Continue reading]]>

Spitfire Mk I R6613 of No 92 Squadron RAF, as it would have appeared on the day it was lost in combat, 11 September 1940. (Illustration © Gaëtan Marie)

UK-based Spitfire enthusiast and author Greg Davis has reached a significant milestone with his long-running Spitfire Mk I restoration project. The aircraft, Supermarine Spitfire Mk I R6613, has successfully passed inspection by the Civil Aviation Authority and is now officially registered as G-RRST.

The legendary 29-victory British ace Robert Stanford-Tuck.

The chosen registration pays tribute to Squadron Leader Roland Robert Stanford Tuck, who flew R6613 on seven occasions during the Battle of Britain. The aircraft itself has a notable combat history: on 11 September 1940 it claimed a Messerschmitt Bf 110 before being shot down later the same day. Its pilot at the time, Jim Paterson, managed to bail out safely, though he suffered burn injuries.

R6613’s manufacturer plate and a copy of Robert Stanford-Tuck’s logbook. (Photo courtesy Greg Davis)

The restoration project is particularly complex, comprising more than 200 individual structures, parts, and recovered fragments, all supported by strong provenance. It also carries added historical weight, as the late Peter Arnold was able to contribute to the CAA review process shortly before his passing, lending further authority to the aircraft’s documentation and approval.

With the registration now secured, Greg Davis has made clear his ambition to return R6613 to the air in single-seat configuration. To achieve this, he is actively seeking an investment partner to provide the financial backing required to complete the restoration and bring this historically significant Spitfire back to flying condition. Greg Davis can be reached at the address ttssp@outlook.com.

Continue reading]]>

The North American TF-51D 44-72483 in its new livery ar Airmotive Specialties ( Photo Airmotive Specialties Inc )

The Airmotive Specialties Inc. workshop, located in Salinas, California, unveiled this week the first photos of the P-51D Mustang “Hel-eter” in its new colors. This marks an important milestone in the restoration of this aircraft, whose return to airworthy condition has been underway for several years and is expected to lead to a new first flight within the next few weeks.

The aircraft, which has been converted to the two-seat TF-51D configuration, now sports a livery inspired by P-51D 44-72577 on the Pacific theater. Bearing the code 527 painted on the fuselage, it is expected to receive the “Hel-eter” nose art on its engine cowling.

This Mustang, serial number 44-72483, has a rich history: delivered to the USAAF on January 23, 1945, it was assigned to the 354th Fighter Group of the 9th Air Force, where it carried the tactical code AJ-R. After the war, it was transferred to the Flygvapnet, the Swedish Air Force, as Fv 26087, before joining the Fuerza Aérea de Nicaragua (Nicaraguan Air Force), where it flew under the code GN85.

Brought back to the United States in December 1963, it was long mistaken for another aircraft destroyed during the conflict. It was only in 1966, thanks to the efforts of David Forrest, that its true identity was officially re-established with the FAA.

The P-51D 44-72557 Mustang Hel-Eter (Profile © Gaëtan Marie / Bravo Bravo Aviation)

The aircraft then began a new civilian life, changing hands several times before being acquired in November 1975 by Dan Martin, a seasoned pilot and well-known figure at the Reno Air Races. Registered as N151DM, the Mustang was restored and flew for more than three decades under the name “Ridge Runner III” (P-51 Mustang Survivors – P-51D-20NA 44-72843), in tribute to Major Pierce W. McKennon, ace and leader of the 4th Fighter Group. Dan Martin flew the Mustang in many editions of the Reno Air Races.

After 37 years of ownership, Dan Martin sold the aircraft in June 2011 to Pat Harker, based in Minneapolis. Harker launched a complete restoration, entrusted to Airmotive Specialties, with the goal of converting the aircraft to TF-51D standard while restoring an appearance faithful to its original military service.

Today, thanks to the meticulous work of the Salinas team and the passion of its new owner, the Mustang “Hel-eter” is preparing to take to the skies again, nearly 80 years after it was first built.

Continue reading]]>

The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch of the US Air Force Museum (Photo USAF Museum)

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located in Dayton, Ohio, has recently reinstalled in its World War II Gallery an iconic aircraft of German aviation: the Fieseler Fi 156C-2 Storch.

Removed from display in 2017, the aircraft underwent a complete restoration between 2024 and 2025, carried out by the museum’s technical teams. This meticulous work, spread over eighteen months, has given the aircraft a new lease on life.

Built in 1940 in Germany, this Storch is one of the few surviving examples of the famous liaison and reconnaissance aircraft used by the Luftwaffe. Known for its extremely short takeoff and landing capabilities, the Fi 156 was able to operate on rough terrain and in difficult conditions.

