Category: Videos

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Kermit Weeks Shares March 2019 Messerschmitt Bf 108 Update [Video]

Following up on a two-part series released last month, Kermit Weeks has posted a new video update on the restoration of his 1936 Messerschmitt Bf 108.

The update serves as an installment of Fantasy of Flight’s Mechanic’s Corner and features restoration specialist Paul Stecewycz detailing recent work to the wings, which have been stripped and put into fixtures for skin removal, as well as the control surfaces, cockpit glass, and cockpit instruments.

Click below to check it out.

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Kermit Weeks Films Visit With Possible New Acquisition: Polikarpov I-16

Kermit Weeks has posted a new video detailing his recent trip to the old CAF Museum in Midland, Texas to examine an available Polikarpov I-16 that he was considering purchasing.

The I-16 was the last of Nikolai Polikarpov’s fighter designs to enter production. An aircraft of revolutionary design, the I-16 was the first monoplane fighter with an enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear to enter front line service anywhere in the world. It’s operational status introduced a new standard to fighter design.

According to the original listing, the aircraft (N30425 / S/N 2421645) was rebuilt in Russia by the original factory for the New Zealand-based Alpine Fighter Collection.

Click below to check out the new video and learn if Kermit will be adding the aircraft to his collection.

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Watch Restored B-52 “Midnight Express” Move to Permanent Home [Video]

Over a four hour period yesterday, the Museum of Flight in Seattle relocated their newly restored B-52 “Midnight Express” to its new, permanent home on the west side of the Museum’s Aviation Pavilion.

As previously reported, the bomber (S/N 59-2584) had been parked outdoors at the museum’s Paine Field facility for 26 years before a $2.2 million restoration effort was launched. The machine will now serve as the centerpiece of a new Vietnam Air War Memorial Park, which is slated to open on May 25, 2019 and will pay tribute to the aircraft of the Vietnam War and honor the service members who flew and supported them.

Click below to check out video of yesterday’s move.

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Kermit Weeks Answers Popular Viewer Questions in New Video Series

Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks has launched a new (hopefully monthly) video series dubbed “Kermie Q’s” which sets out to answer popular questions asked by viewers of his YouTube channel.

The newly released first episode focuses heavily on his his P-51C, which has proven to be his most viewed video series, although a number of additional topics are also covered. Click below to check it out.

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Watch BBMF’s Spitfire PM631 Perform Its First Flight Since 2014 [Video]

Yesterday, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s (BBMF) Spitfire Mk XIX PM631 returned to the air for the first time sine 2014.

The aircraft was originally built by Vickers-Armstrong in 1945 but did not see action in WW2. In 1951 it was assigned to Meteorological Research Flight and conducted temperature and humidity flights until 1957, when it became part of BBMF. It went on to fly in the 1968 film Battle of Britain and currently wears the colors of 541 Squadron, which performed photo reconnaissance over Europe from early 1944 to the end of the war. The machine was grounded in 2014 and fitted with an overhauled Griffon engine.

Yesterday’s flight was conducted by Sqn Ldr Mark Discombe, who described the machine’s handling as “sweet.” Click below to check out a video of the flight.

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Newly Restored P-39F Airacobra Performs Maiden Flight in NZ [Video]

On February 26, Jerry Yagen’s P-39F Airacobra performed its first post restoration flight from Ardmore Airfield in Auckland, New Zealand with NZ Warbirds Association President Frank Parker at the controls.

As previously reported, the aircraft is 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 (ZK-COB) was restored to airworthy condition by Pioneer Aero Ltd and represents USAAC 220341.

Click below to check out videos of the test.

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Kermit Weeks Shares Updated, Lengthened Video of Curtiss Wright CW-19R Maiden Flight

Kermit Weeks has posted an “updated and lengthened” video showing the arrival and first flight of his Curtiss Wright CW-19R back in 2013/14.

The CW-19 began life as a a civil utility aircraft, performing its maiden flight in 1935. The 19R was a militarized two-seat variant with a Wright J6-7 engine and weapons mountings. The type saw limited use.

Kermit’s example was acquired in 2013 and restored, performing its first post-restoration flight in February 2014. The newly released video captures Kermit flying the machine performing some high flying, a couple of landings and take-offs, and a set of very fast low passes. Click below to check it out.

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Kermit Weeks Shares New, Two Part Video Update on Messerschmitt Bf 108 Restoration

For the latest installment of Fantasy of Flight’s Mechanic’s Corner, owner Kermit Weeks has shared a two part video update on the restoration of his 1936 Messerschmitt Bf 108.

Part 1 features restoration specialist Paul Stecewycz talking about the restoration of tail and wing components and demonstrating the operation of the mechanical trim wheel. In part 2 Stecewycz visits the large paint stripping booth to explain, then demonstrate, the process of plastic blasting the paint layers and filler materials off of the 108 wings.

Click below to check out both parts.

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Newly Restored P-39Q Performs First Engine Test in NZ [Video]

Pioneer Aero of Ardmore, New Zealand has announced that their P-39Q Airacobra project performed its first successful engine test earlier today.

As previously reported, the aircraft (42-20341) is 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.

The company reports that high powers will be conducted later in the week “and who knows what after that.”

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

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RAAF Museum Mustang Performs Initial Ground Runs [Video]

The RAAF Museum’s CA-18 Mustang Mk 23 is reportedly one step closer to returning to the air with initial ground runs of its newly installed Packard Merlin engine.

This particular aircraft, A68-170 (now painted as A68-750), was transferred from No 7 Stores Depot to the RAAF Museum for display in 1970. It underwent restoration in the mid-1970s and was known as “Duffy’s Delight.” Another restoration followed in 1989 which saw every component of the aircraft disassembled and refurbished. The project lasted 10 years, which the Mustang returning to the air in February 1999.

In recent years, the Merlin engine was removed and sent to the UK for overhaul, and was returned to the airframe in late 2018. Click below to check out a video of the test conducted earlier today.

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