good old memories... The de Havilland CV-2B Caribou is a great short field transport aircraft which was used extensively in the Vietnam war.
A collection of interesting non-flying Russian built Mig's was kept outside. Lets hope they will eventually be restored...
I'm always keen on aircraft museums that have part of their collection in an airworthy state. Examples, I previously visited are Fantasy of Flight in FL, USA, Planes of Fame in Chino, CA, USA and the Canadian Warplane museum in Hamilton, Canada.
Even though, I somehow expected the Warbirds of Addison show being more of a full on airshow, I was still very happy to attend! The 10,-USD entry fee definitively didn't break the bank!
Aviation photography wise I have a couple of interesting things lined up next July and August; first a visit to the bi-annual Paris airshow on July 18, possibly a three day visit to Airventure (Oshkosh) WI (USA) end of July and then hopefully a visit to the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden,(UK)!
Even though, I somehow expected the Warbirds of Addison show being more of a full on airshow, I was still very happy to attend! The 10,-USD entry fee definitively didn't break the bank!
Aviation photography wise I have a couple of interesting things lined up next July and August; first a visit to the bi-annual Paris airshow on July 18, possibly a three day visit to Airventure (Oshkosh) WI (USA) end of July and then hopefully a visit to the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden,(UK)!
For all you photographers out there, all of the images above were shot with the brand-new Fujifilm X-T10 which I reviewed in a Part 1 and Part 2. Lenses use were both the 10-24 f4 and 50-140 f2.8 Fujinon lenses.
To check out more of my Aviation Photography please click here.
To check out more of my Aviation Photography please click here.
BJORN
Comments