World Warbird News

Bréguet Alizé flies again in France

World Warbird News — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:07:10 +0000

A Breguet Alizé preserved in Southern France by the CAEA. (Photo Jérome (CC BY-NC-BD 2.0))

The Bréguet Alizé n°59, restored by Alizé Marine, flew again last Saturday in Nîmes. Two test flights were made, lasting 12 and 30 minutes. The flights were made by Jean Ivars, a former French Navy pilot, and were satisfactory.

The aircraft will possibly be presented at the Salon du Bourget airshow this summer in Paris.

More info and photos can be found on Philippe Chapleau’s blog (in French).

Captain Ken Jenner †

World Warbird News — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:23:54 +0000

Captain Ken Jenner, who has died aged 92, flew bomber operations in the European, Middle Eastern and Burmese theatres of war before becoming one of the earliest Comet pilots with BOAC.

Read the full obituary on the Telegraph.

Goodwin Sands Dornier 17 recovery operations to begin

World Warbird News — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:37:40 +0000

Operations to recuperate the Dornier Do 17 that is laying in Goodwin Sands (off the coast of Kent) under 50 ft of water will begin this Friday. The aircraft will then be restored by the RAF Museum Hendon.

Source: BBC News

Pilot killed in Ha-200 Saeta crash in Spain

World Warbird News — Sun, 05 May 2013 20:40:00 +0000

Ha-200 Saeta EC-DXR in flight. (Photo César Astudillo (CC BY 2.0))

A pilot was killed today when a Hispano Ha-200 Saeta crashed during an airshow in Madrid. The causes of the accident are unknown at this time.

The pilot is Ladislao Tejedor Romero, a 35-year old experienced military pilot and assistant to the Spanish Defence Minister. Romero died from burns suffered in the crash after he was admitted at Getafe hospital. The aircraft was the Ha-200 Saeta EC-DXR, which is well known by Spanish aviation enthusiasts and spotters.

The aircraft was built in the 1950s and was operated by the Fundación Infante de Orleans.

A video posted on YouTube shows the Saeta engaging in a Split-S and not recovering.

Important!

While some early sources indicate 18 people were wounded in the crash, most sources only mention two or three people with light wounds. The lower figure seems to be the correct one. Our article has therefore been corrected based on available information.

Sources:

A6M-3 Zero could become Japan’s first flying warbird

World Warbird News — Thu, 02 May 2013 09:03:13 +0000

(Photo cclark395 (CC BY-NC 2.0))

Japanese businessman Masahide Ishizuka recently presented his project of basing his Mitsubishi A6M-3 Zero (registered N553TT) in Japan, where it would fly at airshows. This would make it the first flying warbird in Japan and could lead to other warbirds flying in the country, such as those of Nobuo Harada, whose collection includes many World War II Japanese aircraft.

Read the full article on Aeroplane Monthly.

Gloster Meteor airlifted to Jet Age Museum

World Warbird News — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:40:29 +0000

A Gloster Meteor T7 was transported by a RAF Chinook from Imjin Barracks, Insworth, to the Jet Age Museum, its new owner.

Source

Doolittle raiders gather for final meeting

World Warbird News — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 07:56:56 +0000

Left to right: Lt. Col. Richard Cole, Lt. Col. Edward Saylor and Staff Sgt. David Thatcher at Eglin Air Force Base. (Photo USAF/Thomas Brown)

Three of the four surviving members of the 18 April 1942 Doolittle Raid on Tokyo gathered from April 17 to 21 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida for a final meeting. The members who were present were Lt. Col. Richard Cole, le Lt. Col. Edward Saylor and Staff Sgt. David Thatcher. Lt. Col. Robert Hite could not travel and was absent from the meeting.

The men flew on a B-25 Mitchell, the type used in the raid, with Dick Cole doing part of the flying. A private meeting will take place later this year, where the surviving members will open a bottle of Hennessy cognac from 1896, the year when James Doolittle was born, and toast one final time to all of their comrades.

Source: Air Force Times

Ryan STM-2 flies again in San Diego

World Warbird News — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:21:35 +0000

Bill Allen’s restored Ryan STM-2 (of the Allen Airways Flying Museum) recently flew for the first time from Gillepsie Field in San Diego.

Source

Gp Capt Ned Frith †

World Warbird News — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:38:29 +0000

Group Captain Ned Frith, who has died aged 79, was one of the RAF’s foremost post-war test pilots and had important roles in the very early development of some of Britain’s future combat aircraft.

Read his obituary on the Telegraph.

Flight Lieutenant Les Brodrick †

World Warbird News — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:34:24 +0000

Flight Lieutenant Les Brodrick , who has died aged 91, was one of the 76 men to escape from Stalag Luft III during “The Great Escape”, which resulted in the murder of 50 RAF officers on the direct orders of Hitler.

Read his obituary on the Telegraph