Category: News

Posted on by

“The Flying Machine: Early Aero Quarterly” Spring 2018 Edition Now Available!

Aerodynamic Media, LLC is proud to announce the release of the seventh issue of The Flying Machine: Early Aero Quarterly.

Issue #7 Contents:

36 Pages – Wright Tour Guide: Examining Sites and Artifacts Connected to the Wright Brothers and the Birth of Powered Flight (Part 2); Tommy to Fly Again!: Restoration Nearly Completed, Our 100-Year-Old Airplane Will Soon Take to the Sky; Building a Reproduction 1913 Renault WB 70 hp V8 Aero Engine for a B.E.2a; News Briefs: Bastion in the Air Exhibition Opens at RAF Scampton, Memorial Flight Completes B.E.2f Reproduction, Darrin Covington’s ¼ Scale B.E.2c Project; Products

The Flying Machine focuses exclusively on “aeroplanes” manufactured prior to 1920, as well as the current work of historians, builders, restorers, museums and collectors to preserve and promote interest in the early years of flight. Published in print and digital formats, The Flying Machine is offered on a pay-per-issue basis – no subscription required!

Join us as we pay tribute to early aircraft and the visionaries, geniuses and daredevils who conquered the air while producing some of the most fascinating, ingenious and beautiful machines in aviation’s short history.

Click here to purchase!

Posted on by

Hong Kong Models Reveals Tooling Samples for Upcoming 1/32 Avro Lancaster

Hong Kong Models has released photos of the tooling samples for their highly anticipated 1/32 Avro Lancaster.

As the Lancaster has “a very complicated shape” and “tons of exterior and internal detail,” the project has been underway for some time and seen continual CAD modifications. The tooling design and fabrication is also said to be extremely complicated, although the results are now beginning to emerge.

The company states that surface details have not yet been added, as the tooling process will continue until June or July. When complete, the model will reportedly represent the Mk 1 and include markings for R5868 “S-Sugar” of 467 Squadron RAAF, which became the first bomber to complete 100 missions.

Click below to check out additional images.

Continue reading Hong Kong Models Reveals Tooling Samples for Upcoming 1/32 Avro Lancaster

Posted on by

Wingnut Wings Releases New Tool 1/32 Junkers D.I Model Kit

Wingnut Wings has released their new tool model kit of the Junkers D.I monoplane, which was introduced in late WW1 and became the first all-metal fighter to enter service.

The new 1/32 kit reportedly includes 124 high-quality injection molded plastic parts, 11 photo-etched metal detail parts and Cartograf decals with markings options for five aircraft. It is said to authentically reproduce the D.I’s corrugated Duralumin surface details, lapped panels and hatches and raised rivets while also including a number of options, including fuselage spine corrugations, foot steps, propellers, Daimler-Mercedes 180 hp D IIIa and 200 hp D IIIau engine details and accommodation for a “wings removed” diorama display.

Product Page ($98.99)

Please Note: This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Posted on by

Kermit Weeks Details Restoration Progress on Ultra Rare Seversky P-35 [Video]

Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks has released a new video detailing the ongoing restoration of his Seversky P-35.

This particular aircraft was acquired years back in a trade with the USAF Museum and is reportedly one of only three remaining examples of the single seat fighter, which was introduced in the mid-1930s and saw limited action at the beginning of WW2. It came from the Swedish Air Force and was stored in underground bunkers during the war, which resulted in significant pitting and surface corrosion. Additional damage was sustained when Hurricane Andrew struck the museum in 1992.

When complete, this will be the only airworthy example of the type in the world. The newly released video was reportedly filmed last summer and shows the beginning of the “next phase” of the project, including the removal of the machine’s fairings, cowls, tail and other refinished panels as well as the engine. The work was performed in order to remove the fuselage from the center section so the wings can be re-skinned.

Click below to check it out.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Details Restoration Progress on Ultra Rare Seversky P-35 [Video]

Posted on by

Number of WW2-Era Aircraft Attending “Memphis Belle” Unveiling Rises to 12

Numerous additional aircraft will reportedly be in attendance for the upcoming unveiling of the newly restored B-17F “Memphis Belle” at the USAF Museum in Dayton on May 17.

B-17Gs “Yankee Lady” and “Aluminum Overcast” will now be joined by the B-17G/F “Movie Memphis Belle” as well as six P-51 Mustangs and three WWII-era trainer aircraft – all of which will reportedly take to the skies over the museum on May 16 as part of the opening of the event.

Plans call for 11 of the WWII-era aircraft to land at the museum on May 16 between 8-9 a.m. (One P-51 will be part of the initial flyover but not land at the museum.) The aircraft will then be available for viewing on static display May 17-18 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. On May 18 at approximately 4:30 p.m., visitors in the museum’s Memorial Park may view the aircraft as they take-off and depart the grounds. (Note: Outdoor events are weather dependent and subject to change.)

