PROP WARBIRDS OF AIRVENTURE 2025

Story and photos by Scott Jankowski

AirVenture and the EAA have always understood the importance of having Warbirds as a key part of the annual airshow and they vital part they continue to play in the history of Aviation and our Nation. AirVenture 2025 was no different with several unique and one-of-a-kind propeller driven Warbirds in attendance and performing in the daily airshows.

Once again, this year both flyable Boeing B-29 Superfortresses were in attendance. These four Wright R-3350-23 Duplex Cyclone turbocharged radial piston engine powered Boeing B-29’s were designed for high altitude strategic bombing. The B-29 also exiled in low altitude night incendiary bombing, the deployment of naval mines, and modified B-29’s dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The B-29 is still the only aircraft that has ever dropped an atomic weapon in combat. The B-29 was also called back into service during the Korean War with one aircraft even shooting down a North Korean MIG-15 fighter. The B-29 has a maximum speed of 357 miles per hour, a range of 3,250 miles, and a service ceiling of 31,850 feet. The two B-29’s in attendance, FIFI and Doc took turns spending time on Boeing Plaza and offering rides out of nearby Appleton Wisconsin. Boeing built a total of 3,970 B-29’s during its production run from 1943 to 1946.

Lewis Air Legends had several of their aircraft at AirVenture again this year and included the very rare Lockheed C-121A Constellation “Bataan.” This 1948 vintage transport carries serial number 48-613 was assigned to General Douglas MacArthur for his use during his service career. This Constellation was retired from United States Air Force service in 1966 with NASA picking up the aircraft to be used during the Apollo Space Program. NASA would retire the aircraft in 1970 with the Army Aviation Museum taking possession of the aircraft they would display it for the next 20 years. Lewis would acquire the aircraft with Planes of Fame performing extensive restoration work to restore the aircraft to its original condition. The C-121A is powered by four Wright R-3350-75 Duplex Cyclone 18-cylinder air cooled radial piston engines, giving the C-121A a top speed of 334 miles per hour and carries a crew of five, Lockheed built a total of 9 C-121A’s.

Lewis would also bring four of the famous Grumman “Cats” once again to AirVenture. The first aircraft being a Grumman F-4F-3 Wildcat, Bureau # 12260 painted to represent and match the F-4 that World War II Ace and Medal of Honor Recipient Lieutenant Commander Henry “Butch” O’Hare. The second busiest airport in the world is named after him, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, O’Hare would be the Navy’s first Ace of World War II by shooting down 5 enemy bombers. This particular F-4F was recovered from the bottom of Lake Michigan where it crashed nearly fifty years ago. This F-4F is quite rare as it is the only flyable Grumman built F-4 still flyable out of 7,885 total aircraft produced as the balance of the flyable F-4’s are all General Motors built examples.

The second aircraft is a Grumman F6F Hellcat, bureau# 80141 painted to represent the aircraft that Lieutenant Alex Vraciu of VF-6 flew aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid in 1944. The F6 was designed and built to replace the F-4 Wildcat and to counter the Japanese A6M Zero. It would become the United States Navy’s dominant fighter in the latter half of the Pacific War. Grumman built 12,275 F-6F’s between 1942 and 1945 and are credited with destroying a total of 5,223 enemy aircraft, more than any other allied naval aircraft.

The third aircraft is a Grumman F7F-3P Tigercat, bureau# 80390. The F-7 was the first twin engine fighter to be deployed by the United States Navy, but delivered too late to see combat in World War II, it did perform reconnaissance duties. The F-7 did see combat in the Korean War and flew night fighter and attack missions. The early build F7’s were too large to operate from the older and smaller aircraft carriers, only the late variant F7F-4N was certified for carrier service. Grumman manufactured 364 of the aircraft during its production run from 1943 to 1946, this example is painted in the markings of Marine Photographic Squadron 254 (VMD-254) which was based at Marine Corps Air Station Kearny Mesa Airfield California which is now known as Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and carriers Here Kitty, Kitty nose art.

The fourth and final Grumman “Cat” is a 1949 vintage Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat, Bureau # 122619. The F8 was the last piston powered fighter aircraft Grumman built, with a total of 1,265 built during its production run. This aircraft wears the markings of Naval Air Station Denver Colorado, known today as Buckley Space Force Base. The F8 did not see combat in World War II as the first squadron was not operational in time but it did see combat during the French Indochina War from 1946 to 1954 when 200 aircraft were delivered to French forces in 1951. The United States Navy Blue Angels also flew the F8F from 1946 to 1950 replacing the F6F Hellcat. Lewis acquired this aircraft in 2010 after racing at the Reno Air Races for many years.

Douglas C-54D-15-DC Skymaster, serial # 43-17228, which is operated by the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation was on static display this year. The C-54 is powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-2000-9 Twin Wasp 14-cylinder air cooled radial piston engines and has a payload of 32,500#’s This C-54 was manufactured at the Douglas Plant in Chicago Illinois, on the location that would become the Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the second busiest airport in the world. This aircraft is named “Spirit of Freedom” and is a true Berlin Airlift Veteran carrying coal and food stuffs into West Berlin. It would also serve in the Korean War based in Japan and would be retired by the United States Air Force in 1965. The aircraft would be pulled out of storage by the United States Army in 1967 who operated the aircraft out of the Marshall Islands until 1978. The aircraft would be converted to a fire bomber afterwards and eventually a freighter before the foundation would acquire the aircraft in 2021. They operate this aircraft as a traveling museum to educate people on the Berlin Airlift.

