Ithaca Aviation Heritage Foundation’s newly restored, Le Rhone-powered Thomas-Morse S-4B has performed its first taxi test as its scheduled first flight draws near.
As previously reported, The Ithaca, NY-based organization was established in order to return an example of the WW1 advanced trainer to the city where it was originally manufactured as “a symbol of Ithaca’s aviation heritage.” Their machine was generously donated by Dr. William N. Thibault of San Diego, CA in 2010 and has been under restoration ever since.
Click below to check out a newly released video of the Tommy moving under its own power.
A fledgling named 'Tommy' takes a taxi run.
Taxi run on June 19th with Ken Cassens at the controls and wing runners Cameron Mitchell (left) and Mark Mondella (right) keeping him on the straight and narrow. Save the date for Tommy's Centennial Flight on September 29th, 2018! #thumbsupHistorical Aviation Trail of New York State Taughannock Aviation Corporation EAA – The Spirit of Aviation Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport Ithaca is Gorges (Ithaca & Tompkins County Tourism) #aviationheritage Glenn H. Curtiss Museum
Posted by Ithaca Aviation Heritage Foundation on Thursday, June 21, 2018
The Scout’s maiden flight is currently scheduled for Sept 29 at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport and will be performed by Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome pilot Ken Cassens. To learn more about this aircraft and its restoration, check out the Spring 2018 edition of The Flying Machine journal.
