When I opened the box and took my first look at the A7E model aircraft the memories flooded over me.

It was March 30, 1972, and I walked by this very aircraft piloted by Commander Riley Mixson, USN. He was going on a strike mission over South Vietnam because the Eastertide Offensive had started that day. He was going through his preflight in the cockpit. When he looked up and saw me, an announcement came over the speaker that was heard across the ship and flight deck. The Boatswainsmate whistle was followed by, “Petty Officer Ward departing,” and the ring of one bell. The tears welled up in my eyes and I looked at Mixson. He winked and gave me a sharp salute. I saluted him back, and got on board the C2-COD for the flight to Da Nang. I was going home.

It wasn’t until twenty years later that I saw him again. In 1992 he invited me to a change of command ceremony on the USS America. He had been promoted to Vice Admiral and was to be Assistant Chief of Naval Operations – Air Warfare. He was relieved by the America’s former Captain, now promoted to Rear Admiral, James Lair USN. He was the last pilot I flew with in the attack squadron (VA-195, “The Dambusters”). I didn’t know it until that day but Jim Lair saw what happened that morning as he was in another A7E parked across from the COD.

Thanks for the memories!

- Vetswithamission
Newberry, SC

Greetings. My company, Business Aircraft Management, Inc. recently hosted a “SkyBox” on the 16th hole at the Phoenix FBR (Golf) Open in Scottsdale, AZ. We are in the business of buying, selling, chartering and managing corporate business jets.

I was trying to create some ‘presence’ at the entrance to our SkyBox, so I bought several models from TMC (Gulfstream G-IVSP, Cessna Citation X, Dassault Falcon 900EX, Beechcraft Hawker 800XP, Cessna Citation Ultra, etc) and displayed the models on the entry table.

Not surprisingly, these models drew a LOT of attention from guests, adjacent SkyBox patrons and hundreds of passers-by. Not just a few, but many asked where they came from, how could they get one, etc. Most of these people were not aviation enthusiasts … but they were very interested and impressed about how detailed and ‘cool’ the models were.

We held drawings at the end of each day and gave a model away to 5 lucky guests. I’ve received very nice ‘thank-you’ cards from each of them, telling me how much they were enjoying their models.

My investment in the TMC models was well worth every penny. I am positive some of the guests and patrons either have already visited, or will come to the Scottsdale showroom in the near future and walk out with something special.

Models are not just for kids … my experience is that the adults enjoy them every bit as much, if not more!

Thanks TMC for helping to make my event a success. I’ll be ordering again from your company soon!

- Gordon S. Johnson
Scottdale, Arizona

Being that my boyfriend’s whole life has been based around aviation, all he ever wanted was a model plane collection.  Two years ago, our second Christmas together, I decided to start that tradition for him.  Deciding on the first model was easy. 

Both his Great Grandfather and Grandfather worked for PanAm so what better plane to start off with.  Little did I know what a hassle it would be to get a model PanAm 747.  For 6 months I placed orders and received emails stating the plane was discontinued.  I even called companies first where they assured me it was in stock until I placed the order and a couple weeks later once again, it was discontinued.  By now Christmas had come and gone. Determined to still find this model, I had to print out a picture and give my boyfriend an IOU. 

Then one night I came across my last hope. WarPlanes.com. I picked up the phone and called where it went directly to a representative.  The man on the other end was so nice and sincere after I told him my story.  He then placed me on hold for about a minute or less before he came back and said “Mam’ I am looking at that model as we speak, Its a PanAm 747 and we have about 2 left, if you’d like I can take your information right now and have it out to you by tomorrow”. I was almost in tears.  Not only was the plane in stock, but it was even less expensive then ANY of the other sites I tried ordering from. 

The model was shipped directly to my boyfriends house and even he almost shed a tear when he opened it. It was a BEAUTIFUL model, and a great way to start off his collection.  From that Christmas on, I vowed to never order another model plane from any other site but warplanes.com!

- Heather Kerniss
Valley Stream, NY

I purchased my first model from TMC Pacific aircraft on a whim; I wanted a reminder of my military service, in the form of a model of the T28 trainer that I had piloted as a Navy flight instructor during the late 1960s. However, the product I received was so impressive that it gave me an idea: to put together an upstairs hallway display of model combat aircraft of the type flown by the men who inspired me to become a naval aviator.

I proceeded to purchase from TMC and display models of the planes flown by Medal of Honor winners Eddie Rickenbacker, Edward “Butch” O’Hare, Greg “Pappy” Boyington, Thomas “Tommy” Maguire and James “Jimmy” Doolittle. Each each model aircraft is displayed next to a framed summary of its pilot’s career containing a brief description of the exploits which led to the award of the CMH. On the wall at the entrance to the display is the following dedication:

“This hallway display is dedicated to Captain Edward “Eddie” Rickenbacker, U.S. Army, Lt. General Jimmy Doolittle, U.S. Army air Corps, Colonel Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, USMC, Lt. Commander Edward “Butch” O’Hare U.S. Navy and Captain John “Red” Pace, U.S. Navy reserve (my father), all of whom went in harm’s way during a World War so that their fellow Americans could live in peace and freedom.”

(signed) Lieutenant Commander Richard R. Pace, USNR (retired) I have received numerous compliments on the quality of the models in the display.

- Richard R. Pace
Long Beach, CA