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.

This Bronco previously served with the US Marines as Bu155401.

Tanker 70, still somewhat stained from a recent firefighting job, is the third Tracker to be allocated the registration N427DF. The first one was c/n 256 (1974-1985), although it was never operated as such and probably never had the reg actually applied to the aircraft. The second one was c/n 550 (since 1985), which unfortunatly crashed in June 1992. The Tracker in this photo was registered as N427DF on 30 Aug 2000.

Tanker 71 is the second Tracker to be allocated the registration N432DF. The first one was c/n 247 (1974-1985), but it was never operated as such and probably never had the registration actually applied to the aircraft. The Tracker in this photo was registered as N432DF on 30 Aug 2000.

Leased from GPA in October 1991. Skidded of the runway after landing at Phoenix (AZ) in February 2002. Scrapped due to heavy damage, February 2003

Acquired by Ed Maloney and the Planes of Fame Museum from the California Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo, this YP-59A had an observer's seat with a custom canopy forward of the cockpit. The jet would later be displayed inside with the observer canopy in place. In the early 90s, the aircraft was stripped of paint and broken down for restoration. Work is still undergoing for restoration to flight status of this oldest surviving Airacomet at the time of uploading.

photo by: M. Vogel

Built in 2017, this AW139 is the 4th of a total of five operated by the LA Fire Department - Air Operations devision at the time of upload. It can accomodate two crews and plus up to 15 persons in its modular cabin interior. Depending on its mission, it can be equipped with search lights, a rescue hoist and a 500 US gallon Simplex Model 326 G2 water tank for fire suppression, mounted below the cabin as can be seen in this picture.

Built in early 2013, it carried test registration N397MT. At the time of upload, it is still based - off the Oceanside Airport - on the premesis of the local fire brigade, just about half a mile from the airport, where another HEMS EC135 operated by Mercy Air is located. There must obviously be enough medical work for two EMS helicopters.