Lewis Air Legends

{{Short description|Aviation organisation in San Antonio, Texas, USA}} {{Infobox organization | name = Lewis Air Legends | logo = | image = | image_alt =  | caption = | map = | established = {{start date and age|2009}} | founder = Rod Lewis | defunct =  | type = Nonprofit | purpose =  | coordinates =  | pushpin_map = | owner =  | leader_title =  | leader_name = | website = {{URL|http://www.lewisairlegends.com}} | former_name = }}

'''Lewis Air Legends''' is an organization located in San Antonio, Texas focused on historic aviation.

== History == Rod Lewis, the son of an air force pilot and founder of Lewis Energy, purchased his first aircraft, an Aeronca Chief, in 1981 to survey the oil and natural gas wells his company owned.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Helman |first1=Christopher |title=Rod Lewis: Lord Of The Warbirds |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2012/09/07/lord-of-the-warbirds |website=Forbes |access-date=26 February 2024 |date=7 September 2012}}</ref> He began collecting aircraft in 1995 when he purchased a T-28.<ref>{{cite web |title=[Homepage] |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/about |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>

In 2006, he purchased both the F8F Rare Bear and the P-38 Glacier Girl.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lerner |first1=Preston |title=The Bear Is Back |url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/the-bear-is-back-136220946 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |access-date=26 February 2024 |date=2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Glacier Girl: The Back Story |url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/glacier-girl-the-back-story-19218360 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |access-date=26 February 2024 |date=July 2007}}</ref> He founded '''Lewis Air Legends''' in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bringing Back Bataan |url=http://www.evaint.com/issue-article/bringing-back-bataan |website=EVA |access-date=22 January 2026 |date=8 March 2024}}</ref> By 2012, it operated a team at the Reno Air Races called '''Lewis Air Racing'''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Clifton |first1=Guy |title='The Bear' is Back with the Crowd at Air Races |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/128444670 |access-date=26 February 2024 |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |date=10 September 2012 |page=3A}}</ref>

The organization purchased a VC-121A used by General Douglas MacArthur from the Planes of Fame Air Museum in 2015 and began restoring it to airworthy condition.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yerian |first1=Loretta |title=Flying Into the future: Bataan to Fly from Valle to Chino, California for Full Restoration |url=http://www.williamsnews.com/news/2015/dec/29/flying-into-the-future-bataan-to-fly-from-valle-t |access-date=26 February 2024 |work=Williams-Grand Canyon News |date=29 December 2015}}</ref> The aircraft debuted at EAA AirVenture in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tegler |first1=Eric |title=General Douglas MacArthur's Personal Airplane Flies Again |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2023/06/30/general-douglas-macarthurs-personal-airplane-flies-again |access-date=26 February 2024 |work=Forbes |date=30 June 2023}}</ref>

The organization sold a de Havilland Mosquito that was being restored for it in New Zealand in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mosquito News |url=http://www.scramble.nl/military-news/mosquito-news |website=Scramble |access-date=26 February 2024 |date=16 December 2023}}</ref>

The organization's A-20 was seriously damaged in a forced landing following an engine fire at the WBCA Stars & Stripes Air Show Spectacular on 16 February 2025.<ref>{{cite news |title=WBCA Air Show planned to resume after plane catches fire Sunday afternoon |url=http://www.kgns.tv/2025/02/16/wbca-air-show-planned-resume-after-plane-catches-fire-sunday-afternoon |access-date=22 January 2026 |work=KGNS News |date=16 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Niles |first1=Russ |title=Pilot Injured In A-20 Emergency Landing |url=http://www.avweb.com/flight-safety/pilot-injured-in-a-20-emergency-landing |access-date=22 January 2026 |work=AVWeb |date=18 February 2025}}</ref>

== Organization == The aircraft are divided among several entities including the '''Air Legends Foundation''',<ref>{{cite web |title=Air Legends Foundation |url=http://www.opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0803863157 |website=OpenCorporates |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=[Homepage] |url=http://www.airlegendsfoundation.com |website=Air Legends Foundation |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> '''Lewis Fighter Fleet'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Lewis Fighter Fleet, LLC |url=http://www.opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0801198261 |website=OpenCorporates |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> and '''Lewis Vintage Collection'''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lewis Vintage Collection, LLC |url=http://www.opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0801198256 |website=OpenCorporates |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref>

