Category: Museums / Organizations

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Kermit Weeks’ Newly Restored Sopwith Pup Nearing First Flight

Kermit Weeks’ Le Rhone-powered Sopwith Pup is reportedly nearing its first post-restoration flight.

As seen above, the machine is one of two Sopwith Pups based at the Polk City, Florida attraction. Both were damaged during Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and have since been rebuilt, with the first example being returned to airworthy status in the colors of N6205 “BETTY” flown by Sub Lt Joseph Fall of 3 Squadron RNAS. The second Pup will also be restored to fly, but will initially remain uncovered in order to reveal its wooden structure.

Weeks states that they are “getting close on getting the Sopwith Pup ready for a test-flight” and notes that FAA is coming out later this week.

Click below to check out a selection of recent photos.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks’ Newly Restored Sopwith Pup Nearing First Flight

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Mississippi F-86L Sabre Arrives at New Home, Restoration to Follow [Video]

On Tuesday, Chennault Aviation & Military Museum in Monroe, Louisiana welcomed a new arrival in the form of an F-86L Sabre.

The aircraft (S/N 53-01061) is said to have been acquired from a base in Crystal Springs, Mississippi by a local doctor many years back. He transported it to a VFW post along I-55 near Hazlehurst, Mississippi, where it has been on outdoor display since 1968. The post closed about a decade ago and the aircraft has since suffered from vandalism and continued exposure to the elements.

The museum reportedly went through a lengthy approval process in order to receive the Sabre and also launched coordination and fundraising efforts to relocate it. The machine will now be restored on museum grounds and displayed “on certified loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force.”

The restoration will be performed by volunteers and is expected to take roughly a year and a half.

Click below to check out local news coverage and photos of its arrival.

Continue reading Mississippi F-86L Sabre Arrives at New Home, Restoration to Follow [Video]

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Memphis Belle Unveiled, Warbirds Fly In At USAF Museum [Video]

Yesterday, the newly restored B-17F “Memphis Belle” was unveiled in a private ceremony at the USAF Museum in Dayton.

Today’s exhibit opening occurs on the 75th anniversary of the machine’s 25th and final mission, after which it returned to the US and toured the country to promote war bonds and boost morale. Described as “a national aviation treasure and widely recognized symbol of American bravery and heroism during WWII,” the new permanent, public display in the collection’s WW2 gallery reportedly includes interactive displays, rare archival film footage and many personal artifacts which have never before been on display at the museum.

The opening also saw the arrival of B-17s, P-51s and a trainer which will be on public display until 3:30 today, with a shuttle bus service bringing visitors to the display area. The aircraft are expected to depart around 5pm (UPDATE: The aircraft departed around 2:45 due to weather concerns).

Click below to check out videos of the Memphis Belle’s unveiling as well as an overview of its restoration, warbird arrivals, and an interview with Robert K. Morgan, son of the Belle’s primary pilot during WW2.

Continue reading Memphis Belle Unveiled, Warbirds Fly In At USAF Museum [Video]

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USAF Museum’s Memphis Belle Unveiling Festivities Begin With B-17, P-51 Flyover [Video]

Earlier today, three B-17s and five P-51s flew over the USAF Museum in Dayton as festivities get underway for the unveiling of the historic B-17F “Memphis Belle” on Thursday.

The aircraft, which included B-17Gs “Yankee Lady” and “Aluminum Overcast” and B-17G/F “Movie Memphis Belle,” were prevented from landing at the museum due to weather conditions and instead performed as mass flyover which can be seen in the videos below.

As previously reported, the main focus of the three-day celebratory event (May 17-19, 2018) will be the debut of the newly restored Memphis Belle in the museum’s WW2 gallery. In addition, more than 160 WW2 reenactors are expected as well as historic vehicles, memorabilia and artifact displays, music from the era, guest speakers, book signings and films. Continue reading USAF Museum’s Memphis Belle Unveiling Festivities Begin With B-17, P-51 Flyover [Video]

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Watch Shuttleworth’s New Sopwith Camel Perform Its Debut Display [Video]

On May 6, the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden Aerodrome in Bedfordshire held their Season Premiere / RAF Centennial airshow – an event that saw the display debut of their new Sopwith Camel reproduction.

The Clerget-powered aircraft was built from original drawings by Northern Aeroplane Workshops in Batley before being transported to Old Warden, where it was covered and assembled by the Shuttleworth team. The machine wears the colors of D1851, “Ikanopit”, a Ruston Proctor-built Camel that operated with 70 Squadron RAF in 1918.

