Le Cercle des Machines Volantes, based in the city of Compiègne, north of Paris, is planning to build a Latécoère 28, a legendary aircraft used by France’s Aéropostale airmail service in the 1930s.
Thanks to the support of the Latécoère foundation, the CMV has acquired and scanned the entire blueprints for the aircraft and is creating a 3D modelisation. Some parts have already been built, notably the instrument panel, equipped with original instruments. The aircraft is to be powered by a Hispano-Suiza V12 engine similar to the original type.
With a 63-feet wingspan, this aircraft was capable of carrying eight passagers over 600 miles at a speed of 140 mph. It will be built using the various skills available among the CMV’s ranks and with the help of many partners specialized in various fields, including the Compiègne Technological University, the Latécoère Foundation, and the Cachan IUT.
The P-51 Mustang racer “Precious Metal”, heavily modified for racing, was seriously damaged by fire after refuelling on 8 September.
Pilot Thom Richard was able to leave the aircraft unharmed, but the Mustang was badly damaged before fire units could respond.
Following this accident, the numerous messages of support received by the Precious Metal team have convinced them to rebuild the aircraft and donations are being sought after to help rebuild the aircraft. One proposal is to offer to buy one square inch of the aircraft for $50, on which the donator’s photo will then be printed and flown around the track once the aircraft is rebuilt. Donators can purchase as many square inches as they want, and will get a bigger photo of them if they buy several.
SUpermarine Spitfire MJ772 at Osjkosh in 2010, still in single-seater configuration. (Photo Dave Miller (CC BY 2.0))
Supermarine Spitfire TR.IX MJ772 was badly damaged in an accident this morning near Woodchurch in Kent, United-Kingdom. Pilot Rob Davies walked away with no injuries.
The aircraft appears to have suffered engine failure shortly after take-off, leaving Davies with no other options than putting it down with its gear up in a field. The left wing was torn off during the crash-landing.
Spitfire MJ772 served with No 341 (Free French) Squadron “Alsace” during the war and was converted to a two-seater TR.IX in 1950-51 before being sold to the Irish Air Corps. It was converted to a single-seater in 1992, and then back to its two-seater configuration more recently by Meier Motors.
Hawker Hunter T.7 WV732 (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))
The latest information provided by Sussex police services concerning the tragic crash that took place on Saturday is that it is “highly probable that eleven people were killed” and that the final figure could be as high as 20.
Fifty-one year old pilot Andy Hill was pulled from the wreckage of the aircraft and is hospitalized in critical condition. He is a former Royal Air Force Harrier pilot now flying with British Airways.
Despite the numerous rumours and “explanations” provided by the media and Internet commentators, the causes of the disaster are still unknown and will probably remain so for some time. The crash scene, which covers a wide area, had not yet been fully cleared and processed. Police are still trying to determine the exact number and identity of victims. The aircraft’s wreckage should soon be moved out and turned over to the investigators.
Hawker Hunter T.7 WV732 (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))
A Hawker Hunter crashed this afternoon during a display at the Shoreham Airshow in southern England. The aircraft fell near a road, and several cars were caught in the blast. The first reports indicate seven people were killed, with another four seriously wounded who were evacuated and some fifteen people presenting minor wounds which were treated on the spot. Witnesses indicate the pilot did not eject.
Many photos and videos of the crash have been published online, but will not be posted here.
The aircraft in question appears to be Hawker Hunter WV732, initially built as a Hunter F.4 and delivered to the Royal Air Force in 1955.
The Bugatti 100P built by The Bugatti 100P Project flew for the first time today. The flight was only a short hop meant to confirm the aircraft’s characteristics and handling and was made by Scotty Wilson, who reported the aircraft handled well on all axis. It flew at an altitude of 100 ft and reached 110 knots.
Unfortunately, the aircraft floated quite a bit when he tried to put it down. When it finally settled back on the runway, a failure of the right brake brought it off the runway. The soil, made soft and muddy by recent rain, made the aircraft nose over, and damage was inflicted on the spinner and propellers. The Hayabusa motorcycle engines used on the Bugatti 100P were presumably not shock-damaged, as the aircraft is equipped with a clutch that would have taken most of the shock and preserved the engines.
