Category: News

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Newly Restored Sopwith Pup Damaged During Test Flight [Video]

Kermit Weeks’ Le Rhone-powered Sopwith Pup reproduction suffered damage after the cowling became detached during its first post-restoration flight.

Weeks states that he “took off fine” and “flew around for about 15 minutes with the 80 hp Le Rhone rotary engine running nicely.” He performed numerous figure eights over the field before coming in for a photo pass. He slowly lowered the nose, and just before reaching Fantasy of Flight’s runway, was given “a rather sudden, noisy, and spectacular surprise.”

The nose cowl is held on by a cable that clamps into a grooved slot on the outside of the firewall. When I slightly dropped the nose, the increased airspeed caused the not-so-properly-adjusted cowl to jump the groove and the rotating engine quickly shred it into numerous pieces, sending shrapnel everywhere, damaging the wings, and wrapping cowling around the center section and flying wires that began to flutter in the 80 mph breeze!

Weeks notes that he immediately shut the engine down and focused on landing the plane, which can be seen in the newly released video below, along with photos of the aftermath.

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CA-18 Mustang “Snifter” Returns to the Air Following Overhaul [Video]

Earlier today, Complete Aircraft Care of Caboolture, Queensland reported that Mustang Flight Australia’s CA-18 Mk. 21 Mustang (A68-110) had performed its first post-overhaul flight.

As previously reported, the aircraft, an Australian-built example of the P-51D, 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.

The recent rebuild reportedly brought the aircraft to “better than original” condition while keeping it as historically correct as it was when it came off the production line. The exacting work even included minor changes to the livery to make it a better representation of A68-769 “Snifter,” a machine that served with 82 Squadron in Japan and 77 Squadron in Korea.

The machine’s return to flight reportedly occurred on Monday, and is briefly shown in the teaser video below.

Continue reading CA-18 Mustang “Snifter” Returns to the Air Following Overhaul [Video]

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“Always” PBY-5A Catalina 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.

Consolidated Vultee PBY-5A Catalina N9505C (S/N 34027) has hit the market.

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.” The aircraft is currently located in Ephrata, WA and is being offered for $275,000. Click here to check out the complete listing.

(Top Image: Kaboldy via Wikimedia Commons)

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Newly Restored Thomas-Morse S-4B Performs Engine Test, Almost Ready For Flight [Video]

Ithaca Aviation Heritage Foundation’s newly restored Thomas-Morse S-4B recently underwent a test of its original 80 hp Le Rhone rotary engine and is said to be “almost ready for flight.”

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.

The Scout’s maiden flight is currently scheduled for Sept 29 at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport. To learn more about this aircraft and its restoration, check out the Spring 2018 edition of The Flying Machine journal.

Continue reading Newly Restored Thomas-Morse S-4B Performs Engine Test, Almost Ready For Flight [Video]

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T-28C Trojan “Top Banana” 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.

Julie Clark’s “Top Banana” T-28C Trojan N128JC (S/N 140549) has hit the market.

The aircraft reportedly received a ground up restoration in 1992 and has had the same owner for 19 years. The airframe is said to have amassed a total time of 9,847 hours, while the Wright Cyclone R-1820-86B has 589 hrs SMOH by by Air Power.

The machine reportedly includes an avionics package as well as a lengthy list of additional equipment, including custom aluminum storage bins in aft fuselage, Oregon Aero custom seat cushions and a Hooker harness in both cockpits.

The aircraft is currently located in Cameron Park, CA and is currently being offered for $249,000. Click here to check out the complete listing.

(Photo: Bill Larkins via Wikimedia Commons)

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Spitfire AR501 Performs Post-Restoration Debut Display [Video]

During their May Evening Airshow on Saturday, the Shuttleworth Collection’s Spitfire Mk VC AR501 returned to the air for its first post-restoration public display.

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.”

Saturday’s flight was performed by pilot Stu Goldspink and marked AR501’s first airshow appearance since 2007. Click below to check it out.

Continue reading Spitfire AR501 Performs Post-Restoration Debut Display [Video]

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P-51 “Frances Dell” 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.

P-51 S/N 44-13903 “Frances Dell” is on the market.

Restoration of the machine (formerly “Glamorous Gal” as seen above) was reportedly completed by Midwest Aero Restorations in the Fall of 2014, during which “everything overhauled/repaired/fixed/improved with all new wires, cables, phenolics. etc.” The airframe is said to have a total time of 1,700 hrs while the Packard V-1650-7 engine has 135 hrs SMOH. The propeller is touted as having been statically and dynamically balanced with new Avia paddle blades, all of which have 135 hrs SMOH.

The machine is described as “really clean,” having been “flown respectfully and kept in a heated hangar.” It is said to include all documentation and 337 forms and has an annual that is good through October 2018.

The Mustang is reportedly based in Colorado and is currently being offered for $2,850,000. Click here to check out the complete listing.

(Photo: Paul Nelhams via Wikimedia Commons)

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TB-25N “Panchito” 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.

TB-25N “Panchito” has hit the market.

The aircraft (S/N 44-30734) is touted as “one of the most well-known B-25 aircraft in the world,” serving as “lead aircraft at many events celebrating the Doolittle Raiders in the past 10 years, Superbowl XXXIX, Indy 500, Preakness Race and NASCAR races.”

The airframe has reportedly amassed a total time of 2950 hrs since “total restoration” while the two Wright R-2600-35 engines have accumulated 400 hrs each SMOH by JRS and Cascade Engine Service. The machine is said to include an avionics package as well as recent brakes, a Norden bomb sight, Martin top turret, 50 caliber nose (3), waist (2) and tail (2) guns, four fuselage pack guns with rare original metal enclosures, bombs and a removable tail gunner enclosure for photography.

The aircraft is being offered for $1,400,000 and is also said to include an “extensive spares package.” Click here to check out the complete listing.

(Photo: redlegsfan21 via Wikimedia Commons)

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Kermit Weeks’ Newly Restored Sopwith Pup Nearing First Flight

Kermit Weeks’ Le Rhone-powered Sopwith Pup is reportedly nearing its first post-restoration flight.

As seen above, the machine is one of two Sopwith Pups based at the Polk City, Florida attraction. Both were damaged during Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and have since been rebuilt, with the first example being returned to airworthy status in the colors of N6205 “BETTY” flown by Sub Lt Joseph Fall of 3 Squadron RNAS. The second Pup will also be restored to fly, but will initially remain uncovered in order to reveal its wooden structure.

Weeks states that they are “getting close on getting the Sopwith Pup ready for a test-flight” and notes that FAA is coming out later this week.

Click below to check out a selection of recent photos.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks’ Newly Restored Sopwith Pup Nearing First Flight

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Brickmania Releases B-17G LEGO Model Kit [Video]

Brickmania has released their impressive, limited edition B-17G LEGO model kit.

As previously reported, the representation of the iconic WW2 bomber includes 3,074 LEGO, and BrickArms elements, 10 custom-printed minifigures, 10 .50 caliber BrickArms machine guns mounted on moving turrets, moving flaps, ailerons, and rudder, retractable landing gear, four bombs with opening bomb bay doors, spinning propellers, a detailed interior, printed elements and a high-quality sticker sheet.

Click below to check out the product page, additional photos and a video overview.

Continue reading Brickmania Releases B-17G LEGO Model Kit [Video]