Continue reading Number of WW2-Era Aircraft Attending “Memphis Belle” Unveiling Rises to 12

Posted on by

BBMF Announces Lancaster Tour to Commemorate Dambusters Anniversary

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) has announced that it will take its Avro Lancaster aloft for a commemorative tour to mark 75th anniversary of the Dambusters raid and the 100th anniversary of the RAF.

The event, currently scheduled for May 16, will reportedly see Lancaster PA474 fly over the Dambusters’ original base at RAF Scampton before proceeding down the Derwent Valley to the Rolls Royce Factory at Derby and finally Eyebrook Reservoir. The aircraft will reportedly perform two passes of the valley over the Derwent Dam starting at 12:05pm.

Known as “Operation Chastise,” the Dambusters raid saw 19 Lancasters of 617 Squadron attack a number of German dams, resulting in severe flooding that destroyed or damaged power stations, factories and mines. The dams of the Derwent Valley and Eyebrook Reservoir were among the practice sites used in preparation for the raid.

The routes that will be used to witness the flight are expected to be congested and information has been released here and here to aid those wishing to attend.

(via BBMF Photo: Mark Harkin via Wikimedia Commons)

Posted on by

Mars Models Announces Development of 1/144 Tu-4 Bomber

Mars Models has announced the development of a Tupolev Tu-4 in 1/144 scale.

The Tu-4 was a Soviet strategic bomber that is essentially an unlicensed, reverse engineered copy of the B-29 Superfortress. It performed its maiden flight in 1947 and went on to serve until the 1960s, during which time a number of variants were produced for long-range bombing, transport and passenger-carrying duties.

Details about the Mars kit are nonexistent at the moment, although renderings have been released. Click below to check out an additional example.

Continue reading Mars Models Announces Development of 1/144 Tu-4 Bomber

Posted on by

Restored Vickers-Supermarine Seafire PP972 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.

Vickers-Supermarine 358 Seafire LF.IIIC PP972/G-BUAR has hit the market.

The aircraft is said to be one of only three remaining airworthy Seafires in the world and the only Merlin-powered Seafire to see combat. It was originally built under contract by Westland Aircraft, Ltd. in 1944 and was assigned to 809 (Naval) Squadron, which was deployed to the Far East and participated in Operations Dracula, Bishop, Balsam and Zipper.

In 1946 the machine was assigned to 767 (Naval) Squadron, part of No.1 Operational Flying School at RNAS Easthaven, before being transferred to the French Navy, where it served with No.1 Flottille at Hyeres.

The aircraft was reportedly restored to airworthy condition by Air Leasing, Ltd. from 2012-2015 and now represents a Seafire of 880 (Naval) Squadron Serving aboard HMS Implacable. The airframe, engine and propeller are said to have amassed a total of 15 hours since ground-up professional restoration/overhaul.

The machine is currently based in the UK and is said to be accompanied by “complete documentation of all work and updates per current CAA Regulations.” Seller must be contacted for pricing details. Click here to check out the complete listing.

(Photo: Alan Wilson via Wikimedia Commons)

Posted on by

World’s Only “Big Tail” SR-71 Undergoes Repaint

The Air Force Armament Museum located at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida is in the process of repainting their SR-71 Blackbird.

The aircraft, SR-71A S/N 61-7959, was completed in 1965 and, in 1975, was modified with a nine-foot boom on its aft end carrying Electronic Countermeasures and an Optical Bar Camera. The result earned the machine the moniker “Big Tail” and it would remain the only example of the type to be fitted with the modification, as tests revealed that the equipment provided no marked advantage. The aircraft performed its last flight in 1976, being placed in outdoor storage before being moved to its current home in 1991.

The repainting process is reportedly being carried out with brush and rollers and, as of this writing, prep work has been completed and primer application is in progress. When complete, the machine will reportedly retain its signature black finish.

Click below to check out photos of the progress.

Continue reading World’s Only “Big Tail” SR-71 Undergoes Repaint

Posted on by

Newly Restored Bf 109 G-6 Performs First Post-Restoration Flight [Video]

Yesterday, Messerschmitt BF-109G-6 D-FMGS performed its first post-restoration flight from Heringsdorf Airport with pilot Klaus Plasa at the controls.

The Daimler Benz 605A-powered aircraft (S/N 440738) was built by Wiener Neustädter Flugzeugwerke in 1944 and is said to be the only original, airworthy example of the type in existence. It served with Jagdgeschwader 27 and crashed on May 29, 1944, being recovered for a restoration project that commenced in Austria in 2007. In 2013, the machine was acquired by Air Fighter Academy of Zirchow, Germany who continued the project along with MeierMotors GmbH of Eschbach, Germany. It is currently based at the Hangar10 collection on the Pomeranian island of Usedom.

Click below to check out newly released images and a video of the flight.

Continue reading Newly Restored Bf 109 G-6 Performs First Post-Restoration Flight [Video]