Category: Restorations / Reproductions

Posted on by

Lysander V9312 Nearing First Post-Restoration Flight [Video]

After “bubbling away in the background for many years,” the Aircraft Restoration Company of Duxford is nearing the completion and first post-restoration flight of Westland Lysander V9312.

The aircraft was originally built in 1940 and operated with 612, 225 and 4 Squadrons before being converted into a target tug and delivered to Canada in 1942, where it saw service with the Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Following its final flight in 1944, the machine was acquired by an owner in Saskatchewan and placed in storage. It was later acquired by Kermit Weeks before being passed on to the Aircraft Restoration Company in 2003.

Following a “long, meticulous restoration” V9312’s nine-cylinder Bristol Mercury engine performed its first test on August 8. The machine is now said to be “gathering pace and character with every passing moment” as its return to flight approaches.

Click below to check out a video of the recent engine test.

Continue reading Lysander V9312 Nearing First Post-Restoration Flight [Video]

Posted on by

“The Flying Machine: Early Aero Quarterly” Summer 2018 Edition Now Available!

Aerodynamic Media, LLC is proud to announce the release of the eighth issue of The Flying Machine: Early Aero Quarterly.

Issue #8 Contents:

36 Pages – Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre’s B.E.2a Reproduction; Jerry May’s Fokker Dr.1 Project; Avro Type F Replica Moves to Woodford; NELSAM’s Morane-Saulnier N Project; News Briefs: Newly Restored de Havilland DH.4 Displayed at AirVenture 2018, Tom Kozura’s Sopwith Camel Project, Cardboard Curtiss Jenny; 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!

Join us as we pay tribute to early aircraft and the visionaries, geniuses and daredevils who conquered the air while producing some of the most fascinating, ingenious and beautiful machines in aviation’s short history.

Click here to purchase!

Posted on by

C-53 “Beach City Baby” Performs First Taxi Test in 20 Years

Yesterday, C-53 Skytrooper “Beach City Baby” performed a taxi test under its own power for the first time in 20 years.

As previously reported, the aircraft (S/N 41-20095) was constructed by Douglas and was on the factory floor when the Pearl Harbor attack occurred in December 1941. It was delivered to the USAAC in January 1942 and was soon flown to Africa to participate in Operation Torch. The machine also saw service transporting troops and VIPs during the war and completed its service with FEA, Cairo Division.

Following civilian service with Danish Airlines/SAS and a stint as “Buckeye One,” the official state aircraft for the governor of Ohio, the Skytrooper was retired and flown to the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio where it remained until 1990, when it was acquired by Ohio University of Athens and stripped of its engines. Eventually Ken Joseph stepped in and returned it to an airworthy state, obtaining a ferry permit and flying it to Beach City, Ohio in 1992. Continue reading C-53 “Beach City Baby” Performs First Taxi Test in 20 Years

Posted on by

Pacific Aviation Museum’s Partially Restored B5N “Kate” Moves to New Hangar for Exhibit [Video]

After adding an extremely rare Nakajima B5N “Kate” to its collection of WW2 aircraft back in 2016, The Pacific Aviation Museum in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii has reported that the machine has been moved to its new home in Hangar 37 as part of a new exhibit.

As previously reported, the B5N was considered the most effective aircraft operating with the Imperial Japanese Navy, and was credited with causing the bulk of the damage sustained by battleships during the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.

The museum’s restoration shop, located in historic Hangar 79, had begun restoring the aircraft for static display, although a final livery has not yet been selected. The process is reportedly complete for now, and details about the new exhibit are said to be forthcoming.

Click below to check out a video of the recent move.

Continue reading Pacific Aviation Museum’s Partially Restored B5N “Kate” Moves to New Hangar for Exhibit [Video]

Posted on by

Curtiss Jenny Restoration Nears Completion, Events Planned

The restoration of Friends of Jenny’s Curtiss JN-4 reproduction 38262 is nearing completion and the machine is reportedly being readied for its “coming out” party in College Park, Maryland on August 9.

This particular Jenny was built by a team of workers over a 16-month period beginning in June 2012. Constructed from original drawings, it employs a GMC V8 engine rather than an OX5 or Hisso and had appeared at numerous events until performing an emergency landing in August 2017.

