North American B-25J Mitchell « HB-RDE »
North American B-25J Mitchell « HB-RDE »
This North American B-25J has the constructor number 108-47662 and the USAAF serial number 45-881, where “45” means built in 1945. At the end of WWII it was converted into a trainer (TB-25N), and fitted with two additional students’ seats at the rear of the cockpit. It finished its Air Force career as a twin- engined trainer.
In 1958, it was removed from active service and stored at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ.
1958, the 13th of june, Maricopa Dust & Spray bought it from the American Government and gave it its first civilian registration: N9621C.
In September ‘59, James E. Dimmettee of Dallas Aero Service, TX, acquired and operated the plane for Texas Instruments as a flying platform until the end of 1960.
Subsequently it had the following private owners:
V.C. Arnspleger, Dallas, TX, de September 1961 – 1962.
C.M. Stephenson/Air Traders Inc, Miami, FL, 1962-1966.
Richard Lloyd, Miami, FL, 1966-1970.
Antonio Rodriguez, San Juan, Porto Rico, 1970-1972.
Uriel Bristol, St. Croix, 1972-1976.
Seagull Enterprises, Christiansted, 1976-1978.
And finally, after a first restoration in 1982, Harry S. Doan from Daytona Beach, FL, kept it airworthy. The current camouflage scheme dates from this period. The legend has it that the owner’s wife loved those colours!
The plane was then owned successively by World Jet Inc. (Fort Lauderdale) and Flying Eagles Inc, (Don Widington) and finally acquired by Franklin Devaux in 1991.
After an epic ferry flight, the Mitchell landed in Dijon-Longvic (France) as F-AZID and was operated by Lafayette Aviation for several years on the European Airshow circuit. It was totally restored, flight controls renewed, wings removed and checked and treated all over with anti-corrosion products.
After a period of inactivity, it has now been totally overhauled by “Edwards Brothers Aviation” and finally delivered to “Jet Alpine Fighter” who will run it from their home base Sion in Valais.
It is now registered in Swiss as HB-RDE.
Wing span : 67.6 ft.
Length : 53 ft.
Height : 16.3 ft.
Power plant: two 14 cyl. Wright R-2600-35 1 700 CV
Max. Speed: 272 mph at 13000 ft.
Ceiling : 24000 ft.
Max Range : 1865 mi.
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