Category: WW2 Era (1939-45)

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Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s Avenger Expected to Return to the Air in 2018

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Ontario has applied civil registration C-GCWG to their TBM-3E Avenger in preparation for its upcoming post-restoration test flight, which is expected to take place this year.

The aircraft (S/N 53858) was constructed in 1945 by General Motors, Eastern Aircraft Division and served with the US Navy until the 1950s. Upon entering civilian service it was converted to a spray plane, operating first in California and then New Brunswick before being retired in 1992.

The Avenger was acquired by the museum in late 2009 and a team of volunteers has since invested thousands of hours to restore it to airworthy condition. Although currently without markings, a post-war RCN Avenger AS.3 livery will be applied sometime after the first flight.

An official first flight display will take place, however, dates for the first engine run up and flights are currently described as “moving targets.”

(via Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Additional Information via Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Photo: JustSomePics via Wikimedia Commons)

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Museum’s New Full-Scale Cockpit Simulator to Help Visitors Experience Flight in a Spitfire

The Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum in Kent has confirmed the installation of a functioning, full-scale Spitfire cockpit simulator that is slated to begin operation this year.

The simulator, which is situated directly beside the collection’s Spitfire Mk XVI(LF) TB752 (pictured above), will reportedly allow visitors to to try their hand at conducting a complete flight while also getting an idea of what it was like for pilots who flew the iconic warbird during WW2. Utilizing authentic controls and a large format display screen, the simulator is said to recreate engine torque effects as well as landing challenges presented by the Spitfire’s narrow undercarriage. The red-out and grey-out effects of excess G-forces are also said to be represented.

The £15,000 fundraising goal for the simulator was met with assistance from local charities, businesses and visitors and it is hoped that it will help continue the museum’s mission to engage, educate and inspire the local community while also securing funds that can be reinvested in the museum.

It is not yet known how much it will cost visitors to use the simulator, although bookings will reportedly begin on launch day, April 1, which coincides with the centenary of the RAF.

Click below to check out additional photos.

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Memphis Belle Restoration Progress Captured in New 360 Degree Images

The USAF Museum in Dayton is in the final stages of restoring the iconic B-17F “Memphis Belle” and has recently released two 360 degree images capturing the progress.

As previously reported, the machine is scheduled to make its public debut in the museum’s WW2 gallery on May 17, 2018, where it will reportedly be surrounded by interactive displays, rare archival film footage and many personal artifacts which have never before been on display at the museum.

The Memphis Belle (S/N 41-24485) became the first the first U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions and return to the U.S., where it flew across the country to promote war bonds and boost morale. Further attention was directed toward the aircraft when it became the focus of a 1944 William Wyler documentary and later a 1990 feature film.

Click below to check out the new images.

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Kermit Weeks Details Restoration of CAC Boomerang Damaged During WW2

Shortly after completing a video series detailing his trip to Vintage V-12s, Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks is back with a new installment of “Kermie Cam” that sees him in Australia checking up on his CAC Boomerang project.

The aircraft (S/N A46-174) was originally built by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation and delivered to the RAAF in January 1944, serving with 4 Squadron. In May of that year, the machine suffered a ground loop at Cape Gloucester Airfield in Papua New Guinea (pictured above) and was deemed too far gone to repair, resulting in its remains being abandoned at Nadzab.

In the 1970s, Charles Darby visited the site and discovered remnants of roughly 30 aircraft, including the center section of A46-174, which was salvaged. In the 1980s Kermit Weeks acquired the machine and placed it on display prior to beginning restoration. In 2015, the aircraft arrived at Matt Denning’s shop at Caboolture Airport, Queensland, where work is now underway.

Kermit’s visit to the site will be presented in four parts, all of which will appear here as they become available. Click below to check out the series as well as an additional photo of the aircraft following its accident.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Details Restoration of CAC Boomerang Damaged During WW2