AirVenture 2023: Mister Mulligan

Journeyman warbird pilot Doug Rozendaal owns some enviable aircraft of his own, including a Harmon Rocket, a Beech Baron twin, a Meyers OTW (“Out To Win”) golden-age biplane and an L-2 miliary liaison Taylorcraft from the WWII era. His latest acquisition is a highly accurate replica of the one-off racing version of the Howard DGA 6 (“Damn Good Airplane”) known as “Mister Mulligan.” In the video, he tells the history of the airplane and recounts the lives of many of the people involved in how he came to own it.

[@codybraden7946]

Fantastic story, Doug is such an aviation inspiration. I could listen to him talk all day. I had the honor of meeting Jim Younkin while he was working on Mr Mulligan. We were getting an update done on our Trutrak autopilot and I was trying to find the office. I accidentally startled Jim asking for directions to the office. He not only took us to the front office he gave us a tour of the entire place and then he and Mrs. Younkin took us to lunch. They treated us like family members that they had know their whole life, just great people.

[@VictoryAviation]

Wow! That is so dang cool. What a legend of a human being. Sounds like exactly the kind of people we need in aviation. Fortunately it seems like there a lot of those types still around. The aviation community is awesome!

[@thewatcher5271]

The Best Aviation Story I've Ever Heard! Incredibly Lucky Is Right! I Wish I Could Shake Your Hand & Tell You How Much I Admire Your Dedication To Aviation. Thank You.

[@a-fl-man640]

my dad built a balsa model of Mister Mulligan w/ a gas engine, U -control, never flew it but it was pretty, just like this

[@kevinphillips9408]

Wonderful stories. Thank you

[@kmg501]

Sage advice about flying it like you are the one paying the bills. That is the same philosophy I have long employed for driving trucks. And Doug's story is amazing, I bet very few people get to fly such an array of vintage (replica or otherwise) planes.

[@ackack612]

AVweb...outstanding, the best.

[@txkflier]

I got to see this plane do some aerobatics at the Atlanta, Texas airport many years ago and took some photos of it in the hangar at Drake Field several years ago. It's a beautiful plane. Great interview. Thanks..

[@andrewlucchese6267]

"Show up, and fly the airplane like you're paying the bills on it yourself"
That is fantastic advice, and it can be translated to any job.
Be there and take responsibility.

[@philhill184]

Great video. I met Doug in Charleston WV with the red tail. Great man!

[@dwaynemcallister7231]

Really good interview!

[@terrancestodolka4829]

DGA Dam Good Aiplane.

[@brucesummers4006]

Good advice!

[@gabekremer7148]

Get my mooney done I'm gonna have to fly up and see dug. After all we are both from iowa.

[@toldt]

No doubt this guy has a strong work ethic, but he's where he is today in large part due to luck, such as many of the people he met along the way who helped to pull him up.

[@T25de]

❤

[@B25Flyer]

I misspoke in the interview, it lost a prop blade and crashed enroute to the '36 Bendix, not the '35.

[@markphelps588]

Thanks, Doug...and the news clipping reads that Benny was flying (not Harold Neumann) with his wife, Maxine, when it crashed in New Mexico. And I read elsewhere that he lost his leg as a result of his injuries.

[@B25Flyer]

@markphelps588 you are correct, I knew that, but again I misspoke. Thanks for the catch.

[@AirspeedphotoAwesome]

Hey the yellow Howard DGA photos is my plane

[@markphelps588]

What a beauty!

[@stephenhudson8739]

I would like to see a replica of Wiley Post Winnie Mae

[@CaliforniaFly]

Do you know Ed Schmidt and Lee Maples?

[@PatHaskell]

That is a lip smacking story!