Bertrand Brown

Author's posts

New Warbird Shirt: Spitfire Racer !

A new Warbird Shirt is available in our shop: the Spitfire Racer ! This is Spitfire Mk 21 LA217 of No 41 Squadron in 1947 at Blackpool. You can find this shirt design as well as others in our Warbird Shirts shop and help support the website. Civilian or racing liveries are not very common …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/03/26/new-warbird-shirt-spitfire-racer/

Spitfire T.9 PT462 damaged in gear-up landing

The Aircraft Restoration Company (ARCo) announced on its Facebook page that the Spitfire T.9 “Indy” made a wheels-up landing  at Denham Aerodrome on Wednesday the 27th of February. The pilot and copilot were unharmed but the aircraft sustained some damage, the extent of which will be evaluated when the aircraft is brought back to Duxford. …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/03/02/spitfire-t-9-pt462-damaged-in-gear-up-landing/

Engine runs for RAAF Museum Mustang “Duffy’s Delight”

The North American Mustang Mk 23 “Duffy’s Delight” (serial A68-170, registered VH-SVU) of the Royal Australian Air Force Museum recently made its first engine runs since the engine was returned from overhaul. The aircraft was fully restored in the nineties and made its first post-restoration flight on 17 February 1999. In 2012, the aircraft was …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/02/05/engine-runs-for-raaf-museum-mustang-duffys-delight/

First official flight for XP-82 Twin Mustang prototype

The North American XP-82 Twin Mustang 44-83887 on test flight over Sierras in 1945 (Photo USAF)

After an unexpected first flight on 31 December, the prototype of Tom Reilly’s North American XP-82 Twin Mustang made its first “official” flight on Monday 28 January. Ray Fowler was again at the controls of the XP-82 for this “second first flight”, which went very well. Warbird Digest made this video showing the first flight. You …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/01/30/first-official-flight-for-xp-82-twin-mustang-prototype/

Lufthansa withdraws its financial support to Ju 52 recreational flights

In an effort to reduce expenses, Lufthansa has announced that they are withdrawing their financial support to their foundation, the Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin-Stiftung. The foundation has been operating the Junkers Ju 52/3m D-CDLH among other aircraft since 1986 and offered paying recreational flights in Germany and Europe. The aircraft is the oldest airworthy Ju 52 in …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/01/26/lufthansa-withdraws-its-financial-support-to-ju-52-recreational-flights/

Unexpected first flight for XP-82 Twin Mustang prototype

The North American XP-82 Twin Mustang 44-83887 on test flight over Sierras in 1945 (Photo USAF)

Tom Reilly’s North American XP-82 Twin Mustang prototype made an unexpected first flight on 31 December 2018 during a high-speed taxi test. Ray Fowler, who was at the controls, flew the aircraft after picking up too much speed to stop safely within the remaining runway length, and flew for about five minutes before bringing back …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/01/02/unexpected-first-flight-for-xp-82-twin-mustang-prototype/

Pilot injured in Hawker Hunter ejection off Honolulu

Hawker

Hawker Hunter N323AX, operated by ATAC (Airborne Tactical Advantage Company) crashed into the sea off Honolulu on 13 December 2018. Its pilot ejected before the crash but was seriously injured. Available reports indicate his injuries are not life-threatening and that he is recovering. The pilot was acting as a civilian contractor taking part in the …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/12/15/pilot-injured-in-hawker-hunter-ejection-off-honolulu/

Two de Havilland Vampires destroyed in hangar fire near Paris

The Melun-Villaroche airfield (Google Maps screenshot)

A hangar fire at the Melun-Villaroche airfield near Paris destroyed two privately-owned de Havilland Vampires Saturday morning, according to local media and sources. The fire reportedly started in one hangar, totally destroying the aircraft inside, before spreading to the neighbouring hangar and severely damaging another Vampire. Some sixty firefighters were engaged to contain and stop …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/12/09/two-de-havilland-vampires-destroyed-in-hangar-fire-near-paris/

Henri Ecochard, Free French Piper L-4 “Grasshopper” pilot

The CAF French Wing is proud to present the latest issue of its documentary series, History and Duty of Remembrance. In this episode, Stéphane Duchemin receives Henri Ecochard, Free French and Piper L-4 pilot. Henri Ecochard was 16 when war was declared in 1939 and 17 when, a year later, he joined the Free French forces …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/12/05/henri-ecochard-free-french-piper-l-4-grasshopper-pilot/

Spitfire PR.XIX PS890 to fly again in 2019 following post-accident restoration

Spitfire PR.XIX PS890/F-AZJS at Duxford in 2015 (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))

The French newspaper Le Républicain Lorrain reports that the Spitfire PR.XIX registered F-AZJS, which was damaged in a take-off accident in June 2017, is currently being restored by Historic Flying Limited in the United-Kingdom as well as in the USA. The aircraft is expected to fly again  in the spring of 2019. More information and …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/11/26/spitfire-pr-xix-ps890-to-fly-again-in-2019-following-post-accident-restoration/

Switzerland: OFAC temporarily grounds Ju-Air’s Junkers Ju 52s

The Swiss federal civilian aviation office (Office fédéral de l’aviation civile, OFAC) has temporarily grounded the two Junkers Ju 52 used by Ju-Air, based in Dübendorf. The examination of the wreck of the aircraft that crashed on August 4, killing all 20 on board, has revealed structural damage to the wing spars. This type of damage …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/11/21/switzerland-ofac-temporarily-grounds-ju-airs-junkers-ju-52s/

Two killed in P-51D Mustang “Pecos Bill” crash in Texas

The P-51D Mustang “Pecos Bill” (s/n 44-74445, registered N4132A) crashed yesterday in  Fredericksburg, Texas. Little information is available on this tragic event but police have announced that the pilot and his passenger were killed in the crash. Some sources indicate that the passenger was a World War II veteran. Our thoughts and prayers go to …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/11/18/two-killed-in-p-51d-mustang-pecos-bill-crash-in-texas/

B-24 Diamond Lil flies again

The CAF B-24/B-29 Squadron has announced on its Facebook page that its B-24 “Diamond Lil” returned to the air on October 22 for the first time in over two years. During this time, the bomber’s interior was restored and three of the engines were overhauled. Diamond Lil is one of only two airworthy B-24 Liberators …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/10/28/b-24-diamond-lil-flies-again/

Thomas-Morse S-4B Scout flies again

The Ithaca Aviation Heritage Foundation’s Thomas-Morse S-4B Scout recently made its first post-restauration flight. The aircraft was donated to the foundation in 2010 and was meticulously restored to airworthiness. More information is available from Aerodynamic Media.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/10/24/thomas-morse-s-4b-scout-flies-again/

Condor Squadron SNJ-5 Texan crashes on highway, no fatalities

Three SNJ/T-6 of the COndor Squadron in formation. The accident aircraft is the closest one on this shot. (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))

An SNJ-5 Texan belonging to the Condor Squadron made an emergency landing on a highway near Agoura Hills, California following an engine failure on October 23, 2018. The pilot managed to land on the highway between traffic and made a power-out landing there. Unfortunately, the aircraft hit the central divider and was destroyed in the …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/10/24/condor-squadron-snj-5-texan-crashes-on-highway-no-fatalities/