Pilot – June 2018

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Old TImers

N191H. Having made its first
post-restoration flight in early
2017, the Kingcobra wears its
former 1945 NACA (the
National Advisory Council
for Aeronautics−NASA’s
predecessor) scheme. It was
paired-up with a contemporary
NASA T-38A Talon to create a
novel ‘Generations Flight’.
Only recently formed, the
Tunison Foundation’s D-Day
Squadron appeared in strength,
bringing C-47As Placid Lassie
and Virginia Ann along with
Candler Field Express, a DC-3
dating from 1940. The squadron
is hoping to send twelve C-47s/
DC-3s across the Atlantic for the
‘Daks over Normandy’ event in
June 2019.
It was once again the Piper
Cub’s turn to scoop the top
vintage aircraft awards, with
Grand Champion Antique being
C and D Aviation’s 1941 J3C Cub
N35303. The Grand Champion
Classic was James Capps’ 1949
PA-11 Cub Special N5533 and
immaculate 1946 J3C NC88462
was judged the Best Custom
Classic. Perhaps the rarest
vintage aircraft was the
uniquely airworthy Riley
conversion DH104 Dove 6A
N772S that was recently restored
to flying condition.
Sadly, Sun ’n Fun no longer
includes a ‘splash-in’ at a local
lake, but limited numbers of
seaplanes still attend the Fly-
in. 2018’s turn-out had two
Grumman Mallards, including
newly-restored Turbine Mallard
N147MV. Spectacularly painted,
with a wood effect hull, it was
a deserved Grand Champion
Seaplane. Of interest was Waco
YMF-5F N56ED equipped with

The D-Day Squadron’s participation included DC-3 Candler Field Express and C-47A Placid Lassie

Piper J3C Cub N88462 was the worthy Best Custom

Classic award winner

The world’s only airworthy Riley Dove conversion

N772S at Sun ’n Fun

Eye-catching Turbine Mallard N147MV, with its wood-effect paint

scheme, was a colourful Grand Champion Seaplane

N56ED, the first modern factory-produced floatplane example of
the Waco YMF-5F

The Best Tribute Homebuilt aircraft was this kit-built Sopwith

Schneider replica

amphibious floats−a first from

the WACO Aircraft Corporation’s

new-builds production line.

The replica fighters area had

a WAR Corsair, a Rotec-engined

Sopwith Camel replica and

Blake W Thomas’s kit-built

Sopwith Schneider replica N394FF,

which won the Best Tribute

Homebuilt award. Sun 'n Fun 2019

is scheduled for 2-7 April.

Report: Nigel Hitchman

PHOTOS: NIGEL HITCHMAN

PHOTOS: FRANK MORMILLO