Category: WW1 Era (1914-18)

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Sopwith Camel Goes on Display at Pima Air & Space Museum

This week Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona placed their new Sopwith Camel on display.

The reproduction was originally constructed in Europe by John Shaw utilizing original drawings. A flight test was conducted in September 2017 which saw the machine reach roughly 150 ft before its original Clerget rotary engine “coughed and stopped,” resulting in a “heavy landing.” Thankfully Shaw escaped the incident, but the Camel suffered significant damage.

It was acquired by Pima in 2018 and restored for static display wearing the colors of a
Camel flown by Lt. Alfred John Haines of 45 Squadron in late 1918. It is again fitted with an original Clerget from the Pima collection.

For additional details on this aircraft, check out issues 1, 5 and 28 of The Flying Machine journal. For details on John Shaw’s second Sopwith Camel, check out issues 14 and 23.

Click below to view additional images.

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7/8 Circa Reproductions Nieuport 17 For Sale

A 7/8 scale Nieuport 17 has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

For sale, a Circa Reproductions C1 Nieuport 17, Canadian registration C-IRPV. 55 hours TT engine and airframe. Engine is a 65 HP VW built to Great Plains plans with vertex mag and rotec fuel injection (currently being installed). Full builders logs available on request.

The aircraft is located at Carp Airport (CYRP) near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and is currently available for bidding. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.

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New Two Volume Biography of Max Immelmann Dispels Myths, Provides New Insights

Recently released by Aeronaut Books and author Dr. Hannes Täger is the two volume set Immelmann – Life and Death of an Aviation Legend: Biography of Fighter Pilot Oberleutnant Max Immelmann (1890-1916), which tells the true story of Max Immelmann, one of the first fighter pilots and creator of air combat tactics, who was a close comrade and rival of Oswald Boelcke.

This comprehensive biography – richly illustrated with nearly 700 images – dispels old misconceptions and myths. It also provides remarkable new insights into this legendary Saxon aviator, his private and romantic life, his air combats, his death, and his legacy.

The volumes are available in Hardcover, paperback and Kindle editions. Volume 1 has 279 pages, Volume 2 has 323 pages.

Product Page (Volume 1)
Product Page (Volume 2)

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Story of USAS 2nd Pursuit Group in WW1 Told for the First Time

New from Aeronaut Books and author Jon Guttman is 2nd Pursuit Group, USAS

Entering combat on the Western Front in the summer of 1918 to expand the United States Army Air Service, the 2nd Pursuit Group was composed of the 13th, 22nd, 49th, and 139th Aero Squadrons. Although the 103rd Aero Squadron was temporarily assigned, it was eventually traded for the 49th Aero so it could serve as the nucleus for the 3rd Pursuit Group. Although not as famous of the 1st “Hat-in-the.Ring” Group or the “Indian Head” 3rd Group, the 2nd made its own significant contribution to Allied victory in the air. Its full story is told here for the first time with 288 photos and color profiles of 41 aircraft.

The book is available in paperback format and spans 184 pages.

Product Page

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Turkish Military Aircraft 1912-23 Detailed With Exclusive Photos, Unique Data

Coming soon from Helion & Company and authors Ole Nikolajsen and Mehmet Haluk Sevel is The History of Turkish Military Aircraft Volume 1: From Inception to the War of Independence 1912-1923:

The History of Turkish Military Aircraft book-series charts the development of Turkish military aviation from its fragile first steps on the eve of the First World War to its current strength as one of the largest air forces in Europe. Richly illustrated with exclusive photographs and illustrations, the series provides a comprehensive account of the development of the Turkish Air Force through the aircraft it flew, including unique data on each individual machine in Turkish service.

Volume 1 opens the series with the foundation of military aviation in Turkey in the context of the Ottoman Empire’s waning years, its maturation during the First World War and subsequent near destruction after the Armistice, followed by its rebirth during the Turkish War of Independence (1919–1923). It details all 62 aircraft types flown by the Ottoman and then Turkish Air Force during this period, including thorough service histories and 49 accompanying colour profiles. This wide variety encompassed French, British, German, and Russian designs, procured and maintained as often through subterfuge and guile as by conventional means: from Nieuport 17 fighters salvaged from a stranded steamer to DFW C.V reconnaissance aircraft restored using egg white and potato starch for service in the War of Independence.

