CAF SoCal

As an extra precaution regarding the COVID19, our museum is temporarily closed. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Happy Holidays from CAFSoCal!

The Bearcat needs some love! She's undergoing an extensive overhaul and we are in need of additional funds - please consider making a donation to keep this historically important aircraft flying for years to come

Holiday Gift Ideas - and 20% off through December - shop online now

Charles Chauncey - part two

Take a ride with Charles Chauncey - Part One

F8F Bearcat is #5 - we are so excited!

Happy Veteran’s Day

A variety of propellers - but can you name all the aircraft?

This is going to hurt me a lot more than it’s going to hurt you... A couple of weeks ago, volunteer member Dennis McMinn caught the Bearcat crew removing the wings off of our butterfly, I mean Bearcat

Just listen to that Rolls Royce Griffon purrr After too long in waiting, the Spitfire XIV finally gets a heart beat again.

KHAY festival is cancelled for tomorrow

Take a peak at what's happening in the maintenance hanger right now...Bearcat overhaul and Spitfire prop install

Update on the Spitfire...new engine installed...now time for the prop to go back on. Here is a walk around video for you to enjoy

We don’t know about the white cliffs of Dover, but there’ll be a Bluebird over the home-drome again, after 5 years of being a hangar queen

As we grapple with another day of new challenges and uncertainty, let’s not forget what happened on this day, seventy five years ago. We unleashed horrific forces to end a brutal war and ushered in a new era, poised to eradicate all life. It took extraordinarily leadership and cooperation to navigate those dark times. That was a new normal too. And we overcame. This is a message of hope. We hope never to see the ravages of global war again. We hope humanity will come to see itself as one. We hope the lessons of the past will light the path to a better future. We look forward to you joining us again at the museum to reflect on the sacrifices of the past and the hopes for the future.

It’s only a little plane, but that big glass-house canopy on the Me108 gives an IMAX view that’s too large even for the monstrous AN2 bipe. if you wouldn’t mind an in person view Video from 2003 ++++++++++ #messerschmittbf108 #messerschmitt #messerschmittme108 #me108 #me108taifun #warbird #vintageaircraft #avgeek#aviationHistory#vintageaircraft#cafsocal #commemorativeairforce#warbird#WWII

A sharknado May be mythical, but a Penguin typhoon is for real. Around 500 Bf 108 left the assembly line in this blue (minus the metallic finish) at Regensburg in Germany, with this airframe being one of the last few before production was moved to Les Mureaux, France in 1942. The Bf 108 continued in France after the war as the Nord 1001 Pingouin I (Penguin). Not sure if their color scheme was black and white.

If Sundays are a day for cathedrals, here’s ours. The 270hp inverted V8 Argus on the Me108. The yawning mouth seems strangely appropo as well @ CAF SoCal

Hold on to your hats, there’s a Taifun coming! Sure, it’s a category negative-5, but it’s still a typhoon In 1935, famed German aviatrix Elly Beinhorn piloted the Bf 108 in a record setting 2,230 mile endurance flight from Berlin to Constantinople and back in one day. She christened the Bf 108A used in the flight "Taifun" (Typhoon), and Messerschmitt adopted the name for the aircraft. There’s no limits to the powers of celebrity. ++++++++++... #messerschmittbf108 #messerschmitt #messerschmittme108 #me108 #me108taifun #warbird #vintageaircraft #avgeek#aviationHistory#vintageaircraft#cafsocal #commemorativeairforce#warbird#WWII : CAF Cols. Somes See more

The last post about our new acquisition was supposed to have been harder to decipher than in proved to be. So here it is - let’s call it an unboxing video of the Me108 Taifun. Grateful to the CAF 3rd Pursuit Squadron for having been such good caretakers of this aircraft, CAF Cols Somes, Liguori and McClintock got the pretty bird ready to hop from Cable airport to its new home in Camarillo. We look forward to spending some TLC on this old airframe and getting it ready for static and flying display. The first Messerschmitt at CAFSoCal, it’ll look great next to the Mitsubishi where they can whisper to each other about what could have been

The last of the donation engine run up videos - the mighty Zero! We hope you enjoy and please consider making a donation, thanks!

Happy 4th of July!

