Flying On Demand

Flying On Demand Flying on Demand will join these two powerful cultural forces – aviation and the Internet creating a Netflix of Aviation.

Flying OnDemand will now become UflyTV, launching 2017.

08/03/2023

Warbirds in Review
Featured Aircraft - MiG-17F and T-2 Buckeye
Aircraft Owners - Randy W. Ball and Fighterjets, Inc. and The Warbird Heritage Foundation
Guests - Commander Randall “Duke” Cunningham and
Commander William “Willy Irish” Driscoll

Flying the F-4 Phantom, Duke Cunningham and Willie Driscoll shot down their first North Vietnamese MiG on January 19, 1972. They scored their second MiG kill on May 08, 1972. On May 10, 1972, they became the first American fliers to qualify as Aces in the Vietnam War when they shot down three MiG's in a single action. In addition to becoming the first Vietnam Aces, the two became the first Team of Aces, the first to score a triple kill over Vietnam and the first U.S. all-missile Aces.

THE LIVE STREAM IS ONLY AVAILABLE BETWEEN 6PM-7PM CST.

ARCHIVE VERSION WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON AFTER BROADCAST:
https://air2airtv.com/categories/aviation-live

07/29/2023

Col Charles McGee earned his wings and commission on June 30, 1943, part of class 43-F. McGee remained on active duty 30 years. He flew fighter aircraft combat tours in three major military conflicts, completing 405 missions for the Army Air Forces and the Air Force. During his time in World War II, he flew the Bell P-39Q Airacobra, Republic P-47D Thunderbolt and North American P-51 Mustang. He is the only known fighter pilot who flew 100 or more combat missions in each of the following wars: World War II, Korea and Vietnam. George E. Hardy was called to active duty in July 1943 for basic training. In December his group was transferred to Tuskegee Army Air Field for Aviation Cadet training, as part of Class 44-H. He completed combat flying training in early February 1945 in the P47. He was shipped overseas to Italy and flew 21 combat missions over Germany in the P-51. His long military career included the Korean War serving with the 19th Bomb Group at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa where he flew 45 combat missions over Korea in the B-29 aircraft.

He retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1971. The CAF Red Tail Squadron’s P-51C Mustang, named Tuskegee Airmen, is an authentic and fully restored operational fighter from the WWII era. This awe-inspiring aircraft sparks conversations to educate young and old alike about the often-overlooked history of the Tuskegee Airmen that flew this same model as their signature aircraft in WWII. It is quite simply a museum without walls… and an awe inspiring one at that!

07/29/2023

On 6 January 1968 Major Patrick H. Brady, U.S. Army, Medical Service Corps, 54th Medical Detachment, 67th Medical Group, 44th Medical Brigade demonstrated conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Flying a UH-1 medevac helicopter, on his second tour of duty in Chu Lai he volunteered to rescue two badly wounded South Vietnamese soldiers in enemy territory. Several attempts had been made but all been aborted due to bad weather. When he arrived, thick fog covered the evacuation site. He descended slowly until he could make out the shape of trees beyond his rotor blades, then used them to orient the craft and moved sideways toward the extraction point. Despite the close-range enemy fire, he was able to locate the soldiers and evacuate them.

Not long after this rescue mission, he was called to another fogged-in area where American casualties lay close to enemy lines. Earlier in the day, two other U.S. helicopters had been shot down trying to reach the site. Brady lowered his chopper through a space in the fog, orienting himself by a stream bed to get to the wounded. In total, he made four flights over the next hour to rescue all 39 GIs. On his third mission of the day to rescue more American soldiers, Brady once again put down at a landing zone in enemy territory. During his descent, the controls of his helicopter were hit, but he was able to evacuate the injured. Back at base, he got a replacement helicopter and returned. On his fourth mission, he was watching another medevac trying to extract members of a trapped American platoon when a mine exploded nearby, causing the helicopter to leave without the casualties. Brady touched down as close to the marks left by the other craft’s skids as he could to avoid mines. The soldiers were reluctant to cross the mine field, so his crew men had to go get them. All were brought aboard, except for one who was being carried back on a stretcher by two of Brady’s crew members. They had almost reached the plane when one of the stretcher bearers stepped on a mine. The explosion blew a hole in the helicopter and caused every warning light on the control panel to go on, but Brady managed to get the damaged craft off the ground and deliver the six severely injured soldiers to medical aid. Then he picked up a new helicopter and kept flying. In all, he evacuated 51 men that day. Four hundred bullet holes were counted in the helicopters he flew.
During his two tours in Vietnam Brady flew over 2,000 combat missions and evacuated more than 5,000 wounded. After Vietnam, Brady continued serving in the US Army, retiring in 1993 after 34 years of service.

