Solway Aviation Museum Details Recent Work Reassembling World’s Only Remaining Blackburn Beverly [Video]
Solway Aviation Museum in Cumbria, England recently shared video updates on their work preserving the world’s only remaining Blackburn Beverly.
The Beverley was a large British military transport aircraft developed in the early Cold War period for the Royal Air Force. First flown in 1950 and entering service in 1956, it had a distinctive high-wing, twin-boom layout with a raised tailplane, four Bristol Centaurus radial engines, and a rear clamshell loading door that allowed bulky vehicles, cargo, and paratroops to be carried. Although slow and visually ungainly, the Beverley was valued for its rugged short-field performance and exceptional load-carrying ability, serving with RAF transport squadrons in Britain, the Middle East, and the Far East until its retirement in 1967.
The museum’s aircraft (XB259) last flew at the end of March 1974 when it was flown to Paull airfield for Hull Aero Club’s use as a clubhouse. It was saved from scrapping following the closure of a small museum at Fort Paull in 2020 and relocated to Solway where it is currently in the process of being reassembled. Check out recent video updates below, which detail the cockpit section and center wing section being lifted back onto the main fuselage and progress on the engine mounts.
Arma Hobby Releases New Tool Curtiss Hawk 81-A2 “Flying Tigers”
Arma Hobby has released their new tool Curtiss Hawk 81-A2 model kit in 1/72 scale.
As previously reported, the release (70094) is the first in Arma’s new family of 1/72 Curtiss Hawk 81, Tomahawk II and P-40B/C kits. It represents the export version of the Hawk 81-A2 operated by the AVG in China during 1941–1942. These aircraft wore a distinctive camouflage scheme based on British specifications and applied using American-made DuPont paints.
The kit offers three Flying Tigers marking options, 3D printed parts and painting masks.
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“Well Equipped” 1961 Piper Comanche Offered For Sale
A 1961 Piper PA-24 Comanche has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):
This 1961 Piper PA-24 Comanche 250/260 is a four-seat, single-engine aircraft powered by an IO-540-D4A5 engine and equipped with a Hartzell three-blade propeller. The aircraft has 3,222.5 hours total time with 687.2 hours SMOH and is currently configured for VFR operations. A number of maintenance items and updates have been completed, including new main and auxiliary fuel bladders, new tires and tubes, replacement oil hoses, a new communication antenna, replacement fuel-sending units, and rebuilt landing-gear struts… With its IO-540 powerplant, three-blade Hartzell propeller, updated fuel system components, and recent landing-gear work, this Comanche offers a well-equipped example of Piper’s classic four-seat retractable-gear aircraft.
The aircraft is located in Lubbock, TX with offers currently being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.
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Project X and the American Aerial Defense of Java, 1941–1942
Coming soon from Texas A&M University Press and authors William H. Bartsch and Edward M. Rogers is Desperate Gambit: Project X and the American Aerial Defense of Java, 1941–1942, which reveals the untold story of how the Army Air Forces sent some eighty B-17 Flying Fortresses nearly 7,000 miles to Java to oppose the Japanese invasion.
In the dark days of World War II, just after Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces were moving almost at will across Southeast Asia and the Pacific. With his troops besieged in the Philippines and his bomber and fighter squadrons decimated, General MacArthur pressured the US War Department to provide urgent help, particularly for replacements for the B-17 bombers devastated in the December 8 attack on Clark Field. President Roosevelt committed to send a large force of heavy bombers and their crews to the Philippines, a reinforcement plan code named “Project X.” Continue reading Project X and the American Aerial Defense of Java, 1941–1942
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MikroMir Releases New 1/48 RAF S.E.1 Model Kit
MikroMir has released a new tool RAF S.E.1 model kit in 1/48 scale.
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.1 was a one-off experimental aeroplane built at Farnborough in 1911, conceived by Geoffrey de Havilland and F. M. Green from the remains of a damaged Blériot XII monoplane. Its designation meant “Santos Experimental,” reflecting its unusual canard, or tail-first, configuration, and de Havilland made its first brief flight on 11 June 1911. The machine proved difficult to control; later that year, an inexperienced pilot, Lt. Theodore Ridge, was killed when it stalled and spun during a landing attempt. The S.E.1 was not rebuilt, but it remains historically important as the first aircraft in the Royal Aircraft Factory’s influential S.E. design sequence.
