Home / Articles posted by Mark Hrutkay

• Roger Peterson’s Last Flight… 55 Years Ago

  In legends, tribute / 1 February 2014 / Comments are Disabled

  

  Every pilot has a last flight. Some will know this is THE last flight before takeoff and others simply will not. Roger Peterson’s last flight was on February 3, 1959 and when he took off, he had no idea this was going to be his last flight. There was also one question that few people have ever asked; what happened

  

• TF-51D Galveston Gal Lost

  In museums, tribute, warbirds / 25 October 2013 / 2 comments

  

  About noon on October 23, 2013, TF-51D N4151D Serial 44-73458 of the Lone Star Flight Museum crashed into a bay near Houston Texas.  It had been on a pleasure flight taking a British tourist for a ride.   Both the pilot and passenger were lost. This Mustang had been operated by the Canadians as RCAF 9294 until 1959 when it was

  

• Neil Armstrong’s Champ

  In legends, museums, space, tribute / 18 October 2013 / 4 comments

  

  In 1946, a 16 year old Neil Armstrong was landing an Aeronca Champ in a field in Ohio. He probably looked out the side window and saw a bright red sun rapidly descending in the western sky, illuminating some grain bins. That was the same humble beginning that most pilots have, a little experience behind them and a lot of

  

• Getting Ready to Race at Reno

  In air racing / 8 September 2013 / 3 comments

  

  The Sunday before the races is a quiet time.  The pit areas are set up and in some cases airplanes have been on the field for over a week.  No real restrictions yet, no need for tickets, pit passes or such.  In a way it reminds me of the way airports and flight lines used to be before terrorists were

  

• Willow Run Bomber Plant Needs Your Help

  In air force, bombers, military, museums, news, warbirds / 27 August 2013 / 3 comments

  

  There is an effort at the Yankee Air Museum to save part of the Willow Run Bomber Plant.  Their currently trying to raise funds to save a portion of the old Ford plant that produced B-24 bombers during World War II at the rate of one per hour.  This plant employed 40,000 workers during World War II. Willow run produced

  

• The Jetman: From EAA Oshkosh to the Reno Air Races

  In oshkosh / 21 August 2013 / 1 comment

  

  Brave?  The Right Stuff? That doesn’t even start to cover it somedays.  Yves Rossy is an amazing pilot, if you want to call him that.  He clearly breaks into my list of the greatest pilots in the world; ranking with Bob Hoover, Steve Hinton, Robert Gibson, and Scooter Yoak.  He flies a carbon fiber jet wing sponsored by Breitling and