07/28/2023

On 6 January 1968 Major Patrick H. Brady, U.S. Army, Medical Service Corps, 54th Medical Detachment, 67th Medical Group, 44th Medical Brigade demonstrated conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Flying a UH-1 medevac helicopter, on his second tour of duty in Chu Lai he volunteered to rescue two badly wounded South Vietnamese soldiers in enemy territory. Several attempts had been made but all been aborted due to bad weather. When he arrived, thick fog covered the evacuation site. He descended slowly until he could make out the shape of trees beyond his rotor blades, then used them to orient the craft and moved sideways toward the extraction point. Despite the close-range enemy fire, he was able to locate the soldiers and evacuate them.
Not long after this rescue mission, he was called to another fogged-in area where American casualties lay close to enemy lines. Earlier in the day, two other U.S. helicopters had been shot down trying to reach the site. Brady lowered his chopper through a space in the fog, orienting himself by a stream bed to get to the wounded. In total, he made four flights over the next hour to rescue all 39 GIs. On his third mission of the day to rescue more American soldiers, Brady once again put down at a landing zone in enemy territory. During his descent, the controls of his helicopter were hit, but he was able to evacuate the injured. Back at base, he got a replacement helicopter and returned. On his fourth mission, he was watching another medevac trying to extract members of a trapped American platoon when a mine exploded nearby, causing the helicopter to leave without the casualties. Brady touched down as close to the marks left by the other craft’s skids as he could to avoid mines. The soldiers were reluctant to cross the mine field, so his crew men had to go get them. All were brought aboard, except for one who was being carried back on a stretcher by two of Brady’s crew members. They had almost reached the plane when one of the stretcher bearers stepped on a mine. The explosion blew a hole in the helicopter and caused every warning light on the control panel to go on, but Brady managed to get the damaged craft off the ground and deliver the six severely injured soldiers to medical aid. Then he picked up a new helicopter and kept flying. In all, he evacuated 51 men that day. Four hundred bullet holes were counted in the helicopters he flew.
During his two tours in Vietnam Brady flew over 2,000 combat missions and evacuated more than 5,000 wounded. After Vietnam, Brady continued serving in the US Army, retiring in 1993 after 34 years of service.

07/28/2023

On 6 January 1968 Major Patrick H. Brady, U.S. Army, Medical Service Corps, 54th Medical Detachment, 67th Medical Group, 44th Medical Brigade demonstrated conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Flying a UH-1 medevac helicopter, on his second tour of duty in Chu Lai he volunteered to rescue two badly wounded South Vietnamese soldiers in enemy territory. Several attempts had been made but all been aborted due to bad weather. When he arrived, thick fog covered the evacuation site. He descended slowly until he could make out the shape of trees beyond his rotor blades, then used them to orient the craft and moved sideways toward the extraction point. Despite the close-range enemy fire, he was able to locate the soldiers and evacuate them.

Not long after this rescue mission, he was called to another fogged-in area where American casualties lay close to enemy lines. Earlier in the day, two other U.S. helicopters had been shot down trying to reach the site. Brady lowered his chopper through a space in the fog, orienting himself by a stream bed to get to the wounded. In total, he made four flights over the next hour to rescue all 39 GIs. On his third mission of the day to rescue more American soldiers, Brady once again put down at a landing zone in enemy territory. During his descent, the controls of his helicopter were hit, but he was able to evacuate the injured. Back at base, he got a replacement helicopter and returned. On his fourth mission, he was watching another medevac trying to extract members of a trapped American platoon when a mine exploded nearby, causing the helicopter to leave without the casualties. Brady touched down as close to the marks left by the other craft’s skids as he could to avoid mines. The soldiers were reluctant to cross the mine field, so his crew men had to go get them. All were brought aboard, except for one who was being carried back on a stretcher by two of Brady’s crew members. They had almost reached the plane when one of the stretcher bearers stepped on a mine. The explosion blew a hole in the helicopter and caused every warning light on the control panel to go on, but Brady managed to get the damaged craft off the ground and deliver the six severely injured soldiers to medical aid. Then he picked up a new helicopter and kept flying. In all, he evacuated 51 men that day. Four hundred bullet holes were counted in the helicopters he flew.