The product of decades of combined research by expert authors Ole Nikolajsen and Mehmet Halûk Sevel and generously illustrated with photography from the archives of the Turkish Air Force’s History Branch, Turkish Military Aircraft, Volume 1 will appeal to anyone interested in Turkey’s aviation heritage and the pioneer era of flight.

The 144 page paperback book is currently available for pre-order with release set for November 15.

Product Page

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LukGraph Announces Upcoming Hansa-Brandenburg CC in Multiple Scales, Variants

LukGraph has announced the upcoming release of a Hansa-Brandenburg CC in both 1/32 and 1/48 scales.

The Hansa-Brandenburg CC was a single-seat fighter flying boat developed by the Austro-Hungarian aircraft manufacturer Hansa-Brandenburg during World War I. Designed for coastal defense and maritime patrol duties, it became one of the most successful seaplane fighters operated by the Austro-Hungarian Navy.

The new offerings will represent both early and late production versions: the early version equipped with a single machine gun / original engine cooling arrangement and the late variant fitted with two machine guns mounted on the fuselage.

As of this writing additional details have yet to be announced, although several renderings have been released, additional examples of which can be seen below.

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Build Log: Lee’s Hobbies 13″ Balsa Albatros D.II (Video)

The latest build log on our YouTube channel DX Modelworks focuses on this 13″ balsa Albatros D.II

The model was built using Lee’s Hobbies plans and represents an early production variant wearing the colors of the machine flown by Lt. Robert Dycke of Jasta 16b. The new video concisely details the project with photo documentation and tips that will likely be helpful to anyone who would like to build the model themselves. A link to the plans and associated 3D print files is also provided in the video description.

Click below to check it out. If you’re pleased with what you see, please consider browsing the channel’s other build logs covering aircraft from the dawn of flight through the golden age. Likes, shares and subscribes are also greatly appreciated!

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LukGraph Reveals Authentic, Vibrant Italian Liveries for Upcoming Ansaldo SVA-5

LukGraph has announced the six Italian liveries that will be included with their associated, upcoming Ansaldo SVA-5 kit.

As previously reported, the kit will be released in two separate editions first focusing on Italian markings from the Great War period and the second representing an export version of the SVA-5, showcasing aircraft in Polish, American, Spanish, and Russian service. Premium versions will also be offered featuring decals with realistic fabric and wood effects. It will also be offered in both 1/48 and 1/32 scales.

The liveries are described as “authentic and vibrant,” some of which will be familiar to WW1 aircraft enthusiasts. Click below to check them out.

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First Look: MDesign’s 1/32 Roland D.III Test Build

Following the release of their Roland D.II kit MDesign has released the first test build images of their upcoming Roland D.III in 1/32 scale.

The Roland D.III was a German single-seat fighter of World War I, developed as an improvement over earlier Roland fighters with a revised wing-and-fuselage arrangement meant to give the pilot better forward visibility, though it still had handling and visibility limitations. It was a sturdy but only modestly successful design, built in limited numbers and overshadowed by more capable contemporary German fighters, and it typically carried two synchronized machine guns with performance around 175 km/h and an Argus As.III or Mercedes D.III engine.

The test build checked alignment, fit and overall geometry, and everything came out looking clean. Additional details, including a release date, have not yet been announced. Click below to check out additional images.

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Surprise Release: The Flying Machine #28 Now Available!

Now available from our online store is the 28th installmanet of The Flying Machine early aero journal. This newly released special spans 52 pages and includes the following content:

The Busy World — Aeronauts Soar on Silken Wings (Excerpt: Flight Not Improbable. Octave Chanute and the Worldwide Race Toward Flight); Honoring a World War I Hero by Restoring a Piece of Our Aviation History (Original DH.4 Restoration); Finishing Art Scarborough’s S.E.5a; News Briefs: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Begins Blériot XI Restoration, Pima Air & Space Museum Sopwith Camel Nears Completion, Kip Aero Sopwith Pup; Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Albatros D.Va Restoration Update; DX Modelworks Balsa Albatros D.II Model; 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.

Click here to check out our full selection of issues.