Category: Museums / Organizations

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CAF SoCal Wing to Restore P-47N “Meat Chopper” to Airworthy Condition

The Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF SoCal) has reported that they have been selected to restore P-47N Thunderbolt N47TB.

The Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59B-powered aircraft (S/N 45-53436) was originally built by Republic Aviation in Evansville, Indiana and served with the Guatemalan Air Force in the 1950s before becoming part of the CAF collection in 1962.

In 2002, the aircraft, wearing the colors of “Meat Chopper” of the 464th FS/507th FG, suffered an engine fire which resulted in an emergency landing. Thankfully, the pilot walked away, but the aircraft itself sustained significant damage, including a collapsed undercarriage and broken wing.

To date, “tremendous” repair work has been carried out on the machine, but much remains before it is able to return to the air. It is currently in Dallas but will soon be transferred to the SoCal Wing’s facility at Camarillo Airport. As of this writing, a time frame for completion has not been reported.

Those wishing to contribute toward the project can do so here.

(via CAF SoCal Thanks, Pascal!)

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WW1 Aircraft to Commemorate Centennial at AirVenture 2018

This year’s EAA AirVenture fly-in will reportedly commemorate the final year of WW1 with period aircraft, flying displays and activities.

Related activities will reportedly take place throughout the week, with a special emphasis on Friday, July 27. Among the aircraft slated to appear at the event is a rare 1915 Bleriot reproduction in Royal Flying Corps colors, aircraft from the Kermit Weeks/Fantasy of Flight collection and a original Dayton-Wright DH.4 currently under restoration by the nonprofit “Friends of Jenny” along with Tennessee high school students.

The WWI programming will be primarily based in the vintage aircraft parking area on the AirVenture flightline. Along with the aircraft on display from the 1915-1918 era, there will be WWI re-enactors and static engine runs. In addition, WWI-era aircraft, aircraft owners, and historians will participate in forums and Vintage in Review session throughout the week. A number of the aircraft will also be displayed at various times on AirVenture’s showcase Boeing Plaza.

AirVenture 2018 is scheduled to take place from July 23-29 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Additional details will reportedly be announced as they are finalized.

(via EAA Top Photo: Kermit Weeks Hangar)

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Collings Foundation’s Newly Acquired P-38 to Make Airshow Debut

The Collings Foundation has reported that their newly acquired P-38 Lightning will make its first airshow appearance at the Los Angeles County Airshow at Gen. William Fox Field in Lancaster, California on March 24-25.

As previously reported, The aircraft (S/N 44-53186) was intended for use in photo reconnaissance but was stored in Arizona following the end of WW2. After being declared surplus, it was acquired by a succession of companies, including Kargl Aerial Surveys, Aero Exploration Co and Mark Hurd Aerial Mapping, before being parked in 1963. Over the following years the P-38 passed through the hands of several additional owners before being acquired by Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, which restored the machine to pristine condition and placed it on display in 1997.

In 2014 the aircraft was offered for sale and was soon acquired by the Stow, Massachusetts-based Foundation. It has since undergone maintenance, flight evaluation, and preparation at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino.

The machine will reportedly be on static and flying display during the event and will be the only Collings Foundation aircraft in attendance.

(via Collings Foundation Photo: Articseahorse via Wikimedia Commons)

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Owls Head’s New Sopwith Pup Performs Engine Test [Video]

The Owls Head Transportation Museum in Owls Head, Maine has performed the first engine test on their newly acquired Sopwith Pup reproduction.

The aircraft was assembled by Brian Coughlin and features a steel tube fuselage constructed by Dana Narkunas and restored wing panels originally built by noted WW1 aircraft builder Carl Swanson. Powered by an original Le Rhone rotary engine, the machine made its debut at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome last year.

The recent acquisition was made in a frame-for-frame trade for the museum’s previous Sopwith Pup, a reproduction built by Dick King in the 1960s which was a regular performer at Old Rhinebeck throughout the 1970s. Coughlin is now in the process of restoring this machine (see The Flying Machine #6 for additional details).

Owls Head retained the Le Rhone engine from the King Pup and installed it in this new example. It is expected to return to the air this year.

Click below to check out a video of the test.

Continue reading Owls Head’s New Sopwith Pup Performs Engine Test [Video]

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Shuttleworth’s Spitfire Mk VC AR501 Performs First Post-Restoration Flight [Video]

The Shuttleworth Collection’s Spitfire Mk VC (AR501) performed its first post-restoration flight earlier today with pilot Stu Goldspink at the controls.

