Category: Museums / Organizations

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Watch Restored B-52 “Midnight Express” Move to Permanent Home [Video]

Over a four hour period yesterday, the Museum of Flight in Seattle relocated their newly restored B-52 “Midnight Express” to its new, permanent home on the west side of the Museum’s Aviation Pavilion.

As previously reported, the bomber (S/N 59-2584) had been parked outdoors at the museum’s Paine Field facility for 26 years before a $2.2 million restoration effort was launched. The machine will now serve as the centerpiece of a new Vietnam Air War Memorial Park, which is slated to open on May 25, 2019 and will pay tribute to the aircraft of the Vietnam War and honor the service members who flew and supported them.

Click below to check out video of yesterday’s move.

Continue reading Watch Restored B-52 “Midnight Express” Move to Permanent Home [Video]

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TVAL Offers Additional WW1 Aircraft, Rotary Engines For Sale

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

New Zealand-based aircraft manufacturer The Vintage Aviator, Ltd. has expanded its list of machines for sale, with offerings now including four WW1 aircraft reproductions and two rotary engine types.

In addition to the Hispano-Suiza-powered SE.5a and Le Rhone-powered Sopwith Pup listed in November, TVAL is now offering RAF1a-powered BE.2e G-CJZP, which has amassed a total time of 42 hours, and Bentley B.R.2-powered Sopwith Snipe G-CKBB (pictured above) which represents F2367 of 70 Squadron.

TVAL has also expanded their inventory to include powerplants, and is currently offering a limited number of reproduction 110 hp Le Rhone and 230 hp Bentley B.R.2 rotary engines.

Click here to check out the full aircraft listings, and here for engine listings.

(Top Photo: Alan Wilson via Wikimedia Commons Thanks, Pascal!)

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Restoration of Spitfire AA810 Begins

The Spitfire AA810 Project has begun restoration of the PR.IV flown by Alastair “Sandy” Gunn of 1 PRU RAF.

As previously reported, the machine departed RAF Wick in Scotland for a photo reconnaissance mission to Trondheim, Norway on March 5, 1942. During the flight, Gunn was forced to bail out after being shot down by two Messerschmitts of Jagdgruppe Losigkeit near Surnadal. Gunn became a POW and took part in The Great Escape in 1944, but sadly was recaptured and executed.

The remains of the Spitfire were recovered in July, with “some 70% of the aircraft” remaining intact. It will now receive a full restoration to airworthy status and will reportedly incorporate a significant amount of original material. The Project has enlisted Airframe Assemblies to provide CAA Part 21 services and Kennet Aviation for Part 23 and 25 services. Continue reading Restoration of Spitfire AA810 Begins

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Kermit Weeks Unboxes BF 109 Project, Reveals “Big Decision” About Restoration [Video]

Fantasy of Flight founder Kermit Weeks has released a new video featuring the unboxing of a Bf 109 project he acquired from 109 restoration specialist Don Bradshaw in recent years.

The crate reportedly contains a wrecked Bf 109 downed in WW2 and is a “project waiting to be restored.” The video shows Kermit and his crew unpacking the crate, going through the contents and revealing a “big decision” about the restoration.

Click below to check it out.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Unboxes BF 109 Project, Reveals “Big Decision” About Restoration [Video]

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Kermit Weeks Answers Popular Viewer Questions in New Video Series

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

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Watch BBMF’s Spitfire PM631 Perform Its First Flight Since 2014 [Video]

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]

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Newly Restored P-39F Airacobra Performs Maiden Flight in NZ [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]

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Kermit Weeks Shares Updated, Lengthened Video of Curtiss Wright CW-19R Maiden Flight

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.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Shares Updated, Lengthened Video of Curtiss Wright CW-19R Maiden Flight

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Kermit Weeks Shares New, Two Part Video Update on Messerschmitt Bf 108 Restoration

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

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Newly Restored P-39Q Performs First Engine Test in NZ [Video]

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]