Category: News

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Kermit Weeks Shares New Video Update On A-26 Project

Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks has posted a new video update on his A-26 project, which is currently underway in Chino, California.

As previously reported, the aircraft (S/N 41-39401) reportedly saw wartime service with the 9th Air Force and served with the Van Nuys Air National Guard before beginning civilian use as N3457G / “Whistler’s Mother.” Later acquired by Weeks, the A-26 was damaged during Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and trucked to Chino in 1997, where it is now being restored by Carl Scholl and Tony Ritzman of Aero Trader.

Click below to check out the video.

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“Always” PBY-5A Catalina Offered With Reduced Price

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

Consolidated Vultee PBY-5A Catalina N9505C (S/N 34027) has hit the market with a new, reduced price.

The aircraft, which was reportedly used in the movie Always, was modified to a Super Cat configuration with Wright R-2600 engines. The airframe is said to have amassed a total time of 4,667 hrs since new, while the engines have 464 and 890 hrs SMOH. The Hamilton Standard 23E50 props are described as having 699 and 822 hrs SMOH.

The machine lacks avionics and is reportedly in need of restoration, although it “could be made ferriable.” It reportedly includes original logs since its delivery to the military in 1943.

Click below to check out a video walk-around.

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EAA Shines Spotlight on World’s Only Flying B-26K/A-26A [Video]

The EAA is shining the spotlight on the world’s only flying example of Douglas B-26K/A-26A Counter-Invader in a newly released video.

Restoration of the machine (S/N 64-17679 / 44-34198) began in 2010 and required 65 volunteers and nearly a million dollars. Dubbed “Special Kay,” it returned to flight on July 8, 2017 wearing a mid-60s USAF livery and is said to be the pride of the Texas-based Vintage Flying Museum.

The new video was filmed at Oshkosh 2018, where Special Kay was awarded Best Bomber and the Silver Wrench Award. Click below to check it out.

Continue reading EAA Shines Spotlight on World’s Only Flying B-26K/A-26A [Video]

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Restored 1944 Culver PQ-14B Cadet Offered 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.

A Culver PQ-14B Cadet (type shown above) has hit the market.

The machine, N75380 (S/N N-427), reportedly received restoration to 0 time condition which was completed in 2012. The airframe has 181 TTSN and 31 hrs since restoration. The Franklin 0-300-11 engine has 181 hrs SMOH by Aircraft Engine Overhaul Company.

The aircraft, which is painted as USAAC drone, is currently being offered for $50,000. Click here to check out the complete listing.

(Photo: NASA Langley [Public Domain], via Wikimedia Commons)

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CAC Sabre A94-989 Offered 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.

As part of their upcoming Aerojumble sale, the Australian National Aviation Museum in Moorabbin will accept sealed bidding on their surplus CAC Sabre A94-989. The listing states:

It is an ex fire dump frame and is essentially a composite of three aircraft. It is being sold “as is, where is” and the purchaser will be required to ship it at own expense. Included in the package is spare LH Wing (Nos) and selection of spare parts. The cockpit is gutted and as you can see there is some major corrosion in tail. However it’s a rare chance to grab one of Australia’s iconic jet age aircraft for yourself or your man cave.

Those not attending in person can reportedly send offers to publicrelations@aarg.com.au. Bidding finishes on Feb 17 at 5pm and the winner will e notified. For additional information on the event, click here.

(via Australian National Aviation Museum Photo: Alec Wilson via Wikimedia Commons)

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Airfix Announces Upcoming B-25B Mitchell Model Kit

Airfix has announced the upcoming release of a new B-25B Mitchell model kit in 1/72 scale.

The kit (A06020) is reportedly based on the new tool B-25C/D kit released last year, but will include “new decals and parts” for the B-25B, including “Hari Kari-er” which was one of the Doolittle raiders.

The kit is currently slated for release in August. Click below to check out additional images.

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“Only F2A Tornado Aircraft in Existence” Offered 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.

Ex-RAF Panavia Tornado F2A ZD902, touted as “the only F2A Tornado aircraft in existence,” is available for sale. The listing states (in part):

Twin Stick trainer with full flying controls in both cockpits. Airframe hrs very low 935. Fitted with RB199 Mk103 afterburning turbofan engines. This Air Defence Variant, known as TIARA (Tornado Integrated Avionics Research Aircraft) was built in 1984 and was last flown in November 2011. She comes complete with MOD F700 as well as a detailed print out log of all the flights ever flown including landing, take-off, rollers and arrested landings she ever performed. Dismantled for delivery

The machine is located in Selby, UK and offers are currently being accepted. Click here to check out the complete listing.

(Image: Source Credited to A. Хаустова ; Vector Version Hand-Drawn by Flappiefh [Public Domain], via Wikimedia Commons)

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Newly Restored Mosquito PZ474 Featured in New Video

Lewis Air Legends and Avspecs, Ltd. have shared a new feature on newly restored Mosquito FB VI PZ474 aired by Television New Zealand’s (TVNZ) Seven Sharp.

As previously reported, the machine was originally constructed at Hatfield in 1945 and used for RAF training before moving on to New Zealand in 1948, where it was overhauled and delivered to 75 Squadron as NZ2384. In the early 1950s, the aircraft was acquired by new owners and registered as ZK-BCV before being transferred to the United States. There, the Mosquito was given civil registration N9909F and, from around 1955-66, was owned by the Insurance Finance Corp. of Studio City, CA. During this time it was believed that the machine was used by the CIA for intelligence gathering in South America.

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Reproduction Avro Vulcan Cockpit Panels Offered 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.

Reproduction Avro Vulcan pilot and center cockpit panels are available for sale. The listing states (in part):

All as per picture some of the gauges (gearbox psi/oil psi etc.) are not correct but very similar and are better than gaps – unsure please ask – everything else as shown in the pictures. Price set to invite sensible offers so please don’t be put off!

The panels are located in Ripon, United Kingdom. Click here to check out the complete listing on eBay.

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Kermit Weeks Shares Part 2 of His VIP Short Sunderland Tour [Video]

Kermit Weeks has shared part 2 of a “full VIP” tour of his Short Sunderland flying boat.

As reported with part 1 of the series, this particular machine was acquired by Weeks in 1993 from Edward Hulton. After five months of work in England he flew the machine across the Atlantic, directly to the Oshkosh Fly-In in Wisconsin with stops in Ireland, Iceland, and Canada. It remained at Oshkosh until 1994, when Fantasy of Flight’s seaplane ramp was completed. Two years later, the machine flew to Sarasota and participated in the Olympic torch relay to Atlanta.

The newly released second installment focuses on the flight deck and cockpit while also offering some “history, fun stories and plenty of information.” Click below to check it out.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Shares Part 2 of His VIP Short Sunderland Tour [Video]