The Bugatti 100P was an unusual aircraft design by Ettore Bugatti in 1938 to enter the 1939 Deutsch de la Meurthe Cup Race. It was not ready in time to enter the race and was abandoned prior to the German invasion of France in 1940.
On Battle of Britain day, September 15th, a formation of 45 aircraft will take off from Goodwood aerodrome36 Supermarine Spitfires, 8 Hawker Hurricanes and the only airworthy Bristol Blenheim.
The formation will be led from the back seat of a twin-seat Spitfire by Wing Commander Tom Neil, DFC, AFC, AE, a 95-year old Battle of Britain veteran. After reaching Selsey Bill, the formation will break into groups of four, which will fly different paths across south and south-east England and land at various airfields used during the battle: Biggin Hill, Duxford, Northweald, Northolt, with some returning to Goodwood.
It is the first time since the end of World War II that so many Battle of Britain aircraft fly together.
If you haven’t seen this yet on Warbirds News, chances are you’ll love it. This remarkable video by Lyle Jansma allows the viewer (if his browser permits it) to immerse in a Heritage Flight comprising a P-51 Mustang and F-22 Raptor. Start the video, and drag the image around to see what it’s all about.
A #360Video Experience taking a virtual Heritage Flight with this Cockpit 360° captured at the 2015 Abbotsford International Air Show. Ride along with Greg “B.A.” Anders in the Heritage Flight Museum’s P-51D Mustang “VAL-HALLA” while navigating the 360° video to the right to see Maj John “Taboo” Cummings piloting the Air Combat Command’s F-22 Raptor in close formation. Footage courtesy of Lyle Jansma of AeroCapture Images – www.heritageflight.org – www.acicockpit360.com – www.aerocaptureimages.com
The B-17G “Shady Lady” at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. (Photo killbox (CC BY-NC 2.0))
The Collings Foundation has announced that it has acquired several warbirds from the collection of the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum:
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress “Shady Lady” (s/n 44-83785), which is technically airworthy and should fly again in 2017. The foundation already operates a B-17, and this new arrival will make it possible for the “Wings of Freedom Tour” to continue while one B-17 is under maintenance.
A Lockheed P-38L Lightning which should fly in 2016 after some restoration work.
A Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10, whose return to airworthiness is uncertain due to some technical problems. Regardless of this, restoration work will be carried on the aircraft.
A Curtiss P-40K Warhawk, which will join the P-40 already owned by the foundation and will probably be returned to airworthiness.
More information on this topic can be found on the blog The Warbird Watcher.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/08/13/collings-foundation-acquires-b-17-flying-fortress-bf-109-p-38-lightning-and-p-40-warhawk/
The Messerschmitt Bf 109G D-FOON belonging to The Fighter Factory has been restored to airworthiness by Meier Motors and made it maiden flight yesterday with Charlie Brown at the controls.
Another test flight took place today, and in-flight photos were taken.
A Fieseler Storch at Flying Legends in 2012. (Photo Tony Hisgett (CC BY 2.0))
The Fieseler 156 Storch F-AZDA (ex-Morane-Saulnier 505 F-BBUG), operated by Aéro Rétro of Saint Rambert d’Albon was heavily damaged in a field landing near Chambéry, France. The pilot was slightly wounded.
The aircraft was to participate in the Bourget lake airshow that is taking place today. The French Air Police has launched an investigation.
The Mosquito .75 at La Ferté on 25 May 2012. (Photo Bertrand Brown)
In yet another incident in just a few days, a crewmember has been seriously injured in the accident of the Mosquito .75, a 3/4-scale de Havilland Mosquito replica built by RRAA (Reconstructions et répliques d’avions anciens). After a safe landing at Fontenay-le-Comte, the aircraft is reported to have flipped over while taxiing.
Le Cercle des Machines Volantes, based in the city of Compiègne, north of Paris, is planning to build a Latécoère 28, a legendary aircraft used by France’s Aéropostale airmail service in the 1930s. 
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