"Flagship Freedom" in the special "In support of all who serve" yellow-ribbon colours.

This immaculate DC-3 is one of seven airworthy aircraft on display at the Lyon Air Museum. All seven are in similar condition, looking as if they're brand new. This one is a civilianised C-47A (ex 42-100931, a D-Day veteran), which was acquired by the museum in Dec 2008 and then restored in these very nice old American Airlines colours as "Flagship Orange County".

One of seven airworthy aircraft on display at the Lyon Air Museum, all of which in immaculate condition and look as if they are brand new. "Fuddy Duddy" carries "44 83563" in small print below the tailplane, which is its actual former USAAF serial. It became N9563Z in Aug 1959, and in 1962 this Douglas-built B-17 featured in the movie "The War Lover" (painted as "127742 / DF-T"). A few years later it became an aitanker, and in the late 1980s it entered the warbird circuit, falsely painted as "297400 / K-E" as seen here. William Lyon acquired it for his museum in Jan 2006.

One of seven airworthy aircraft on display at the Lyon Air Museum. All seven are in immaculate condition and look as if they were painted and polished yesterday. This nice little Bird Dog is ex French Army 24729, now painted in the markings of the US Army 183rd Seahorses during their duty in Vietnam, with fake serial "0-24729". Registration N4583V is carried just below the tailplane, barely visible in this photo. It was registered to Mark Foster in September 2009, and was still current as such by December 2020.

One of the seven airworthy aircraft at the Lyon Air Museum. All look splendid, as if they were built yesterday. This C-47B served with the French Air Force since 1945, and then with the Israeli Air Force since 1967. It was sold as N791HH in July 2000 and ended up in storage at Ephrata, WA, until acquired by the museum in Aug 2006. Following restoration it was painted in these 97th Troop Carrier Squadron D-Day markings as "Willa Dean", with its original serial 44-76791.

One of seven airworthy aircraft on display at the Lyon Air Museum. All seven are in immaculate condition and look as if they were painted and polished yesterday. This Invader carries its actual former USAAF serial. It became N6839D in Mar 1957 and was immediately converted to Rock Island Consort 26 executive configuration. It later served with Howard Hughes, before conversion back to A-26C configuration and becoming a warbird in the 1990s. It was acquired by museum owner William Lyon in April 1999.

Looking magnificent, this is one of seven airworthy aircraft on display at the Lyon Air Museum. All seven are in immaculate condition and look as if they were painted and polished yesterday. "Guardian Of Freedom" is ex USAAF 44-29465, which is carried on the fin. It was acquired by museum owner William Lyon in June 2000. The wonderful nose art is only painted on the left side.

One of seven airworthy aircraft on display at the Lyon Air Museum. All seven are in immaculate condition and look as if they were painted and polished yesterday. This Invader carries its actual former USAAF serial. It became N6839D in Mar 1957 and was immediately converted to Rock Island Consort 26 executive configuration. It later served with Howard Hughes, before conversion back to A-26C configuration and becoming a warbird in the 1990s. "Feeding Frenzy" was acquired by museum owner William Lyon in April 1999.

One of seven airworthy aircraft on display at the Lyon Air Museum. All seven are in immaculate condition and look as if they were painted and polished yesterday. This DC-3 is in fact a civilianised C-47A (ex 42-100931, a D-Day veteran), which was acquired by the museum in Dec 2008 and painted in these very nice old American Airlines colours.

One of seven airworthy aircraft on display at the Lyon Air Museum. All seven are in immaculate condition and look as if they were painted and polished yesterday. Fuddy Duddy carries "44 83563" in small print below the tailplane, which is its actual former USAAF serial. It became N9563Z in Aug 1959, and in 1962 this Douglas-built B-17 featured in the movie "The War Lover" (painted as "127742 / DF-T"). A few years later it became an aitanker, and in the late 1980s it entered the warbird circuit, falsely painted as "297400 / K-E" as seen here. William Lyon acquired it for his museum in Jan 2006.

Unfortunately the US Forest Service terminated Aero Union's airtanker contract less than a year after this photo was taken, on 29 July 2011, due to alleged safety violations. All their magnificent P-3 Aerostar airtankers, including this former Spanish Orion (ex P.3-5), were withdrawn from use and stored at McClellan, Sacramento, CA.