Category: News

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Corsair Restoration Nearing Completion in France [Video]

The restoration of F4U-5N Corsair F-AZEG is reportedly nearing completion in France.

The aircraft (B/N 124724) was originally constructed in 1951 and delivered to the US Navy in September of that year. In 1952, the machine was assigned to VC-3 and went on to operate from USS Valley Forge and USS Boxer before returning to the US in 1953.

In 1956 the Corsair was delivered to Honduras and saw action in the “Soccer War” with El Salvador, operating with Fuerza Area Hondurena as FAH 600. After retirement from active service, the aircraft passed through the hands of a number of owners before being acquired by Jean Salis’ Les Casques de Cuir collection based in La Ferté-Alais, France in 1986.

Restoration began in 2008, and the aircraft is expected to return to the air sometime this year.

Click below to check out video of an engine test performed over the weekend.

Continue reading Corsair Restoration Nearing Completion in France [Video]

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Eduard Provides Update on Upcoming New Tool P-51D Mustang Model Kit

Since their first announcement at the E-Day International Scale Kit Exhibition back in October, Eduard has made progress on their upcoming new tool P-51D Mustang model kit in 1/48 scale.

The company recently provided an update stating that project designer Standa Archman has personally examined numerous Mustangs and is focusing on even the slightest details, spending two days working on the rivet lines alone.

A number of new renderings have also been released, additional examples of which can be seen below.

As of this writing, kit contents and availability details have not yet been reported.

Continue reading Eduard Provides Update on Upcoming New Tool P-51D Mustang Model Kit

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Aeroplane Heaven Releases First Trailer For Upcoming FSX, P3D Avro Lancaster [Video]

Flight simulation developer Aeroplane Heaven has released the first trailer for their upcoming Avro Lancaster B Mk 1 for FSX, FSX Steam and P3D V3 and V4.

As previously reported, the new Lancaster is touted as incorporating their latest tech and techniques to “bring you what will be your chance to experience just what it was like to fly and crew this legendary machine in the skies of the latest simulators.” Its exterior will reportedly boast “a massive amount of authentic detail” along with many unique animations and a highly detailed virtual cockpit that will include the front turret and bomber’s compartment, engineer and nav station and radio operator’s positions.

The video shows a beta test flight in the aircraft, including startup procedures, gun tests, and a bombing run, while showcasing the model’s many features and exquisite attention to detail. Click below to check it out.

Continue reading Aeroplane Heaven Releases First Trailer For Upcoming FSX, P3D Avro Lancaster [Video]

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Yak-3 Suffers Significant Damage After Colliding With Cherry Picker at Wanaka Airshow [Video]

While landing at New Zealand’s Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow on Saturday, Yak-3 ZK-YYY collided with a cherry picker that was parked along the grass runway, causing significant damage to the airframe.

The machine had just completed a performance with a second Yak-3 when the incident occurred, which resulted in the separation of the starboard wing. The cherry picker, which was reportedly intended for use in a later event, was unmanned at the time, and thankfully the Yak’s pilot/owner, Arthur Dovey, emerged from the aircraft unharmed.

The machine was previously sent to Russia and converted from a Yak-11 to a Yak-3. It is said to be “very close” to the type’s original specifications, although the scarcity of the original Klimov V12 powerplant resulted in the use of an Allison V1710.

An evaluation of the aircraft will be needed to determine the full extent of the damage. An inquiry will also reportedly be launched the determine why the cherry picker had been positioned in the area.

Click below to watch video of the incident.

Continue reading Yak-3 Suffers Significant Damage After Colliding With Cherry Picker at Wanaka Airshow [Video]

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Sword Announces Upcoming New Tool 1/72 TBM-3W “Guppy” Model Kits

Sword Models is reportedly working on a new tool example of the TBM-3W “Guppy” in 1/72 scale.

The machine, a conversion of the TBM-3 Avenger, was the first ship based airborne early warning control and relay platform with an APS-20 radar housed in a ventral radome. It appears that the kit will be available in two versions (SW72114 – TBM-3W “Guppy” and SW72115 – TBM-3W “Guppy” l´Aeronavale, Kon.Marine) and will include plastic sprues, waterslide decals and clear parts.

Pricing and a final release date have not yet been announced.

