West Houston Squadron’s C-60A Lodestar flies again

Photo Sam Bulger

The West Houston Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force flew its C-60A Lodestar “Goodtime Gal” (s/n 2478) for the first time on August 26 after an eight-year restoration period.

The flight crew for the flight was composed of Aubie Pearman (pilot), Stan Bloyer (copilot), Jim Placette (flight engineer) and Stan Turner (observer/scanner). Ulf Brynjestad acted as A/C coordinator. Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/08/28/west-houston-squadrons-c-60a-lodestar-flies-again/

Bird strike could have caused Red Arrows crash

F/L Jon Egging † (Photo British MoD)

The Daily Mail has run an article suggesting that the crash that killed F/L Jon Egging last Saturday might be due to a total loss of power after a bird strike. The article also suggests that the pilot might not have been able to eject due to excessive G forces as he turned his aircraft away from housing. Read the article on the Daily Mail.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/08/22/bird-strike-could-have-caused-red-arrows-crash/

Stunt performer Bryan Jensen killed in crash

Photo Richard Bramlette (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Aerobatic pilot Bryan Jensen was killed yesterday when his highly-modified Pitts Model 12 biplane impacted the ground during the Kansas City Air Show. Bryan Jensen was a very experienced pilot with 23,000 hours of flight time. When not flying as an airline captain, he was performing aerobatics at airshows. The causes of the crash are not known.  Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/08/21/stunt-performer-bryan-jensen-killed-in-crash/

Red Arrows crash in Bournemouth

Photo Elpidoforos Papanikolopoulos (CC BY 2.0)

(Updated Aug 20, 2011 @ 2016): One of the Red Arrows’ aircraft crashed early this afternoon at Bornemouth Air Festival in the UK. It would appear the pilot was able to eject but was killed. The causes of the crash are unknown.

The MoD has confirmed that the pilot involved was F/L Jon Egging, aged 33. Known under the callsign “Eggman” with the Red Arrows, he flew as “Red 4”.

Witness reports at this time give conflicting versions of what happened but photo evidence does seem to show he ejected from the aircraft at low altitude. It appears F/L Egging tried to guide his airplane away from the airfield and any housing, sacrificing his life in an attempt to protect that of others.

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/08/20/red-arrows-hawk-crash-at-bournemouth/

Canada restores historic identity of the Royal Canadian Air Force

The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, announced yesterday that the Government of Canada has restored the use of the historic designations of the three former services: the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), the Canadian Army (CA), and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The Air Force had been designated the Canadian Forces Air Command  since 1968.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/08/17/canada-restores-historic-identities-of-the-royal-canadian-air-force/

AT-6D crashes due to fuel starvation in Ohio

AT-6D Texan N7435U crash-landed in a pasture on Saturday, after its engine quit due to fuel starvation. The pilot was able to walk away from the crash scene and suufered only minor injuries. The accident occured a short distance from Franklin County Airport, Ohio. Source

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/08/17/at-6d-crashes-due-to-fuel-starvation-in-ohio/

First flight of Skyhawk Ventures LLC’s A-4C Skyhawk

A-4C Skyraider BuNo 149606 successfully flew its first flight on August 5 . The aircraft was restored by Skyhawk Venture LLC and the first flight appears to have been successful.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/08/16/first-flight-of-skyhawk-ventures-llcs-a-4c-skyhawk/

Warrant Officer Tom McLean DFC, DFM †

Tom McLean (Crown Copyright)

The legendary aerial gunner Thomas Joseph McLean died on July 20, aged 89. He is arguably the highest-scoring gunner, his DFC citation crediting him with seven confirmed kills as well as two probables. Postwar research indicated the two probables were actually destroyed, giving him a total of nine aerial kills, but McLean always limited his tally to what  was officially awarded to him. Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/08/15/warrant-officer-tom-mclean-dfc-dfm-%e2%80%a0/

Two injured in Stearman crash in Fabens, TX

(Photo Feggy Art (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0))

Two men were injured in the crash of their Stearman shortly after taking off from Fabens Airport on Sunday morning. Their lives are not endangered but both sustained important injuries and have been hospitalized. Engine trouble might be the cause of the crash. Source.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/08/15/two-injured-in-stearman-crash-in-fabens-tx/

Fw 190 and Bf 109 at the FHC’s Luftwaffe Day

On August 6, Paul Allen’s Heritage Flying Collection hosted its “Luftwaffe Day” at Paine Field. The date is somewhat unique, as the FHC’s Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-5 made its debut, and flew in formation with one of only two airworthy Messerschmitt Me 109E-3. The Fw 190 is the only airworthy example of its type in the world, and was restored to its exact wartime condition.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/08/11/fw-190-and-bf-109-at-the-fhcs-luftwaffe-day/

EAA Airventure 2011 video

Grant Leisz has posted a nice video of this year’s EAA Airventure at Oshkosh. Enjoy!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/08/09/eaa-airventure-2011-video/

Waco ACG-8 back in the air

Mike Araldi’s Waco ACG-8 made its first post-restoration flight yesterday from Green Swamp Aerodrome in Florida. (Source: AntiqueAirfield.com)

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/08/09/waco-acg-8-back-in-the-air/

Two people killed in Fouga Magister crash

Photo Robert Emperley (CC BY-SA 2.0)

A man and a woman were killed this morning in the crash of their Fouga CM.170 Magister (F-AZZE) in a field near Champs-de-la-Pierre in France.

The causes of the accident are yet unknown but according to witnesses, visibility was  limited by fog when the accident occurred, shortly after 9:00 AM local time.  Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/08/06/two-people-killed-in-fouga-magister-crash/

Breitling announces Reno air racing video game

In collaboration with the National Championship Air Races, Breitling recently announced the launch of Breitling Reno Air Races, an online multiplayer airplane race game. The game is already available on the AppStore and will be available for Android-based devices in September. Click here to download it or view the movie.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/08/05/breitling-announces-reno-air-racing-video-game/

Air racer Jon Sharp announces retirement

The famous air racer and team leader of Nemesis Air Racing Jon Sharp has announced he will retire after a highly successful 32-year racing career, during which he won 15 Reno Air Racing National Championships. Read more on EAA.org.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/08/05/air-racer-jon-sharp-announces-retirement/