Aug 29 2016
Similar to the 12W, a Curtiss-Wright Travel Air CW-12Q (G-AAOK) at the Great Vintage Flying Weekend rally at Cotswold Airport, Kemble, Gloucestershire, England in 2009. (Photo Adrian Pingstone)
Test pilot Jimmy Rollison recently made the first flight of Brian Meuser’s 1931 Curtiss-Wright Travel Air 12W. It took eight years to complete the restoration of the aircraft, which had not flown since 1949.
Photos and more details can be found on Antique Airfield.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/08/29/curtiss-wright-12w-flies-again-after-67-years/
Aug 21 2016
Dewoitine-D.26-HB-RAI, twin brother to HB-RAG. (Photo Kogo (GFDL))
A Dewoitine D.26 overran the runway and flipped on its back yesterday during the Wittingsburg airshow yesterday at 5:30 PM. The pilot emerged unharmed.
The aircraft involved appears to be Dewoitine D.26 HB-RAG, which was returned to flight in 2010 and was purchased bu Hangar 31 in May 2015.
Source: Le Nouvelliste
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/08/21/dewoitine-d-26-accident-in-switzerland/
Aug 08 2016
Scotty Wilson, test pilot of the Bugatti 100P replica and leader and mentor of the group, was killed last Saturday during the 3rd test flight of the aircraft shortly after take-off.
“Scotty’s aviation career spans six decades and nearly 11,000 hours in everything from Cubs to F-16s. After a thirty-year Air Force career, Scotty transitioned to the private sector where he led multi-unit companies in the aviation sector. He has significant start-up, turn-around, and business-development experience. He is an avid general aviation enthusiast with Airline Transport Pilot; Instructor; and Mechanic ratings. He has an MBA from the City University of Seattle and lives near Tulsa with his wife Leslia.”
The Bugatti 100P replica flew for the first time on 19 August 2015 but was damaged when it left the runway. After repairs, the aircraft was successfully flown again last October.
Our thoughts and prayers go to Scotty Wilson’s family and friends.
Photos via http://bugatti100p.aero Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/08/08/scotty-wilson-killed-in-bugatti-100p-crash/
Aug 06 2016
This rare twin-seat variant of the German fighter will be used to train Bf 109 and Buchón pilots.
Source: Hangar10
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/08/06/first-flight-for-hangar10s-rare-messerchmitt-bf-109g-12/
Aug 05 2016
A Harvard of the RCAF. (Photo RCAF)
The Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association plans on recovering elements of a North American Harvard that fell in Lake Erie in 1943.
On June 19, 1943, student pilot William Charles Smith of the RAF buzzed a passenger ship on Lake Erie and entered into a steep turning climb to avoid the ship. The 17-year old pilot lost control of the aircraft which stalled and crashed, killing him instantly.
The fuselage was recovered in order to recover Smith’s body but other parts of the aircraft were left on the lake bed. The CHAA is recovering these parts and hopes to display them at t he aircraft museum at the airport in Dunnville.
The association is also seeking two recover two Harvards that fell in Lake Ontario. One of these is reportedly in pieces while the other one is reasonably intact. CHAA president Walther Irie said “We’re hoping one will be in good enough condition to recover. That will be our primary target.”
Source: Simco Reformer
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/08/05/canadian-harvards-recovered-from-great-lakes/
Jul 27 2016
Video: AirshowStuffVideos
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/07/27/a-26-invader-silver-dragon-damaged-in-landing-accident-at-oshkosh/
Jul 26 2016
Scott Slocum has posted on Vimeo some great air-to-air footage of B-29 Doc’s first flight as seen from the chase plane. Play it in HD and full-screen mode to enjoy fully!
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/07/26/video-air-to-air-footage-of-b-29-docs-first-flight/
Jul 21 2016
Nine Curtiss P-40 will attend the 3rd annual CAF Atlanta Warbird Weekend on September 24 & 25 for the 75th anniversary of the American Volunteer Group, better known as the “Flying Tigers”. This will be the largest gathering of P-40 in recent times.
