JoeBlank
Well Known Member
I recently had the opportunity to organize a formation ferry flight that primarily was a photo op for a C-47 that had been ramped at Hillsboro OR for many years. Planned to undergo restoration in the near future, this aircraft was built for the RCAF in 1941, she crossed the Atlantic at least twice before the end of the war. She spent the next 35 years working almost continually in the far northern reaches of the Canadian arctic. Sold into civilian ownership in the late 1970s, this aircraft has worked for a living until very recently.
Rather than just a photo ship and the subject aircraft, the restoration business and I agreed that, since she was a former warbird, that a formation flight around her might be a interesting and fitting thing to do. It's not everyday that you get to fly formation with a 70 year old piece of flying history... So we organized the flight, six RV's and one C-47. The flight yesterday was well briefed and was very successful in all regards. The flight was conducted at sunset for best photography, the smoke from the wildfires in the region added additional color to the scene. More info and pics later on as this project as the restoration continues...
Pilots: C-47 Paul Bazeley, Alpha Lead: : RV-8 Steve Payne, Bravo Lead: RV-4 Pete Forsyth, Wingmen: RV-8 Dan Miller, RV-3B Dan Benua, RV-8 & photo Wendell Foltz, RV-6 & photo Joe Blank, Photographer & Vans employees extroidenaire: Adam Burch & Lindsey Mast. Thanks to Adam for planting the seed on this whole idea. You are to blame... ;-) As you may know Adam is a bit (gross understatement) of a graphics artist. His work can be seen here:
http://adamburch.carbonmade.com/
More info HERE on this particular aircrafts role in history:
http://www.classicaircraft.org/DouglasC-47A.html
Rather than just a photo ship and the subject aircraft, the restoration business and I agreed that, since she was a former warbird, that a formation flight around her might be a interesting and fitting thing to do. It's not everyday that you get to fly formation with a 70 year old piece of flying history... So we organized the flight, six RV's and one C-47. The flight yesterday was well briefed and was very successful in all regards. The flight was conducted at sunset for best photography, the smoke from the wildfires in the region added additional color to the scene. More info and pics later on as this project as the restoration continues...
Pilots: C-47 Paul Bazeley, Alpha Lead: : RV-8 Steve Payne, Bravo Lead: RV-4 Pete Forsyth, Wingmen: RV-8 Dan Miller, RV-3B Dan Benua, RV-8 & photo Wendell Foltz, RV-6 & photo Joe Blank, Photographer & Vans employees extroidenaire: Adam Burch & Lindsey Mast. Thanks to Adam for planting the seed on this whole idea. You are to blame... ;-) As you may know Adam is a bit (gross understatement) of a graphics artist. His work can be seen here:
http://adamburch.carbonmade.com/
More info HERE on this particular aircrafts role in history:
http://www.classicaircraft.org/DouglasC-47A.html
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