As previously reported, the aircraft was originally built by Westland Aircraft at Yeovil and was issued to No. 310 (Czech) Squadron in 1942, where it escorted USAAF B-17 and B-24 bombers. Later, it would serve with RAF’s Central Gunnery School before finding use as an instructional airframe at Loughborough College. AR501 was acquired by the Shuttleworth Collection in 1961 and restored to airworthy condition for the 1968 film The Battle of Britain. It entered the shop once again in 1973 for restoration to its authentic wartime condition, eventually returning to flight in in 1975. The most recent work was initially expected to last only 18 months, but eventually expanded into an extensive overhaul that has seen the aircraft completely dismantled and rebuilt. The result is said to be “95% original.”

Today’s test was described as “very successful.” The machine is scheduled to debut at Shuttleworth’s season premier airshow on May 6.

Click below to check out a video of today’s flight.

Continue reading Shuttleworth’s Spitfire Mk VC AR501 Performs First Post-Restoration Flight [Video]

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Kermit Weeks Provides Update on Fantasy of Flight Curtiss Jenny Restoration

Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks has provided an update on the restoration of his original Curtiss JN-4D Jenny.

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. Fabric work is also said to be just about complete, including 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 update.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Provides Update on Fantasy of Flight Curtiss Jenny Restoration

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Watch B-17F “Memphis Belle” Take its Place at the USAF Museum [Video]

Last week a private event was held to transport the newly restored B-17F “Memphis Belle” from the USAF Museum’s restoration hangar to its World War II. In the process, the legendary bomber was positioned nose-to-nose with B-17G “Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby,” which will be moving on to a new home.

As previously reported, the Memphis Belle (S/N 41-24485) became the first U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions and return to the U.S., where it flew across the country to promote war bonds and boost morale. The bomber will be officially unveiled at the museum on May 17th during an event that will reportedly include visiting B-17s and over 100 WW2 reenactors.

Shoo, Shoo, Shoo Baby will be moved to the museum’s restoration area and placed in storage until it is transferred to the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum at a date to be determined by the Smithsonian.

Click below to check out video of the event.

Continue reading Watch B-17F “Memphis Belle” Take its Place at the USAF Museum [Video]

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Kent Battle of Britain Museum Acquires Cockpit For Bristol Blenheim/Bollingbroke Project

The Kent Battle of Britain Museum in Hawkinge has announced the acquisition of a cockpit section for their Bristol Blenheim / Bollingbroke project.

As previously reported, museum volunteers acquired the substantial remains of four Bristol Bolingbrokes (a Canadian Bristol Blenheim variant) in December that will be rebuilt into one original airframe. Upon completion, the machine will be displayed as a Bristol Blenheim Mk. IV.

The section was acquired in Canada on March 9 and will reportedly be shipped to the UK shortly. Click below to check out a selection of photos.

Continue reading Kent Battle of Britain Museum Acquires Cockpit For Bristol Blenheim/Bollingbroke Project

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B-17s, 130 Reenactors to Attend Memphis Belle Unveiling

The highly anticipated unveiling of the restored B-17F “Memphis Belle” at the USAF Museum on May 17th will reportedly be attended by two B-17s and over 130 WW2 reenactors.

B-17Gs “Yankee Lady” from the Yankee Air Museum in Belleville, Michigan and “Aluminum Overcast” from the EAA in Oshkosh, Wisconsin are scheduled to be on hand for the event. They will reportedly arrive around 9 am on May 16th and will be on static display on the 17th and 18th from 9 am to 4 pm, departing around 4:30 pm on the 18th.

More than 130 WW2 reenactors are also scheduled to take part in the event, representing period airmen, ground crew, infantrymen, nurses and more. Additional attractions will reportedly include historic vehicles, memorabilia and artifact displays, music from the era, guest speakers, book signings and films. Continue reading B-17s, 130 Reenactors to Attend Memphis Belle Unveiling

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Kermit Weeks Provides Update on New Fokker D.VII [Video]

After being on the back burner for some time, Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks has provided an update on the current status of his recently completed Fokker D.VII.

The reproduction arrived at the museum in 2015 and had since undergone engine and taxi tests. However, there were a few concerns that needed to be sorted out, one of which was said to be an elevator cable that “looked a bit suspicious.” As a result, the strength of the cable was tested, a process that was captured in the video below.

The aircraft is fitted with an original, rebuilt Morell airspeed indicator, as well as an original Mercedes engine which was recently overhauled by The Vintage Aviator, Ltd. (TVAL) in New Zealand. The colors represent the machine flown by Ernst Udet of Jasta 4.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Provides Update on New Fokker D.VII [Video]