Valiant Air Command's TBM-3E Avenger First Flight In Years

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Valiant Air Command's TBM-3E Avenger First Flight In Years

Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Fri Jan 24, 2020 11:14 pm

Bermuda Triangle’ Flight 19 tribute

On 11 January 2020, Valiant Air Command Grumman TBM-3E Avenger N108Q made its first flight in years from Titusville Tico (FL). Built by the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors, this TBM, with BuNo 91188 (4093), was used by the United States Navy (USN) during WWII.

Following its retirement from the USN, the aircraft saw extensive service as N108Z in the hazardous role of fire bomber for the US Forestry Service (USFS). As such it was based at Davis (CA) from 1956-1964. It would continue in this role as N108Q with the Georgia Forestry Commission in Macon (GA) through 1969. After its distinguished career as a fire bomber, the Avenger transitioned between various private owners throughout the country, ultimately finding itself at the Valiant Air Command, Inc. in 2002. For nearly 18 years the TBM has been undergoing an extensive restoration to airworthiness by skilled restoration personnel.

N108Q is painted as BuNo 23307 and coded FT-28, which is the aircraft of Lt Charles Taylor, the leader of the of the almost mythical "Flight 19", which was lost over the Bermuda Triangle. Lt Taylor flew the lead aircraft during one of the greatest unsolved disappearances in the history of the state of Florida. A group of five Avengers departed NAS Ft. Lauderdale in 1945, never to be heard from again. To this day the search for the five missing TBMs, and their aircrews, continues to be the focus of many historians. The mystery accounts for a number of stories and films.
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