P-51C THUNDERBIRD FIRST FLIGHT

P-51C Thunderbird retakes the skies. (Photo by Ben Redman)

At AirCorps Aviation we have been blessed to work with great people and for great people over these eleven years. Supporters and mentors like Warren inspire you to do great things.

Thunderbird, with its record setting race history and ownership by movie stars and aviation icons, takes on a new history gracing the skies and inspiring new generations. As a ten year old Warren had a poster of Thunderbird above his bed falling asleep dreaming of flying it. Over thirty years of dedicated work has culminated to seeing this aircraft restored.

Every restoration is marked by peaks and valleys, they humble, challenge, and fulfill you. As we continue to expand our restoration abilities and explore the idea of what makes a restoration excellent both Warren and the AirCorps team need to recognize the people, shops, institutions, and community that helped make this restoration possible.

WARREN PIETSCH   JOLEEN PIETSCH  
BRUCE EAMES   BERNIE VASQUEZ  
CASEY ODEGAARD & FAMILY   GLENN WEGMAN  
DUSTY DOWD   DAKOTA TERRITORY AIR MUSEUM  
FAGEN FIGHTERS RESTORATION   GERRY & CINDY BECK  
ODEGAARD WINGS   PAUL EHLEN  
CAL-PACIFIC AIRMOTIVE   CUSTOM AIRCRAFT REFINISHING  
RANDY CARLSON   NUMEROUS SHOPS & EXPERTS  

P-51C THUNDERBIRD FIRST FLIGHT PHOTOS

P-51C, N5528N, Thunderbird, 1949 Bendix Trophy Race

THUNDERBIRD ENGINE FIRST RUN VIDEO

AIRCRAFT STORYBOARDS, RESTORATION UPDATES & PHOTOS

We have created numerous print materials highlighting the story and history for P-51C Thunderbird.
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