Category: Videos

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Aeroplane Heaven Releases First Trailer For Upcoming FSX, P3D Avro Lancaster [Video]

Flight simulation developer Aeroplane Heaven has released the first trailer for their upcoming Avro Lancaster B Mk 1 for FSX, FSX Steam and P3D V3 and V4.

As previously reported, the new Lancaster is touted as incorporating their latest tech and techniques to “bring you what will be your chance to experience just what it was like to fly and crew this legendary machine in the skies of the latest simulators.” Its exterior will reportedly boast “a massive amount of authentic detail” along with many unique animations and a highly detailed virtual cockpit that will include the front turret and bomber’s compartment, engineer and nav station and radio operator’s positions.

The video shows a beta test flight in the aircraft, including startup procedures, gun tests, and a bombing run, while showcasing the model’s many features and exquisite attention to detail. Click below to check it out.

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Yak-3 Suffers Significant Damage After Colliding With Cherry Picker at Wanaka Airshow [Video]

While landing at New Zealand’s Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow on Saturday, Yak-3 ZK-YYY collided with a cherry picker that was parked along the grass runway, causing significant damage to the airframe.

The machine had just completed a performance with a second Yak-3 when the incident occurred, which resulted in the separation of the starboard wing. The cherry picker, which was reportedly intended for use in a later event, was unmanned at the time, and thankfully the Yak’s pilot/owner, Arthur Dovey, emerged from the aircraft unharmed.

The machine was previously sent to Russia and converted from a Yak-11 to a Yak-3. It is said to be “very close” to the type’s original specifications, although the scarcity of the original Klimov V12 powerplant resulted in the use of an Allison V1710.

An evaluation of the aircraft will be needed to determine the full extent of the damage. An inquiry will also reportedly be launched the determine why the cherry picker had been positioned in the area.

Click below to watch video of the incident.

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New Videos Detail Recent Progress on Kermit Weeks’ A-26 Project

Fantasy of Flight (FoF) owner Kermit Weeks has released a new two-part series detailing the ongoing work on his Douglas A-26.

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

The new videos, seen below, were filmed in January, three months after his last Kermie Cam series on the machine. Since then, the team has (among other things) returned the landing gear, wing flaps and flight controls to fully functioning condition and reworked wiring in the cockpit.

The machine will apparently be painted in olive drab and, like FoF’s B-25 and B-17, will feature nose art depicting Weeks’ wife, Teresa.

Continue reading New Videos Detail Recent Progress on Kermit Weeks’ A-26 Project

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World’s Oldest Original Flying Jet Heads to New Home in US, Oshkosh Demonstration Planned

The oldest original airworthy jet in the world has performed its final flight in the UK before moving on to a new owner in the US.

Glostor Meteor T7 “Queenie” (WA591/G-BWMF) was delivered to the RAF in 1949 and served as a training machine at a number of bases before becoming a gate guard at RAF Woodvale. In 1995 Meteor Flight began restoring the aircraft and it returned to the air at Kemble in 2011. In recent years it operated with Classic Air Force at Coventry, which closed down in 2016 following the retirement of its founder.

Last year, the Meteor was acquired by Detroit, Michigan-based World Heritage Air Museum (WHAM) and last week the machine performed its final flight in the UK, traveling from Coventry to Liverpool for shipment overseas.

WHAM states that they are on target to demonstrate the Meteor at Oshkosh this year. Additional details on this exciting development will reportedly be forthcoming.

Click below to check out a video of Queenie’s final UK flight.

Continue reading World’s Oldest Original Flying Jet Heads to New Home in US, Oshkosh Demonstration Planned

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Owls Head’s New Sopwith Pup Performs Engine Test [Video]

The Owls Head Transportation Museum in Owls Head, Maine has performed the first engine test on their newly acquired Sopwith Pup reproduction.

The aircraft was assembled by Brian Coughlin and features a steel tube fuselage constructed by Dana Narkunas and restored wing panels originally built by noted WW1 aircraft builder Carl Swanson. Powered by an original Le Rhone rotary engine, the machine made its debut at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome last year.

The recent acquisition was made in a frame-for-frame trade for the museum’s previous Sopwith Pup, a reproduction built by Dick King in the 1960s which was a regular performer at Old Rhinebeck throughout the 1970s. Coughlin is now in the process of restoring this machine (see The Flying Machine #6 for additional details).

Owls Head retained the Le Rhone engine from the King Pup and installed it in this new example. It is expected to return to the air this year.

