Category: Museums / Organizations

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Newly Restored Mosquito PZ474 Featured in New Video

Lewis Air Legends and Avspecs, Ltd. have shared a new feature on newly restored Mosquito FB VI PZ474 aired by Television New Zealand’s (TVNZ) Seven Sharp.

As previously reported, the machine was originally constructed at Hatfield in 1945 and used for RAF training before moving on to New Zealand in 1948, where it was overhauled and delivered to 75 Squadron as NZ2384. In the early 1950s, the aircraft was acquired by new owners and registered as ZK-BCV before being transferred to the United States. There, the Mosquito was given civil registration N9909F and, from around 1955-66, was owned by the Insurance Finance Corp. of Studio City, CA. During this time it was believed that the machine was used by the CIA for intelligence gathering in South America.

Continue reading Newly Restored Mosquito PZ474 Featured in New Video

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Kermit Weeks Shares Part 2 of His VIP Short Sunderland Tour [Video]

Kermit Weeks has shared part 2 of a “full VIP” tour of his Short Sunderland flying boat.

As reported with part 1 of the series, this particular machine was acquired by Weeks in 1993 from Edward Hulton. After five months of work in England he flew the machine across the Atlantic, directly to the Oshkosh Fly-In in Wisconsin with stops in Ireland, Iceland, and Canada. It remained at Oshkosh until 1994, when Fantasy of Flight’s seaplane ramp was completed. Two years later, the machine flew to Sarasota and participated in the Olympic torch relay to Atlanta.

The newly released second installment focuses on the flight deck and cockpit while also offering some “history, fun stories and plenty of information.” Click below to check it out.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Shares Part 2 of His VIP Short Sunderland Tour [Video]

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New Video Details Progress on Airworthy Restoration of Lancaster FM104

A new video has been released providing a report on the restoration of Avro Lancaster FM104 at the British Columbia Aviation Museum in Canada.

As previously reported, the bomber was originally built by Victory Aircraft of Malton, Ontario in 1944 and was installed along Toronto’s waterfront following its retirement from the RCAF in 1964. In 1999, it was moved to a museum in Downsview Park, where a restoration effort began. However, it was relocated once again when the museum closed in 2011. The machine had spent recent years in storage at Edenvale Aerodrome west of Barrie while its future became a topic of debate.

In July 2018 the British Columbia Aviation Museum became the successful bidder and, now having formally taken possession of the machine from the city of Toronto, the process of restoration to airworthy condition is underway.

The newly released video, narrated by BCAM President John Lewis, details work that has been done since the aircraft was moved into their Restoration Hangar on Oct 16, 2018. Click below to check it out.

Continue reading New Video Details Progress on Airworthy Restoration of Lancaster FM104

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Kermit Weeks Provides “Full VIP” Tour of Short Sunderland [Video]

For the latest installment of his Kermie Cam series, Fantasy of Flight’s Kermit Weeks has filmed a “full VIP walk around” of his Short Sunderland flying boat.

This particular example was acquired by Weeks in 1993 from Edward Hulton. After five months of work in England he flew the machine across the Atlantic, directly to the Oshkosh Fly-In in Wisconsin with stops in Ireland, Iceland, and Canada. It remained at Oshkosh until 1994, when Fantasy of Flight’s seaplane ramp was completed. Two years later, the machine flew to Sarasota and participated in the Olympic torch relay to Atlanta.

The newly released video serves as part 1 of a two part series and includes “a bit of history, some cool stories and plenty of useful or useless information, depending on your point of view.”

Click below to check it out.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Provides “Full VIP” Tour of Short Sunderland [Video]

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Kermit Weeks Shares Restoration Report on Rare Seversky P-35a

Kermit Weeks has shared a new series of images detailing the ongoing work on his exceedingly rare Seversky P-35.

As previously reported, the machine was acquired years back in a trade with the USAF Museum and is reportedly one of only three remaining examples of the single seat fighter, which was introduced in the mid-1930s and saw limited action at the beginning of WW2. It came from the Swedish Air Force and was stored in underground bunkers during the war, which resulted in significant pitting and surface corrosion. Additional damage was sustained when Hurricane Andrew struck Kermit’s by Florida-based Fantasy of Flight attraction in 1992. When complete, this will be the only airworthy example of the type in the world.

Click below to check out the update.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Shares Restoration Report on Rare Seversky P-35a

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Kermit Weeks Shares Curtiss Jenny Restoration Update [Video]

Fantasy of Flight’s Kermit Weeks has posted a new video update on his Curtiss Jenny project, presented by restoration specialist Ken Kellett.

