Category: WW2 Era (1939-45)

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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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Kermit Weeks Shares Part 2 of His VIP Short Sunderland Tour [Video]

Kermit Weeks has shared part 2 of a “full VIP” tour of his Short Sunderland flying boat.

As reported with part 1 of the series, this particular machine was acquired by Weeks in 1993 from Edward Hulton. After five months of work in England he flew the machine across the Atlantic, directly to the Oshkosh Fly-In in Wisconsin with stops in Ireland, Iceland, and Canada. It remained at Oshkosh until 1994, when Fantasy of Flight’s seaplane ramp was completed. Two years later, the machine flew to Sarasota and participated in the Olympic torch relay to Atlanta.

The newly released second installment focuses on the flight deck and cockpit while also offering some “history, fun stories and plenty of information.” Click below to check it out.

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Airfix Releases New Mustang Mk IV Model Kit

Airfix has released a new P-51K / Mustang Mk. IV model kit in 1/48 scale.

The kit is reportedly based on the new tool P-51D released in 2017, but represents the British Mk IV with liveries representing KM272 “Dooleybird” of 19 Squadron and KH676 of 3 Squadron RAAF.

Buy on eBay on eBay ($30.80 via AeroScale Additional Information via Scalemates)

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Avro Anson Project 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 Avro Anson Mk 19 project is available for sale. The listing states that the ex-RAF machine (VM351) includes engines and propellers but “needs restoration”.

The project is located in Texas and offers are currently being accepted. Click here to check out the complete listing.

(Image: Public Domain via Wikipedia)

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New Video Details Progress on Airworthy Restoration of Lancaster FM104

A new video has been released providing a report on the restoration of Avro Lancaster FM104 at the British Columbia Aviation Museum in Canada.

As previously reported, the bomber was originally built by Victory Aircraft of Malton, Ontario in 1944 and was installed along Toronto’s waterfront following its retirement from the RCAF in 1964. In 1999, it was moved to a museum in Downsview Park, where a restoration effort began. However, it was relocated once again when the museum closed in 2011. The machine had spent recent years in storage at Edenvale Aerodrome west of Barrie while its future became a topic of debate.

In July 2018 the British Columbia Aviation Museum became the successful bidder and, now having formally taken possession of the machine from the city of Toronto, the process of restoration to airworthy condition is underway.

The newly released video, narrated by BCAM President John Lewis, details work that has been done since the aircraft was moved into their Restoration Hangar on Oct 16, 2018. Click below to check it out.

Continue reading New Video Details Progress on Airworthy Restoration of Lancaster FM104