(Image Credit: Scott Plummer/airshowvid.com)
The Planes of Fame Air Museum’s 2013 Air Show in Chino, California, entitled “Lightning Strikes Chino” happened this past weekend and had five flying Lockheed P-38 Lightnings in the air and flying formation, in what has to be the largest assemblage of flying P-38s in decades. According to the show organizers, it’s believed that there are only seven airworthy P-38s in the world, six of which are in the United States and one in Europe, so to have five at an air show is quite a feat, particularly given the vagaries of operating and maintaining these craft.
On hand was the Planes of Fame P-38J “23 Skidoo,” Allied Fighters‘ P-38L “Honey Bunny,” Tillamook Air Museum’s P38L “Tangerine,” P-38L “Thoughts of Midnite”, owned by Tom and Dan Freidkin and P-38F “Glacier Girl,” owned by Rod Lewis. Rounding out the “Lightning Strikes” theme, the Yanks Air Museum had their P38F-5G on display, which while a non-flyer brought the total number of Lightnings in attendance to six.
With many P-38 Lightning projects aiming to bring these planes back to airworthy status, it’s not impossible to imagine this impressive gathering being topped some time in the future, we’d certainly like to see it happen!
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
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