Exported to Sweden in 1943, it entered service with the Flygvapnet under the designation S 14B. The Storch was retired from service in 1948. After being withdrawn from active duty, it remained in Europe before returning to Germany in the 1960s. It was briefly flown by Erich Hartmann, the famous Luftwaffe ace, before being acquired in 1973 by two American veterans, Lt. Col. Perry A. Schreffler and Maj. Robert C. Van Ausdell, both former World War II pilots and TWA employees. The aircraft then flew with the civilian registration N156SV.

In 1974, the two men donated the aircraft to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, where it was displayed for several decades. At that time, it sported a livery inspired by that of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s personal Storch, used in North Africa. This paint scheme, although popular with visitors, did not correspond to the aircraft’s actual history.

The restoration begun in 2024 has corrected this inconsistency. The museum’s teams completely disassembled the aircraft, removing the wings, the original fabric, and inspecting every structural element. The mechanical components were overhauled, the landing gear restored, and a new paint scheme applied.

Storch Aircraft Move Aug 2025 Highlights NMUSAF

When clicked, this video is loaded from YouTube servers. See our privacy policy for details.

Continue reading]]>

The Collings Foundation’s F-100F 56-3844 in 2014 (Photo Christopher Ebdon (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0))

On Memorial Day 2025, the Collings Foundation’s rare North American F-100F Super Sabre, one of only two airworthy examples globally, took to the skies once again. Piloted by Rick Sharpe, curator of the Vietnam War Flight Museum in Houston, Texas, the aircraft participated in a commemorative formation flight honoring fallen service members. This significant event marked the culmination of extensive restoration efforts by museum staff and volunteers, including the installation of modern avionics to comply with current airspace regulations.

The F-100F, serial number 56-3844, boasts a rich operational history. Delivered to the U.S. Air Force in 1957, it served with the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing in Europe before joining the Texas Air National Guard. After its military service, the aircraft saw civilian use in Europe and the U.S., flying under various liveries, including the USAF Thunderbirds. Now restored and painted to honor Medal of Honor recipient Colonel George “Bud” Day, the jet stands as a flying tribute to the legacy of Vietnam War aviators.

While the jet is operated by the Collings Foundation, it is now based at the Vietnam War Flight Museum, founded in 2002 by Rick Sharpe and dedicated to preserving the history and sacrifices of Vietnam War veterans. The successful return of the F-100F to flight status underscores the museum’s commitment to this mission and highlights the collaborative efforts between the museum and the Collings Foundation in keeping aviation history alive.

Read the full story on Vintage Aviation News.

Continue reading]]>

SB2C-5 Helldiver aircraft, BuNo 83393 (Photo Fagen Fighters WWII Museum Facebook page)

The Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls, Minnesota, announced the successful test flight of their restored SB2C-5 Helldiver on July 22, 2024, marking its first flight since 1945.

The Helldiver, built in early 1945 and originally stationed at Naval Air Field Newport, Rhode Island, and NAS Dahlgren, Virginia, crashed during a test flight on July 24, 1945, killing the pilot, LTJG Mark Gilbert. The backseater, RM3 Edward Pierce, survived with a broken leg. The crash’s cause remains unclear, but it is believed the torpedo it carried for testing came loose.

The wreckage, recovered years later, was partially used by the National Air and Space Museum before Fagen Fighters WWII Museum acquired it and embarked on a 17-year restoration project. The first engine runs were completed on October 7, 2023.

On July 22, 2024, pilot Ed Vesely flew the restored Helldiver. The aircraft was then showcased at the EAA AirVenture Air Show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Read the full story on The Aviationist and view more images of the restored Helldiver on the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum Facebook page.

Continue reading]]>

North American P-51D-30-NT 45-11518 G-CLNV on its maiden flight at Sywell ( Photo © Peter Green )

On Friday, August 25th, at Sywell in the United Kingdom, English pilot Pete Kynsey conducted the first post-restoration flight of the North American P-51D 45-11518, registered as G-CLNV on the British civil register.

Restored by Air Leasing Ltd, led by Richard Grace, this P-51 was built in 1945 and was taken over by the Royal New Zealand Air Force in August of the same year, where it was given the serial NZ2427.

P-51 Mustang NZ2427 in RNZAF service (© Gaëtan Marie/Bravo Bravo Aviation)

Stored until 1952, the Mustang flew until 1958 before being stored again for many years and acquired by Sir Tim Wallis and his collection, The Alpine Fighter Collection, in Wanaka. It was eventually sold to Maurice Hammond of England in 1997.

