By James Kightly, Commissioning Editor
On the morning of September 5, 2023, the 1959 Grumman TF-9J, BuNo. 147418, was carefully lifted, and placed on a purpose-built display mounting in front of the James Clemens High School of Madison, Alabama, USA. The culmination of a nine-year and (logged) 2,800 restoration project driven by Randy Beavers, the advanced trainer jet will have a formal dedication ceremony on September 14, 2023. The jet was chosen by popular acclaim as an unusual school mascot to represent the school’s ‘JETS’.
We will be publishing a detailed insight into the story of how this school mascot was saved and restored from the man at the center, Randy, and in his own words, shortly after that event.
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James Kightly, from Melbourne, Australia, discovered his passion for aviation at the Moorabbin collection in the late 1960s. With over 30 years of writing experience for aviation magazines in the UK, US, Australia, and France, he is a feature writer for Aeroplane Monthly and an advisor for the RAAF History & Heritage Branch.
James has interviewed aviation professionals worldwide and co-runs the Aviation Cultures conferences. He has flown in historic aircraft like the Canadian Warplane Heritage’s Lancaster. At Vintage Aviation News, he ensures accurate and insightful aviation history articles.
Outside aviation, James has worked extensively in the book trade and museums. He supports the Moorabbin Air Museum and the Shuttleworth Collection. James lives in rural Victoria with his wife and dog.
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