Warbird News

Threads about the world of aviation outside of airshows. General aviation, airlines, spotting, etc.
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n33d4sp33d_85
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Fri Feb 19, 2021 2:38 pm

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing announces its official recognition as and transition to CAF Airbase Georgia, effective Feb 18, 2021. The group has achieved the designation of Airbase within the organization as a result of tremendous growth and awarded accomplishments over the last 35 years.
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n33d4sp33d_85
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Sat Feb 20, 2021 8:26 pm

Life size Lancaster construction kit

It looks like the familiar sight for most airplane modellers: an inventory of the parts of your Lancaster construction kit. The difference is that this kit is life size!

After heavy maintenance during the 2020-2021 winter season AVRO Lancaster NX611 Just Jane is being prepared for assembly.

In the past months all four Merlins engines were serviced, the rear turret, the tailplane, fin and rudder were removed and the rear fuselage was split from the aircraft to name but a few of the activities that were carried out. All of this work is estimated to have cost in the region of GBP 50,000.00 over the six month period.

Now the vintage bomber, resident of East Kirkby aerodrome in the United Kingdom, will carefully be assembled again. It is owned by the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, a family run museum which was set up over 20 years ago by the Panton brothers.

In those years the iconic aircraft has slowly been restored and it is used for taxi rides with members of the public. Although it is presently not airworthy the ultimate goal of its ongoing restoration is to return NX611 (G-ASXX) to the skies. And what a sight it would be to see it fly together with Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s PA474!
https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/l ... uction-kit
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Mon Feb 22, 2021 7:24 pm

Mississippi Wing of the Commemorative Air Force recently received a generous donation in the form of a beautiful Stinson L-5G Sentinel, restored as as an Army Air Forces air ambulance.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Feb 23, 2021 3:56 pm

Dutch Tiger Moth returns home

After a lengthy restoration historic De Havilland Tiger Moth G-ADGV (construction number 3340) has returned to Seppe-Breda Airport in the Netherlands. The biplane is owned by Dutchman Mr Mike van der Straaten, who acquired it in 2011.

The plane was built by the De Havilland factory at Hatfield and first registered on 23 May 1935 to Brooklands Aviation, Byfleet, Surrey, but based at Sywell. ‘GV was pressed into service with the Royal Air Force as BB694 and its civil registration was cancelled on 17 September 1940.

After the war had ended the Tiger was taken over by the Royal Navy and was used for the training of cadets. It is one of the few Tiger Moths that is known to have landed on an aircraft carrier: BB694 paid a visit to HMS Eagle on 1 July 1964.

After a period of storage it was bought by Air Commodore Allan Wheeler who restored it and gave it back its pre-war civil livery and registration. From 1983 to 1987 it was temporarily flown in Germany, owned by a collector in Melle.

After returning to the UK, G-ADGV became one of the Tigers in the rather famous Diamond Nine Team. In the Netherlands the aircraft was also flown, together with Auster PH-NET and Piper Cub PH-UCS, on behalf of the Wings to Victory Association which is based at Midden Zeeland airport.

Within the coming weeks the Tiger Moth will be assembled and prepared for its first post restoration flight. Compliments have to go to the owner, who has decided that G-ADGV can retain the colours of Brooklands Aviation in which it was originally delivered in 1935!
https://www.scramble.nl/civil-news/dutc ... turns-home
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Feb 23, 2021 10:04 pm

Another Spitfire restoration project at Biggin Hill

After spending some 25 years in storage at High Wycombe (UK) Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIVc RM694 (construction number 6S/432268) will finally get a restoration to airworthy condition. Although registration G-DBKL was already secured on 30 March 2009, it was not before early this year that the aircraft was transported to the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar. The expertise of the local Spitfire Company (Biggin Hill) Ltd. is a guarantee for a quality restoration of this project.

RM694 was built in the Chattis Hill shadow factory in Hampshire and rolled out on 22 October 1943. It was operated by No. 91 (Nigeria) Squadron from the Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) of Deanland in Sussex, flying over 30 V-1 interception missions in the summer of 1944.

Passed on to No. 402 (Winnipeg Bear) Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force, RM694 was relocated to B.70/Deurne near Antwerp, Belgium on 30 September 1944. Soon the Spitfire was substantially damaged in a forced landing and sent to the UK for repair.

After the war had ended, it became a ground instructional airframe at RAF Locking (maintenance number 6640M). It later served as a guardian at RAF Hornchurch from 1950 to 1963. It was then sold to a garage owner for display for only GBP 250!

Since 1966 the project was sold to the USA twice, only to ultimately return to the UK for storage at High Wycombe in 1995.
https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/a ... iggin-hill
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Wed Feb 24, 2021 5:42 pm

The CAF Rocky Mountain Wing has good news to report regarding their TBM-3E Avenger (Bu.53503) which has just regained her fully-rebuilt R-2600 engine.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Fri Feb 26, 2021 3:36 pm

It’s been some time since our last update on progress with Mike Spaulding’s WWII-era combat veteran Vought Corsair which has been under restoration for the past decade in Australia. This aircraft served aboard the carrier USS Intrepid with VF-10 Grim Reapers between January and April, 1945, and likely participated in the Battle of Okinawa.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Sat Feb 27, 2021 6:40 pm

We've kept this to ourselves because we know people in Texas have been dealing with bigger problems, but we did not escape last week's snow and freeze unscathed. 😢

Our 75-year-old wooden World War II-era hangar has a fire suppression system that discharged during the extended cold and power outage. The discharge did some significant damage to some of our public spaces, including our museum and newly-remodeled gift shop.

Despite all the setbacks of the last 18 months, our dedicated volunteers are already working to repair the damage, but it is going to take some time before we get back on our feet.

If you'd like to help, you can make a donation through facebook or by visiting https://www.centraltexaswing.org/donate
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Sat Feb 27, 2021 6:44 pm

Something exciting and new is coming to the Military Aviation Museum! Work has been underway for a number of years to add one of World War II’s most impactful aircraft to our collection. We are pleased to announce that the airplane is going to be displayed first in its as-recovered condition, starting at Noon on March 1st. This limited-time, pre-restoration engagement is designed to provide guests the opportunity to see what historic warbirds look like before they are returned to the air.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Mar 02, 2021 4:02 pm

In mid-February, the Military Aviation Museum in Pungo, Virginia took delivery of a Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless project which will soon begin a full, airworthy restoration.
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