Another video from one of our pilots - we hope you enjoy your Saturday

C-46 China Doll engine run up, circa 2014

Amazing - thanks for sharing Avery

Father’s Day is right around the corner. Did you remember to get ole’ pops that #1 Dad mug? Great! Now go get him something he’ll really like Our rides gift certificates can be used at your convenience when we’re back flying, and never expire. But if you’d really rather get him a mug, we have an online store for that too You can win Father’s Day and support a great cause along the way. Thanks!

Here's our latest "run-up" video - this time our Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat. The fastest prop fighter of WWII. Enjoy! Please consider making a donation to the museum at www.cafsocal.com/about/donate

This should get your heart racing!

A view from the A6M3 Zero on run-up...check out those guns...must have been pretty loud! Click through to video

Very interesting video from the US Naval Institute about David McCampbell and Minsi III - the Hellcat we commemorate

Our next run up video! The T-6 Texan Navy SNJ WWII trainer. We call this one Bluebird. Please enjoy and consider making a donation, thanks! https://www.cafsocal.com/about/donate

The Fairchild F-24 has a newly fitted pair of wheel pants - all dressed up and waiting for somewhere to go! Let’s hear about the CAP’s submarine patrol duties while we wait for flight operations to resume. It’s going to look even better airborne now that final finishing touches are done. The F-24 will be a part of our ride program too

Not sure if the smoke is always meant to represent effects of combat. With the conflict so far behind us and new friendships forged we simply look at these beautiful forms for what they are - industrial art. So the smoke trail is not a path pointing to destruction, but a beacon to guiding the eye to the outstretched wings of man’s attempt to float higher. ++++++++++++++++++++++++ #avgeek#aviationHistory#vintageaircraft#cafsocal#commemorativeairforce#warbird#WWII#airshow#mitsubishizero#japanesenavy#zerofighter# #

Memorial Day 2020 https://www.cafsocal.com/memorial-day-2020/

Happy Memorial Day to all our friends. Of all the patriotic holidays, Memorial Day carries the most meaning for most of us. The courage of those who answered the call of Country and Honor - and gave their all is beyond comprehension for those of us who merely exist to enjoy the fruits of their sacrifice. It’s easy to idealize the famous names, the Medal of Honor winners, the characters that ended up in novels and movies and on limited edition stamps. Memorial Day invites us to look beyond the celebrity and remember those who sacrificed all, perhaps accomplished little, but nobly stepped forward and cried me too. What they gave their strength and life for, is our duty to maintain and improve. Nameless and lost to the annals of history may they live on - forever young. @ CAF SoCal

Our next video in the donation series - please consider making a donation to the museum, thanks! www.cafsocal.com/about/donate

Even as a shadow of their airshow glory, these warbirds are still alluring

Bluebird is coming along nicely. It’ll be ready to take to the skies as soon as we’re operational again.

Meet one-take Kathy. She’s here with a very important message: She’s Kathy! Too bad we don’t know how to have any fun around here.

Our Hellcat being run up recently, a reason to break out the video camera We hope you enjoy it! Please consider making a donation to the museum, at www.cafsocal.com/about/donate - thanks!

Here’s proof positive that if you don’t exercise it, you’ll forget how to run it. Stay shiny my friends!

Farewell to the old bird. Man’O’War has moved on to greener pastures and left a big Mustang shaped hole in the hangars at CAF SoCal. With unbounded admiration for the late Elmer Ward’s restoration of the graceful bird, and gratitude for having allowed us to utilize this Mustang to carry out our mission to commemorate, educate and inspire, we are proud to have been good stewards of this iconic warbird for over ten years. From veterans and their families, to aviation and history enthusiasts worldwide, ManO’War was at the center of many memorable experiences for countless admirers. We wish her blue skies and tailwinds and look forward to filling the vacancy with another fine filly in the not too distant future.

Here’s our latest installment of #GimmieAtour - the SoCal heritage of design and production in the aviation industry

Tomorrow’s scheduled flyovers by the California Air Nation Guard is a perfect time to remember the Battle of Palmdale! Four F-15C Eagle jets of the guard’s 144th Fighter Wing based in Fresno will be part of a California-wide flyover Wednesday in a tribute to health care workers, first responders and others on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, with a scheduled appearance in the LA area around 11:45. We can only assume they air display will not include indiscriminate rocket fire

A great little chat with Keith Manion about our Warbirds - including the Navion.

