Celebrate freedom with the Mountain View Friends of the NRA 11th Annual Banquet. Contact www.friendsofnra.org or Brad Lovrien at 541-325-3374 or Rob Berg at 541-420-8905 to purchase your tickets. Dinner tickets $50.00 each or $40 for under age 12. Table of 8 for $550, includes a separate gun drawing. Prime Rib Dinner by Black Bear Diner, Auctioning hard to find guns and merchandise. Guns, games, raffles and door prizes.

The Madras Maiden -B-17 Flying Fortress has been on tour with the Liberty Foundation for 9 months traveling the United States with their “Salute to Veterans” tour. The Madras Maiden visited 41 destinations, making Madras their final and 42nd stop on Monday, November 13.  The Madras Maiden is estimated to return between 10 am and 11 am (weather permitting). To help celebrate the return of the “Maiden”, the Liberty Foundation will be selling rides to the public, cost per seat is $450.00 call Scott at 918-340-0243 to book your flight, and the Erickson Aircraft Collection will be  hosting a barbecue for visitors. If you are a Madras resident you will receive $1.00 off your admission to the museum with proof of residency. Come join us in celebrating the return of the “Madras Maiden” on Monday, November 13 beginning at 10:00 am.

Join us Friday, April 29th at approximately 11:00 for our FRIDAY FLY DAY, here at Erickson Aircraft Collection, Madras, OR. This weeks fly day includes our Pilots Mike Oliver and Jim Martinelli, flying the SBD Dauntless and the Nakajima Ki43 Hayabusa "Oscar".  The SBD Dauntless was know as the "Slow but Deadly" Dive Bomber! It's inherent stability and light control response made directional corrections easier while dive bombing. It was equipped with a telescopic sight which increased bombing accuracy. Extended perforated dive flaps (or dive brakes) used during the attack run, could slow air speeds to permit longer and more accurate tracking of the target. Up to six "G" forces could be encountered during dive recovery.  

The Ki43, nicknamed "Oscar" by the Allies also known as the Peregrine Falcon was the Imperial Japanese Army's most widely flown fighter of World War II and in numbers, its most important fighter in the Pacific War. With a top speed of 329 mph, a climb rate of 3,300 feet per minute and an incredible range, with drop tanks of almost 2000 miles, the Army's requirements were met. However, when the Hayabusas were pitted against the Flying Tigers P-40 Tomahawks in Burma, Japanese losses began to rise and from that time on, the allied forces referred to the Ki-43's as "Oscars". Over 6000 were built, but only a few remain today.

Join us at the Erickson Aircraft Collection this Friday, April 29th. Stop by the front desk to pay your admission and receive a sticker to watch our Friday Fly Day!.. Also at approximately noon, our guys will fly down to Bend Municipal Airport for the crowd in that area.  Join at either place for more fun!

Join us this Friday, April 22, 2016 (weather permitting) for our Friday Fly Day in Central Oregon.  Piloting the F4U Corsair and P-51 Mustang, Mike Oliver and Jim Martinelli take to the skies with fly bys and a few fun maneuvers!  Watch the skies at approximately 11:00 am to 11:45 here at the Madras Municipal Airport.  Enter through the Erickson Collection front entrance and the girls at the desk will take care of you and show you where you can watch. Make sure you have your sticker!

Hope to see you at Erickson Aircraft Collection!