Video: The Thunderbolts; Ramrod to Emden

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/12/06/video-the-thunderbolts-ramrod-to-emden/

F-111 memorial inaugurated in Australia

A No 1 Squadron RAAF F-111 Aardvark in 2007. (Photo USAF)

A memorial to honour the memory of the pilots who were killed flying the F-111 and also the mechanics who developed health problems while working on the aircraft was inaugurated at RAAF base Amberley. Some 40 guest and 100 base personnel were present for the inauguration.

Source

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/12/04/f-111-memorial-inaugurated-in-australia/

Aviodrome air theme park goes bankrupt

Photo Mw007 (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Sad news: due to the poor economic conditions, the Nationaal Luchtvaart-Themapark Aviodrome aviation theme park, better known as the Aviodrome, has filed for bankruptcy according to this Dutch news website. The future of the park and its extensive collection is unknown at this time, although it would seem some investors have lately shown interest. Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/11/29/aviodrome-air-theme-park-goes-bankrupt/

France: Memorial Flight’s Sopwith 1B2 Strutter almost finished

The Sopwith 1B2 was the twin-seater bomber version of the Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter (Crown Copyright)

Memorial Flight has finished the assembly of its Sopwith 1B2 Strutter and is now finishing the paint work on the aircraft before it leaves for La Ferté-Alais. The aircraft carries an unusual but historically accurate, representing an aircraft from Escadrille Sop 66.

The Memorial Flight is a non-profit organisation formed in 1988 which aims to preserve French and European aeronautical heritage, restoring  WW1 aircraft to flying condition.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/11/29/france-memorial-flights-sopwith-1b2-strutter-almost-finished/

Twenty-three F-111 disposed of in landfill in Australia

A No 1 Squadron RAAF F-111 Aardvark in 2007. (Photo USAF)

Twenty-three retired F-111 Aardvark of the Royal Australian Air Force have been buried in a landfill in Swanbank, Australia. This has provoked angry reactions from quite a few people in Australia, who believe the aircraft should have been given to museums and municipalities to preserve Australian aviation history. Only seven F-111 have found their way into museums and will be preserved. Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/11/26/twenty-three-f-111-disposed-of-in-landfill-in-australia/

Flight Lieutenant Charles Palliser †

Flight Lieutenant Charles Palliser, who has died aged 92, shot down four enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction of seven others while flying Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain and, a year later, over Malta. Read his obituary on the Telegraph.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/11/24/flight-lieutenant-charles-palliser-%e2%80%a0/

Vigna di Valle museum exposes restaured Ro.43

This Ro.43 was probably captured on film by the Regia Marina during WW2.

On November 17, a restaured IMAM Ro.43 was unveiled at the Italian Air Force museum in Vigna di Valle, and will be added to the museum’s exhibits.

The aircraft was restored over a two year period and was inaugurated in presence of General Giuseppe Bernardi, the Italian AF chief of staff and Major General Giuseppe Scarinci, one of the few surviving Ro.43 pilots. Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/11/19/vigna-di-valle-museum-exposes-restaured-ro-43/

Huey pilot injured in forced landing

A UH-1 Huey. (Photo Steve Crane (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0))

The pilot of a UH-1H Huey helicopter (N502AW) was wounded when he crash-landed his machine near Grand Canyon Valle Airport, Arizona on November 15. The pilot, Jeff Boatman, reported a transmission problem and then proceeded to make the landing. He was trapped inside the wreckage but was freed by emergency services. He is reported as having suffered serious but non life-threatening injuries.

Sources:

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/11/17/huey-pilot-injured-in-forced-landing/

Red Arrows pilot killed in ejection seat accident

Photo Elpidoforos Papanikolopoulos (CC BY 2.0)

Less than three months after the tragedy that cost Jon Egging his life, another pilot of the Red Arrows display team died yesterday. F/L Sean Cunningham was killed yesterday when his ejection seat fired while his aircraft was at a standstill. Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/11/09/red-arrows-pilot-killed-in-ejection-seat-accident/

Airco DH.2 flies from Wickenby, UK to Albert, France

Un Airco DH.2 (Crown Copyright).

An Airco DH.2 flown Stewart Smith will fly from Wickenby, UK, to Albert, France, to take part in the commemorations on November 11th and overfly a memorial to Lanoe Hawker, VC, that was recently built in Ligny Thilloy.

The trip will be flown in three legs, and the crew has already succesfully made the two first legs. A special blog was created for this event: Airco DH.2 from Wickenby to the Somme – 11/11/11. Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/11/08/airco-dh-2-flies-from-wickenby-uk-to-albert-france/

Supermarine Swift for sale on eBay

A Supermarine Swift F. Mk 1 in 1953. (Photo RuthAS (CC BY-SA 3.0))

The world’s only known surviving Supermarine Swift has been put up for sale on eBay.co.uk, with a base price of £ 250,000. The aircraft hasn’t flown in 40 years and was displayed in front of a camping and clothing shop in Leominster, Herefordshire.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/11/07/supermarine-swift-for-sale-on-ebay/

Brigadier General Dick Lord †

Brigadier General Dick Lord, the Fleet Air Arm pilot who has died aged 75, was instrumental in the development of America’s Top Gun fighter pilot academy, made famous by the film of the same name. Read his obituary on the Telegraph.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/11/07/brigadier-general-dick-lord-%e2%80%a0/

A-26 Invader to be restored in France

An A-26B of the 553rd Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomb Group. (Photo USAF)

A Douglas A-26 Invader recently arrived in Avignon and should be restored. It is A-26B-45-DL s/n 44-34172, built by Douglas in Long Beach, California.

Sold as surplus in 1958, the airframe was owned by several different companies and individuals. Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/11/05/a-26-invader-to-be-restored-in-france/

Swift Enterprise runs R-2800 Double Wasp on biofuel

Swift Enterprise, producer of 100SF, a lead-free biofuel meant to replace 100LL aviation fuel used in piston-engined aircraft, recently ran a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engine with 100SF. The engine ran well and Swift Enterprise claims the performance achieved was could only be previously achived by using 115/145 octane rating gas.

Swift Enterprise recently ran a 1933 Ranger L-440 engine with its fuel. It appears 100SF is a valid replacement for 100LL but, as with most biofuels, will only succees if production costs can be substantially lowered.

Read more on the EAA website or General Aviation News.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/10/29/swift-enterprise-runs-r-2800-double-wasp-on-biofuel/

Henri de Bordas †

Henri de Bordas, Free French ace, died on October 22, 2011. Bordas was still a student when France fell and he rallied England in 1940. Trained as a fighter pilot in the RAF, he flew during most of the war, flying some 320 wartime missions. He was credited with 11 aerial victories, including ten V-1 “buzz bombs”.

After the war, Bordas served in various positions in the French air force and as a consultant with the government. Read his biography (in French) on the website of l’Ordre de la Libération.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/10/25/henri-de-bordas-%e2%80%a0/