The Flying Heritage
Collection, featuring rare World War I and World War II planes
acquired by investor and philanthropist Paul G. Allen and restored
to flying condition, will display a portion of its aircraft at the
Arlington (WA) 2005 EAA Fly-In on July 6-10.
The Flying Heritage Collection's painstaking process of
restoring its aircraft sets them apart from all other aviation
artifacts, each restored to a level of authenticity never attempted
before. The Flying Heritage Collection team exhaustively researches
and seeks out original vendors to reconstruct materials and
components that have become obsolete. From cotton-coated wiring and
lacquer and enamel paint to vintage cockpit furnishings and
original radios that still operate, these planes are as authentic
as is possible.
"We are pleased to
welcome the Flying Heritage Collection to this year's Arlington EAA
Fly-In," said Barbara Tolbert (pictured right), Northwest EAA
Executive Director.
"These rare and beautifully restored airplanes will be a popular
draw not only because of their significance to aviation history,
but also because of the remarkable quality of the restorations that
have taken place."
The Flying Heritage Collection includes a Vickers-Supermarine
Ltd. Mk.VC Spitfire, built in England in 1940, Polikarpov I-16 Type
24 Rata, built in Russia in 1939, Curtiss Wright JN-4D Jenny, built
in the U.S. in 1918, North American Aviation P-51D Mustang, built
in the U.S. in 1945, Polikarpov U-2/PO-2, built in Russia in 1943,
Curtiss Wright P-40C Tomahawk, built in the U.S. in 1941, Fiesler
Fi-156-C2 Storch, built in Germany in 1943, Fiesler Fi-103/V-1
"Buzz Bomb," built in Germany in 1945, Fiesler Fi-103R Reichenburg,
built in Germany in 1945, Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat, built in the U.S.
in 1945,Boeing B-17E "Flying Fortress," built in the U.S. in 1942;
in restoration, Nakajima Ki-43-1b Hayabusa, built in Japan in
1942,and a Nakajima 16M5-52 Zero-Sen, built in Japan in 1944, in
unrestored condition.
The Arlington EAA Fly-in, now in its 37th year, is the premier
sport aviation event of the west. More than 1,600 aircraft and
60,000 guests participate in the week long festival of aerial
demonstrations, hands-on workshops, educational forums, aircraft
judging and many other aviation oriented activities. The 2005
Arlington EAA Fly-In will be held July 6-10 at the Arlington
Municipal Airport.
The Flying Heritage Collection mission is to collect, restore,
fly and preserve combat aircraft and artifacts representing
technological, ideological, political, and economic views of aerial
conflict in the 20th century, with emphasis on World War II and the
Cold War era. The collection is at the Arlington Airport, 17622
49th Place N.E. in Arlington. Reservations to view the collection
may be made by calling 360-435-2172. Tours are available by
reservation only.
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