Incase anyone is going to be in the Stow Ma, area in October you might be interested in some goings on at the Collings Foundations HQ.   Me I'd love to go but I can't being in Florida. Here they are....

Michelle

9/4-9/8 Oxford, CT
(B-17, B-24, B-25 & P-51)   Airport: Waterbury-Oxford Airport   Location: Keystone Aviation 9/8-9/10 Lincoln, RI
(B-17, B-24, B-25 & P-51)   Airport: North Central State Airport   Location: Landmark Aviation -   9/10-9/12 Hyannis, MA
(B-17, B-24, B-25 & P-51)   Airport: Barnstable Municipal Airport   Location: Griffin Aviation Services -   9/12-9/15 Plymouth, MA
(B-17, B-24, B-25 & P-51)   Airport: Plymouth Municipal   Location: Main Terminal Ramp -   9/15-9/17 Portsmouth, NH
(B-17, B-24, B-25 & P-51)   Airport: Pease Intl. Tradeport   Location: Port City Air -   9/17-9/19 Manchester, NH
(B-17, B-24, B-25 & P-51)   Airport: Manchester-Boston Regional   Location: Aviation Museum of New Hampshire -   9/19-9/22 Beverly, MA
(B-17, B-24, B-25 & P-51)   Airport: Beverly Municipal Airport   Location: Aviators of New England - East Ramp -   9/22-9/24 New Bedford, MA
(B-17, B-24, B-25 & P-51)
  Airport: New Bedford Regional Airport   Location: Sandpiper Air -   9/24-9/29 White Plains, NY
(B-17, B-24, B-25 & P-51)   Airport: Westchester County Airport   Location: Million Air (formerly West Air) -   9/29-10/1
Windsor Locks, CT
(B-17, B-24, B-25 & P-51)   Airport: Bradley International Airport   Location: Signature Flight Support -   10/1-10/3 Pittsfield, MA
(B-17, B-24, B-25 & P-51)   Airport: Pittsfield Municipal Airport   Location: TBD -   10/3-10/5 Schenectady, NY
(B-17, B-24, B-25 & P-51)   Airport: Schenectady County Airport   Location: Empire State Aerosciences Museum -   10/6-10/8 Binghampton, NY
(B-17, B-24, B-25 & P-51)   Airport: Greater Binghamton Airport   Location: Atlantic Aviation CHECK OUR WEB SITE FOR MORE STOP DATES!
 
A Living History Event that will be "one for the books".
October 11th and 12th - Collings Foundation Headquarters
Picture this....
An undercover French Resistance Fighter met with the Allied Forces and showed the exact coordinates of the German encampment. The night before an elite German force over took a small grass airstrip just a few hundred feet away. The Allied Forces had to gain control of this airfield to fly in the much-needed supplies. ~ It was going to be a tough fight.

There were German machine gun nests set up all over the camp perimeter and the dreaded 88mm cannon was pointed to the sky waiting for the Allied bombers to fly overhead. Another menace was the German Stuka dive-bomber aircraft stationed nearby. The Allies knew they needed a lot of firepower. The commanding officer call in two tanks (a Sherman and Chaffee), troop carriers, jeeps, lots of ammo and a M16 half-track with quad mount .50 caliber machine guns. Over forty Allied troops made their way through the forest hoping to surprise the Germans. - Just when they were getting ready to attack - A German Fiesler Storch reconnaissance aircraft spotted the troops. They opened fire on the Storch, but it was too late! The plane made a quick turn from a practical standstill and landed at the German camp. The pilot alerted the German unit of the advancing Allies. The Allied soldiers knew - it was now or never!
How will the battle end? Will the Allied troops be able to gain control of the airfield and further their advancement? You will have to be here to find out. To see a small clip from last year click here. You will be able to see authentic equipment from WWII in action. Everything from the cooking utensils to M1 rifles is original.

