Category: News

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Newly Restored Thomas-Morse S-4B Performs Taxi Test Ahead of Maiden Flight [Video]

Ithaca Aviation Heritage Foundation’s newly restored, Le Rhone-powered Thomas-Morse S-4B has performed its first taxi test as its scheduled first flight draws near.

As previously reported, The Ithaca, NY-based organization was established in order to return an example of the WW1 advanced trainer to the city where it was originally manufactured as “a symbol of Ithaca’s aviation heritage.” Their machine was generously donated by Dr. William N. Thibault of San Diego, CA in 2010 and has been under restoration ever since.

Click below to check out a newly released video of the Tommy moving under its own power.

Continue reading Newly Restored Thomas-Morse S-4B Performs Taxi Test Ahead of Maiden Flight [Video]

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“Almost Complete” W.A.R. P-51 Airframe 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 W.A.R. P-51 has hit the market.

The airframe is said to be “almost complete” and only in need of “finishing touches to the canopy, interior, and control surfaces.” It is described as including a new uncut canopy, a full set of plans, hydraulic retracts and Engine Information System Dash.

The machine is located in Rowlett, Texas and is currently being offered for $2,800. Click here to check out the complete listing on eBay.

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CAC Wirraway’s Path Toward Flight Continues With Engine, Taxi Test [Video]

Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks has shared a new video showing the latest engine, taxi test of his recently acquired CAC Wirraway, which will eventually be the only example of the type flying outside Australia.

The type was an Australian development of the North American NA-16 and the predecessor of the CAC Boomerang. This particular aircraft (A20-704) was delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force in 1945 and was slated to be converted to a target tug, although this never happened. It was instead placed in storage at RAAF Tocumwal and later assigned to 24 Squadron before being struck off charge in 1959. In subsequent years it passed through the hands of a number of owners, including Murray Griffiths, who restored the machine and returned it to the air in 1997. It arrived at Fantasy of Flight in 2014 in what Weeks described as “part of a trade for a Sea Fury I sent down in trade for work that he was doing for me several years ago.”

Since its arrival, the Fantasy of Flight team has been working to return the Wirraway to the air, most recently focusing on the engine and brakes. Click below to check out the latest update.

Continue reading CAC Wirraway’s Path Toward Flight Continues With Engine, Taxi Test [Video]

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Full-Scale Nieuport 28 Reproduction 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 full-scale Nieuport 28 reproduction is currently available for sale.

The aircraft (NX62610) is described as “beautifully crafted” and in “excellent condition” with “very low time.” It reportedly boasts a M-14D nine-cylinder radial engine with new stainless steel exhaust, scale propeller, a tube and fabric fuselage / tail, and wood and fabric wings. Additional features are said to include new fabric and paint, new landing gear, new engine mount and a single peach basket style seat / 4-point harness.

The aircraft is located in Wales, MA and is currently being offered for US$85,000. Click here to check out the complete listing.

(Top Image: NiD.29 from Wikimedia Commons)

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MAPS Air Museum Corsair Project On Its Way

MAPS Air Museum’s effort to build a F4U/FG-1 Corsair is reportedly on its way.

The North Canton, Ohio-based museum states that it currently has the cockpit of an Akron-built Corsair as well as an engine, a propeller and an engine mount supplied by Minerva Welding and Fabricating. The rest will reportedly have to be found or built.

The museum has been in search of non-airworthy parts (especially landing gear) to construct the machine, which will serve to highlight the 4,000+ examples of the type built in the state by Goodyear during WW2.

Click below to check out the full announcement.

Continue reading MAPS Air Museum Corsair Project On Its Way

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New Video Documents CA-18 Mustang’s Return to Flight With Onboard Footage

Following a brief teaser video released last month, Complete Aircraft Care has offered a new, more in-depth look at the final preparations and test flights of Mustang Flight Australia’s newly restored CA-18 Mk. 21 Mustang “Snifter.”

The Australian-built example of the P-51D (A68-110), was delivered to the RAAF in 1948 and saw little service prior to being decommissioned in 1957. After being sold, it sat for nearly four decades before becoming the focus of a seven-year restoration by Sandora Aviation in North Brisbane, during which it was converted to a two-seat configuration. In 2002 it returned to the air and is now the the centerpiece of the Caboolture Warplane Museum, providing regular flight experiences with the nonprofit Mustang Flights Australia while also supporting local war service commemorations. Continue reading New Video Documents CA-18 Mustang’s Return to Flight With Onboard Footage

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WW1 Le Rhone Rotary Engine 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 listing for a “museum quality” WW1 Le Rhone rotary engine has popped up on Craigslist.

The engine was reportedly restored about 15 to 20 years ago and has been on display since then. According to the Craigslist description, it was accepted by the U.S. Army on October 31, 1918 and is in beautiful condition, mounted on a movable display stand with the carburetor, magneto (needs rebuild), oil pump, tachometer drive, tampier valve and pulsator.

The engine is said to include a propeller flown only a few times on a Le Rhone-powered Sopwith Camel. It is reportedly located in Payson, Arizona and is currently being offered for $47,000. Click here to check out the complete listing.

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First F-100C Super Sabre, Once Flown By Neil Armstrong, To Be Renovated

Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California has reported that their F-100 Super Sabre has been relocated to their restoration hangar for renovation.

This particular aircraft (S/N 53-1709) was the first F-100C built and was reportedly flown at one point by famous Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong. It served with NASA at Moffett Field and Dryden as well as the Langley Research Center, being modified for variable stability and also seeing use testing direct-lift control for air-to-air-refueling. Following retirement in 1972, the F-100 was transferred to San Jose State College Aero School for instructional use before eventually arriving at Castle for display in 2004.

Additional details on the renovation have not yet been reported. Click below to check out photos of the recent move.

Continue reading First F-100C Super Sabre, Once Flown By Neil Armstrong, To Be Renovated

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Full-Scale, Warner-Powered Fokker Dr.1 Reproduction 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 full-scale Warner Super Scarab-powered Fokker Dr.1 reproduction has hit the market.

The aircraft (N817DF) is said to have been built over an eight-year period, performing its maiden flight in August 2017. Its reported list of features includes brakes, Spandau machine guns, electric start, satin finish Poly Fiber Aerothane and interior placards in German.

The machine wears the colors of von Richthofen’s 425/17 (illustrated above) and is described as a “beautiful flying airplane.” It is located in Columbus, MI and is currently being offered for US $225,000, although a trade for a Waco Taperwing would also be considered. Click here to check out the complete listing.

(Top Image: Herbert Ringlstetter – www.aviaticus.com via Wikimedia Commons)

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HK Models To Release New 1/32 Dornier Do335 B-6 Night Fighter

Hong Kong Models has announced the upcoming release of their new 1/32 model kit of the Dornier Do335 B-6 night fighter.

The company refers to the B-6 as being “most beautiful variant” of the German WWII heavy fighter with “over size antennas, 2 seats, flame dumpers, drop tanks. And the superb unusual camouflages and color scheme.”

Details about the kit are scarce, although it appears that it includes Cartograf decals with three marking options representing W.Nr. 240312, 240371 and 230017.

The kit is reportedly slated for release on June 20. Click below to check out additional images.

Continue reading HK Models To Release New 1/32 Dornier Do335 B-6 Night Fighter