Category: WW2 Era (1939-45)

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Newly Restored P-39Q Performs First Engine Test in NZ [Video]

Pioneer Aero of Ardmore, New Zealand has announced that their P-39Q Airacobra project performed its first successful engine test earlier today.

As previously reported, the aircraft (42-20341) is based largely on an ex-Soviet Air Force P-39Q which was recovered around 1995, although it is also said to feature parts obtained from P-39Q 42-20341. The machine is reportedly owned by Jerry Yagen / Military Aviation Museum and is being restored to airworthy condition as USAAC 220341.

The company reports that high powers will be conducted later in the week “and who knows what after that.”

Click below to check out a video of today’s test.

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RAAF Museum Mustang Performs Initial Ground Runs [Video]

The RAAF Museum’s CA-18 Mustang Mk 23 is reportedly one step closer to returning to the air with initial ground runs of its newly installed Packard Merlin engine.

This particular aircraft, A68-170 (now painted as A68-750), was transferred from No 7 Stores Depot to the RAAF Museum for display in 1970. It underwent restoration in the mid-1970s and was known as “Duffy’s Delight.” Another restoration followed in 1989 which saw every component of the aircraft disassembled and refurbished. The project lasted 10 years, which the Mustang returning to the air in February 1999.

In recent years, the Merlin engine was removed and sent to the UK for overhaul, and was returned to the airframe in late 2018. Click below to check out a video of the test conducted earlier today.

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Brickmania Releases 1/35 Ju87 G-2 Stuka LEGO Model Kit

Brickmania has released a new, limited edition 1/35 Ju87 G-2 Stuka LEGO model kit.

The offering (2221) represents the “tank buster” variant of the aircraft and includes 560 “new-condition” LEGO and BrickArms elements, a high-quality sticker sheet, and two German pilot minifigures.

The model is described as having been updated to include “key details seen on the real aircraft including longer wings, movable flaps, newly-designed canopy, and detailed cockpit.” Additional features reportedly include the type’s “less chunky” wheel covers, nose spiral, printed elements, engine exhaust pipes and two BrickArms short air-cooled barrels.

Click below to check out the product page and a video overview of the new kit.

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“Excellent Condition” Loehle 5151 Mustang 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.

An “excellent condition” Loehle 5151 Mustang has hit the market. The listing states (in part):

Rotax 582 Electric Start, 162 total hours, airspeed, ALT, compass, tach, fuel gauge, water temp., dual EGT, Electric Trim, BRS, VAL Com, 760 Radio, 3 Blade GSC Prop, Heel Brakes, Retracts, Fuselage and Wings all Sitka Spruce. Always hangered in a climate controlled building. 12 1/2 gallon tank. Excellent Condition!

The aircraft is mostly made of Sitka spruce & aircraft plywood and covered with Poly-Fiber Finish.

The aircraft is located in McKean, Pennsylvania and is currently available for bidding. Click here to check out the complete listing on eBay.

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Kermit Weeks Shares New Video Update On A-26 Project

Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks has posted a new video update on his A-26 project, which is currently underway in Chino, California.

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

Click below to check out the video.

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“Always” PBY-5A Catalina Offered With Reduced Price

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 with a new, reduced price.

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.” It reportedly includes original logs since its delivery to the military in 1943.

Click below to check out a video walk-around.

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EAA Shines Spotlight on World’s Only Flying B-26K/A-26A [Video]

The EAA is shining the spotlight on the world’s only flying example of Douglas B-26K/A-26A Counter-Invader in a newly released video.

Restoration of the machine (S/N 64-17679 / 44-34198) began in 2010 and required 65 volunteers and nearly a million dollars. Dubbed “Special Kay,” it returned to flight on July 8, 2017 wearing a mid-60s USAF livery and is said to be the pride of the Texas-based Vintage Flying Museum.

The new video was filmed at Oshkosh 2018, where Special Kay was awarded Best Bomber and the Silver Wrench Award. Click below to check it out.

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Restored 1944 Culver PQ-14B Cadet 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.

A Culver PQ-14B Cadet (type shown above) has hit the market.

The machine, N75380 (S/N N-427), reportedly received restoration to 0 time condition which was completed in 2012. The airframe has 181 TTSN and 31 hrs since restoration. The Franklin 0-300-11 engine has 181 hrs SMOH by Aircraft Engine Overhaul Company.

The aircraft, which is painted as USAAC drone, is currently being offered for $50,000. Click here to check out the complete listing.

(Photo: NASA Langley [Public Domain], via Wikimedia Commons)

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Airfix Announces Upcoming B-25B Mitchell Model Kit

Airfix has announced the upcoming release of a new B-25B Mitchell model kit in 1/72 scale.

The kit (A06020) is reportedly based on the new tool B-25C/D kit released last year, but will include “new decals and parts” for the B-25B, including “Hari Kari-er” which was one of the Doolittle raiders.

The kit is currently slated for release in August. Click below to check out additional images.

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Newly Restored Mosquito PZ474 Featured in New Video

Lewis Air Legends and Avspecs, Ltd. have shared a new feature on newly restored Mosquito FB VI PZ474 aired by Television New Zealand’s (TVNZ) Seven Sharp.

As previously reported, the machine was originally constructed at Hatfield in 1945 and used for RAF training before moving on to New Zealand in 1948, where it was overhauled and delivered to 75 Squadron as NZ2384. In the early 1950s, the aircraft was acquired by new owners and registered as ZK-BCV before being transferred to the United States. There, the Mosquito was given civil registration N9909F and, from around 1955-66, was owned by the Insurance Finance Corp. of Studio City, CA. During this time it was believed that the machine was used by the CIA for intelligence gathering in South America.

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