Vintage Aviation News

JUNE 7, 2025

Root was tasked with ferrying a P-51B-5-NA Mustang, serial number 43-6529, from Niagara Falls, New York to Newark, New Jersey, where it would be shipped to the European theater. Papers were seen flying from the cockpit—among them, his wallet, later recovered near the crash site. Root, trapped in the cockpit, could not be saved.

Pilot 105

Pilot Horizontal Stabilizer Ferry Flight Cockpit 105

Aerotime

JANUARY 15, 2025

The upper deck houses the communications center and cockpit, while the 4,000 square feet of floor space on the main deck is configured for presidential duties. It flew 70 of the 87 ferry missions, including 46 of the 54 post-mission ferry flights from Dryden to the Kennedy Space Center. But in 1989, the SCA got a sister.

Cargo 260

Cargo Ferry Flight Tail Horizontal Stabilizer 260

Plane and Pilot

DECEMBER 18, 2024

For ferry flights, two 410-gallon tanks could be installed in the bomb bay, giving the bomber a 3,400-mile range. The secret weapon of a bombardiers tool kit was the Norden bombsighta gyro-stabilized, mechanical, analog computer with downward-aimed optics. The flight engineer operated the Sperry top turret (twin.50s)

Airplanes 105

Airplanes Descent Pilot Stability 105