During his two tours in Vietnam Brady flew over 2,000 combat missions and evacuated more than 5,000 wounded. After Vietnam, Brady continued serving in the US Army, retiring in 1993 after 34 years of service.

07/28/2023

Flying the F-4 Phantom, Duke Cunningham and Willie Driscoll shot down their first North Vietnamese MiG on January 19, 1972. They scored their second MiG kill on May 08, 1972. On May 10, 1972, they became the first American fliers to qualify as Aces in the Vietnam War when they shot down three MiG's in a single action. In ad- dition to becoming the first Vietnam Aces, the two became the first Team of Aces, the first to score a triple kill over Vietnam and the first U.S. all-missile Aces.

Here is a bit of the story....As they approached the coast at 10,000 feet, Cunningham spotted another MiG-17 heading straight for them. He told Driscoll to watch how close they could pass the MiG's nose, so he could not double back as easily to their six o’clock. While this tactic worked against A-4s back in training at Miramar, it turned out to be a near-fatal mistake here. ... A-4s didn’t have guns in the nose.

The MiG's nose lit up like a Roman candle! Cannon shells shot past their F-4. Duke pulled up vertically to throw off his aim. As he came out of the six-G pull-up, he looked around below for the MiG. MiGs generally avoided climbing contests. They turned horizontally, or just ran away. He looked back over his ejection seat and was shocked. There was the MiG barely 100 yards away! He began to feel numb and his stomach knotted, as both jets roared 8,000 feet straight up.

In an effort to out-climb the MiG, Cunningham went to afterburners, which put him above the enemy aircraft. As he started to pull over the top, the MiG began shooting. This was Cunningham's second near-fatal mistake; he had given his opponent a predictable flight path, and he had taken advantage of it. Duke rolled off to the other side, and the MiG closed in behind...

07/27/2023

Featured Aircraft - Cessna L-19 Bird Dog’s and North American Aviation T-28 Trojan Aircraft Owners - Captain Phil Phillips, Fort Worth Aviation Museum and the National Loa-Hmong Foundation

Guests - Captain Phil Phillips, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Fairchild, Jim Hodgson and Allen Cook

During the Vietnam War, Forward Air Contollers (FACs) flew day and night at low altitudes, and in every sort of weather. They directed air strikes flown by US and Allied warplanes in support of embattled ground units, searched for targets, interdicted enemy lines of communication, and coordinated rescue operations for downed airmen. They also struck targets by directing artillery strikes and naval gunfire. They were the eyes, ears, and voices above the battlefield providing a vital link between troops in the field, the various command and control agencies, and US and Allied warplanes.

A few “Fast FACs” flew F-100 Super Sabres and F-4 Phantoms. The more numerous “Slow FACs” flew slow, propeller-driven aircraft, as their low-speed maneuverability and endurance were ideal for locating and maintaining visual contact with targets across the battlefield. Some Slow FACs flew T-6 Texans or T-28 Trojans, but most flew either Broncos, O-1 Birddogs, or O-2 Skymasters. Both O-1s and O-2s were off-the-shelf Cessna aircraft modified for the FAC mission.

With a target identified, FACs had to describe both it and its location to attacking aircraft. This was referred to as “marking the target.” A valuable tool in marking targets were forward-firing rockets armed with white phosphorous warheads (hence their name Willie Petes). Upon detonation, Willie Petes created a distinctive white plume of smoke using that smoke as a reference. These brave pilots ‘talked the eyes’ of attacking pilots onto the target. Hitting the target was considered the perfect pass and, when you pulled it off, you could simply direct the attacking aircraft to, “Hit my smoke!”

The first T-28s to serve in Vietnam were part of Operation Farm Gate’s 4400th Combat Crew Training Squadron. Rugged and reliable, it was well-liked by its air and ground crews. The original mission to train South Vietnamese pilots soon grew to include combat strikes. In 1962, the USAF began to modify some 300 T-28s as fighter-bombers for counterinsurgency warfare in Vietnam. These aircraft, redesignated as T-28D Nomads, provided years of service. The aircraft was withdrawn from combat in Vietnam in 1964, but it continued to operate with the 60th Special Operations Squadron on missions over Laos and Cambodia.

