Columbine II – Homeward Flight Update – 21 March, 2016

Moment of Glory... (photo with permission from BoneyardSafari.com)


Moment of Glory... (photo with permission from BoneyardSafari.com)
Moment of Glory… (photo with permission from BoneyardSafari.com)

As these words were being typed, Dynamic Aviation’s magnificent Lockheed VC-121A Constellation, Columbine II was in the air just east of El Paso, Texas. She is on the way to Mount Pleasant, Texas from her long-time home in Marana, Arizona. The roughly 1,000 mile journey is expected to take about five hours, and should see her land today sometime between 3 and 4pm local time. Mount pleasant is the home of Scott Glover’s Mid America Flight Museum, and as all our readers should know well by now, volunteers from that museum have played a key roll in getting Columbine II airworthy again. The Connie will overnight in Mount Pleasant, and if all goes according to plan, Columbine II will make the final thousand mile leg of her journey to Bridgewater, Virginia on Tuesday. There will undoubtedly be much, well-earned celebration at each destination on her journey, and we can’t wait to see her safely home!

Here are some marvelous images from earlier today during her run-up and takeoff in Marana courtesy of BoneyardSafari.com and Zdenek Kaspar… Many thanks to them indeed!!!

Engine warmup. (photo with permission from BoneyardSafari.com)
Engine warmup. (photo with permission from BoneyardSafari.com)

Take off roll. (photo by Zdenek Kaspar)
Take off roll. (photo by Zdenek Kaspar)

Rotate and lift off! (photo with permission from BoneyardSafari.com)
Rotate and lift off! (photo with permission from BoneyardSafari.com)

Moment of Glory... (photo with permission from BoneyardSafari.com)
Moment of Glory… (photo with permission from BoneyardSafari.com)

Departure. (photo with permission from Boneyard Safari.com)
Departure. (photo with permission from BoneyardSafari.com)

The Mid America Flight Museum's B-25J takes off to join the convoy bound for Mount Pleasant, Texas. On board is renowned aviation photographer, Tyson Rininger, who has taken some doubtlessly marvelous images from the tail gun and waste positions! (photo with permission from BoneyardSafari.com)
The Mid America Flight Museum’s B-25J takes off to join the convoy bound for Mount Pleasant, Texas. On board is renowned aviation photographer, Tyson Rininger, who has taken some doubtlessly marvelous images from the tail gun and waste positions! (photo with permission from BoneyardSafari.com)

 

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Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends.

After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups.

Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.

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About Richard Mallory Allnutt (Chief Editor) 1060 Articles
Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends. After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups. Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.

3 Comments

  1. Do you have a approx. ETA for arrival at Bridgwater Va. I would love to see her fly in . Thanks, and congrats !

    • She was to have arrived at Bridgewater between 2-4pm, according to Dynamic Aviation, however, the flight has now been delayed until tomorrow (23rd March) for unpublished reasons. My best guess is that it will be a late afternoon arrival when she does fly. We will do our best to keep you posted though!

  2. Who was the PIC on flight out of Marana to the east coast? What is the pilots background?
    Thank you.

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