Click below to check out a video of the test.

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Shuttleworth’s Spitfire Mk VC AR501 Performs First Post-Restoration Flight [Video]

The Shuttleworth Collection’s Spitfire Mk VC (AR501) performed its first post-restoration flight earlier today with pilot Stu Goldspink at the controls.

As previously reported, the aircraft was originally built by Westland Aircraft at Yeovil and was issued to No. 310 (Czech) Squadron in 1942, where it escorted USAAF B-17 and B-24 bombers. Later, it would serve with RAF’s Central Gunnery School before finding use as an instructional airframe at Loughborough College. AR501 was acquired by the Shuttleworth Collection in 1961 and restored to airworthy condition for the 1968 film The Battle of Britain. It entered the shop once again in 1973 for restoration to its authentic wartime condition, eventually returning to flight in in 1975. The most recent work was initially expected to last only 18 months, but eventually expanded into an extensive overhaul that has seen the aircraft completely dismantled and rebuilt. The result is said to be “95% original.”

Today’s test was described as “very successful.” The machine is scheduled to debut at Shuttleworth’s season premier airshow on May 6.

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

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Watch B-17F “Memphis Belle” Take its Place at the USAF Museum [Video]

Last week a private event was held to transport the newly restored B-17F “Memphis Belle” from the USAF Museum’s restoration hangar to its World War II. In the process, the legendary bomber was positioned nose-to-nose with B-17G “Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby,” which will be moving on to a new home.

As previously reported, the Memphis Belle (S/N 41-24485) became the first U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions and return to the U.S., where it flew across the country to promote war bonds and boost morale. The bomber will be officially unveiled at the museum on May 17th during an event that will reportedly include visiting B-17s and over 100 WW2 reenactors.

Shoo, Shoo, Shoo Baby will be moved to the museum’s restoration area and placed in storage until it is transferred to the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum at a date to be determined by the Smithsonian.

Click below to check out video of the event.

Continue reading Watch B-17F “Memphis Belle” Take its Place at the USAF Museum [Video]

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Kermit Weeks Provides Update on New Fokker D.VII [Video]

After being on the back burner for some time, Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks has provided an update on the current status of his recently completed Fokker D.VII.

The reproduction arrived at the museum in 2015 and had since undergone engine and taxi tests. However, there were a few concerns that needed to be sorted out, one of which was said to be an elevator cable that “looked a bit suspicious.” As a result, the strength of the cable was tested, a process that was captured in the video below.

The aircraft is fitted with an original, rebuilt Morell airspeed indicator, as well as an original Mercedes engine which was recently overhauled by The Vintage Aviator, Ltd. (TVAL) in New Zealand. The colors represent the machine flown by Ernst Udet of Jasta 4.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Provides Update on New Fokker D.VII [Video]

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New Video Shows How USAF Museum is Making Room For “Memphis Belle” Display

The USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio is currently in the final stages of restoring the iconic B-17F “Memphis Belle,” which became the U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions and return to the U.S.

The machine is scheduled to debut in the museum’s WW2 gallery on May 17th, and in preparation for the event, restoration crews have been working to make room. Recent work included the delicate task of removing the collection’s Fieseler Fi-156C-1 Storch and Culver PQ-14B from the gallery’s ceiling, a process that was captured in the newly released video seen below.

The B-17 currently on display at the USAF Museum, “Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby”, will be moved out of the facility and eventually transferred to the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. When complete, the Memphis Belle exhibit will reportedly include interactive displays, rare archival film footage and many personal artifacts which have never before been on display at the museum.

Continue reading New Video Shows How USAF Museum is Making Room For “Memphis Belle” Display

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F4U-7 Corsair Performs First Engine, Taxi Tests in New AU-1 Livery [Video]

Flying Colors Aviation of Benton Harbor, Michigan has reported the first run up and taxi tests for an F4U-7 Corsair which they recently refinished.

The aircraft appears to be B/N 133714, which was once on display at the USMC Museum in Quantico and flew in the TV series Baa Baa Black Sheep. It now wears the colors of AU-1 B/N 129378 (pictured above) flown by Marine Corps pilot Lt. Col. John F. “Jack” Bolt, who served in WW2 and the Korean War and earned ace status in both conflicts.

The aircraft will reportedly by departing soon, although an exact date and time had not been announced at the time of this writing. Click below to check out a photo of the repainted machine and a video of the recent engine test.

Continue reading F4U-7 Corsair Performs First Engine, Taxi Tests in New AU-1 Livery [Video]