This very unique program will feature stories of 50 years ago from men who were there, an aircraft that honors a pilot killed in action after saving the lives of those on the ground and posthumously receiving the Medal of Honor for his bravery and those young Lao-Hmong pilots defending their families and homeland, who believed “Fly Until You Die.” These are stories that are an important part of the history of the war in Vietnam and they should not be forgotten.

07/26/2023

In 1948, the U.S. Air Force ordered ten Lockheed Model L-749 aircraft, the graceful Constellation airliner. They were delivered in 1948 and 1949 to Westover Air Force Base, and the Atlantic Division of the Military Air Transport Command – MATS, for short. Their Air Force designation was C-121A.

One of the first major international crises of the Cold War began on June 24th, 1948, when the Soviets closed all road, rail, and canal access to the parts of Berlin, German that were controlled by the western allies. The Berlin Blockade left the people of West Berlin without their normal supplies of food, fuel, medicines, and other necessities. In response, the WesternAllies organized the Berlin Airlift. When the Airlift ended, the Connies were converted from cargo planes to high-speed V-I-P transports for the U.S. Air Force. In 1950, during the Korean War, Connie number 613 became the flying command post of General Douglas MacArthur, who was at the time Supreme Commander of Allied Powers in Korea. MacArthur named his Constellation “Bataan,” after the Philippine peninsula known for the infamous Bataan Death March of 1942, when 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war were brutally force-marched more than 60 miles to captivity in POW camps.

In Korea, General MacArthur made 17 flights over the battlefields in his Connie. And she carried him to Wake Island for a meeting with U.S. President Harry Truman. On April 16, 1951, a fateful day for MacArthur, the Connie Bataan carried the general from Korea to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, where President Truman relieved him of his command. MacArthur than flew home to San Francisco, his last flight in the Connie.
All C-121s, including Bataan, were removed from Air Force rolls in 1966 and sent to the bone yard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. Several were stripped of military gear and sold to civilian operators in Canada for use as firebombers and bug sprayers. Three Connies, including number 613, Bataan, were assigned to NASA for use during the Apollo Space program.When the Apollo Space Program ended, NASA 422 was acquired by the Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker in Alabama and put on public display out in the open, and there she sat for twenty years. Two decades of heat, humidity, and southern thunderstorms were not kind to the old warrior, and the expense of maintaining her was beyond the museum’s means. In 1993 Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California offered to take possession of her.

Planes of Fame traded a helicopter for the Connie, made her airworthy with help from Lockheed, repainted her in General
MacArthur’s colors, and took her on the air show circuit. But flying her was costly and after one year on the circuit, Bataan was grounded once again, perhaps permanently.

Enter Rod Lewis, well-known aircraft collector, and owner of Lewis Air Legends and the Air Legends Foundation. Lewis purchased Bataan in 2015 and hired Steve Hinton’s Fighter Rebuilders company to undertake Bataan’s complete restoration. Finding parts wasn’t easy and few people knew anything about the 1950’s-era airliner. Making Bataan flyable again was, said Hinton, like restoring 10 or 15 Mustangs. But despite the difficulties, Bataan once again took to the air on June 20 of this year, just in time for the trip to Oshkosh. She proudly wears the colors of General MacArthur’s transport and will soon be given an all-new historically correct interior.

07/26/2023

William Douglas “Bill” Dunham was the second leading ace (behind Neel Kearby) of the 5th Air Force’s 348th Fighter Group. Bonnie was named while he was Commanding Officer of the 460th Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group after his then girlfriend, Miss Bonnie Harris. The Bonnie namesake was emblazoned on all three of Dunham’s P-47s and ended with a P-51K which was named Mrs. Bonnie because by then Miss Bonnie had become Mrs. Bonnie Dunham.
Research indicates that 42-27609 probably started its combat service with the 35th Fighter Group and was later transferred to the 460th Fighter Squadron to be used as a trainer as that new squadron was formed.
Bruce Eames, Warren Pietsch and the folks at Dakota Territory Air Museum have decided to honor Major Bill “Dinghy” Dunham by finishing their P-47D-23RA in Major Dunham’s color scheme from the time he led the 460th Fighter Squadron over the Philippines. Major Dunham commanded the 460th FS from July 14, 1944, through December 18, 1944.

We will learn about the respect and decency that demonstrates Bill Dunham’s character...In December 1944, an encounter between Republic P-47D pilot Major Bill Dunham and a Japanese pilot over the Philippine Sea led to an unexpected show of compassion. Dunham downed the enemy aircraft – a Nakajima Ki-43. He had a clear shot of the Japanese pilot who bailed out of the plane. The Imperial Japanese Forces were known to shoot Allied pilots who dangled from their parachutes but Dunham did nothing of the sort.

