I got home a few days ago, but I’ve been busy with Thanksgiving (and turkey 
) preparations. Today was the first day I had free, and I made the most of it. I started by downloading an update for jamespejam’s awesome R4D skins that removes the P&W emblem from the engine cowlings. This is a beautiful set of skins for a wholly unsung group of aviators and maintainers. Semper Fi!
After that, I flew a training flight in R4D-5 BuNos. 39073 from Sheridan, Wyoming (which I chose solely because of the poor winter weather). Delivered to the USAAF as C-47A 42-24231, the real aircraft spent most of its life with MAG-25 in the PTO, and sadly went missing on May 18, 1944 between Torokina Airfield on Bougainville and Guadalcanal, taking 23 crew and passengers with her. Pacific Wrecks has a full write-up.
It was snowing with moderate icing aloft. The Dakota handles ice well but required continuous use of all airframe and propeller anti/deicing equipment. Departing to the north, I flew the VOR 15 to the published missed approach, made three turns holding at the Sheridan VOR, then vectored to the ILS 33. I was a little worried approaching minimums on the ILS, but we broke out right above minimums and landed successfully.
Moderate icing aloft, with the boots and prop deice holding their own.
Breaking out right above minimums (about 250 feet) with Runway 33 visible through the fog. If this hadn’t worked, I would have diverted further south and clear of the weather.
After this flight, I took advantage of some Black Friday sales. I got the SWS RV-14 from the Marketplace for $1.99, probably the best small sum purchase I’ve ever made! For you Mooney freaks, it works out to about 1.1 cents per nautical mile per hour cruise speed! (If you don’t understand, go ask someone who owns a Mooney) 
Taking my new ride for a quick spin around Duxford, before returning for the next purchase.
I also picked up the FlyingIron P-38L. I’ve always loved unconventional aircraft designs, especially sexy ones like the Lightning! I took her out from Duxford for a while, trying out her systems and performance, and I’m very pleased on both accounts. FlyingIron makes a good product!
Here’s “Charlice Jeanne,” one of the skins included in the package. 44-27121 (msn 422-8125) was the mount of Lieutenant James Watkins when he was assigned to the 9th Fighter Squadron “Flying Knights” of the 49th Fighter Group. He downed a single Japanese fighter in this aircraft, his last of twelve kills (with another probable) during World War 2. He remained with the USAF after the war and retired as a Colonel in 1970. You can read about him here and here.
Alright, enough chatting. I’m going back out in the Lightning. Good night all, and to my American friends, Happy Thanksgiving!