Oct 22 2012
Hurricane Z5140 at Duxford in 2012. (Photo Feggy Art (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0))
The Historic Aircraft’s Collection’s Hawker Hurricane Mk XIIa Z5140 (G-HURI) will be auctioned at the Bonhams sale of Collectors’ Motor Cars and Automobilia on December 3. It is expected that the aircraft will be sold for some 2.7 millions dollars.
The HAC also owns a Spitfire Mk Vb, a Nimrod II and a Fury Mk I, as well as a Fieseler Storch that is currently grounded for maintenance.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/10/22/historic-aircraft-collection-hurricane-mk-xii-to-be-auctioned-in-december/
Oct 19 2012
A Spitfire Mk XIV at Duxford (Photo Brian Proctor (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)).
Since the announcement last April that some 20 Spitfire Mk XIV had been found buried in Burma, very little information has been available concerning this extraordinary discovery. Some observers were understandably sceptical, given the lack of information and rumours stating that there could be 60 or more such Spitfires to be found.
These last few days, more information has appeared in British press. It would seem that the excavations should start at the end of the month and will take up to two years. A contract has been signed between David Cundall, the British enthusiast who discovered the location of the buried aircraft, and the Burmese government.
The first part of the operation should unearth 60 aircraft (instead of 20 as initially thought): Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/10/19/burmese-spitfire-excavation-to-start-soon/
Oct 11 2012
A Hawker Sea Fury (Photo Simon (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0))
The Hawker Sea Fury T.20 VX300/N924G flew again on September 25 at Ione, California, with Brian Sanders at the controls. The aircraft is powered by a Bristol Centaurus. Its restoration took 14 years and was carried out by Sanders Aeronautics.
Source: Aeroplane Monthly
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/10/11/centaurus-engined-sea-fury-flies-again-in-california/
Oct 07 2012
A rare Grumman F3F-2 flew again recentely at Sonoma Valley Airport in California, with pilot and restorer Chris Prevost at the controls. Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/10/07/grumman-f3f-flies-again/
Oct 03 2012
An airworthy DH.84 Dragon (Photo Tony Hisgett (CC BY 2.0)).
Six people were killed yesterday in the crash of a 1934 de Havilland DH.84 Dragon (VH-UXG) in Australia yesterday. The aircraft was flown by pilot Des Porter, accompanied by his wife and four friends. Returning from an airshow in Monto in Queensland, the aircraft’s distress beacon was activated when they ran in foul weather.
A massive search and rescue effort including seven helicopters and six planes was initiated but the beacon’s signal went offline. The rescue parties eventually located the aircraft, whose debris were scattered over a very large surface. It would appear the aircraft got lost in the weather and ran out of fuel.
Tragically, Porter had already survived a crash in this same airplane in 1954. He was only ten at the time and survived the accident, but his father and brother did not. He restored the aircraft to flying status several years later and flew it regularly.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/10/03/six-killed-in-de-havilland-dh-84-dragon-crash-in-australia/
Sep 28 2012
A few days earlier than planned, Mosquito FB.26 KA114 flew in Auckland yesterday. Several videos showing the event are available from YouTube:
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/09/28/mosquito-ka114-flies-in-auckland/
Sep 19 2012
The de Havilland Mosquito FB.26 KA114 under restoration by Avspecs Ltd made its first engine run today. The company, based in Auckland, New Zealand, is restoring the aircraft to airworthiness for its owner, Jerry Yagen. The restoration of the Mosquito being a lengthy process, the first flight of KA114 has been postponed several times but should take place soon. The first flight should take place 29th of September, although such a date could be postponed for various reasons.
The Mosquito is a rare warbird as its wooden construction does not age well. The last flight of a Mosquito took place on 21 July 1996, when T.3 RR299 crashed, killing its crew of two.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/09/19/first-engine-run-for-mosquito-ra114/
Sep 18 2012
An Me 323 Gigant. (Photo Bundesarchiv (CC BY-SA))
Italian researchers claim to have discovered the wreck of a Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant heavy cargo/troop transport off the Sardinian coast. Only 200 Me 323 were built during the war and none has survived to this day, the only remnants of the type being a main spar owned by the Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr (German Air Force Museum), near Berlin.
