F-35 Santa

Photo credit to the Gardermoen Aircraft Collection

The back story???

The photos show a full-scale mock-up of the F-35 in Norwegian markings, currently at the Armed Forces Aircraft Collection at Gardermoen. Here it is equipped with a huge santa hat that is a full 4.6 meters in diameter. The hat was made for an F-86K that is on display outside the museum. On Christmas eve, 55 years ago this year, in 1957, the then young pilot Oddvard Johnsen was scrambled in that very aircraft from what was then Gardermoen military air station. On his way back he got caught in icing fog, and only managed to get back on the ground with a minimum of fuel left thanks to a skilled aircraft controller on the ground. Now 55 years later, he and the local chapter of the Rotary club have donated the hat to the Aircraft Collection at Gardermoen to mark the anniversary of the event.

Pretty awesome story and its good to see that display...Major league hat tip to Endre Lunde for the photo.