Frank Tallman

This is the late Frank Tallman, famous American film, stunt, and airshow pilot, at the Reno air races in 1969. Tallman appeared in dozens of films and TV programs in the 1960s and 1970s, and amassed a significant collection of historical aircraft. The aircraft he is standing on is his Curtiss TP-40N, which, like much of his collection, was acquired by Florida collector Kermit Weeks following Tallman's death in 1978.

Here's another shot of the TP-40N from the same occasion.

Classic Transports at Ottumwa

(Click the picture to see the entire image -- there's more to the right.)

The Antique Aircraft Association annual fly-in at Ottumwa/Blakesburg, Iowa, used to attract some larger aircraft than it now does. Here are three classic 1930s transports, from three different countries, that appeared at the 1973 gathering.

The Junkers Ju 52/3m, N130LW, would later be owned by author Martin Caidin and inspire his frightfully bad novel, Jericho 52. Still later, it would return to Germany where it is now operated by Lufthansa.

The Vultee V-1A, N16099, was retired to the Virginia Air Museum in Richmond, where it is now displayed.

The de Havilland Dragon Rapide was registered N89DH, which is the same registration as the machine recently restored to spectacular condition in New Zealand for collector Jerry Yagen of Virginia Beach, so I presume that it is the same airplane. This is a genuine warbird that served in the Royal Air Force as HB724.