The aircraft performed its maiden flight in May 2017, becoming the fourth Sopwith type based at the museum (others include a Pup, Triplane and Dove).

The historic flight, performed by Chief Pilot Dodge Bailey, can be seen below, along with footage of a training week flight from April.

Continue reading Watch Shuttleworth’s New Sopwith Camel Perform Its Debut Display [Video]

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Newly Restored B-17 “Preston’s Pride” Unveiled [Video]

Following an exterior restoration, B-17 “Preston’s Pride” was unveiled on Saturday in a ceremony at Mefford Field in Tulare, California.

As previously reported, the machine (S/N 44-85738) was originally constructed as a B-17G and delivered to the USAAF in May 1945. It was placed in storage before participating in “Operation Crossroads,” a pair of atomic weapons tests conducted at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands in 1946. From there it moved on to Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio and then the Air Proving Grounds at Eglin AFB in Florida before being struck off charge in August 1958.

Since then it has been on outdoor display in California, serving as a memorial to the 379th Bomb Group. Over the years it was vandalized and damaged in a collision with a runaway truck and was in desperate need of attention. B-17 Archaeology stepped in and not only worked to return the exterior to a factory fresh appearance, but have also been compiling the history of the aircraft, which is the last surviving B-17 from Operation Crossroads. Continue reading Newly Restored B-17 “Preston’s Pride” Unveiled [Video]

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Temporary Home Sought For Restored Harrier That Won 1969 Transatlantic Race

A temporary home is being sought for a newly restored Harrier with a historic past.

The aircraft (XV741) won the transatlantic race from London to New York in 1969, an event held by the Daily Mail to commemorate the original 1919 flight by Alcock and Brown. Departing from a coalfield near St. Pancras, RAF test pilot Tom Lecky-Thompson flew the machine to the Empire State Building in 6 hrs 11 mins and 57 seconds.

XV741 was recently restored by Jet Art Aviation, Ltd. in a process that included the removal of 17 layers of paint. The aircraft is reportedly being kept in a hangar just south of York, and while it does have an eventual home, the owner would like the jet to be placed on public display “in a suitable museum environment so the aircraft and restoration work can be enjoyed by the public, especially for the 50th anniversary of the race next year.”

A loan period of up to 3 years would be considered.

Click below to check out recent restoration updates.

Continue reading Temporary Home Sought For Restored Harrier That Won 1969 Transatlantic Race

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F4U-5N Corsair F-AZEG Returns to the Air Following Decade-Long Restoration [Video]

F4U-5N Corsair F-AZEG has performed its first post-restoration flight following nearly 10 years of work.

As previously reported, the aircraft (B/N 124724) was originally constructed in 1951 and delivered to the US Navy in September of that year. In 1952, it was assigned to VC-3 and went on to operate from USS Valley Forge and USS Boxer before returning to the US in 1953.

In 1956 the Corsair was delivered to Honduras and saw action in the “Soccer War” with El Salvador, operating with Fuerza Area Hondurena as FAH 600. After retirement from active service, the aircraft passed through the hands of a number of owners before being acquired by Jean Salis’ Les Casques de Cuir collection based in La Ferté-Alais, France in 1986.

The machine’s return to the air caps off a restoration process that began in 2008. Click below to check out video of the historic occasion.

Continue reading F4U-5N Corsair F-AZEG Returns to the Air Following Decade-Long Restoration [Video]

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Charity Hopes to Preserve Historic Flight Collection As Royal Navy Withdraws Funding

The Royal Navy has reportedly withdrawn funding from Historic Flight, a unit which was “established in 1972 as a living memorial to all those who have served in the Royal Naval Air Service and Fleet Air Arm since the birth of naval aviation in 1909.”

The Yeovilton, Somerset-based collection includes Swordfish Mk.I W5856, Swordfish Mk.II LS326, Swordfish Mk.III NF389, Sea Fury FB.11 VR930 and Sea Hawk FGA.6 WV908. The machines attend air displays throughout the United Kingdom while providing “something of a ‘shop window’ on the Fleet Air Arm.”

The operation of Historic Flight will now be handled by Navy Wings, “the recognized Royal Naval Charity” which “raises money to keep important historic Naval Aircraft in the skies.” A plan is currently underway to transfer the Historic Flight aircraft to the civil register and into Navy Wings ownership. Continue reading Charity Hopes to Preserve Historic Flight Collection As Royal Navy Withdraws Funding

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“The Flying Machine: Early Aero Quarterly” Spring 2018 Edition Now Available!

Aerodynamic Media, LLC is proud to announce the release of the seventh issue of The Flying Machine: Early Aero Quarterly.

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