I had a nice talk with a friend in Texas, and he indicated that work will soon begin on the former Lefty Gardner P-38. According to my friend the restoration shop has been instructed to submit drawings by summer of various schemes for paint, all of which are to be “of a non-military nature that best reflects the Red Bull brand” or something like that. Apparently they were very impressed with the work that was done last year in painting one of the Red Bull race planes, owned by David Martin. The P-38 restoration is also to include some sort of custom smoke system that has yet to be engineered. Red Bull has asked to have a system designed that will allow for multi colored smoke and flares to be released with a pre-programmed timer control, I suppose to match up with some musical score played on the ground. The plane is also to be fitted with an RF camera system, so that monitors on the ground can see real time video from the cockpit, and other various shots around the airplane.
Here is a photo of the plane that was painted for the Red Bull Air Races. (this photo is from the Red Bull web site, and no photo credit was given)
By: markstringer - 31st December 2007 at 14:56
i also beleive the b25 visited longleat when they held the air race there a couple of years ago. i may be wrong though…
By: Buster The Bear - 31st December 2007 at 14:17
The ‘November Numbers’ DC-6 has visited Luton in the past. It’s interior is rather luxurious according to my Hungarian chum!
By: warhawk69 - 30th December 2007 at 15:25
Have any of the Red Bull aircraft ever been to the UK?
I would love to see the Corsair and B-25….well all of the fleet actually!
Phill
By: Newforest - 30th December 2007 at 11:57
Not to mentioned the postponed visit of Glacier Girl! Maybe they could make the trip together!
By: markstringer - 30th December 2007 at 11:03
wheres that outrageous paint scheme? lovely looking plane and can’t wait for it to arrive in europe. lets hope it decides to visit the uk at some point, not that it might wan’t to come over in the summer and coincide with bolero 3 or the liberty belle coming over……:p
By: Ant.H - 29th December 2007 at 21:22
I’ve just been having a look at the Ezell’s website and the latest (Dec’ 07) update shows the P38 out in the sunshine doing some final systems checks. Absolutely stunning, you have to take your hat off to these guys for bringing such a badly battered and burned wreck back up to such glorous flying trim. Well done guys!
By: Steve Bond - 27th April 2006 at 12:15
Excellent, many thanks for that.
By: TwinOtter23 - 27th April 2006 at 11:40
Papa Lima,” What are you talking about?”
The Swift spent many years on external display, which is why the canopy looks the way it does now.
Checked with a contact at Newark this morning, they have a spare canopy waiting to be fitted. Work not imminent due to the current commitment of their staff and volunteers involved in dismantling the Viggen! 🙂
By: Steve Bond - 27th April 2006 at 09:44
Papa Lima,” What are you talking about?”
The Swift spent many years on external display, which is why the canopy looks the way it does now.
By: Propstrike - 26th April 2006 at 21:35
There is a very interesting piece on the All Aviation Flightline Online, describing Ladd Gardner’s forced landing. Just type in Ladd Gardner in Goggle, and it is the first ‘hit’.
When you get to the religious bit, you can always skip through it, if it is not your thing!
By: Chapin01 - 26th April 2006 at 20:13
Guys:
This is how the Red Bull P-38, ex-White Lightning, looked on April 20th, 2006, when I visited Ezell Aviation.
Saludos,
Tulio
By: Rlangham - 26th April 2006 at 17:10
It does appear slightly clouded on my webshots album, though it could have been caused by my camera.
The Hampden is being worked on by two people, there was one person dedicated to it but he sadly died, it’s his picture which is propped up by the fuselage. As far as I know the ultimate goal is to restore the forward fuselage, would be nice to try and get a whole one (ie with the rear tail and wings from the Hunt brothers example) but, like everything, it needs manpower and money, both sadly lacking. Doesn’t hurt to drop a couple of quid into the donation box everytime you go though
By: Papa Lima - 26th April 2006 at 16:59
Newark Air Museum Swift
This is a Swift I photographed indoors at Newark in January.
What are you talking about?
By: TwinOtter23 - 26th April 2006 at 16:27
1. One of my pet hates is clouded canopies due to outside display and the effects of ultra-violet light (why don’t people put covers over them when their museums are closed?). One of your shots shows the Newark Swift thus blighted, with a cockpit section next to it with crystal-clear prerspex; why not swap them?
Steve,
I think Newark would have a couple of problems with the above idea:
Newark is open 361 [362] days each year and I doubt they could cover all cockpits each night!
I believe that the complete Swift and prototype Swift cockpit [arrived at Cockpitfest 2005] are both on loan with Newark, from different people and therefore unlikely to be able to swap canopies. They might not even fit!
By: italian harvard - 26th April 2006 at 16:00
holy moly, the quantity and quality of the tools they’re using is impressive, we share a multi use tool and that’s it! 😉
Anybody lookin forward to sponsor me as well? 😀
Alex
By: Steve Bond - 26th April 2006 at 13:23
Not totally related, but since you have provided a link to excellent your photo albums, two questions spring to mind:
1. One of my pet hates is clouded canopies due to outside display and the effects of ultra-violet light (why don’t people put covers over them when their museums are closed?). One of your shots shows the Newark Swift thus blighted, with a cockpit section next to it with crystal-clear prerspex; why not swap them?
2. I have not seen any reports about the East Kirkby Hampden for ages; is anyone actually working on it? What is the ultimate aim?
By: Rlangham - 26th April 2006 at 11:53
Anyone have any clue as to what colour scheme what she’ll be wearing? Not that i’m particularly bothered, Red Bull could paint her bright orange and i’d still be happy to see one in the air
By: TwoSixTwo - 26th August 2005 at 14:18
Yes the P-38 going to Salzburg-Airport Hangar 7!
By: Manonthefence - 3rd February 2005 at 10:43
Its a stunning set of Colours thats for sure. Just imagine a Union Jack livery in the same style 😀
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January 26, 2005 at 4:46 am