Category: Restorations / Reproductions

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Newly Restored XP-82 Twin Mustang Performs First Flight

Yesterday, newly restored XP-82 Twin Mustang S/N 44-83887 (seen above) returned to the air for the first time since December 14, 1949.

As previously reported, the F-82 long-range escort fighter was designed late in WW2 and became the last propeller-driven fighter produced in quantity for the U.S. Air Force. Tom Reilly of Douglas, Georgia acquired the XP-82 prototype from Walter and Margaret Soplata in 2008 and restoration to airworthy condition began that July at Douglas Municipal Airport. Additional F-82 parts were sourced from Alaska and Colorado and a rare, left-hand turning Allison V-12 was located in Mexico. Additional components, including full second cockpit controls and a second canopy (one that “is completely different from any P-51 type”) were sourced from San Francisco and Tampa, respectively.

Click below to check out the full announcement as well as a photo of the machine returning to the air.

Continue reading Newly Restored XP-82 Twin Mustang Performs First Flight

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Bristol Scout 1264’s History, Recreation Chronicled in New Book

David Bremner has detailed the recreation of his grandfather’s Bristol Scout in his new book Bristol Scout 1264: Rebuilding Granddad’s Aircraft:

In 1916, Flt Sub Lt F. D. H. Bremner RNAS flew Bristol Scouts for No. 2 Wing in the eastern Mediterranean. In 1983, his grandson David discovered three aircraft parts from Scout no. 1264 in his late grandfather’s workshop and twenty years later he, together with his friend Theo Willford, researched the possibility of rebuilding her from these three parts.

The new book reportedly interweaves the previously unpublished early life of the Scout’s designer Frank Barnwell and his brother Harold, the operational and technical history of the aircraft, Bremner’s flying career, and the challenges faced by Theo together with David and his brother Rick in recreating 1264 and getting her back in the air.

For additional information on the Bremner Scout, check out The Flying Machine #3.

Product Page: (£7.80-£25.00, or about $10-$32)

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New Partnership Seeks to Return “Sandy’s Spitfire” AA810 to the Air in 2023

The Spitfire AA810 project has announced a new partnership with Kennet Aviation to provide CAA A8-23/25 oversight for the restoration to flight of a Spitfire PR.IV (example shown above).

As previously reported, Spitfire AA810, flown by Alastair “Sandy” Gunn of 1 PRU RAF, departed RAF Wick in Scotland for a photo reconnaissance mission to Trondheim, Norway on March 5, 1942. During the flight, Gunn was forced to bail out after being shot down by two Messerschmitts of Jagdgruppe Losigkeit near Surnadal. Gunn became a POW and took part in The Great Escape in 1944, but sadly was recaptured and executed.

The remains of the Spitfire were recovered in July, with “some 70% of the aircraft” remaining intact. It is now receiving a full restoration to airworthy status and will reportedly incorporate a significant amount of original material. Plans also call for a few unsuitable elements of the aircraft to be used in various memorials. Continue reading New Partnership Seeks to Return “Sandy’s Spitfire” AA810 to the Air in 2023

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Construction Begins on Westland Whirlwind Rear Fuselage

Earlier today, UK-based Westland Whirlwind Fighter Project announced that Airframe Assemblies Ltd has begun construction on the machine’s rear fuselage.

The twin-engine single seat Whirlwind fighter-bomber was developed in the 1930s and went on to serve in WW2, where it saw use in a variety of roles including bomber escort and ground attack. It was eventually withdrawn from service in 1943 and succeeded by the Hawker Typhoon.

As previously reported, The goal of the project is to build a single example of the Westland Whirlwind Mk 1 that “is indistinguishable from an aircraft in Squadron service during the Second World War.” The final product not be airworthy, but will utilize original available plans and original materials where possible.

Work is reportedly being carried out on the original press that belonged to Westland and is now in the care of Airframe Assemblies. When complete, the machine will be the only known example of the type in the world.

Click below to check out the complete announcement.

Continue reading Construction Begins on Westland Whirlwind Rear Fuselage

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Newly Restored Mosquito PZ474 Performs First Port Engine Test [Video]

On November 8, Avspecs, Ltd. rolled out Mosquito FB VI PZ474 for its first port engine test in Ardmore, New Zealand.

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.

