Aviation News — September 2017

B-29s

AirVenture 2017 featured the  rst formation

of two B-29s in recent memory, as newly

restored Doc (N69972, owned by Doc’s

Friends) joined F i  (N69972, American

Airpower Heritage Museum) in the skies

above Oshkosh. (An article documenting

Doc’s restoration appeared in the November

2016 issue of Aviation News).

The lives of two great aviators who

died during the last 12 months, were

marked by special  ights. The legendary

Bob Hoover passed away, aged 94, on

October 25, 2016. A World War Two

 ghter pilot, USAF test pilot, and a test/

demonstration pilot for North American

Aviation, he was instrumental in the

development of the manufacturer’s

T-28 Trojan and F-86 Sabre. Later,

he thrilled airshow crowds around the

world by performing aerobatics in an

Aero Commander. To honour his life’s

accomplishments, AirVenture performers

 ew a four-ship comprising a P-51, T-28,

F-86, and Aero Commander.

Just days before AirVenture, the aviation

world was shocked by the loss of one of

the most highly respected, popular and

talented performers of this era, Vlado

Lenoch, aged 64. He was killed on July 16,

while  ying P-51D Baby Duck. Bethany

Root, 34, manager of the Amelia Earhart

Memorial (Atchison) Airport, and herself

an accomplished pilot, also died in the

‘One of the most

notable sights

was the formation

of three USAF

bombers, the

B-52H, B-1B

and B-2A’

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 49

he thrilled airshow crowds around the

‘One of the most

Above: The Heritage Flight, consisting of

past and present  ghter aircraft, is a tradition

at AirVenture. The formation is shown on

July 25 when a Missing Man tribute to Vlado

Lenoch and Bethany Root was  own.

Above right: The show’s B-17G (N5017N) appears

each year, offering joyrides to eager enthusiasts.

Above left: The Breitling DC-3A-277B (HB-IRJ)

arrived at AirVenture 2017 having  own via

Asia and the Paci c from Switzerland.

Left: A bright pink Velocity (N222RW) at

Oshkosh owned by Watkins Billy Ray Jr.

Centre: For the  rst time at a non-military air

show, a USAF B-52H, B-1B and B-2A  ew in

formation together. Photo by Rob Olewinski-

cmraseye

Below: Three F-86s in formation, including

N48178/FU-178, which is now the oldest jet

aircraft in the world still  ying.

48-50_oshkoshDC.mfDC.mfDC.indd 49 04/08/2017 16:16