Several warbirds flew in the daily airshows and included the Trojan Thunder Team flying the North American T-28 Trojan trainer aircraft. The T-28 is powered by a single Wright R-1280-86 Cyclone 9-cylinder air cooled radial engine with a total of 1,948 being produced during its manufacturing run from 1950 to 1957. The United States Air Force and Navy used the T-28 as a primary trainer, the T-28 was also successfully employed as a counter-insurgency aircraft during the Vietnam War. The last United States Navy squadron to fly the T-28 was VT-27 “Boomers” which retired the aircraft in 1984. Trojan Thunder made their airshow debut in 2018 and fly a mixture of formation and opposing passes with a mixture of both United States Navy (carrier and land based) and United States Air Force aircraft.

The Class of 45 made its annual appearance at AirVenture 2025, and performed several times in the afternoon airshow. The team consists of Scott “Scooter” Yoak flying “Quicksilver” a North American P-51D Mustang and Jim Tobul flying “Korean War Hero” a Chance Voight F4U4 Corsair. In 2013 the duo was discussing the United States Air Force Heritage Flight and the now disbanded United States Navy Legacy Flight when they decided to do a formation flight of their own to honor the service personnel who flew and maintained these amazing aircraft. Both of these aircraft were manufactured in 1945, and were the premier fighters of both theaters in World War II and would both go on to serve in the Korean War as well. Their mission is to “preserve and honor the service of American men and women both then and now. In flying these legendary machines, we remember their service, their contributions, and most importantly we are reminded of our obligation to never let their sacrifices be in vain. As the thunder of their engine fades into the distance, remember that freedom is indeed not free, and liberty is everyone’s responsibility to preserve.”

Vicky Benzing brought her 1944 North American P-51D Mustang named “Plum Crazy.” The original owner accidently painted the aircraft purple in 1964, which made it instantly recognizable. Because of this Fred Smith, the late founder of FedEx decided to incorporate the color purple into the FedEx logo. Vicky purchased the aircraft in 2019, restored it and repainted it into its original purple color.

The Dakota Territory Air Museum brought the very recognizable and famous North American P-51C Mustang named “Thunderbird.” This cobalt blue painted P-51 was once owned by World War II Brigadier General and famous actor Jimmy Stewart as well as Lieutenant Colonel Jackie Cochran, she was the first woman to break the sound barrier. This P-51 won several different air races and set several different speed records. Warren Pietsch, no stranger to the Warbird Community, flew this beautiful aircraft alongside “Plum Crazy” during AirVenture 2025.

The North end of the AirVenture grounds is designated for Warbirds, this is where you will find the majority of the Warbirds for the week with each type having its own parking area to keep like types together. Boeing Plaza will also be used to showcase the more unique and rarer aircraft and will rotate in and out of the Plaza all week long. This year featured several different types of observation and utility aircraft and included several examples of the Cessna O-1A Bird Dog, Cessna O-2B Super Skymaster and OV-10A Bronco aircraft. One of the rarer types on display this year was a Beechcraft QU-22B Pave Eagle II which was to be an unmanned airborne relay for the Igloo White operation during the Vietnam War. Igloo White placed and monitored sensors to detect traffic along the main supply route, the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This modified Beechcraft Bonanza carried a large generator above the engine to power its electronic equipment and additional fuel in extended wing tip tanks for extended range. All flights during the Vietnam War were conducted with a pilot on board due to equipment reliability problems, after several aircraft loses the project was cancelled.

Trainers are also very prominent and included several examples of the North American T-6/SNJ/Harvard, the North American T-28 Trojan, Beechcraft T-34 Mentor, Vultee BT-13 Valiant, DeHavilland DHC-1 Chipmunk, Nanchang CJ-6 and Yak-52 type aircraft.

Transports were also parked up in the Warbirds area and included several Douglas C-47 SkyTrain’s, Grumman HU-16C Albatrosses, Grumman C-1A Trader, Rockwell L-26B Aero Commander, and Beechcraft C-45 Expeditors.

Bomber types seen this year included several different North American B-25 Mitchell’s, Grumman TBM Avenger, the Consolidated PBY-4 Privateer, EAA’s B-17 “Aluminum Overcast” was also towed out to the Warbirds area for the week. Several examples of the Douglas EA-1E and AD-4 Skyraider could also be seen this year.

Fighters also gathered as usual this year and included numerous North American P-51 Mustangs, Chance Voight F-4U Corsairs, General Motors FM-2 Wildcats, the P-38 Lightning, and the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. One of the more unique formation flights to take place was a three-ship formation consisting of two North American P-51D Mustangs and a flyable reproduction of the Messerschmitt ME-262.

Helicopters were also present this year and included the Bell UH-1N Huey, Hughes OH-6A Cayuse, the Hiller UH-12B Raven, and the Aerospatiale Gazelle.

The majority of these Warbirds and owned and operated by private individuals. The maintenance and upkeep continue to climb as replacement parts are getting more and more difficult to come by. There are several other organizations such as the EAA Warbirds of America, the Commemorative Air Force, and the Fagan WWII Museum that are dedicated to preserving these important pieces of our history. The next time you see a Warbird owner or pilot, please take some time to thank them for flying and maintaining these beautiful and important parts of our history. Until next time, “Blue Skies To All!”