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[fight2flyphoto]

June 9th's "Zero Debut Day" by Flying Heritage Collection at Paine Field in Everett, Washington fell on the same day as John Sessions' "North American Aircraft" day, which is what this post will document.

Originally scheduled to feature only their T-6 Texan "Checkers," P-51D Mustang "Impatient Virgin?" and B-25D Mitchell "Grumpy," I was quite pleasantly surprised to find a few other aircraft had joined in on the fun from yet another WWII museum located about 50 miles north, called Heritage Flight Museum in Bellingham, Washington.  This museum was founded by Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders, who took the famous "Earth rise" over the moon and read from Genesis during their Christmas broadcast.  His sons, Greg and Allen fly the museums aircraft as well.

This flight included four T-6 Texan/Harvard/SNJ aircraft, P-51B Mustang "Impatient Virgin?," P-51D Mustang "Val-Halla," and "Grumpy" the B-25D.


052 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr
"Checkers" belongs to Historic Flight Foundation and is available for rides and use as a photo ship for air-to-air photography.


GA Day 5-15-2010 442 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr
A nice US Navy SNJ on short final.


GA Day 5-15-2010 432 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr
Yet another nice privately owned US Navy SNJ on final.


GA Day 5-15-2010 414 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr
This T-6 Texan "Hog Wild Gunner" belongs to Heritage Flight Museum and is usually flown by Greg or Allen Anders, sons of founder Bill Anders.


VAW 736 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr
Next up, the Mustangs!  HFM's P-51D Mustang "Val-Halla" is in the red scheme on the right, while HFF's P-51B Mustang "Impatient Virgin?" is in the invasion stripes.


IMG_2489 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr
John Sessions flying "Impatient Virgin?"


FHC Mustang Day 6-5 325 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr
"Impatient Virgin?"  moving fast, on the deck!


IMG_0674 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr
"Val-Halla" making a nice photo pass with a photographer on board.


VAW 571 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr
"Val-Halla" right overhead!


GA Day 5-15-2010 723 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr
Historic Flight Foundation's B-25D Mitchell "Grumpy" is the worlds oldest Mitchell flying today.  It's an amazing aircraft, one in which I have had the opportunity to fly on board. 


20110424_143 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr
"Grumpy" flying overhead.


VAW 619 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr
The Mustangs joined up with "Grumpy" for a couple of passes as well.


VAW 652 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr
The Mustangs "Val-Halla" (red) and "Impatient Virgin?" (Stripes) break formation to separate for landing.


GA Day 5-15-2010 862 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr
Carter Teeters lands "Impatient Virgin?" after a day full of flying.


Grumpy Flight 503 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr
This is just some of the fun you can have with Historic Flight Foundation's aircraft.  One of my greatest memories to date was this flight on "Grumpy" to photograph their Grumman F8F Bearcat as we circled Mt. Baker. 

VIDEO:

Here is the full video of the event.  It was quite remarkable hearing all seven aircraft taxiing out to the runway, run-up their engines, and takeoff.  Be sure to watch the full video to find the pass by "Grumpy," which nearly knocked us off our feet! :-)  Just another weekend at Paine Field!



SKINS:

Here is a skin I made of "Grumpy" last year:
http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Downloads2&file=details&id=6422


***  Photos are not from the same event!  I exclusively shot video on June 9th.  These photographs are from previous events the exact same aircraft participated in.