SKY'S THE LIMIT AT AIRFEST ANNUAL EVENT'S OFFERINGS BEEFED UP FOR 2006.Byline: DANA BARTHOLOMEW Staff Writer VAN NUYS -- Steve Cowell bought a faded WWII WWII abbr. World War II WWII World War Two aircraft trainer without knowing the rich racial history under its aluminum skin. The North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. AT-6 Texan turned out to be the last authentic Tuskegee Airmen Tuskegee Airmen Black servicemen of the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) who trained at Alabama's Tuskegee Army Air Field in World War II. They constituted the first African American flying unit in the U.S. military. trainer to prepare black pilots for battle. Now fully restored in Tuskegee trim, Cowell has dubbed it Double Vee -- for double victory. ``They were fighting a double battle -- the battle against the Axis powers Axis Powers Coalition headed by Germany, Italy, and Japan that opposed the Allied Powers in World War II. The alliance originated in a series of agreements between Germany and Italy, followed in 1936 by the Rome-Berlin Axis declaration and the German-Japanese Anti-Comintern abroad and a battle against prejudice at home,'' said Cowell, 54, a Van Nuys native now living in Greenwood Village, Colo. ``This plane is truly an inspiration.'' Cowell's warbird will be one of 50 rare historic aircraft on display Sunday at the Rockin' AirFest 2006 at Van Nuys Airport Van Nuys Airport (IATA: VNY, ICAO: KVNY, FAA LID: VNY) is a public airport located in Van Nuys, California in the San Fernando Valley, within the Los Angeles city limits. . The free event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will feature bands, the Budweiser Clydesdales, airfield tours, aero exhibits, skydiving skydiving Sport of jumping from an airplane at a moderate altitude (e.g., 6,000 ft [1,800 m]) and executing various body maneuvers before pulling the rip cord of a parachute. Competitive events include jumping for style, landing with accuracy, and performing in teams (e.g. demonstrations and numerous flyovers -- including an F-22 Raptor, the world's most advanced fighter jet. Airport officials say this Rockin' AirFest will be even better than last year's celebration of aviation history. ``We have more static displays than last year and more than 50 historic aircraft from world-famous flying museums from all over the United States,'' said Van Nuys Airport spokeswoman Stacy Geere. ``We're very excited to offer the public the opportunity to see rare aircraft on the ground and the most advanced fighters in the air.'' Opening ceremonies commence at 9:30 a.m. with an award presentation by the Commemorative Air Force's Southern California Wing and remarks by Councilman Tony Cardenas and other officials. The Misty Blues All Woman Skydiving Team will parachute over Van Nuys Airport, with 10 women flying a 50-foot, 70-pound American flag. The F-22 Raptor, the world's only fifth-generation fighter jet, will make its first flyover in Los Angeles at 1 p.m. with an AV-8B Harrier. Flyovers will also be made at 3 p.m. by a U.S. Navy Legacy Flight featuring an F/A-18 Hornet and a Korean War Korean War, conflict between Communist and non-Communist forces in Korea from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. At the end of World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel into Soviet (North Korean) and U.S. (South Korean) zones of occupation. vintage FG-1D Corsair corsair: see Barbary States; piracy. . Ground aircraft will include the nation's only flying Curtiss SB2C Helldiver and Lockheed ``Connie'' Super Constellation. A B-25J Mitchell bomber, veteran of Gen. Doolittle's historic Tokyo raid, and a B-17 Flying Fortress will also be on the tarmac. Bands will include the rock 'n' roll rock 'n' roll: see rock music. of Captain Cardiac and the Coronaries, Motown hits from Klass I, the Jay Bolan Band and Sol de Alegria playing Latin and rumba flamenco tunes. Free shuttle service will ferry fans from offsite parking lots, with disabled parking available at the airport. ``I think it's one of the best events in the Valley,'' said Coby King, chairman of the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council. ``I wouldn't miss it for the world.'' Cowell, a mortgage broker and former airline pilot who attended Gledhill Elementary, said he bought his AT-6 10 years ago from an estate sale in Minnesota intending to joyride the 600-horsepower, radial engine-plane. Only after discovering it was a rare Tuskegee Airmen aerial combat and gunnery trainer did he embark on a costly three-year restoration. ``I invested everything I had and more to restore the plane back to way it was for the Tuskegee Airmen,'' he said of his silver bird. ``I really am excited to come back to the Valley. ``I feel in a sense that I'm coming back home.'' For more information about Rockin' AirFest 2006, call (866) 869-3976, or visit www.lawa.org/vny. dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3730 CAPTION(S): photo, map Photo: San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. native Steve Cowell kneels by his historic AT-6, which will be on display at the Rockin' AirFest 2006 on Sunday at Van Nuys Airport. Cowell's World War II aircraft was a Tuskegee Airmen trainer to prepare black pilots for battle. Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer Map: VAN NUYS ROCKIN' AIRFEST 2006 SOURCES: Los Angeles World Airports Los Angeles World Airports or LAWA is the airport oversight and operations department for the city of Los Angeles, California. This department owns and operates Los Angeles International Airport, LA/Ontario International Airport, Palmdale Regional Airport, and Van , Van Nuys Airport Warren Huskey/Staff Artist |
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