In 1970, PZ474 was abandoned and began a period of decline. It wouldn’t be saved until 2014, when it was acquired by Rod Lewis of Lewis Air Legends in San Antonio, Texas. Continue reading Newly Restored Mosquito PZ474 Performs First Port Engine Test [Video]

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FHCAM Unveils Ju 87 Stuka Being Restored to Airworthy Condition [Video]

On Saturday, the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum (FHCAM) in Everett, Washington unveiled a Junkers Ju 87 R-4 Stuka that is currently under restoration to flying condition.

The machine was built in 1941 and served with Lehrgeschwader 1 and Sturzkampfgeschwader 5 in northwest Russia. In April 1942 it crashed after being shot down by Soviet fighters during a mission to bomb Murmansk. Its remains were finally recovered in the 1990s and were displayed at the Deutsches Technikmuseum before being acquired by FHCAM.

Restoration began in 2013 and, when complete, it will be one of only three surviving Stukas left anywhere in the world and the only one in flying condition. The process is reportedly expected to last another 1.5 years.

Click below to check out a videos of the newly unveiled airframe.

Continue reading FHCAM Unveils Ju 87 Stuka Being Restored to Airworthy Condition [Video]

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Recently Recovered Spitfire PR.IV AA810 to be Restored to Airworthy Condition

A Spitfire recovered in July 2018 will be restored to airworthy condition, according to a recent announcement.

On March 5, 1942 Spitfire PR.IV AA810, flown by Alastair “Sandy” Gunn of 1 PRU RAF, departed RAF Wick in Scotland for a photo reconnaissance mission to Trondheim, Norway. During the flight, Gunn was forced to bail out after the Spitfire was shot down by two Messerschmitts of Jagdgruppe Losigkeit near Surnadal. Gunn became a POW and took part in The Great Escape in 1944, but sadly was recaptured and executed.

The remains of the Spitfire were recovered in July, with “some 70% of the aircraft” remaining intact. It is now receiving a full restoration to airworthy status and will reportedly incorporate a significant amount of original material. Plans also call for a few unsuitable elements of the aircraft to be used in various memorials.

The first flight is currently planned for 2023/24 and it is hoped that the machine will attend airshows “far and wide.”

(via Spitfire AA810 – Restoring Sandy’s Spitfire and Spitfire AA810 Additional Information via Aviation Safety Network Photo: RAF via Wikimedia Commons Thanks, Pascal!)

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New Releases: The Flying Machine Fall Issue and 2018 Collection

Aerodynamic Media, LLC is proud to announce the release of the fall 2018 edition of The Flying Machine: Early Aero Quarterly.

Issue #9 Contents (36 Pages): Cessna CC-1 Rises; Museum Bound (Fokker Dr.1 Project); Pilot Report: New 1912 Lohner Taube Reproduction; The Right Project at the Right Time (Part 1 – Curtiss Jenny Project); News Briefs: “Libellule” Project Update, Thomas-Morse Scout Returns to the Air, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Avro 504K Restoration; Products

In addition to our latest issue, we have also released a new 2018 collection containing issues 6-9 of the journal. Click here to view our complete selection!

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.

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Thomas-Morse Scout’s First Post-Restoration Flight Captured in New Video

The first post-restoration flight of Ithaca Aviation Heritage Foundation’s newly restored, Le Rhone-powered Thomas-Morse S-4B has been captured in a newly released video.

As previously reported, The Ithaca, NY-based organization was established in order to return an example of the WW1 advanced trainer to the city where it was originally manufactured as “a symbol of Ithaca’s aviation heritage.” Their machine was generously donated by Dr. William N. Thibault of San Diego, CA in 2010 and received a meticulous restoration prior to the September 29th flight.

Click below to check out the video.

Continue reading Thomas-Morse Scout’s First Post-Restoration Flight Captured in New Video

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Siddeley Puma-Powered DH.9 E8894 Performs Initial Engine Test [Video]

On October 19, The Historic Aircraft Collection’s newly restored de Havilland DH.9 E8894/G-CDLI performed its initial engine test at Duxford.

The aircraft is one of two DH.9s discovered in an elephant stable in India and restored by Guy Black’s Retrotec workshop in East Sussex, England. While the first example (D-5649) was rebuilt for static display at the Imperial War Museum, this second DH.9 was restored to airworthy status and is powered by the only airworthy Siddeley Puma engine in the world.

The machine is reportedly undergoing ground runs for CAA paperwork. At the moment, a time frame for flight testing has not yet been announced. Click below to check out a video of Friday’s test.

Continue reading Siddeley Puma-Powered DH.9 E8894 Performs Initial Engine Test [Video]