Curtiss P-40 Fighter from Valkyrie movie

[WWIIBuff]

Not too far from my home is the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California. Based at this airport/museum are many vintage WWII planes including the actual Curtiss P-40 that was used in the Valkyrie movie for the Afrika scene where von Staufenberg is wounded.

Every month there is a special event held at the museum, today the subject was the battle in North Africa involving US pilots and the Curtiss P-40. The star of the show was the plane from the movie, plus a guest panel of US Army Air Corp veterans who flew these planes in Africa back in 1943.

Here is the plane on static display outside the hangar before the program began. Ya gotta love those sharkteeth!!!

[WWIIBuff]

P-40

Another view...

[WWIIBuff]

P-40

The guest panel shared their memories of their trip to, and time in, Africa during the war in 1943. They later went on to fight the Germans in Italy and Sicily.

[WWIIBuff]

P-40

One lucky museum member (unfortunately not me) won the days raffle for a 20 minute flight in the P-40. Here she begins her taxi to the runway.

[WWIIBuff]

P-40

A paying customer was also going in a flight in the museum's P-51 Mustang at the same time. They circled the airport together for a little while and gave us a bit of a show.

I told my son that if he graduates high school with good grades next year I will buy him a ride in the P-51. That is his favorite plane from the war.

Next month the subject of the museum event will be the P-47 Thunderbold. Here is a link to their website for anyone close enought to attend. In May they will have their big airshow, probably one of the best in the nation for WWII buffs. I believe several WAF members attend this show.

http://www.planesoffame.org/

[Tim Calvert]

Thanks for sharing John!

Are you going to the show in May? I fly over Chino airport at 10,000 ft about once a week and look down wondering what I'm missing out on!

Tim

[WWIIBuff]

Chino

Hi Tim,

You should drop in! I plan to be there again this May. My son might volunteer one day, so I might be there both days. It is a fantastic show. I think it was last year or the year before that they had something like 9 P-51d's flying and chasing a German plane or two (forget which German planes).

[Erwin L]

hello John

Great planes. Thanks for the pictures. It must be quit an experience the fly in it. The mustang is one of my favourits to, allong with the p38 lightning and typhoon. I really like the paintjobs of wwII airplanes

regards Erwin

[Tim Calvert]

Johnny,

What's a ride in a P-51 going for these days? I'll take a wild guess...$650 for 35 min?

Maybe I'll see you down there. I'll PM you when the time gets close!

Tim

[unruhjonny]

I had the pleasure of checking out Chino a couple years ago... what a cool place(!)

(sorry had to speak up)

[WWIIBuff]

Chino

Tim,

Yes, do let me know if you're going to the show. I'll probably grab a couple spots up by the front for good viewing. Bring a lounge chair.

Here is the price list for 20 minute flights:

North American SNJ (AT-6) Texan trainer = $250.00
Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber = $715.00
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter = $715.00
North American P-51 Mustang fighter = $715.00
North American B-25 Mitchell bomber (up to 5 people) = $1,750.00
Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star jet = $1,750.00
Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter = $2,000.00

Both the P-51 and the P-38 are on my "someday" list.

unruhjonny don't apologize, speaking up is what the forum is all about.

[Tim Calvert]

Crap! Where did I put that lotto ticket?



Hope to see you there!