Category: Videos

Posted on by

New Video Documents CA-18 Mustang’s Return to Flight With Onboard Footage

Following a brief teaser video released last month, Complete Aircraft Care has offered a new, more in-depth look at the final preparations and test flights of Mustang Flight Australia’s newly restored CA-18 Mk. 21 Mustang “Snifter.”

The Australian-built example of the P-51D (A68-110), was delivered to the RAAF in 1948 and saw little service prior to being decommissioned in 1957. After being sold, it sat for nearly four decades before becoming the focus of a seven-year restoration by Sandora Aviation in North Brisbane, during which it was converted to a two-seat configuration. In 2002 it returned to the air and is now the the centerpiece of the Caboolture Warplane Museum, providing regular flight experiences with the nonprofit Mustang Flights Australia while also supporting local war service commemorations. Continue reading New Video Documents CA-18 Mustang’s Return to Flight With Onboard Footage

Posted on by

Sopwith Triplane Performs First Flight At Military Aviation Museum [Video]

The Military Aviation Museum’s full-scale Sopwith Triplane has performed its first flight since arriving at the Virginia Beach attraction last July.

As previously reported, The Lycoming-powered machine (N543A) was built by Chad Wille in the early 1990s and was recognized as an “Outstanding Aircraft” at SUN ‘n FUN 1993. It became part of the Guntersville, Alabama-based Replica Fighter Museum owned by the late Frank Ryder before moving on to the Homer B. Wilson Vintage Museum at the Guntersville Municipal Airport.

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

Continue reading Sopwith Triplane Performs First Flight At Military Aviation Museum [Video]

Posted on by

Hurricane V7497 Returns to Life 78 Years After Being Shot Down [Video]

Yesterday, Hawker Hurricane Mk 1 V7497 (G-HRLI) performed the first test of its original Merlin III engine, nearly 78 years after it was downed by Bf 109s over Sutton in Kent, England.

The aircraft was manufactured by Hawker Aircraft, Ltd in mid-1940 and issued to 501 Squadron at the height of the Battle of Britain. It was only a few weeks old when it was shot down on September 28, 1940 – the pilot, Everett Bryan Rogers, escaping by parachute. After identification and the recovery of key components, the decision was made to restore the aircraft to airworthy condition “as a tribute to all those that stood firm during the Battle of Britain.”

The Merlin was rebuilt by Eye Tech Engineering, while the airframe is being restored by the experts at Hawker Restorations along with its sister company, AJD Engineering. The process included the use of original drawings to scratch build new wings, which will be fitted with reproduction .303 Browning machine guns complete with “all the adjustment mechanisms fitted internally as per the original aircraft.”

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

Continue reading Hurricane V7497 Returns to Life 78 Years After Being Shot Down [Video]

Posted on by

Kermit Weeks Provides New Video Update On Seversky P-35 Restoration

Kermit Weeks has shared a new video detailing the ongoing work on his exceedingly rare Seversky P-35.

As previously reported, the machine was acquired years back in a trade with the USAF Museum and is reportedly one of only three remaining examples of the single seat fighter, which was introduced in the mid-1930s and saw limited action at the beginning of WW2. It came from the Swedish Air Force and was stored in underground bunkers during the war, which resulted in significant pitting and surface corrosion. Additional damage was sustained when Hurricane Andrew struck Kermit’s by Florida-based Fantasy of Flight attraction in 1992. When complete, this will be the only airworthy example of the type in the world.

The newly released video was reportedly filmed in the summer of 2017 and documents the fuselage being detached from the center section and “put into a rotisserie fixture for easier access during the restoration process.”

Click below to check it out.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Provides New Video Update On Seversky P-35 Restoration

Posted on by

Kermit Weeks Shares Sopwith Pup Update Following First Flight Incident [Video]

Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks has released a new video detailing the first taxi run, final rigging and maiden flight of his new Sopwith Pup reproduction.

As previously reported, the Le Rhone-powered aircraft was damaged during the test when the cowling became detached during a low pass approach. Thankfully, Weeks managed to land the machine and walk away unharmed.

Click below to check out the new video.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Shares Sopwith Pup Update Following First Flight Incident [Video]

Posted on by

Watch Newly Restored B-52 “Midnight Express” Arrive at New Home [Video]

On Sunday, the newly restored B-52G Stratofortress “Midnight Express” arrived at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. The Welcome Home ceremony saw the machine’s restored fuselage transported from Paine Field in Everett to Raisbeck Aviation High School, traveling down East Marginal Way South.