The plane was reportedly shot down by a Bristol Beaufighter on 26 July 1943 as it left Sardinia for Pistoia in Italy. A few troops onboard the aircraft managed to evacuate the aircraft before it sank, but most passengers were trapped inside and drowned.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/09/18/unique-me-323-gigant-wreck-found-off-sardinian-coast/
Sep 17 2012
Photo Max Pfandl (CC BY 2.0)
During the afternoon of Saturday the 15th of September, the crew of an L-39 of the Breitling Jet Team ejected from its aircraft after developing mechanical trouble. The team was overflying the Netherlands on its way to a meeting in Belgium.
The two-man crew, composed of the pilot and a mechanic in the rear seat, escaped unharmed while the aircraft crashed in a field.
Source: Blog de Piloter Mag
Updated: the accident took place on Saturday, not Sunday.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/09/17/l-39-albatros-from-the-breitling-jet-team-crashes-in-the-netherlands/
Sep 09 2012
Odegaard’s Super Corsair in Reno. (Photo tataquax (CC BY-SA 2.0))
Bob Odegaard, the famous pilot and owner of Super Corsair #74, was killed when his aircraft crashed during a practice session for the Barnes County Airshow, near Fargo, North Dakota, USA. The meeting has been cancelled but the organizers.
It seems, based on eyewitnesses’ reports, that the aircraft went into a barrel roll after takeoff and crashed, killing its pilot. Other aircraft on the ground were hit in the crash.
Bob Odegaard was a member of the Commemorative Air Force.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/09/09/bob-odegaard-killed-in-super-corsair-crash/
Sep 09 2012
A preserved Bf 109E in flight (Photo D. Miller (CC BY 2.0))
German-based warbirds restairation company Meier Motors has revealed on its website that it has been tasked to restore a Bf 109E to airworthiness. The aircraft, belonging to an unknown private owner, is an early-series “Emil” that took part in the final stages of the Spanish Civil War.
The aircraft’s fuselage is in poor condition but contains parts that can be reused. The wings are in better shape but will still require a lot of work.
A photo can be seen on le Meier Motors’ website.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/09/09/spanish-civil-war-veteran-bf-109e-to-be-restored/
Aug 31 2012
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“Russ” Bannock’s Mosquito FB.VI, when he was with No 418 Squadron. Artwork © Gaëtan Marie.
Flight Lieutenant Robert Bruce, who has died aged 96, formed a formidable night fighter crew with his Canadian pilot, Russ Bannock; their successes included the destruction of 19 V-1 flying bombs in addition to nine enemy aircraft. Read his obituary on the Telegraph.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/08/31/flight-lieutenant-robert-bruce-%e2%80%a0/
Aug 27 2012
The Sopwith Snipe flown by George Barker, VC.
The RAF Museum in Hendon recently received a Sopwith Snipe built by the New-Zealand-based company The Vintage Aviator Ltd. The aircraft, which is painted in a postwar silver finish, incorporates many original parts. It is only intended for static display as it is not airworthy.
Source: Aeroplane Monthly
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/08/27/raf-museum-hendon-receives-a-sopwith-snipe/
Aug 17 2012
While updating the blog today, I realized that WWN now has 200 Facebook fans or likes. It’s always nice to see such support, as updating the blog on a regular basis is a time-consuming task, which I sometimes feel like giving up. Thanks to all for you support! 🙂
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/08/17/200-facebook-fans-thank-you/
Aug 15 2012
An NA-64 Yale in RCAF colours at the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum (Photo RuthAS)
The Musée Aéronautique de la Presqu’Ile Cote d’Amour (MAPICA) based at La Baule in France received a North American NA-64 Yale in January 2012 and is restoring it to airworthiness. Some fifteen NA-64 Yale are reported to be flying in the world today.
France was one of the major operators of the type, but only received 111 aircraft from an order of 230 before being invaded by Germany in 1940. The aircraft were seized by German forces and used for pilot training in Germany, while the remaining 119 aircraft of the order were diverted to the RCAF.
Source: Piloter Mag’s blog and MAPICA’s website.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/08/15/na-64-yale-to-be-restored-to-airworthiness-in-france/
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