Category: Museums / Organizations

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New Kermit Weeks Video Series Details “The Saga of the Stinson L-1”

Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks has shared a new two-part video series detailing the “Saga of the Stinson L-1.”

Specifically, the series details FoF’s efforts to “sort out an issue that prevented it from starting and running smoothly.” Work has been ongoing for over a year and part 1 in the series chronicles several attempts to start it during this period, as well as its failure and the frustration of crew members.

Part 2 documents additional attempts and various difficulties the crew has had in finding the source of the problem. It also reveals whether or not a fix was ultimately found.

Click below to check out both parts.

Continue reading New Kermit Weeks Video Series Details “The Saga of the Stinson L-1”

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Newly Restored Mosquito PZ474 Arrives At New Home [Video]

Texas-based Lewis Air Legends has reported the arrival of their newly restored de Havilland Mosquito PZ474, which is one of only four airworthy examples of the type in the world.

As previously reported, the Mosquito FB VI was originally constructed at Hatfield in 1945 and was used for RAF training before serving with 75 Squadron in New Zealand as NZ2384. In the 1950s and 60s the machine was owned by the Insurance Finance Corp. of Studio City, CA, and is believed to have been used by the CIA for intelligence gathering in South America. Continue reading Newly Restored Mosquito PZ474 Arrives At New Home [Video]

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Kermit Weeks Shares March 2019 Messerschmitt Bf 108 Update [Video]

Following up on a two-part series released last month, Kermit Weeks has posted a new video update on the restoration of his 1936 Messerschmitt Bf 108.

The update serves as an installment of Fantasy of Flight’s Mechanic’s Corner and features restoration specialist Paul Stecewycz detailing recent work to the wings, which have been stripped and put into fixtures for skin removal, as well as the control surfaces, cockpit glass, and cockpit instruments.

Click below to check it out.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Shares March 2019 Messerschmitt Bf 108 Update [Video]

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Kermit Weeks Films Visit With Possible New Acquisition: Polikarpov I-16

Kermit Weeks has posted a new video detailing his recent trip to the old CAF Museum in Midland, Texas to examine an available Polikarpov I-16 that he was considering purchasing.

The I-16 was the last of Nikolai Polikarpov’s fighter designs to enter production. An aircraft of revolutionary design, the I-16 was the first monoplane fighter with an enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear to enter front line service anywhere in the world. It’s operational status introduced a new standard to fighter design.

According to the original listing, the aircraft (N30425 / S/N 2421645) was rebuilt in Russia by the original factory for the New Zealand-based Alpine Fighter Collection.

Click below to check out the new video and learn if Kermit will be adding the aircraft to his collection.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Films Visit With Possible New Acquisition: Polikarpov I-16

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Museum of Aviation B-17 Reunites With Its Wings As Restoration Continues

The Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia has reported a major milestone in the restoration of their B-17 with both wings now attached to the fuselage.

This particular B-17G (S/N 44-83690) was originally delivered to the USAAF on May 9, 1945 and stored in Ohio before moving on to bases in Texas. In 1950 the machine was converted to a DB-17G with the addition of drone control equipment and in 1951 departed for the Marshall Islands to take part in Operation Greenhouse. In 1955, additional drone equipment was added and the aircraft was re-designated DB-17P. It went on to serve with 325th Drone Squadron from 1956-1959 before being removed from the USAF inventory in 1960 and transferred to Grissom AFB in Peru, Indiana, where it is seen above back in 2010.

After sitting on outdoor display for 54 years, the aircraft was moved to the Museum of Aviation in 2015 and became the subject of an extensive restoration that is still ongoing. The museum reports that they “still have much to restore,” but “she looks more like an airplane” with the wings now reunited with the fuselage.

Click below to check out recent photos.

Continue reading Museum of Aviation B-17 Reunites With Its Wings As Restoration Continues

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Collings Foundation to Debut Newly Acquired P-40 With Wings of Freedom Tour

The Collings Foundation in Stow, Massachusetts has announced that their new TP-40N Warhawk will be joining the National Wings of Freedom Tour beginning tomorrow.

The aircraft (N293FR S/N 42-9749) began life as a P-40K which was delivered to the USAAF in 1942. It served with the 11th Air Force, Alaskan Air Defense Command and was damaged near Port Hyden in 1943, being struck off charge shortly thereafter. The machine was recovered in 1975 and eventually underwent restoration to airworthy status, returning to the air in 1986.

In 1990 it became part of the Evergreen Heritage Collection in Arizona and later the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon (where it is seen in the photo above). It was acquired by the Collings Foundation in 2017 and converted to a full dual-control TP-40N.

In addition to joining the Wings of Freedom Tour, the new TP-40N will reportedly be part of Bomber Camp 2019 as well. Click below for photos and additional info.

Continue reading Collings Foundation to Debut Newly Acquired P-40 With Wings of Freedom Tour

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New Video Details Ongoing Restoration of Kermit Weeks’ Seversky P-35A

Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks has posted a new video update on the restoration of his rare Seversky P-35A.

In the video, Paul Stecewycz offers a brief overview of previous updates before explaining the next phase of the project, which will see the wings going into wing fixtures and the beginning of wing skin removal by FoF sheet metal specialist Rick Reeves. This process serves as the starting point for “fully striping the wings, examining the status of the components, and proceeding to do what is necessary to completely restore both wings to new condition.”

The new update is reportedly a prelude to the next update, “which will take you through the restoration and fabrication process, following a single wing skin from removal, to fabrication, to finishing, to placement back on the wing.”

Click below to check it out.

Continue reading New Video Details Ongoing Restoration of Kermit Weeks’ Seversky P-35A

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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