Hollywood Bomber to Arrive at AirVenture with All-Female Crew

Story and photos by Gary Daniels

This marks the fifth update from Vintage Aviation News on the return-to-flight program of the 1954 Beechcraft E18S-9700 “Super 18,” affectionately known as the Hollywood Bomber. The aircraft is undergoing an extensive restoration at the Vintage Flying Museum (VFM), based at Meacham International Airport (FTW) in Fort Worth, Texas. The project is being completed in three phases. Phase One focuses on achieving airworthiness and preparing the aircraft for its planned appearance at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025. Phase Two will see a complete interior restoration, and Phase Three—scheduled for 2026—will introduce a new period-appropriate livery. The aircraft’s appearance at AirVenture is expected to raise public awareness and generate additional funding to complete the remaining phases.

On Saturday, June 7, 2025, the Hollywood Bomber was towed onto the ramp under the blazing Texas sun for a critical engine run. Bill Goebel, owner of Vintage Aircraft Services in Rhome, Texas, and the project’s restoration manager, led the effort, directing volunteers since mid-morning to prepare the aircraft for testing. The milestone marked the 125th work weekend since the project began in September 2022. To date, volunteers have contributed over 10,000 hours to the restoration.

The primary objective of the high-RPM engine run was to identify any engine issues and test the newly installed, custom-designed instrument panel. Inside the aircraft, Mike Borkuis and Mike Webb handled engine operations and monitoring, with Grace Lewis observing. Outside on the ramp, Bill kept a close watch on each engine. When the engines shut down, the crew—soaked with sweat—emerged smiling. “The engine run was extremely successful,” Bill reported. “Essentially no issues. All the previous gauging problems have been resolved.”

Bill emphasized that the aircraft’s revival is only possible thanks to the dedication of a large, enthusiastic volunteer base. Among them is Dylan Worsham, a recent graduate of Tarrant County College’s A&P program. Dylan began volunteering in 2022 and applied his academic knowledge hands-on across many of the aircraft’s original and updated systems. “Two other young volunteers have also been inspired to pursue their A&P certification thanks to their involvement with the Hollywood Bomber,” Bill added proudly.

With Oshkosh fast approaching, Bill has issued a “maximum effort” call to all volunteers and museum staff to prepare the aircraft for flight. Test flights are scheduled for early July, with the ambitious plan to arrive at AirVenture 2025 with an all-female aircrew—a fitting tribute to legendary aviatrix Jacqueline “Jackie” Cochran, who once owned the aircraft. The Beechcraft airframe was acquired by VFM after spending decades as a static maintenance trainer at a local junior college. While in the college’s possession, it was discovered that the aircraft had once been owned by Cochran, a pioneering pilot and driving force behind the creation of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during WWII. Further research revealed the aircraft’s second celebrity owner: Merv Griffin, the famed television personality, who used the aircraft in the 1970s to ferry numerous stars of the day. Recognizing its historical significance, VFM founder Chuckie Hospers and Bill Gorin made the decision in August 2022 to prioritize its restoration. With its unique lineage—from Jackie Cochran to Merv Griffin—the restoration team fittingly dubbed the aircraft the Hollywood Bomber.

Progress on the project can be followed through weekly video updates on the HangaRatz YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/HangaRatz. To support the restoration, visit: www.vintageflyingmuseum.org/join-and-support/ or donate directly at: GoFundMe – Hollywood Bomber For further inquiries, email the team at: [email protected]