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Any of you Colonials in the Washington / Smithsonian area?


TonyT

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Because

 

http://historicflight.org/hf/news-events/

 

 

April 12-19
RAF Centenary Celebration, Washington, D.C.

By invitation of the British Embassy, B-25D “Grumpy,†painted in RAF livery, will cross the country for three days of memorials and commemorations marking the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force. On April 15th the Udvar-Hazy facility of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum will feature airworthy examples of twenty types at one time flown by the RAF including the B-25, Spitfires, Mustangs, Hurricanes and a Lancaster bomber from Canada. On the 16th, these aircraft will fly in formation over the memorial of the U.S. Air Force, that day adapted for use by the Royal Air Force. The following day (permissions pending), the formations will fly down the Potomac, abeam the White House and along the Smithsonian Mall toward the Capitol. The HFF crew for this trip will include several “Mitchell Members.†If you would like to participate with HFF in “RAF 100,†contact Visitor Services at 425.348.3200.

 

https://airandspace.si.edu/events/great-british-fly-in

 

 

The British are coming to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center! Join us as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the oldest air force in the world — Great Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) — with a fly-in, presentations, and hands-on activities.

  • Check out over ten former RAF aircraft, flown in and on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center for one day only. Aircraft flying in for the day include Spitfires, a B25 Mitchell, and a P51 Mustang.
  • Listen to talks by RAF officers and Museum experts about the history of the Royal Air Force and RAF aircraft.
  • Learn about the Museum's Sopwith Camel, one of the most significant and famous of all World War I aircraft, now on permanent display at the Center.
  • Enjoy performances from the RAF Band and drill displays from the Queens Colour Squadron.

 

 

I remember someone booking in at a US base and the guy at the desk asking which Service and the response being "Royal Air Force", the guy on the desk says "Yes but which one? Australian, Canadian, New Zealand ?"  the response of "THE Royal Air Force" met wih a hushed "Ooooh"

 

Happy Birthday RAF, only a fool would have formed on April 1st...  ;)

Edited by TonyT
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  • 3 weeks later...

My wife says I can go but after check flights, I'd only have about four-five hours there on the 15th. Basically the afternoon.

 

I'm in Toronto, so the earliest flight from Billy Bishop is 10 AM arriving at Dulles just before noon. Last flight out is 830 PM so I'd have to be back at Dulles for 530 presumably for customs and all that.

 

Would it be worth it?

 

Carl

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April 15th is my birthday too!  All the best people are born on that day.  Leonardo da Vinci, me, you... :)

 

Awesome!  What year?  I'm 1962... Born on Griffiss AFB, Rome, NY

 

Pints all around!    I actually prefer a good mellow bourbon or something I just discovered by chance... Distilled maple syrup.  I haven't actually tried it yet but I'm looking forward to it.  I'm waiting for our house to be built and then the wax seal gets removed and shots will be poured.   :party0023:   :beer4: :beer4: :beer4: :beer4: :beer4:

 

Edited to add the party!

Edited by Juggernut
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I'll be winging my way to China, sadly.  I live about 20 min from UH and some of our club members are docents there - this is definitely a DON'T  MISS event.

 

There is another one too, and I'll post a separate message:

 

March 28th – a Wednesday – will be the annual Udvar Hazy open house which is sure to be a hit.  Noon to 7pm, with tours of the renovation hangar and other areas.  This is your chance to get up close and personal with Flak Bait.

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Good news, bad news. Ive freed up Saturday so I can spend the weekend there. So that's the good news.

 

The bad news is I checked my passport and it expires on the 18th so I have to get a new one.

 

Hopefully I can pull it off and make it.

 

Carl

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April 15th is my birthday too!  All the best people are born on that day.  Leonardo da Vinci, me, you... :)

Trust you to be late.

 

 

Glad i posted about it now as some of you are going :)

Edited by TonyT
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Trust you to be late.

 

 

Glad i posted about it now as some of you are going :)

 

Hotel reservations confirmed....  We'll (my wife and I) be there Saturday the 14th and Sunday the 15th.  Washington traffic on that Friday (our travel day down) will be hell but it'll be worth it.  All day Saturday in the museum and most of Sunday too.  I thought it was 90 minutes by car but Google maps says is just a tad over 2 hours...no biggie.  Nikon D3400 camera and lens already packed and ready for service!

 

EDIT: Didn't know which camera I had....updated to reflect correct camera :)

Edited by Juggernut
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  • 3 weeks later...

Just returned from the 100th Anniversary show at the UH facility....  To say I was a bit disappointed in the aircraft turnout is a bit of a understatement.  The Lancaster was there along with a B-25C/D but no Spitfires.  There were a couple single wing training aircraft and a Stearman looking biplane...  That's it.  I did not go into the lanc because the line was longer than I wanted to wait in and the weather was crappy today.  Yesterday it was sunny and in the mid 80's.  Today, rainy, cloudy and mid 40's.

 

 I took a boatload of photos but mostly of the museum exhibits.  I'll post a few in a little bit but don't get your hopes up... They're very basic shots around the outside of the Lanc.

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Sorry to hear about the disappointment. I ended up getting my passport on Thursday but not in time.

 

With the current ice storm hitting Toronto, odds are my flight would have been canceled so it's moot.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing the pics that you're able to take though.

 

Carl

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