Piston Engine Heaven!

The Flying Heritage Collection's ultra-rare (it's rumoured Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen paid $4.5M to add it to his personal collection) FW190D-13, the only one to have survived from WWII. This plane epitomized the pinnacle of German piston-engine technology in WWII, and would have become a formidable adversary of the Allied fighters had it been made in significant numbers and been flown by experienced pilots.

The pinnacle of American piston-engine technology in WWII... the North American P51D Mustang... arguably the greatest all-around Allied fighter of WWII... in action FLYING at Paine Field in Everett, WA on Saturday September 11th... there is absolutely NOTHING like the sound of a Merlin engine with a P51 wrapped around it roaring down the runway at 100' and 300 mph!

Pilot Greg Anders takes P51 "Upupa Epops" for a spin past the appreciative gallery at Paine Field after wowing the crowd with a 1/2 hour flying demonstration.

The mighty Republic P47D Thunderbolt... the biggest, toughest, meanest US fighter of WWII. This beast was built to absorb incredible damage (including cylinders shot right off their radial engines) and still get its pilot home. This beauty is part of the FHC, and was also in action on September 11th, flying in company with the P51. The affectionately-nicknamed "Jug" is a beautiful sight to see zooming down the runway and then climbing straight up at the end and heading for the clouds.

Pilot Carter Teters taxis "Tallahassee Lassie" past the gallery, showing just how big the "Jug" is... 7 tons of aluminum with a massive 2800 hp Pratt & Whitney engine and a 13' diameter propeller to move it along!

The FHC (http://flyingheritagecollection.com) flies almost all of its ultra-rare and incredibly well-restored collection on a regular bi-weekly basis throughout the summer. The FHC will wrap up its flying season on Saturday September 25th by flying its incredibly rare ME109E-4 and its Fieseler Storch... fingers crossed for good weather!!!