The aircraft is currently scheduled to participate in the Centennial Air Mail festivities at College Park Aviation Museum on August 10-11. Friends of Jenny’s event page notes that the machine will “reenact the original air mail route as it was first developed by the U.S. Postal Service between Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City,” with plans to depart College Park for Republic Field, NYC on August 12. Festivities will reportedly take place along the way including “N. Philadelphia and over flight of former Bustleton Field” followed by “New York aviation activities including Cradle of Aviation Museum” on August 13 and 14.

Click below to check out recent photos of the restoration progress.

Continue reading Curtiss Jenny Restoration Nears Completion, Events Planned

Posted on by

Pima Air & Space Museum’s Newly Restored P-40E Goes on Display

Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona has reported that their newly restored P-40E has been placed on display.

The aircraft, which arrived at the museum last September, is reportedly made up from parts of several wrecks recovered from New Guinea, although the museum is identifying it as S/N 41-25163 “Arizona” flown by Lt. Sidney Woods of the 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group.

The machine has reportedly been moved to its permanent home in the museum’s new Hangar 5 facility. Click below to check out photos of process.

Continue reading Pima Air & Space Museum’s Newly Restored P-40E Goes on Display

Posted on by

Nearing Completion, P-39 Project Makes First Outing Into Sunshine Since WW2

Yesterday, Pioneer Aero, Ltd. of Ardmore, New Zealand reported the first outing of their P-39 project into the sunshine “wings on, wheels down” since WW2.

The project (42-20341) is reportedly 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.

Click below to check out images of the aircraft in its current state.

Continue reading Nearing Completion, P-39 Project Makes First Outing Into Sunshine Since WW2

Posted on by

Lancaster FM104 to Relocate to British Columbia, Airworthy Restoration to Follow

The British Columbia Aviation Museum in North Saanich, Canada has announced the acquisition of Avro Lancaster FM104 from the city of Toronto.

The bomber was originally built by Victory Aircraft of Malton, Ontario in 1944 and installed along Toronto’s waterfront following its retirement from the RCAF in 1964. Now in need of extensive restoration, the machine has spent recent years in storage at Edenvale Aerodrome west of Barrie while its future became the focus of debate.

The Lancaster will be relocated to the museum, located near Victoria International Airport, over the next few months. Restoration will reportedly commence immediately with the goal of returning the machine to airworthy condition in partnership with the a team of vintage aircraft restorers at Victoria Air Maintenance.

BC Aviation Museum President John Lewis states: “I am pleased that many local aircraft manufacturing specialists and vintage aircraft enthusiasts have pledged their time and knowledge to volunteer on this project. Many people at the BC Aviation Museum and the Victoria aviation community have worked hard to make today’s announcement possible. We are now looking forward to the day when Lancaster FM104 goes on display at our museum.”

(via British Columbia Aviation Museum Photo: airforcefe via Wikimedia Commons)

Posted on by

Mosquito Pathfinder Trust to Return Wooden Wonder to UK Skies by 2020

The Mosquito Pathfinder Trust has announced “a commercial understanding with the Aircraft Restoration Company (ARC)” to “provide the suite of Engineering and Design Services” for a de Havilland Mosquito airframe that will be brought to airworthy condition before being transferred to the UK.

The machine in question has been under construction by Glyn Powell and is currently said to be 50% complete. The project is based on the remains of NZ2308, which was originally constructed at Bankstown near Sydney as an early model FB.40. It was initially allocated RAAF serial A52-20 before being converted to a T.43 dual control trainer and given the serial A52-1054. In 1947, the machine was acquired by the Royal New Zealand Air Force with less than 20 hrs of service time. Now identified as NZ2308, the Mosquito entered service with 75 Squadron at Ohakea and performed “numerous exercises and aerial demonstrations all over New Zealand.”

The aircraft was declared surplus in 1955 and sold to a private owner. Over the following years it languished outdoors until it was recovered by Powell, who spent the next 20 years working on the project, which included the scratch-built construction of an entirely new wooden airframe. Continue reading Mosquito Pathfinder Trust to Return Wooden Wonder to UK Skies by 2020

Posted on by

Full-Scale Wooden Spitfire Reproduction 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.

A wooden Spitfire project has hit the market.

The unfinished reproduction is described as incorporating the “same design as the Mosquito with ply/balsawood/ply skins.” It was reportedly “built to fly for a Merlin engine to be fitted,” although approval for the build could not be obtained.

The project is touted as “a great static or taxing full size replica” and can reportedly be supplied with “fibreglass skins, FG wings, and all other parts to finish at extra cost.” It is based in Newquay, UK and is currently available for bidding here.

Please Note: This post contains an eBay affiliate link. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.