Jet Truck, Homewrecker, Catches Fire Just Before the Jet Truck Vs. Plane Race
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The Official Newsletter of the Valiant Air Command, Inc. 6600 Tico Road, Titusville, FL 32780 - (321) 268-1941 website: http://www.valiantaircommand.com email: [email protected] 1st Quarter Review - January, February and March 2019 Jet Truck, Homewrecker, catches fire just before the Jet Truck vs. Plane race. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Nothing could be truer than this photo captured by VAC Photographer, Larry Titchenal, at the Sunday AirShow. Jerry McCart, the Jet Truck Owner/Driver, watches in disbelief as the airport fire truck puts out the blazing jet truck. The P-40 circled, until Jerry was out Jerry is climbing out Jerry is OK MUSEUM AND GIFT SHOP - OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK - 9AM TO 5PM Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day Adults $20.00 - Senior 60+ or Military $18.00 - Students 13 to 18 years old $10.00 Children 5 to 12 years old $5.00 - Children under 5 years old FREE - Special Group Tour Rates Available Statement of Purpose The Valiant Air Command was formed to perpetuate the history of aviation, to encourage gathering of men and women in camaraderie, research and Warbird restoration, to serve as an educational tool for young and old alike; and to assure that the memory of those who gave their lives in service to their country shall not perish. 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Organization Museum Recognized by the Internal Revenue Service Future Events • 2nd Quarter • 2019 April 13 Fly-in / Drive-in 8:00 to 10:30 June 8 Fly-in / Drive-in 8:00 to 10:30 April 16 VAC BOD meeting - Noon June 18 VAC BOD meeting - Noon May 11 Fly-in / Drive-in 8:00 to 10:30 Check the VAC website for last minute changes and/or May 21 VAC BOD meeting - Noon additions (www.valiantaircommand.com) Commander’s Report early ticket sales were trending Norm Daniels, Commander nicely. Poor weather forecasts Email: [email protected] (321) 268-1941 ext. 4101 for Saturday and Sunday severely impacted gate sales. The show that The first quarter of 2019 others to support the expansion. Bob Boswell created was impressive showed an increase in visitors vs. We have been fielding with activity in the air all day long and prior year with a large number questions from members and guests Friday night’s show was spectacular. from other countries. Advertising about the 75th anniversary of the The show program created by in publications that reach other Normandy Invasion and if we are Phyllis Lilienthal and Peter Stetson countries is paying off. We also going to participate this summer. was impressive as well. experienced many repeat visitors Approximately a year and a half ago Jem Golden, Curator, has as noted in letters and emails DAK’s Over Normandy Group from been busy with taking the inventory complementing our tour guides. England approached us and others of some 8,000 items and refreshing Sales of merchandise also increased who have C-47 survivor aircraft to our memorabilia exhibits. Many thanks to the PX team. In short, your invite participation in this event. It of our exhibits have already been museum is very healthy. was prefaced with information that completed with many other projects This year we are introducing ample sponsorship funding would being scheduled. the VAC STEM PROGRAM which will be made available; unfortunately, Your volunteer Board of give young people a chance to utilize this did not transpire and we Directors are to be commended for Science, Technology, Engineering stopped the planning process. their dedication to maintaining the and Math in hands-on experiences. Several months ago our VAC and all of its parts and pieces. A This program will be at no cost to members began contacting few aircraft specific museums have the participants. More about this firms who would be interested closed in the past two years and later in the Unscramble. in sponsoring our C-47 for the it appears that a few others may The United States Naval Normandy event. So far we have had also close. We are in a very strong Museum has offered the VAC two some indication that funding may be position to maintain and grow our aircraft. One is completely restored available and we are exploring. We base. I thank all the members and and one requires restoration. estimate the total cost to be in the volunteers for their continuing Unfortunately, we are out of space neighborhood of $300,000 which support with a special thanks to in our two display hangars and includes: a spare