~ Entrance fee is $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for children 12 years and younger.
~ The WWII Reenactment will take place on October 11th and 12th.
~ There will be two reenactments per day - one at 11:00 AM and another at 3:30 PM. The situations and outcome could be different either day!
~ The Foundation's facility and incredible collection over 80 automobiles, racecars and aircraft will be open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on both days.
~ There will be a WWII Veterans roundtable discussion at 1:00 PM on both days. This is a unique opportunity to hear some incredible stories.
~ For a bird's eye view of the event: We will be offering flights in the PT-17 open cockpit bi-plane and T-6 Texan fighter trainer over the course of the day.
PT-17 Stearman flights: $230 for 1/2 hour
T-6 Texan flights: $450 for 45 minutes.
Call to reserve your flight.
~ Food and refreshments will be available.
For more information, directions and flight reservations click here. Or call 978.562.9182

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Please call if you are interested in helping.
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Race of the Century Event
Great fun and quite a success!
The Race of the Century event here at the Foundation turned out to be quite a crowd pleaser and memorable living history event. The purpose of the event was to highlight the major technological advancements in human air and ground transportation in a series of "races". Even after all the practice runs, we had found nothing to be predicable - to say the least. All of us at the Collings Foundation want to thank everyone who attended and helped!
Here are the race results:
Race #1
Make/Year: 1904 Franklin Roadster
Manufacturer: HH Franklin Manufacturing Co., Syracuse NY
Type: 2-passenger "horseless carriage"
Engine: Transversely mounted, 10 hp 4 cyl. with jump start ignition and splash lubrication
Weight: 920 lbs. w/o passengers
Top speed: 15-20 mph depending on conditions
VS.
Make/Year: 1867 Concord Stage Coach
Manufacturer: Concord Coach Mfg., Concord NH
Type: Classic design, 6-12 passengers
Engine: A pair or team of horses - typically draft breed
Weight: 2,200 lbs. w/o passengers
Top speed: With a good pair of horses and the right conditions, she'll do about 20
Results: On both days - from the word "go" the stagecoach kept a comfortable lead and easily won the race. ~ It was the driver of the Franklin who looked uncomfortable as he leaned forward and squirmed in a futile effort to make the Franklin go faster. Stagecoach was the easy winner.