As previously reported, the bomber (S/N 59-2584) had been parked outdoors at the museum’s Paine Field facility for the past 26 years. A $2.2 million effort was launched to restore the machine for use as the centerpiece of a new Vietnam Air War Memorial Park, which will pay tribute to the aircraft of the Vietnam War and honor the service members who flew and supported them.

The fuselage was the largest and final piece of the restored aircraft to arrive the museum, where it will eventually be reassembled for display in the new park, which is set to open on November 11.

Click below to check out photos and video of the event.

Continue reading Watch Newly Restored B-52 “Midnight Express” Arrive at New Home [Video]

Posted on by

Special Hobby’s Lloyd C.V Comes Together In New Stop-Motion Video

Modeler Tom Grigat’s latest stop-motion video captures the assembly of Special Hobby’s Lloyd C.V Series 46 model kit in 1/72 scale.

The original aircraft’s plywood paneling was represented with wood grain decals from Uschi van der Rosten over brown accentuated paint from Alclad II. The rigging material is rubber thread (Uschi van der Rosten) fixed with eyelets and turnbuckles made with rods and tubes from Albion Alloys.

Click below to check it out.

Continue reading Special Hobby’s Lloyd C.V Comes Together In New Stop-Motion Video

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

Posted on by

Newly Restored Sopwith Pup Damaged During Test Flight [Video]

Kermit Weeks’ Le Rhone-powered Sopwith Pup reproduction suffered damage after the cowling became detached during its first post-restoration flight.

Weeks states that he “took off fine” and “flew around for about 15 minutes with the 80 hp Le Rhone rotary engine running nicely.” He performed numerous figure eights over the field before coming in for a photo pass. He slowly lowered the nose, and just before reaching Fantasy of Flight’s runway, was given “a rather sudden, noisy, and spectacular surprise.”

The nose cowl is held on by a cable that clamps into a grooved slot on the outside of the firewall. When I slightly dropped the nose, the increased airspeed caused the not-so-properly-adjusted cowl to jump the groove and the rotating engine quickly shred it into numerous pieces, sending shrapnel everywhere, damaging the wings, and wrapping cowling around the center section and flying wires that began to flutter in the 80 mph breeze!

Weeks notes that he immediately shut the engine down and focused on landing the plane, which can be seen in the newly released video below, along with photos of the aftermath.

Continue reading Newly Restored Sopwith Pup Damaged During Test Flight [Video]

Posted on by

CA-18 Mustang “Snifter” Returns to the Air Following Overhaul [Video]

Earlier today, Complete Aircraft Care of Caboolture, Queensland reported that Mustang Flight Australia’s CA-18 Mk. 21 Mustang (A68-110) had performed its first post-overhaul flight.

As previously reported, the aircraft, an Australian-built example of the P-51D, was delivered to the RAAF in 1948 and saw little service prior to being decommissioned in 1957. After being sold, it sat for nearly four decades before becoming the focus of a seven-year restoration by Sandora Aviation in North Brisbane, during which it was converted to a two-seat configuration. In 2002 it returned to the air and is now the the centerpiece of the Caboolture Warplane Museum, providing regular flight experiences with the nonprofit Mustang Flights Australia while also supporting local war service commemorations.

The recent rebuild reportedly brought the aircraft to “better than original” condition while keeping it as historically correct as it was when it came off the production line. The exacting work even included minor changes to the livery to make it a better representation of A68-769 “Snifter,” a machine that served with 82 Squadron in Japan and 77 Squadron in Korea.

The machine’s return to flight reportedly occurred on Monday, and is briefly shown in the teaser video below.

Continue reading CA-18 Mustang “Snifter” Returns to the Air Following Overhaul [Video]

Posted on by

Newly Restored Thomas-Morse S-4B Performs Engine Test, Almost Ready For Flight [Video]

Ithaca Aviation Heritage Foundation’s newly restored Thomas-Morse S-4B recently underwent a test of its original 80 hp Le Rhone rotary engine and is said to be “almost ready for flight.”

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 has been under restoration ever since.

The Scout’s maiden flight is currently scheduled for Sept 29 at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport. To learn more about this aircraft and its restoration, check out the Spring 2018 edition of The Flying Machine journal.

Continue reading Newly Restored Thomas-Morse S-4B Performs Engine Test, Almost Ready For Flight [Video]