North American P-51D-30-NT 45-11518 during its RNZAF service ( Photo RNZAF via Anthony Galbraith)

Reconstructed over a four-year period, the new first flight took place on June 14, 2001. Operated by the Hardwick Warbirds collection, the P-51 unfortunately suffered an accident on October 2, 2016, seriously injuring its pilot/owner Maurice Hammond and resulting in the passenger’s death.

North American P-51D-30-NT 45-11518 in its former colors (Photo © Richard Paver)

Purchased by Graham Peacock in 2020 and his collection, Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd, the P-51 was modified to the TF-51 two-seat standard. Its new livery represents that of a Mustang from the 23rd Fighter Group, 75th Fighter Squadron, based in the China-Burma-India theater.

North American P-51D-30-NT 45-11518 G-CLNV during its maiden flight at Sywell (Photo © Nigel Harrison)

There are now a total of eight flying Mustangs in the United Kingdom.

North American P-51D-30-NT 45-11518 G-CLNV during its maiden flight at Sywell (Photo © Nigel Harrison)

World Warbird News extends its sincere thanks to Peter Green, Nigel Harrison and Anthony Galbraith for allowing the use of the photos that illustrate this article.

Continue reading]]>

Lockheed VC-121A Constellation 8613 “Bataan” (N422NA) in 2016. (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))

Lewis Air Legend’s Lockheed VC-121A Constellation “Bataan”, which served as General MacArthur’s personal aircraft, flew again on 21 June 2023 after an eight-year restoration by Fighter Rebuilders in Chino, California. Footage of the first flight can be viewed on Lewis Air Legend’s Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/3572688642970226

The Lockheed  VC-121A Constellation “Bataan” holds a rich history spanning several decades. Originally delivered to the USAF in January 1949 as C-121A 48-613, it played a crucial role in the Berlin Airlift by flying the Westover AFB-Rhein-Main route. In 1950, it underwent conversion to a VC-121A and became the first aircraft of its kind to be equipped with the APS-10 weather radar.

From September 1950 to April 1951, it served as the personal aircraft of General MacArthur, Supreme Commander Allied Powers during the Korean War, and receoved the name “Bataan”. It was also General Ridgeway’s personal aircraft from 1952 to 1953. It was later transferred to HQ, Pacific Air Command as a VIP transport until late 1965, when it was declared surplus by the USAF and flown to Davis-Monthan AFB for storage in January 1966.

In June 1966, NASA acquired the aircraft for use by the Goddard Space Center, stripping its VIP interior and installing instrumentation for the Apollo space program. Its registration was changed to N422NA in June 1969.

Following its retirement from NASA in late 1969, the aircraft found a new home at the US Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker on March 10, 1970. However, it was later declared surplus by the Army and sold to the Planes of Fame Museum on May 7, 1993.  The aircraft was made airworthy at Fort Rucker before being ferried to various locations, including Dothan, AL, Addison, TX, Avra Valley, AZ, and Chino, CA.

Eventually, it settled at The Planes of Fame Museum Annex in Valle, AZ, where it was displayed as “Bataan” with its interior restored to its original condition during General MacArthur’s tenure. In April 2015, the aircraft was sold to Lewis Air Legends of San Antonio, Texas, with plans to restore its airworthiness and include it in the US airshow circuit.

Continue reading]]>

P-47D Thunderbolt 42-27609 during its first flight with Bernie Vasquez at the controls. (Photo courtesy Ben Redman via AirCorps Aviation)

RAZORBACK P-47D THUNDERBOLT FIRST FLIGHT

When clicked, this video is loaded from YouTube servers. See our privacy policy for details.

Following a lengthy restoration period by AirCorps Aviation, Republic P-47D-23-RA Thunderbolt serial number 42-27609 took to the skies again on 16 May 2023 in Bemidji, Minnesota. The first flight was a success and was flown by Bernie Vasquez, with Warren Pietsch and Ben Redman flying chase in P-51D Mustang “Miss Kitty III”.

The aircraft belongs to the Dakota Territory Air Museum and will carry the markings of the P-47D Thunderbolt “Bonnie”  flown by Major Bill Dunham, commanding officer of the 460th Fighter Squadron in the Philippines in 1944.

Major Bill Dunham’s P-47D “Bonnie”  of the 460th Fighter Squadron in 1944. (Photo USAF)

The exact history of 42-27609 is unknown, but it is believed it served either with the 35th or the 348th Fighter Group in the South-West Pacific. It was delivered to Australia on 8 May 1944 and was abandonedon Dobodura airfield in Papua New Guinea later that year, on 18 September.

More photos and information available here:

• Projet P-47 42-27609 on AirCorps Aviation’s website
• Photos and video of the first flight on AirCorps Aviation’s blog

We would like to thank Ben Redman and the team at AirCorps Aviation for the photo and footage used to illustrate this article.