Tag: Collings Foundation

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Collings Foundation to Debut Newly Acquired P-40 With Wings of Freedom Tour

The Collings Foundation in Stow, Massachusetts has announced that their new TP-40N Warhawk will be joining the National Wings of Freedom Tour beginning tomorrow.

The aircraft (N293FR S/N 42-9749) began life as a P-40K which was delivered to the USAAF in 1942. It served with the 11th Air Force, Alaskan Air Defense Command and was damaged near Port Hyden in 1943, being struck off charge shortly thereafter. The machine was recovered in 1975 and eventually underwent restoration to airworthy status, returning to the air in 1986.

In 1990 it became part of the Evergreen Heritage Collection in Arizona and later the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon (where it is seen in the photo above). It was acquired by the Collings Foundation in 2017 and converted to a full dual-control TP-40N.

In addition to joining the Wings of Freedom Tour, the new TP-40N will reportedly be part of Bomber Camp 2019 as well. Click below for photos and additional info.

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Collings Foundation’s Newly Acquired P-38 to Make Airshow Debut

The Collings Foundation has reported that their newly acquired P-38 Lightning will make its first airshow appearance at the Los Angeles County Airshow at Gen. William Fox Field in Lancaster, California on March 24-25.

As previously reported, The aircraft (S/N 44-53186) was intended for use in photo reconnaissance but was stored in Arizona following the end of WW2. After being declared surplus, it was acquired by a succession of companies, including Kargl Aerial Surveys, Aero Exploration Co and Mark Hurd Aerial Mapping, before being parked in 1963. Over the following years the P-38 passed through the hands of several additional owners before being acquired by Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, which restored the machine to pristine condition and placed it on display in 1997.

In 2014 the aircraft was offered for sale and was soon acquired by the Stow, Massachusetts-based Foundation. It has since undergone maintenance, flight evaluation, and preparation at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino.

The machine will reportedly be on static and flying display during the event and will be the only Collings Foundation aircraft in attendance.

(via Collings Foundation Photo: Articseahorse via Wikimedia Commons)