North American P-51D Mustang '413578' / 'Trusty Rusty'. Restoration by 'Stichting Vroege Vogels' of this WW2 fighter started in Dec.2004 and on 17Nov2010 resulted in a successful engine testrun. While their website has a detailed history, here are some hightlights: USAAF military career 1945 - 1957, registered N5438V; various US owners, to FA Salvadorena Air Force as FAS 410 in 1969; returned (presumed identity 44-11353) to the US 1974 (at first N132, later N100DD), restored by Dave Clinton & Don Anderson; 1980s named 'Tipsy Too' and used in air races ('28'); tailnumber N345 for Gary R. Levitz 1984-1994; aug. 1988-1994 N6395 for Shelly R. Levitz; 1995 shipped from Kissimmee,FL to Lelystad, stored.

The restoration of this Noorduyn Norseman came a long way, but seems to have been discontinued for now.
In 2010 this C-64 Norseman 44-70509 was owned by 'Stichting (Foundation) Norseman' and being worked
on by Roland van Haarlem and a team of volunteers.
After the take over by Libéma groep no work seems to have been done on this Norseman Mk.V N4474.

The less obvious sides of the DC-4 as well as the 747 tail (for obvious reasons) haven't been cleaned for a while.
The Dutch climate doesn't help much, it is often wet here. And cleaning such high surfaces is arduous work and no picnic.

Haven't yet seen it fly but it is the first time I saw it outside: it hung for years on the ceiling in the exhibition area
of the Aviodrome and later it changed places with the Auster and restoration work started on the Piper Cub.
On 21Mar09 it was restored to airworthiness. This Piper Cub was built in 1940, delivered on July 09th and mainly used
as a trainer. Its last flight before preservation was made in march 1988, in Californië. Its present tailnumber is N16623.
To start the engine takes a little work as it isn't equipped with an electric starter: you have to swing the prop!

SAAB 91D Safir PH-RLN

The titles 'PME Legend - American Classic' titles have been removed and a 'family friendly' advertisement for
an upcoming film has replaced it. Both Reims F172M planes did a brisk business performing scenic flights.

Bit of a sad sight this Grumman Tracker, but there isn't enough parking space in the hangars.

Douglas DC-2 'PH-AJU' remains firmly put in the hangar; you will find its history on the other webpages I
have dedicated to visits to the Aviodrome. Pity its flights have been reduced to a rather rare event.

Lambach H.L.2 (replica)

AVIATION FAIR, 28 MARCH 2015

A chance to stock up on aviation books, memorabilia, dvd's, photographs and many more.
And of course to meet up with fellow minded enthusiasts, some familiar faces and introduction to new ones!

Plenty on offer here, be it dvd's, books, photographs, etc. Everything on aviation

Talked a bit with this sympathetic couple, they were not disappointed in interest of their goods on display.
There was indeed a good crowd here in the museum, families with their kids escaping the miserable weather
and plenty of people sorting the goods on display on these tables. Glad I went too, if not for talking to people.

An astounding amount of aviation kits on offer today.

The magnificent Lockheed Constellation (the 'Dutch Connie') creates a very fine background here.
Plenty of planes and helicopters allow entry here in the Aviodrome.

A very appealing setting for such a fair.

There were presentations here too. Here a helicopter pilot talking about flying helicopters and
his tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Since 2011 this museum is 'under new management'. The big change was much more focus on families with
kids than aviation enthusiasts. Less depending on sponsors (e.g. KLM, who stepped in but when the economy
went down they pulled the plus: Royal Dutch = Royal Pain), more focus on a regular flow of museum visitors.
Now we see various places and opportunities for kids to loose their excess energy; so families stay around
longer, spend money probably and at least make it more enjoyable for the young ones.

Getting the feel of steering a plane up & down, left & right.

The first time I noticed this ATC display. Each time I visit the Aviodrome I notice something new.

Fokker F.VIIa H-NADP

Fokker F.2 H-NABC (replica) in a different display compared to my last visit to the Aviodrome.
This setup enables walking around the display, nice.

Quite a climb for people to board here!

Nieuport II chasing a Fokker DR.1 Dreidecker (Triplane)

We cross to the other side of the museum.
Plenty of KLM colours on the Aviodrome grounds. There is a giant KLM 747 here too.
So if KLM disappears, into Air France, we have their heritage preserved!

The workplace. Pity we don't see this unique Douglas DC-2 flying anymore. Hoping for a return to the skies one day!

That camouflaged Noorduyn Norseman is still being worked on, albeit with slow progress.
I was told we may see her fly in 2016!

Thought this was a library, but it is in fact Aviodrome's surplus of books, for sale. I walked away with a
1979 edition of Jane's All The World's Aircraft, for a mere 20 euro! Very pleased.
1979 was the year I started working for Martinair, a special year for me, now a chapter about to close most like.

AVIATION FAIR, 26 MARCH 2016

A good crowd had decided to visit the Aviodrome on this sunny saturday!

The 2016 Aviation Fair seemed to me had fewer stall than in 2015, possibly having to do with the 'competition'
(DSC - Dutch Spotters Convention at Rotterdam airport, april 19th), or a decreasing interest in such items (books,
photographs, slides, magazine, memorabilia, etc), or the sunny conditions today (rain has been forecasted).. or a
combination ot it all. It did give the 'browsers' more room to investigate all the items for sale and grab a good deal.

Trading, talking or some quiet contemplation in 'the Uiver Hall'.

Came away with a good deal on a book about 'Flying the Hump' in WW2.

An excellent day to take the family out and enjoy historic aviation in shapes, sorts & sizes.

Update on the Spyker V.2 from Verenigde Vleugels magazine (may 2016): the 80hp Thulin engine that will be fitted
on this 1:1 replica was identified by its serial number to actually have been fitted on a Spyker V.2 (registered C-16).
The story of the propellor is even more fantastic: for almost 60 years it decorated a wall in a pub in Den Bosch! Oma
Sjaan was the proprietor of a café, while her husband Piet was a carpenter. With help by volunteer Hans Mooren and
funding from an inheritance made available by Mrs Van der Pluym-Lodewyckx we see the prop restored to its original use.

Work continues on the Noordyun Norseman, but the main progress made in the past year was compiling all the
required schematics and convert them into manuals; this will facilitate further restoration and the operation of
the Norseman. The next important step, hopefully, will be actually putting the wiring into the aircraft.

It has been a few years since the DC-2 'PH-AJU' has flown, but hopefully that day approaches.
I was told that the Aviodrome museum has had recent changes in management (Serena van Kammen
started in Dec.2015 as the new 'Manager on site' for Libéma here at the Aviodrome Theme Park; Albert
Kraai has been General Manager since 2012). Plans are still in place to fly these planes, participate in events.

Plans and work are being discussed. Prudent Staal seems to send a prayer skyward..?

The 'T2 Hangar' is a real work place.

For many years this Grumman S-2 Tracker stood outside and some of the 'weathering' will be adressed.

Erling 'Mr Speaker' Brom lectured on the subject 'From Shed to Hangar', and Aviodrome's T2 Hangar in particular.

It was another pleasant visit to Lelystad's Aviodrome, educational and nice to meet with friends & familiar faces!