Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks has launched a new (hopefully monthly) video series dubbed “Kermie Q’s” which sets out to answer popular questions asked by viewers of his YouTube channel.
The newly released first episode focuses heavily on his his P-51C, which has proven to be his most viewed video series, although a number of additional topics are also covered. Click below to check it out.
Continue reading Kermit Weeks Answers Popular Viewer Questions in New Video Series
Yesterday, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s (BBMF) Spitfire Mk XIX PM631 returned to the air for the first time sine 2014.
The aircraft was originally built by Vickers-Armstrong in 1945 but did not see action in WW2. In 1951 it was assigned to Meteorological Research Flight and conducted temperature and humidity flights until 1957, when it became part of BBMF. It went on to fly in the 1968 film Battle of Britain and currently wears the colors of 541 Squadron, which performed photo reconnaissance over Europe from early 1944 to the end of the war. The machine was grounded in 2014 and fitted with an overhauled Griffon engine.
Yesterday’s flight was conducted by Sqn Ldr Mark Discombe, who described the machine’s handling as “sweet.” Click below to check out a video of the flight.
Continue reading Watch BBMF’s Spitfire PM631 Perform Its First Flight Since 2014 [Video]
On February 26, Jerry Yagen’s P-39F Airacobra performed its first post restoration flight from Ardmore Airfield in Auckland, New Zealand with NZ Warbirds Association President Frank Parker at the controls.
As previously reported, the aircraft is based largely on an ex-Soviet Air Force P-39Q which was recovered around 1995, although it is also said to feature parts obtained from P-39Q 42-20341. The machine (ZK-COB) was restored to airworthy condition by Pioneer Aero Ltd and represents USAAC 220341.
Click below to check out videos of the test.
Continue reading Newly Restored P-39F Airacobra Performs Maiden Flight in NZ [Video]
Kermit Weeks has posted an “updated and lengthened” video showing the arrival and first flight of his Curtiss Wright CW-19R back in 2013/14.
The CW-19 began life as a a civil utility aircraft, performing its maiden flight in 1935. The 19R was a militarized two-seat variant with a Wright J6-7 engine and weapons mountings. The type saw limited use.
Kermit’s example was acquired in 2013 and restored, performing its first post-restoration flight in February 2014. The newly released video captures Kermit flying the machine performing some high flying, a couple of landings and take-offs, and a set of very fast low passes. Click below to check it out.
For the latest installment of Fantasy of Flight’s Mechanic’s Corner, owner Kermit Weeks has shared a two part video update on the restoration of his 1936 Messerschmitt Bf 108.
Part 1 features restoration specialist Paul Stecewycz talking about the restoration of tail and wing components and demonstrating the operation of the mechanical trim wheel. In part 2 Stecewycz visits the large paint stripping booth to explain, then demonstrate, the process of plastic blasting the paint layers and filler materials off of the 108 wings.
Click below to check out both parts.
Continue reading Kermit Weeks Shares New, Two Part Video Update on Messerschmitt Bf 108 Restoration
Pioneer Aero of Ardmore, New Zealand has announced that their P-39Q Airacobra project performed its first successful engine test earlier today.
As previously reported, the aircraft (42-20341) is based largely on an ex-Soviet Air Force P-39Q which was recovered around 1995, although it is also said to feature parts obtained from P-39Q 42-20341. The machine is reportedly owned by Jerry Yagen / Military Aviation Museum and is being restored to airworthy condition as USAAC 220341.
The company reports that high powers will be conducted later in the week “and who knows what after that.”
Click below to check out a video of today’s test.
Continue reading Newly Restored P-39Q Performs First Engine Test in NZ [Video]
The RAAF Museum’s CA-18 Mustang Mk 23 is reportedly one step closer to returning to the air with initial ground runs of its newly installed Packard Merlin engine.
This particular aircraft, A68-170 (now painted as A68-750), was transferred from No 7 Stores Depot to the RAAF Museum for display in 1970. It underwent restoration in the mid-1970s and was known as “Duffy’s Delight.” Another restoration followed in 1989 which saw every component of the aircraft disassembled and refurbished. The project lasted 10 years, which the Mustang returning to the air in February 1999.
In recent years, the Merlin engine was removed and sent to the UK for overhaul, and was returned to the airframe in late 2018. Click below to check out a video of the test conducted earlier today.
Continue reading RAAF Museum Mustang Performs Initial Ground Runs [Video]
Aerodynamic Media, LLC is proud to announce the release of the tenth issue of The Flying Machine: Early Aero Quarterly.
Issue #10 Contents:
36 Pages – Recreating the Ferguson Monoplane: The First Irish Aircraft to Fly; Vintage Turnbuckles – Some History and Some Solutions; Military Aviation Museum’s Biplanes and Brews Recap; The Right Project at the Right Time (Part 2); News Briefs: World’s Only Fully Restored Curtiss Model F Takes Flight, Authentic WW1 Hangars for Your Vintage Aircraft Now Available, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Curtiss Jenny Touches Down, Products
The Flying Machine focuses exclusively on “aeroplanes” manufactured prior to 1920, as well as the current work of historians, builders, restorers, museums and collectors to preserve and promote interest in the early years of flight. Published in print and digital formats, The Flying Machine is offered on a pay-per-issue basis – no subscription required!
Join us as we pay tribute to early aircraft and the visionaries, geniuses and daredevils who conquered the air while producing some of the most fascinating, ingenious and beautiful machines in aviation’s short history.
Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks has posted a new video update on his A-26 project, which is currently underway in Chino, California.
As previously reported, the aircraft (S/N 41-39401) reportedly saw wartime service with the 9th Air Force and served with the Van Nuys Air National Guard before beginning civilian use as N3457G / “Whistler’s Mother.” Later acquired by Weeks, the A-26 was damaged during Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and trucked to Chino in 1997, where it is now being restored by Carl Scholl and Tony Ritzman of Aero Trader.
Click below to check out the video.
Continue reading Kermit Weeks Shares New Video Update On A-26 Project
The EAA is shining the spotlight on the world’s only flying example of Douglas B-26K/A-26A Counter-Invader in a newly released video.
Restoration of the machine (S/N 64-17679 / 44-34198) began in 2010 and required 65 volunteers and nearly a million dollars. Dubbed “Special Kay,” it returned to flight on July 8, 2017 wearing a mid-60s USAF livery and is said to be the pride of the Texas-based Vintage Flying Museum.
The new video was filmed at Oshkosh 2018, where Special Kay was awarded Best Bomber and the Silver Wrench Award. Click below to check it out.
Continue reading EAA Shines Spotlight on World’s Only Flying B-26K/A-26A [Video]