The event, hosted by the Dixie Wing, will take place at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport and many other warbirds will also be attending. World War II veterans, authors, 1940s Hollywood entertainers and reenactors will be present at the event, which is presented not as an airshow but as a warbird display and history education event, with aircraft rides available.
More information, including the complete list of attending P-40 and other warbirds, can be found on the 3rd annual CAF Atlanta Warbird Weekend website.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/07/21/nine-p-40-to-gather-for-avgs-75th-anniversary-in-september/
Jul 17 2016
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/07/17/b-29-doc-has-flown/
Jun 23 2016
Staff Sergeant David Thatcher shortly before the April 18, 1942 raid. (Photo USAF)
David J. Thatcher, one of the two remaining survivors of the famous Doolittle Raid, passed away on June 22, 2016 in Missoula, Montana. “Dick” Cole, a close friend of Thatcher, is now the sole surviving member of the group of 80 men who attacked Japan on 18 April 1942. Although such honours are rarely accorded to enlisted men, full military honours will be given, and a B-1 Lancer and a B-25 Mitchell will overfly the funeral ceremony next Monday.
Powell was the engineer/gunner on the B-25 nicknamed “The Ruptured Duck” during the Doolittle Raid. (© Gaëtan Marie)
Punchy Powell on the wing of his P-51B Mustang “The West By Gawd Virginian”. (Photo USAF)
Robert H. “Punchy” Powell, who flew with the famous 352nd Fighter Group during World War II, also passed away on 22 June 2016. Born in 1920, he flew his first combat with the group on November 11, 1943. He was credited with 6 destroyed aircraft (4.5 on the ground and 1.5 aerial victories) and received the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf clusters and the European Theatre Award with three Battle Stars.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/06/23/two-aviation-legends-pass-away-david-thatcher-and-punchy-powell/
Jun 21 2016
On June 12, we wrote about a rumour suggesting that Christopher Nolan was planning to destroy a warbird for his movie “Dunkirk”.
It would appear that the rumour is untrue: France 3 Nord-Pas-de-Calais, a French local news channel, has indicated that a Spitfire replica has been delivered in Dunkirk and that this is the “warbird” that will be destroyed.
Thanks to Patrick for the information!
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/06/21/no-warbird-to-be-destroyed-for-dunkirk-movie/
Jun 20 2016
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s Westland Lysander Mk III (s/n 2363, C-GCWL) was damaged in an emergency landing in a field following engine failure near Cayuga, Ontario, on June 18.
The pilot and his passenger were unharmed, and the aircraft has been recovered by the CWHM for repairs.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/06/20/cwhm-lysander-damaged-in-off-airport-landing/
Jun 16 2016
https://www.facebook.com/gary.norville/videos/1199579940075817/
https://www.facebook.com/gary.norville/videos/1199575686742909/
Videos: Gary Norville via Facebook
The Collings Foundation’s TF-51 Mustang “Toulouse Nuts” has made its first post-restauration flight. It is one of only three surviving TF-51 Mustangs, and is painted in its original markings of the 167th Fighter Squadron of the West Virginia Air Guard in the 1950s.
Sources:
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/06/16/videos-first-flight-for-collings-foundations-tf-51-toulouse-nuts/
Jun 12 2016
A rumour that originated from the Indie Revolver website has been agitating warbird fans for the past few days: it is suggested that Warner Bros. has spent $5 millions for a warbird that will be used and destroyed for Christopher Nolan’s movie Dunkirk, due to appear in July 2017.
The warbird is thought to be a German aircraft, which will be equipped with IMAX cameras and deliberately crashed to obtain realistic footage.
While this rumour might be unfounded, Christopher Nolan is know for his attention to detail and realism, and has reportedly already destroyed preserved vehicles and aircraft in some of his movies.
Update (June 21, 2016): the rumour appears to be unfounded as only a Spitfire replica will be destroyed for the shooting of the movie according to French media sources.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/06/12/will-christopher-nolan-destroy-a-warbird-for-his-movie-dunkirk/
Jun 11 2016
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/06/11/first-flight-of-the-letecke-muzeum-kbely-morane-saulnier-bb-replica/
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