Race #2
Make/Year: 1999 Flat Sided Dog Cart Carriage
Manufacturer: Glenkowski, Poland
Type: 2 - 4 passenger carriage
Engine: A pair of well-trained Morgan Horses
Weight: 900 lbs. w/o passengers.
Top speed: 20 - 25 mph depending on conditions.
VS.
Make/Year: 1911 Stanley Steamer
Manufacturer: Stanley Motor Carriage Company, Newton MA
Type: 2 person touring automobile
Engine: 30 hp boiler
Weight: 3,700 lbs. w/o passengers
Top speed: 40 - 50 mph
Results: We were very excited to have 7 time world carriage driving champion Larry Poulin bring "some of the fastest carriage horses" in the world. Mr. Poulin has such and incredible history of competitive carriage driving, we (including Larry) thought it would be a close race. Turned out we were wrong. The steamer (with incredible torque) blasted ahead and stayed in front for a clear victory.
Race #3
Make/Year: 1914 Stutz Bearcat
Manufacturer: Stutz Motor Company, Indianapolis IN
Type: 2-passenger.
Engine: 4 cyl T-head engine. 60hp @ 1500rpm
Weight: 4,500 lbs. w/o passengers.
Top speed: 75 mph estimated
VS.
Make/Year: 1911 Bleriot Type XI
Manufacturer: Queen, Long Island NY
Type: 2-seat flying machine
Engine: 65 hp. Continental (Original was a 35 hp. Anzani).
Weight: 600 lbs. w/o passengers
Top speed: 50 mph
Results: The Collings Foundation's Bleriot is currently one of the oldest flying aircraft in America (from the firewall back). The Stutz Bearcat was the quintessential "gentleman's sports car" from the same era. Flying the Bleriot is quite the feat - so the bet was that the Stutz would win since it would be faster at the start. As expected the Stutz took and easy lead at the start, but as soon as the Bleriot became airborne, the aircraft quickly overtook the auto and won the race. See the Bleriot fly click here.
Race #4
Make/Year: 1937 Walts Offy
Manufacturer: Engine-Offenhauser, Los Angeles CA, Chassis -Hillagas PA
Engine: 220 cu inch 4 cyl double overhead cam 4-valve "fire breathing methanol monster"
Weight: 1,200 lbs. w/o racer
Top speed: 100+ mph estimated
VS.
Make/Year: 1941 PT-17 Stearman
Manufacturer: Boeing Aircraft Company
Type: 2 seat trainer aircraft
Engine: 220 hp Continental R-670-5 7-cyl radial engine.
Weight: 2,630 lbs. w/o passengers
Top speed: 130 mph
Results: Arguably the most spectacular race during the event. The Stearman had to take off and come back around to the mid point of the airstrip before the sprint car completed two and a half laps. It was nose to prop the whole race. The Sprint car won the race on Saturday. On Sunday, the finish was so close (and there were so many bets on the race) that the crowd demanded a re-do. After much fan fare and arguing between "Grass Burning Bruce" and "Cooter - the Barn Storming Banshee" they agreed to race again. - The Stearman won the final race. Here is a clip of the first race where the "Trench Maker" wins by a hair.
Pictures courtesy of Chris Wraight and Michael Dispezio. _______________________________________________________________
Last chance to submit content for the Collings Foundation Magazine
Our communications, marketing, editorial, graphic, photography and research departments are getting ready to close their doors, turn down the lights, and start laying out this year's much anticipated magazine. If you have an interesting story, favorite picture and anything else you would like to share with folks around the United States - we would like to see it! Please send information etc. to: hchaney@collingsfoundation.org - Keep initial email brief. Thanks!
Just added P-51 Mustang Book, tee shirts and key holders...
We keep adding new and cool aviation related products on our online PX Store. Shopping is very easy and secure. Looking for the ultimate gift for "the person that has everything"? Flight Certificates are a unique and exciting present for anyone. The Wings of Freedom tour visits over 105 cities all over the United States. Once your certificate arrives just check our stop schedule to see when the bombers are near you- then call us to reserve a seat (B-25 certificates also available. Check our web site for confirmed schedule and locations). Flight Certificates are a tax deductible donation! We also have a great selection of books, videos, DVD's, T-shirts, polos, toys, calendars, hats and much more. Have to mention the prints we are selling from Aviation Artist - Robert Brun. Hand signed and numbered prints that will look great on any wall! Excellent stuff for anyone interested in WWII and Vietnam era aircraft and history. Your purchase helps the Collings Foundation!


P-51 Mustang Book and B-17/B-24 Certificate
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  Your contributions are only way we are able to continue our programs. Make your tax-deductible donation before the year is over. Our new annual membership program lets you "Join the Ranks" and help "Keep 'em Flying"! Regular Membership ($70 annual contribution) includes a member card, free admission to The Wings of Freedom Tour and the annual Collings Foundation Open House in Stow, MA, a 10% PX discount with the member card, a subscription to the Collings Foundation Newsletter, and a Collings Foundation window decal. The Participating Membership ($100 annual contribution) includes all the same benefits as the Regular Member and adds free admission to The Wings of Freedom Tour and the CF Open House for one extra guest as well as a one-time $50 discount on a flight experience in the B-17, B-24, or B-25. Distinguished Flying Command Members ($1500 one time contribution) includes the gets his or her name on either the B-17 or B-24 and two between cities flights in addition to the Regular Membership benefits. Plane Sponsors ($5000 one time contribution) includes a lifetime subscription to the Collings Foundation newsletter, honored name on the Plane Sponsor section of either the B-17 or B-24, a leather flight jacket and life time between cities flight privileges for sponsor and guest.
There are many ways one can help support Collings Foundation. We can receive donations in the form of IRA contributions, bequests, stock, fine art, aircraft, rare automobiles, real estate and much more. In-kind or monitory corporate sponsorships are also greatly appreciated. We can work closely with your company to help promote each other’s goals and services. Of course, flying in the planes is a great way to donate! We do not receive any funding from the Federal Government! Your support is essential. Please call 800-568-8924 with any questions.
For more information on how to become a Collings Foundation member, please go to our Membership section on the website.