The Flying Bulls Will Bring Restored P-38 And DC-6B To EAA AirVenture

Marvin “Lefty” Gardner’s restored P-38 “White Lightnin,” which once flew with the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), will make an appearance this year at Oshkosh when Austria’s Flying Bulls bring the aircraft to the show.

As ANN reported in June 2008, P-38 November-Two-Five-Yankee took to the skies after extensive renovation. It had previously been damaged in a forced landing, and the Gardner family sold the plane to energy drink manufacturer Red Bull. It was then transported to Ezell Aviation for an extensive restoration. Gardner, CAF co-founder and former chief check pilot, died at age 87 in 2008. The legendary aviator was a staple at Reno as well as at air shows throughout the country. 

The Flying Bulls will also bring their restored Douglas DC-6B to Oshkosh. It was used to chauffeur heads of state and their celebrity guests all over the world. This is the only planned airshow appearance for the two aircraft in 2026. They will appear at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the 73rd edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s fly-in convention, July 20-26 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis. 

The P-38 is currently housed at The Flying Bulls’ Hangar-7 in Salzburg, Austria. The DC-6B was built in 1958 and was first owned by the Yugoslavian airline JAT. The airplane was later abandoned in the Zambian capital’s Lusaka Airport. The Flying Bulls acquired it in 2000, and did a three-year restoration.

The Flying Bulls aircraft coming to Oshkosh will be featured on the event’s showcase Boeing Plaza and will also appear in the EAA AirVenture afternoon air shows.

FMI: https://www.flyingbulls.at/en/