As previously reported, the aircraft (S/N A5360 / C/N 2404) was damaged when Hurricane Andrew struck the Florida-based collection back in 1992. Since then, all damaged wood and metal components have been replaced, including all of the wing spars and fuselage longerons. The paint work, which is just about complete, saw the application of the same USAAS markings the machine wore while it was based at the EAA Museum in Oshkosh back in the 1980s.

Click below to check out the new video.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Shares Curtiss Jenny Restoration Update [Video]

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Construction Begins on Westland Whirlwind Rear Fuselage

Earlier today, UK-based Westland Whirlwind Fighter Project announced that Airframe Assemblies Ltd has begun construction on the machine’s rear fuselage.

The twin-engine single seat Whirlwind fighter-bomber was developed in the 1930s and went on to serve in WW2, where it saw use in a variety of roles including bomber escort and ground attack. It was eventually withdrawn from service in 1943 and succeeded by the Hawker Typhoon.

As previously reported, The goal of the project is to build a single example of the Westland Whirlwind Mk 1 that “is indistinguishable from an aircraft in Squadron service during the Second World War.” The final product not be airworthy, but will utilize original available plans and original materials where possible.

Work is reportedly being carried out on the original press that belonged to Westland and is now in the care of Airframe Assemblies. When complete, the machine will be the only known example of the type in the world.

Click below to check out the complete announcement.

Continue reading Construction Begins on Westland Whirlwind Rear Fuselage

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B-29 “Doc” Officially Moves Into Its New Home

Yesterday, B-29 Superfortress “Doc” officially moved into its newly constructed, 32,000 sq.ft. hangar at Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita, Kansas.

Construction of the multimillion-dollar facility began in November 2017, and while the hangar and maintenance portions are complete, an additional $800,000 still needs to be raised to finish work on the education and visitors center. Doc’s Friend’s spokesman Josh Wells states:

“Over the past three years, we’ve raised about $5.7 million toward the $6.5 million project. While we have successfully raised enough money to build the structure, there’s still plenty of work to be done to finish out the interior of the facility. This will ensure generations to come will be able to learn about Greatest Generation and how the B-29 helped protect our freedom, and how it helped solidify Wichita as the Air Capital of the World.”

The aircraft returned to the air in July 2016 following 17 years and hundreds of thousands of hours of restoration. It began touring the following year, making its first airshow appearance at the Defenders of Liberty Air Show in Louisiana. This year saw the bomber begin passenger flights that include a a crew briefing, overview of the machine’s history and a 30 minute ride.

(via Doc’s Friends Photo: Erin McClellan via Wikimedia Commons)

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National Museum of WW2 Aviation Offering P-47 Artifact Lamp From Famous 348th FG

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

The National Museum of World War II Aviation is currently offering “a very historical artifact” in the form of a lamp incorporating a “a turbo charger fan from an actual P-47 Razorback.” The listing states (in part):

The base of this lamp is a turbo charger fan from an actual P-47 Razorback, from the 348th Fighter Group that flew in the WWII. Led by “Medal Of Honor” recipient Col. Neel Kearby. This Group was the most successful P-47 group in the Pacific. The group scored 396 kills; over half of all the kills credited to Fifth Air Force P-47s. The group had 20 aces, including Kearby who was credited with 22 kills. With the conclusion of the war the aircraft had little value; given that factory fresh aircraft were available stateside. These combat veteran aircraft had their engines removed and were unceremoniously bulldozed into a pit. Some 55 years later, in the year 2000, Col. Neel Kearby’s plane and two others were excavated from Papua New Guinea. This turbocharger fan was excavated with those planes.

The artifact reportedly comes with a certificate of authenticity and is currently available for bidding. Click here to check out the complete listing on eBay.

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Newly Restored Mosquito PZ474 Performs First Port Engine Test [Video]

On November 8, Avspecs, Ltd. rolled out Mosquito FB VI PZ474 for its first port engine test in Ardmore, New Zealand.

The machine was originally constructed at Hatfield in 1945 and used for RAF training before moving on to New Zealand in 1948, where it was overhauled and delivered to 75 Squadron as NZ2384. In the early 1950s, the aircraft was acquired by new owners and registered as ZK-BCV before being transferred to the United States. There, the Mosquito was given civil registration N9909F and, from around 1955-66, was owned by the Insurance Finance Corp. of Studio City, CA. During this time it was believed that the machine was used by the CIA for intelligence gathering in South America.

In 1970, PZ474 was abandoned and began a period of decline. It wouldn’t be saved until 2014, when it was acquired by Rod Lewis of Lewis Air Legends in San Antonio, Texas. Continue reading Newly Restored Mosquito PZ474 Performs First Port Engine Test [Video]