"Minnesota Mustang"

[Bomber_12th]

Last year, the Wings of the North Air Museum flew their Mustang "Sierra Sue II" from Flying Cloud Airport over to Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport to visit the Minnesota Air National Guard 133rd Airlift Wing as part of commemorating 70 years of the USAF. The P-51 is a key part of the unit's history, as during the late 40's and early 50's, the 133rd was a fighter unit of the Guard, flying F-51D Mustangs.

I thought it would be fun to recreate this flight today, having just purchased the (superb!) Flightbeam KMSP scenery. It rained a bit this morning, so there were still some puddles to be found.

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Overhead break, with the 133rd's hangars and airplanes below:

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View toward the terminal:

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On base-to-final:

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[Bomber_12th]

Taxiing in. On the other side of the runway to the 133rd's hangars is the Air Force Reserve 934th Airlift Wing, the "Flying Vikings", with their own C-130's. I'm proud to have a family member that served in the unit for many years.

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Although I didn't take many on the return trip, the rest of these shots are from later in the day, leaving KMSP back to Flying Cloud Airport, home of the Wings of the North Air Museum where this aircraft is based.

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[Bomber_12th]

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[jmig]

Nice story. Wonderful images.

[scotth6]

Fantastic screenshots. Plane and paint both look awesome, and KMSP is one of my favourites too.

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you John and Scott!

I remembered that there was this cockpit video that was shot on that flight last year, aboard "Sierra Sue II", from Flying Cloud over to KMSP: https://www.facebook.com/WingsOfTheNorth/videos/10155626805939064/

(https://www.facebook.com/WingsOfTheNorth/videos/10155626805939064/)Yesterday the CAF Minnesota Wing's B-25 "Miss Mitchell" and the Wings of the North's Corsair flew into KMSP for a Delta maintenance crew appreciation event.

[c87]

John, how's the P3D version of Flying Cloud? I wish there was an Orbx or Flightbeam-caliber version of it. I live only a few miles from the airport and have been a regular attendee at the Wings of the North airshow. Your shots around MSP look great. I haven't picked up Flightbeam's version yet but plan to at some point. I worked out there for 19 years but it looks a bit different now. I wonder if Fligtbeam will update it with the new hotel that's between the two sets of east-west runways.

[Bomber_12th]

The P3D version of Flying Cloud is no different to the FSX version, and thus far from being noteworthy, detailed or accurate. I keep hoping/crossing my fingers that it gets covered in the ORBX global airports coverage, like Fleming Field, Crystal, Mankato, Eau Claire and a few other airports in the region have been - all are excellent, and I'm constantly flying in/out of those airports in P3D/FSX and not so much the others not covered.

[c87]

Wow, I didn't know those other local airports had received an upgrade. I'll have to check them out. Thanks for the heads up.

[blanston12]

Very nice, is that the warbirdsim mustang?

[Bomber_12th]

Hey Joe, yes it is the Warbirdsim model (with a repaint I recently released: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php/110313-P-51D-Mustang-quot-Sierra-Sue-II-quot-V2-zip)