engine, carburetor, the Museum Guides that make the Restoration Hangar is already magneto, various hydraulic pumps, our visitors happy to return and stretched for space with aircraft in tires and other spare parts as well recommending our museum to the restoration process. as insurance, fuel/oil, lodging, food their friends. The VAC has recognized the and safety equipment. The Board of need for additional hangar space Directors supports the project only if and is in the process of designing fully funded. The project would take not only a new hangar and a large the TICO BELLE from Titusville to The Official Newsletter of the Valiant Air Command 1st Quarter - Jan, Feb & Mar concrete pad, we are also designing England, France and on to Germany Submission deadline - Mar 25th NL Published - April 1st 2nd Quarter - April, May & June a climate controlled event center for the proposed reenactment of Submission deadline - June 25th NL Published - June 30th 3rd Quarter - July, Aug & Sept capable of handling 500 people the Berlin Air Lift and return to Submission deadline - Sept 25th NL Published - Sept 30th 4th Quarter - Oct, Nov & Dec that will also contain a limited food Titusville. Submission deadline Dec 24th NL Published - Dec 31st service menu. The VAC has events Our annual Airshow held Please note: Items submitted after the submission deadline will not be already booked for 2020. Yes, we this year March 15, 16 and 17 was published or will be published the next month if applicable. will be calling on members and a financial disappointment. Online The Editor reserves the right to not publish submitted items. Pg 2 Facilities Officer’s Report Tom Etter, Facilities Officer Email: [email protected] (321) 268-1941 ext. 4105 This last quarter has gone groups that work for an extended missile rails close to Restoration fast. We have spent much of our time prior and after the show (the with the crane and we pulled an crew’s time on the TBM and C-47 people I interact with all year long). old a/c fuel tank out of the weeds getting them ready to fly. We have It would be wonderful if we could for restoration and display. Grant also moved aircraft around for capture some of the 200 volunteers’ Tyler worked on two air tank many parties. We have spent much energy expended during the show systems for more efficient use in time getting ready for the Air Show and spread it across the rest of the future. Charlie Meyer used the and moving aircraft across and the year. Our volunteers who set crane to move the UH-1 hulk to the back and responding to the needs up the parties and parking are special spot behind Restoration so of the show. We added nitrogen stretched. I am amazed we have Jim Towe can salvage equipment off to a number of aircraft tires and not worn them out. it. Bob Munsey, Pete Peterson, Joel changed one tire on the F-14 to get We have guest aircraft in and Roger cleaned the Restoration ready. There is an F-11 tire giving our hangars. The P-51, F4U, and hangar during the air show. us trouble this week. We had some A-1 Skyraider are super planes to I would be remiss if I did tug issues during the air show but have in our hangars if only for a not mention Lenny, Roger Johnson all were kept up and running by short period of time. and Terry Nies who have been part Joel, Grant and Roger. Since the Air Show of everything mentioned above We are very lucky having dominated my crew’s time this last as unsung heroes helping the VAC the many groups that get the show quarter, we will shift back to the get everything done on a daily ready for the weeks prior to the C-47, TBM, and the facilities issues basis without complaint. When show and the week after. Tom Wilke in the next quarter. There is a brief we get in trouble we call on Charlie got the grounds ready for the show. period where we still have our Hammer and Pete Peterson who We have Pat and John as a team Northern Volunteers before they can make anything fit or work. We in themselves. The Restoration return North. are looking forward to when Harry crews help move the aircraft and We have started that this MacNamara can rejoin us showing present them and the C-47 crew week covering the fencing with off the C-47. move the planes and show them tarps, moving steel engine mounts Again, we are so lucky to off. Of course, we have hundreds onto the new container roof, placed have all the volunteers that give of volunteers that actually put the the sign bricks onto a storage freely of their time at the VAC. show on but I am talking about the container, Doc Bixby moved some A couple of attractions for the “Kids” to enjoy before the AirShow starts.