Flight Expo Building Tsunami

Ever since WWII there have been many day dreamers who thought they could build a better flighting machine. Many made these machines from available inventory of existing warbirds -Mustangs, Corsairs, Bearcats etc. Though fast, they were not in any real sense, originals. Not since pre-war unlimited air races with Howard Hughes and his H-1 and Gee Bee, had there been anything original. That was until, during the Reno Air Races in the late 1970s, two men started talking.

John Sandberg, air racer and entrepreneur, and Bruce Boland, Lockheed aeronautical engineer and veteran designer, came up with a new vision. In the winter of 1980 this vision started to become a reality. It took 7 years to build, all the while taking inspiration from great designs of the past.

Tsunami finally answered the question so many had asked since the WWII surplus fighters had taken over the unlimited air racing in 1946: "What if you took the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine and built the smallest, lightest, sleekest airframe around it you could possibly dream up?" Tsunami answered that question.

The plane had a great run for 5 years until a great tragedy struck and John R. Sandberg died by crashing the Tsunami in 1991 due to a system failure. This would be the end of the Tsunami program for the next 20 years.

Many people stated that the aircraft would never come to life again, but they did not know the passion and persistence of one of the grandsons, John Sandberg Bjornstad.

Flight Expo, Inc. was privileged with the donation of this one-of-a-kind racer. John and his uncle, Duane Kruse, started assessing the potential of rebuilding over 10 years ago, starting a new chapter for the Tsunami. They have been working hard at rebuilding and recently a small group led by John worked every weekend on the aircraft, breathing life back into the aircraft for a new generation.

Tsunami was engineered from tire tread to prop tip to capture the absolute world record for propeller aircraft, to take on the competition and win at the air races and go on to other accomplishments long thought impossible. This plane is not done yet and we plan to take on more accomplishments and do the impossible.

"Anytime you challenge conventional notions about what can't be done you endanger excitement and, in the process bring out the best of those involved. Tsunami is such a story"

History was made with the Tsunami. It was built with the hopes of becoming, "The Fastest Piston Engine/Propeller Driven Experimental Airplane In The World." The Tsunami is not only an aircraft that reached incredible speeds and accomplished incredible feats for an original homebuilt aircraft, but it was also a symbol of ambition and hope for private individuals in the aviation scene

The Tsunami Project today is focused on rebuilding the legendary aircraft to compete once again in the air races. This is done by adult volunteers who meet a few times during the week to work on the restoration. 

The goal of Tsunami is not just to break the world speed record, but also provide an opportunity for people to learn and grow in their interest in aviation.

After only six years in the racing scene, the plane went down due to a system failure, killing its owner John Sandberg in the process. This would be the end of the Tsunami program for the next 20 years, until the aircraft was donated to Flight Expo, Inc.

Many people stated that the aircraft would never come to life again, but they did not know the passion and persistence of one of the grandsons, John Sandberg Bjornstad. With the help of his uncle, Duane Kruse, John started assessing the damaging and rebuilding Tsunami, starting a new chapter in the aircrafts journey.

Ten years later, they have been working hard at rebuilding the aircraft. A small group lead by John work every weekend on the aircraft, breathing life back into the aircraft for a new generation.

There still is a lot of work left to do on the project.  With each tiny bite we can make this incredible aircraft fly again!

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