Happy Mother’s Day 2020! Holidays are usually a busy time for us here at CAF SoCal. Since you can’t come to see us, let’s have Neil bring the PBJ tour to you. #GimmieAtour

Happy 75th VE Day!! (it's a long video...) https://youtu.be/DC6VBnh86CQ

Flight sim’ing at home? How about Link training on the job instead? #GimmieAtour

One of our members, having fun!

Say hello to our smile machine The PT19 isn’t bad either. Let’s have Mike tell us about it. #GimmieAtour

Mother's Day and Father's Day Sale!! Yes, that's correct! Come get your last minute Mother's Day gifts at our online gift shop. USE the code: 2020 to get 10% off and free shipping! Here's the link: https://www.cafsocal.com/museum/gift-shop/

B-17 ball turret display at the CAF SoCal museum. Charlie thought we should post this on May 4th. Can’t think why. #GimmieAtour #maythe4thbewithyou

Another video from our collection...the Wings Over Camarillo airshow 2019! https://youtu.be/6_sTBP5i1oE

Guess who drew the short straw today? Let’s hear John McMahon talk about the Hellcat and Bearcat as they get lined up for an engine run today. We’ll see that soon too, but for now John can add public promo to his long list of talents as a CAF volunteer. #GimmieAtour

Heroes of Hollywood display at the museum. #GimmieAtour

A special memory from one of our CAF SOCAL Docents: "A couple of years ago a retired gentleman and his wife visited the museum. I introduced myself and offered to accompany them on a tour. 'No thank you' they replied, 'we would like to see your P-51 Mustang'. That particular day it was parked in the far corner of the museum and as we approached it the wife asked if they could touch it. I mentioned that we couldn't allow that due mainly to safety and damage concerns. And,... of course fingerprints! I laughed. They did not. They wanted to touch the star on the side of the fuselage aft of the wing. And they asked if it was possible to spend a few minutes alone with the airplane. It was obviously an emotional experience for them both. I nodded OK, backed away, and he/they approached the plane, put their hands on it and spoke very softly...They were thanking the P-51 for saving his life during the war! They were emotional, I was emotional, they thanked me, and left. They preferred to not talk about the specifics. An example of the CAFSoCal providing 'Living History' to guests and associates."

A Zero with US markings? Let’s hear Charlie walk is through a museum display and tell us what that’s all about. A great follow up to yesterday’s post about the actual Zero in our hangar. #GimmieAtour

Let’s hear what Charlie has to say about the Zero and the Hellcat

What a sweet sound! Thanks to our dedicated maintenance crew, the SNJ4 Bluebird is alive again with a newly refurbished engine. Won’t be long before the first flight, and we’re already envious of the first guy/gal who’ll get to go for a ride. Thanks to Tom Newhard for the video

Another installment of #GimmieAtour To dang hot to be out today anyway. Let’s see what Bill has to say about the Grumman cats, Zero and PBJ.

Our docents are missing being around the Warbirds! We’ll post a virtual tour or two of our museum and aircraft, so that you get your dose of vitamin W too. You’ll get to see and hear about our planes from the point of view of different docents - each with his/her own style and bank of knowledge. Enjoy!

Can you identify all 4 types of aircraft pictured here?

When you’re filled with the spirit of volunteerism, you pitch in when and how you can. Kathy and Pat have been making masks for the wing!

How to unfold a F8F Bearcat wing - not so simple...https://www.instagram.com/tv/B_P_CCdB6JW/

With the museum still closed, this old outtake seems appropriate. Next time we’ll have him wear a mask

What's really in a gun bay? Luggage.

Ok, it's 12 minutes long, but we thought you'd like a revisit to the PBJ first flight video (after her 20+ year restoration).

Doolittle Raiders anniversary was yesterday the 18th - in honor of this event, here is a shared post from some of our volunteers.

Incredible photos and memories of The Doolittle Raiders 75th Anniversary in Dayton OH from one of our CAF SOCAL members!