Dunham was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Featured Aircraft - Republic P-47D-23R “Bonnie”
Honoring Major William Douglas Dunham

Aircraft Owner - Bruce Eames, Dakota Territory Air Museum

Guests - Bruce Eames, Margo Prudente & Shelly Wheeler (Daughters of Major Dunham)
Lieutenant Gerald “Gerry’ Teldon

07/26/2023

William Douglas “Bill” Dunham was the second leading ace (behind Neel Kearby) of the 5th Air Force’s 348th Fighter Group. Bonnie was named while he was Commanding Officer of the 460th Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group after his then girlfriend, Miss Bonnie Harris. The Bonnie namesake was emblazoned on all three of Dunham’s P-47s and ended with a P-51K which was named Mrs. Bonnie because by then Miss Bonnie had become Mrs. Bonnie Dunham.

Research indicates that 42-27609 probably started its combat service with the 35th Fighter Group and was later transferred to the 460th Fighter Squadron to be used as a trainer as that new squadron was formed.

Bruce Eames, Warren Pietsch and the folks at Dakota Territory Air Museum have decided to honor Major Bill “Dinghy” Dunham by finishing their P-47D-23RA in Major Dunham’s color scheme from the time he led the 460th Fighter Squadron over the Philippines. Major Dunham commanded the 460th FS from July 14, 1944, through December 18, 1944.

We will learn about the respect and decency that demonstrates Bill Dunham’s character...In December 1944, an encounter between Republic P-47D pilot Major Bill Dunham and a Japanese pilot over the Philippine Sea led to an unexpected show of compassion. Dunham downed the enemy aircraft – a Nakajima Ki-43. He had a clear shot of the Japanese pilot who bailed out of the plane. The Imperial Japanese Forces were known to shoot Allied pilots who dangled from their parachutes but Dunham did nothing of the sort.

Dunham was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

07/26/2023

The 1949 Bendix race winner P-51C Thunderbird was owned by WWII Colonel (later Brigadier General) bomber pilot and academy award winner Jimmy Stewart. Jackie Cochran, the Speed Queen, also owned Thunderbird. Today Warren Pietsch is the keeper of this very historic aircraft. Warren engaged AirCorp Aviation to restore her to her former glory.

Thunderbird weighed just 6223 lbs and raced on a special mix of 150 octane gasoline produced by General Petroleum Company. As Thunderbird streaked across the Cleveland finish line with Joe DeBona in the pilot’s seat, the staggering average speed of 470 miles per hour set a Bendix record for piston airplanes.
Thunderbird was finished with 48 coats of primers and the iconic gloss cobalt blue paint. Polished to a high shine, the paint job reportedly added 8 mph to the speed of the aircraft.

Thunderbird, with its red Pegasus horse, gloss paint scheme, celebrity owners and pilots continues to be one of the most notabable and recognizable P-51s in the world.

In December of 1949, after the triumph of that year’s Bendix win, Jimmy Stewart (sole owner, for Joe De Bona Racing Co.) sold Thunderbird to Jacqueline Cochran for “$1.00 and other consideration.”, and she went on to set 3 world speed records with the aircraft. Jackie Cochran had owned Thunderbird for just over three years when, on 20 January 1953, she sold it back to Jimmy Stewart for “$1.00 and other consideration.”

Thunderbird is truly a people’s airplane because of the many folks involved with the dream since the beginning and tasked with bringing the project to life. In 1999, Warren purchased what he originally believed to be a damaged P-51A in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. It was only later that he discovered that the wreck was actually “Thunderbird”, the iconic blue P-51C that had been flown by Joe DeBona in the Bendix Air Races. Once Warren learned that his wreck in Nebraska was Jimmy Stewart's Thunderbird, the story alone was enough to inspire a tribute restoration. The modified P-51C is ripe with history from air racing to coronation tapes and speed records.

Twenty-some years later, after gradual progress on the P-51C; the Thunderbird project arrived at AirCorps to finish the job.

Warren Pietsch’s dream is to create a P-51C that not only represents Thunderbird’s unique history and the rich story of Thunderbird’s famous owners, but also to recognize the many people who have inspired, influenced, and helped Warren. The most important goal is to make this a flying piece of history that can be enjoyed by everyone, from Mustang and air racing enthusiasts to air show attendees.

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