The kit (48-022) includes a 3D-printed engine and photo-etched parts. Check out the product page and box contents below.
Continue reading MikroMir Releases New 1/48 RAF S.E.1 Model Kit
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2023 Husky A-1C-180 For Sale: “Fresh Annual, Ready to Fly Away”
A 2023 Husky A-1C-180 has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):
This 2023 Husky A-1C-180 Singel Gas Engine Airplane is just off a fresh annual and ready to fly away. In excellent condition… Next annual due 9/2027; One passenger plane with great avionics. Avionics: Garmin GTX345; GDL69/69A; Bose A-30 Aviation Headset. Equipment: True Blue Power; Reiff Preheat; Model E04-ELT.
The aircraft is located in Afton WY and is currently available for bidding. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.
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Museum Retrieves B-17 Remains, Future Plans to be Announced
The South Pacific WWII Museum in Luganville, Espiritu Santo (the largest Island of Vanuatu) has announced the acquisition and retrieval of the remains of B-17E (S/N 41-9227) “Yankee Doodle Jr.”
The aircraft crashed on December 31, 1942 while on a flight to Fiji to acquire liquor for a New Year’s Eve party, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and co-pilot. It’s remains had been lying in the jungle inland from Million Dollar Point until the acquisition, which came about due to the generosity of the local landowner.
Plans for the remains will reportedly be announced in the upcoming South Pacific WWII Museum newsletter. Check out the full announcement and accompanying photos below.
Continue reading Museum Retrieves B-17 Remains, Future Plans to be Announced
Eduard Releases ProfiPACK Edition F6F-3 Hellcat With PE, Five Liveries
Among Eduard’s September releases is a ProfiPACK Edition F6F-3 Hellcat model kit in 1/72 scale.
The F6F-3 was introduced in 1943 and became one of the principal American fighters of the Pacific War. Powered by a 2,000-hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engine and armed with six .50-caliber Browning machine guns, it combined high speed, heavy firepower, protection, and exceptional survivability. Designed to counter Japan’s Mitsubishi A6M Zero, the Hellcat proved especially effective when flown to exploit its superior speed, dive performance, armor, and self-sealing fuel tanks; U.S. Navy and Marine Hellcat pilots ultimately claimed the majority of American air-to-air victories in the Pacific.
The kit (7074) includes Eduard plastic parts, pre-painted PE parts, painting masks and Eduard decals with five marking options.
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1965 Cessna 180K For Sale: “Fiberglass Interior, New Carpet, Great Condition”
A 1965 Cessna 180K has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):
This 1965 Cessna 180K is equipped with a Garmin GTN 750 and features a fiberglass interior with new carpet. Aircraft and engine times are documented in the available information. Specs & Highlights: ACTT: 1,630.8 hours, Tach: 1,630.8 hours, Hobbs: 372.1 hours, ETT: 1,630.8 hours, ETSMO: 782.9 hours, PTT: 782.9 hours, Garmin GTN 750, Fiberglass interior, New carpet, Great condition
The aircraft is located in Mills, Wyoming with offers currently being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.
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New Video Documents Recent Formation Flight of World’s Only Airworthy Helldivers
On August 20th, 2026 Fagen Fighters WWII Museum SB2C-5 Helldiver joined the CAF SB2C-5 Helldiver and the National Museum of WWII Aviation SB2C-1A Helldiver for a formation flight over Colorado Springs, Colorado. This marked the first formation flight in decades for the world’s only remaining airworthy Helldivers.
The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a U.S. Navy carrier-based dive bomber developed during World War II to replace the Douglas SBD Dauntless. Larger, faster, and more heavily armed than its predecessor, it carried a two-man crew, internal bomb bay, wing-mounted 20 mm cannon, and could deliver bombs, rockets, or depth charges against ships and land targets. Although early production aircraft were troubled by handling, reliability, and structural problems—earning unflattering nicknames from many crews—the Helldiver was steadily improved and became an important late-war strike aircraft, serving in major Pacific operations from 1943 through 1945 and remaining in postwar service with several foreign air arms.
Today, Fagan Fighters WWII Museum released a new film produced by Scott and Kyle Guyette capturing the once-in-a-lifetime event. Check it out below.
Continue reading New Video Documents Recent Formation Flight of World’s Only Airworthy Helldivers
