Category: News

C-47 “Blue Bonnet Belle” destroyed in accident

The C-47 Blue Bonnet Belle N47HL (Photo D. Miller (CC BY 2.0))

The C-47 “Blue Bonnet Belle” of the Commemorative Air Force’s Highland Lakes Squadron has been destroyed in an accident as the aircraft was departing for Oshkosh. Of the 13 people on board at the time of the crash, 7 were injured, including one with significant burn injuries who was airlifted to the hospital. The aircraft was totally …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/07/22/c-47-blue-bonnet-belle-destroyed-in-accident/

Fatal de Havilland Venom crash in Wisconsin

de Havilland DH 112 Venom

A pilot was killed when his Havilland DH 112 Venom crashed in a farm near Sheboygan County Memorial Airport in Wisconsin. The aircraft reportedly crashed in a field before hitting a farm building. Two farm workers were also injured, one of them severely. Several dozen farm animals were also killed in the crash. Few details …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/07/21/fatal-de-havilland-venom-crash-in-wisconsin/

Discover the official trailer for “Hurricane”

Kaleidoscope Film Distribution has released the official trailer of Hurricane, which should be reaching British cinemas and online platforms in early September. The movie tells the “untold true story of Squadron 303”. The Royal Air Force’s No 303 (Polish) Squadron was composed of Polish pilots and was one of the highest-scoring units of the Battle of …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/07/20/discover-the-official-trailer-for-hurricane/

CAC Boomerang nearing return to flight in Australia

CAC Boomerang (via Wikipedia)

Two CAC Boomerangs are currently being restored in Brisbane, Australia. One of these, serial A46-54, is almost finished and should be flying soon. Out of 250 Boomerangs built between 1942 and 1945, only about ten have been preserved. Read the full story on Warbirds News.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/07/11/cac-boomerang-nearing-return-to-flight-in-australia/

Gloster Meteor flies again in Virginia

The Gloster Meteor T.7 WA591 flew again on June 18 at Hampton Roads Executive Airport in Hampton Roads, Virginia. The aircraft was previously owned by the Classic Air Force Trust in Coventry, England, and is now part of the World Heritage Air Museum based at City Airport in Detroit, Michigan. Read the full story on …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/06/20/gloster-meteor-flies-again-in-virginia/

F4U-5N Corsair flies again in France

  The Vought F4U-5N Corsair (BuNo 124724, registered F-AZEG) of the Casques de Cuir flew again yesterday in La Ferté-Alais, south of Paris, after a ten-year restauration. This aircraft was built in 1951 and served with the US Navy before being bought by Honduras and serving during the “Soccer War”. It was later transferred to …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/05/10/f4u-5n-corsair-flies-again-in-france/

TBM-3 Avenger crashes in Arizona, crew OK

Grumman TBM-3E Avenger 53337 registered N337VT (formerly VH-VTB, arrived in the USA in 2017) was probably destroyed ina  crash near Fort Apache, Arizona. After an engine failure over mountainous terrain, the crew bailed out rather than attempt an emergency landing in what would probably have been extremely dangerous conditions. Both crew members were injured upon …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/05/09/tbm-3-avenger-crashes-in-arizona-crew-ok/

M.S. 315 pilot makes impressive emergency landing on UK beach

Zac Rockey, the pilot of the Morane-Saulnier M.S.315 G-BZNK, was forced to make an emergency landing on Jacob’s Ladder Beach in Devon, after his engine cut during a flight from Branscombe à Bodmin airfield in the United-Kingdom. Not only did Rockey and his passenger emerge unscathed from the incident, but none of the people on …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/05/09/m-s-315-pilot-makes-impressive-emergency-landing-on-uk-beach/

Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 “Black 8” flies again in Germany

Hangar 10 shared two photos on its Facebook page showing the first flight of Bf 109G-6 “Black 8”, a veteran of JG 27 powered by a DB 605 engine. The flight took place from Heringsdorf airport on the Usedom island in Germany, with Klaus Plasa at the controls. Sources: Hangar 10 Aerodynamic Media  

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/04/28/messerschmitt-bf-109g-6-black-8-flies-again-in-germany/

P-51 “Moonbeam McSwine” has returned to the US

The P-51D Mustang “Moonbeam McSwine” (previously F-AZXS) has returned to the US. The aircraft was sold to Frenchman Frédéric Akary in 2013 and had become a favourite at airshows in France and Europe thanks to Akary’s superb flight demonstrations. Before returning to France, “Moonbeam McSwine” belonged for several years to Vlado Lenoch, who was killed …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/04/27/p-51-moonbeam-mcswine-has-returned-to-the-us/

Lost Tuskegee Airman’s remains may have been found

The remains found at a crash site in Hohenturn, Austria, could be those of Captain Lawrence E. Dickson, who disappeared in his P-51 Mustang on 23 December 1944, during his 68th combat mission with the 100th Fighter Squadron. The US Defence POW/MIA Accounting Agency emphasize that they are still testing the remains but there is …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/04/11/lost-tuskegee-airmans-remains-may-have-been-found/

Two killed in Yak-18 crash in France

A Yakovlev Yak-18 crashed today in Lens in northern France, killing the pilot and his passenger. The association Renaissance du Caudron Simoun indicated on its Facebook page that François Minard, one of its founders, was one of the two victims. Our thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of the two victims of this …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/04/08/two-killed-in-yak-18-crash-in-france/

The Junkers F.13 certified again after 99 years

“Ninety-nine years after the first flight of the Junkers F13, Rimowa, the German luggage manufacturer responsible for ressurecting the type, has announced that its replica was certified by Swii aviation authorities on 28 March 2018.A small production run is being considered.” (Source: Aerobuzz) The first replica aircraft made its maiden flight on 15 September 2016. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/04/01/the-junkers-f-13-certified-again-after-99-years/

Fagen Fighters acquires F6F Hellcat

The Fagen Fighters WWII Museum has reported the acquisition of Grumman F6F Hellcat BuNo 78645. The aircraft was previously with the Yanks Air Museum in California. It will undergo an extensive IRAN (Inspect and Repair As Necessary) and should fly again by the summer of 2019. Source: Aerodynamic Media

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/03/31/fagen-fighters-acquires-f6f-hellcat/

Yak-3 damaged in ground collision at Warbirds over Wanaka airshow

Not a great start to #WarbirdsoverWanaka Glad the pilot was okay! pic.twitter.com/p4mAvJVj9M — Matt Warner (@mattwarnernz) March 30, 2018 A Yak-3 was seriously damaged when it crashed into a vehicle that was on the grass runway during the Warbirds over Wanaka International Airshow. Fortunately, pilot Arthur Dovey was “shaken but not injured”. Half of the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/03/31/yak-3-damaged-in-ground-collision-at-warbirds-over-wanaka-airshow/