Tag: USAF Museum

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USAF Museum Completes Restoration of Bleriot XI [Video]

After eight months of dedicated work, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio has completed restoration of their 1909 Bleriot XI.

As previously reported, The type is famous for being the first aircraft to cross the English Channel in July 1909, and it was used by several famous early aviators from Louis Bleriot himself, to Adolphe Pégoud to Harriet Quimby. It even saw service in the early months of WW1. The museum’s specific example was built from factory drawings by Ernest C. Hall of Warren, Ohio in 1911. He donated it to the museum in 1939. It was removed from public display in 2023 for restoration, with work beginning earlier this year.

The aircraft has since been rolled out for its official photoshoot and plans call for it to return to display in the museum’s early years gallery some time this month. Check out additional photos and a video of the completed aircraft below.

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USAF Museum to Restore CASA 2.111H / Heinkel He 111 [Video]

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio has announced the upcoming restoration of their CASA 2.111H (Spanish HE-111H).

The CASA 2.111H was a Spanish-built development of the German Heinkel He 111H-16 twin-engine medium bomber, manufactured under license by Construcciones Aeronáuticas S.A. First flown in May 1945, the CASA 2.111 retained the Heinkel’s distinctive glazed nose and broad wings. Early aircraft used German Junkers Jumo engines, while later examples received British Rolls-Royce Merlins because of engine-supply difficulties. The type served with the Spanish Air Force into the early 1970s and became familiar to cinema audiences portraying Luftwaffe bombers in the 1969 film Battle of Britain.

The museum’s example was donated by the Spanish Air Force and has been in the museum’s storage facility for some time. The newly released photos / video, which can be seen below, appears to show the aircraft being relocated to the restoration hangar. As of this writing, additional details, such as a timeframe for completion, have not been announced.

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USAF Museum Shares Interactive, 360 Degree Video of Aircraft in Storage

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio has released a new, 360 degree video of their storage facility, which consists of restricted hangars and secure annexes at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Among the aircraft seen in the video are a Junkers Ju 52, a General Dynamics EF-111A Raven, Stearman PT-17, Douglas B-23 Dragon, McDonnell Douglas YF-4E Phantom II and an ultra rare North American F-107A, an experimental Mach 2 fighter-bomber that is easily recognizable by its unusual top-mounted intake over the cockpit.

Check it out below.

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USAF Museum Releases New Photos Detailing Bleriot XI Restoration

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio has provided the best glimpse so far of their ongoing Bleriot XI restoration in a newly posted update.

The type is famous for being the first aircraft to cross the English Channel in July 1909, and it was used by several famous early aviators from Louis Bleriot himself, to Adolphe Pégoud to Harriet Quimby. It even saw service in the early months of WW1. The museum’s specific example was built from factory drawings by Ernest C. Hall of Warren, Ohio in 1911. He donated it to the museum in 1939. It was removed from public display in 2023 for restoration, with work beginning earlier this year.

The new update shows progress on the aircraft’s engine, controls and fuselage. Check it out below.

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USAF Museum Completes Restoration of Only Remaining Kellett XR-8 [Video]

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio has completed restoration of the world’s only surviving Kellett XR-8 experimental helicopter after countless hours of work by talented volunteers.

Developed as a prototype for the USAAF in 1940s, the Kellett XR-8 tested the idea of stabilizing a helicopter by using dual offset horizontal rotors to eliminate the need to power a tail rotor. Nicknamed “Eggbeater,” the design used two intermeshing wooden propellers above the two person cabin. The XR-8 first flew on August 7, 1944. Though the XR-8 was a revolutionary design, the Kellett Aircraft Corporation encountered significant problems with stability control and timing the rotors. The company modified the vertical stabilizers in an attempt to resolve some of these issues. Because of these and other complications, Kellett only produced two XR-8s before cancelling the program.

An official photo shoot was carried out on Monday. Plans call for the machine to be placed by the Vertijet in the museum’s R&D Gallery this October. The fabric covering on the left side of the fuselage has been removed to showcase interior views.

Check out a video showing the restoration process and final product below.

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Watch An Overhead Tour of the USAF Museum’s Storage Facility [Video]

The National Museum of the USAF in Dayton, Ohio has released a new video providing an overhead view of some of the rare aircraft housed in the collection’s storage facility.

Aircraft include a Junkers Ju 52, Fiesler Storch, T-33, etc. The museum notes that not all stored machines are seen here, as others can be found in the museum’s restoration hangars.

Click below to check out the new video.

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USAF Museum Curtiss Jenny On The Move [Video]

On Wednesday, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio lowered their Curtiss Jenny from its suspended position and relocated it to floor display in an area previously occupied by their Avro 504K.

The museum’s Avro is currently undergoing restoration and will reportedly hang above the Jenny in the museum’s Early Years Gallery upon its return to display. To learn more about the Avro restoration, check out the new Fall 2018 edition of The Flying Machine journal.

Click below to check out photos and video of the Jenny’s recent move.

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Time-Lapse Video Captures Work on USAF Museum’s Avro 504 Restoration

The USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio is currently in the process of restoring their Avro 504K and recently released a time-lapse video detailing the process of removing fabric from the machine’s fuselage.

As previously reported, this particular example of the famous WW1 British trainer was originally constructed by the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Aircraft Maintenance & Development Unit in 1966-67 using original parts, including a 110 hp Le Rhone rotary engine. It arrived at the USAF Museum in 2003 and has since been on display in its Early Years Gallery wearing the colors of an aerobatic trainer of AEF No. 3 Instruction Center, based at Issoudun, France in 1918.

The next steps will include cleaning the airframe structure and engine and replacing the fabric with a period correct linen.

Click below to check out the new video.

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Promo Video Released For Upcoming WW1 Dawn Patrol Rendezvous

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio has released the first promotional video for the upcoming 2018 Dawn Patrol Rendezvous air show.

The event, offered every other year by the museum and the Great War Aeroplanes Association, will reportedly feature flights of reduced and full-scale replica WWI aircraft, WWI living history re-enactors in a war encampment area, radio-controlled model aircraft, period vehicles, music and a collector’s show of WWI era items. The event will also include guest speakers on WWI topics as well as many family hands-on and educational activities.

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WW2 Aircraft on the Move at USAF Museum [Video]

The USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio recently moved some of its iconic WW2 warbirds back into position after they were temporarily relocated to provide room for the Memphis Belle exhibit opening back in May. These included the P-51, P-47, P-38 and A-36.

In the process, opportunities were provided to get a better look at the aircraft, resulting in a new series videos that can be seen below.

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