== Collection == thumb|North American B-25J Mitchell

=== Air Legends Foundation === {{Div col}} * Bell P-39Q Airacobra<ref>{{cite web |title=P-39 Airacobra |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/p39-airacobra |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Bell P-39Q-6-BE Airacobra, s/n 42-19993 USAAF, c/n 26E-397, c/r N139RL |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=37940 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * de Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide<ref>{{cite web |title=de Havilland Dragon Rapide |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/dragon-rapide |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - de Havilland-Brush Coachworks DH-89A Mk 6 Dragon Rapide, s/n HG724 RAF, c/n 6709, c/r N89DH |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=3040 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Douglas A-20 Havoc<ref>{{cite web |title=A-20 Havoc |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/a20-havoc |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Goodyear FG-1D Corsair<ref>{{cite web |title=FG-1D Corsair |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/fg1d-corsair |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Grumman F3F-2<ref>{{cite web |title=F3F-2 Beer Barrel |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/f3f2-beer-barrel |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat<ref>{{cite web |title=F4F-3 Wildcat |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/f4f3-wildcat |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Grumman F6F Hellcat<ref>{{cite web |title=F6F Hellcat |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/f6f-hellcat |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat<ref>{{cite web |title=F8F-2 Bearcat [N777L] |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/f8f2-bearcat-rare-bear |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Grumman G-73T Mallard<ref>{{cite web |title=G-73 Mallard |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/mallard |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Grumman G-73T Mallard, c/n J-50, c/r N147MV |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=3285 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Lockheed VC-121A Constellation<ref>{{cite web |title=C-121A Constellation |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/lockheed-c121a-constellation-bataan |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Lockheed VC-121A Super Constellation, s/n 422 NASA, c/n 2605, c/r N422NA |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=11027 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Lockheed P-38F Lightning<ref>{{cite web |title=P-38F Lightning |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/p38f-lightning |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> {{Div col end}}

=== Lewis Air Legends === {{Div col}} * Aero L-39C Albatros<ref>{{cite web |title=L-39C Albatross |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/l-39c-albatross |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Bell AH-1G Cobra<ref>{{cite web |title=AH-1G Cobra |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/ah1g-cobra |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * CAC CA-18 Mustang Mk 22 – restored as TF-51D<ref>{{cite web |title=TF-51D Mustang |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/tf-51d-mustang |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - North American-Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA-18-Mk 22 Mustang, s/n A68-187 RAAF, c/n 1512, c/r N50FS |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=26252 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Canadair CF-5D<ref>{{cite web |title=CF-5D Freedom Fighter |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/cf-5d-freedom-fighter |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Canadair Sabre Mk. 6<ref>{{cite web |title=Mk 6 F-86 Sabre |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/mk-6-f-86-sabre |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Grumman F7F-3P Tigercat<ref>{{cite web |title=F7F-3P Tigercat [N805MB] |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/f7f3p-tigercat-la-patrona |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Grumman F7F-3P Tigercat<ref>{{cite web |title=F7F-3P Tigercat [N700F] |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/f7f3p-tigercat |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat<ref>{{cite web |title=F8F-2 Bearcat [N14WB] |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/f8f-2-bearcat-dcc |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat<ref>{{cite web |title=F8F-2 Bearcat [N747NF] |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/tai-wun-on |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * North American B-25J Mitchell<ref>{{cite web |title=B-25J Mitchell |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/b25j-mitchell |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * North American NA-50 – replica<ref>{{cite web |title=NA-50 |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/na50 |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - North American NA-50 (replica), c/n 050, c/r N250NA |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=18063 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * North American T-6 Texan<ref>{{cite web |title=T-6 Texan |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/t6-texan |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Republic P-47 Thunderbolt<ref>{{cite web |title=P-47 Balls Out |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/p47-balls-out |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Ryan PT-22 Recruit<ref>{{cite web |title=PT-22 Recruit |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/pt-22-recruit |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> * Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vb<ref>{{cite web |title=MK-VB Spitfire |url=http://www.lewisairlegends.com/mk-vb-spitfire |website=Lewis Air Legends |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> {{Div col end}}

== See also == * Mid America Flight Museum

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.lewisairlegends.com}}

Category:Aviation organizations based in the United States Category:Non-profit organizations based in Texas