Click below to check out an additional image.

Continue reading Sword Announces Upcoming New Tool 1/72 TBM-3W “Guppy” Model Kits

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Fagen Fighters WW2 Museum Acquires F6F-5 Hellcat, Return to Flight Planned

Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls, Minnesota has reported the acquisition of F6F-5 Hellcat B/N 78645.

The aircraft was built by Grumman and delivered in March 1945, serving with VF-14 aboard USS Casablanca (2 tours), VF-80 at NAS Pensacola, FL and spending time at NART Squantum in Quincy, Massachusetts prior to retirement in August 1949. Following WW2 the aircraft was painted orange and used as a radio controlled drone, but it was eventually restored to its original condition and displayed at Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.

Fagen Fighters reports that the Hellcat will undergo an extensive IRAN (Inspect Repair and Replace as Necessary) and will hopefully be flying by summer 2019.

(via Fagen Fighters WWII Museum Additional Information via Yanks Air Museum Photo: Alan Wilson via Wikimedia Commons)

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New Videos Detail Recent Progress on Kermit Weeks’ A-26 Project

Fantasy of Flight (FoF) owner Kermit Weeks has released a new two-part series detailing the ongoing work on his Douglas A-26.

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, California in 1997, where it is now being restored by Carl Scholl and Tony Ritzman of Aero Trader.

The new videos, seen below, were filmed in January, three months after his last Kermie Cam series on the machine. Since then, the team has (among other things) returned the landing gear, wing flaps and flight controls to fully functioning condition and reworked wiring in the cockpit.

The machine will apparently be painted in olive drab and, like FoF’s B-25 and B-17, will feature nose art depicting Weeks’ wife, Teresa.

Continue reading New Videos Detail Recent Progress on Kermit Weeks’ A-26 Project

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World’s Oldest Original Flying Jet Heads to New Home in US, Oshkosh Demonstration Planned

The oldest original airworthy jet in the world has performed its final flight in the UK before moving on to a new owner in the US.

Glostor Meteor T7 “Queenie” (WA591/G-BWMF) was delivered to the RAF in 1949 and served as a training machine at a number of bases before becoming a gate guard at RAF Woodvale. In 1995 Meteor Flight began restoring the aircraft and it returned to the air at Kemble in 2011. In recent years it operated with Classic Air Force at Coventry, which closed down in 2016 following the retirement of its founder.

Last year, the Meteor was acquired by Detroit, Michigan-based World Heritage Air Museum (WHAM) and last week the machine performed its final flight in the UK, traveling from Coventry to Liverpool for shipment overseas.

WHAM states that they are on target to demonstrate the Meteor at Oshkosh this year. Additional details on this exciting development will reportedly be forthcoming.

Click below to check out a video of Queenie’s final UK flight.

Continue reading World’s Oldest Original Flying Jet Heads to New Home in US, Oshkosh Demonstration Planned

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Copper State Models Developing New Tool 1/32 Nieuport 17

Copper State Models has announced the development of a new tool Nieuport 17 model kit in 1/32 scale.

Few details have been reported about the upcoming kit, although a few renderings have been released. Click below to check out an additional example.

Continue reading Copper State Models Developing New Tool 1/32 Nieuport 17

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CAF SoCal Wing to Restore P-47N “Meat Chopper” to Airworthy Condition

The Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF SoCal) has reported that they have been selected to restore P-47N Thunderbolt N47TB.

The Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59B-powered aircraft (S/N 45-53436) was originally built by Republic Aviation in Evansville, Indiana and served with the Guatemalan Air Force in the 1950s before becoming part of the CAF collection in 1962.

In 2002, the aircraft, wearing the colors of “Meat Chopper” of the 464th FS/507th FG, suffered an engine fire which resulted in an emergency landing. Thankfully, the pilot walked away, but the aircraft itself sustained significant damage, including a collapsed undercarriage and broken wing.

To date, “tremendous” repair work has been carried out on the machine, but much remains before it is able to return to the air. It is currently in Dallas but will soon be transferred to the SoCal Wing’s facility at Camarillo Airport. As of this writing, a time frame for completion has not been reported.

Those wishing to contribute toward the project can do so here.

(via CAF SoCal Thanks, Pascal!)