Category: Museums / Organizations

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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.

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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.

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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]

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BBMF Spitfire TE311 Debuts New Markings

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Spitfire XVI TE311 has new markings after a visit to a Coningsby paint shop in February.

The machine, which most recently appeared in the all black “stealth” livery seen above, is now adorned with the markings of TD240 / SZ-G, flown by Captain Aleksander Gabszewicz of 131 Polish Wing.

TE311 was originally manufactured at Castle Bromwich in 1945 and served with with No. 1689 Ferry Pilot Training Flight and No. 2 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation following WW2. It was used for taxiing scenes in the 1967 film The Battle of Britain and also acted as a traveling display prior to being acquired and restored by BBMF, returning to the air in October 2012.

Click below to check out a time lapse video of the process as well as photos of the new livery.

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Yankee Air Museum Welcomes Lake Michigan Dauntless, New Display Underway

Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run Airport in Belleville, Michigan has welcomed a new addition to its collection in the form of a Dauntless dive bomber.

Few details have been released, although the aircraft was reportedly salvaged from Lake Michigan in the 1990s and will become the centerpiece of a new exhibit that will see it displayed in the condition in which it was found.

Access to the Dauntless is said to be closed off to the public while the new exhibit is under construction. It is currently expected to open in October 2018.

Click below to check out photos of the aircraft following its arrival.

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Only Battle of Britain Hurricane Finds New Home, Will Undergo Rebuild

After being based at Old Warden Aerodrome in Bedfordshire for several years, Hawker Hurricane R4118 has found a new home at Duxford, where it arrived earlier today.

Recently the machine was found to have cracked cylinder banks and a damaged propeller hub. In order to return it to the air, the damaged banks will be replaced with newly overhauled units and a new hub will be manufactured. Additional work will reportedly see repairs made to the radiator, oil cooler and coolant header tank and the installation of newly recovered flying surfaces.

In light of these developments, the decision was made to move the aircraft to Duxford where experts at The Aircraft Restoration Company will carry out the rebuild. It is expected that R4118 will return to flight this summer and be placed on public display in one of the hangars at its new home. Continue reading Only Battle of Britain Hurricane Finds New Home, Will Undergo Rebuild

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“The People’s Mosquito” Awards Contract to Build, Test DH Mosquito RL249

An effort by Leicestershire-based charity The People’s Mosquito, Ltd. (TPM) to return a de Havilland Mosquito to UK skies has taken a major step forward with the announcement of a contract with East Sussex-based Retrotec, Ltd. to construct and test the machine.

The deal will provide Retrotec’s restoration experts with full access to TPM’s massive collection of Mossie engineering drawings and allow the aircraft to be to constructed in the UK. TPM Managing Director John Lilley states: Continue reading “The People’s Mosquito” Awards Contract to Build, Test DH Mosquito RL249