Warbird Information Exchange

It's that time again to think about what we have to look forward to to see fly in 2018. What restorations or rebuilds are nearing completion to fly next year?

Here in the UK, we should see the Shuttleworth Spitfire V 'AR501' fly again as well as the Duxford-based Sea Fury T.20 with its new powerplant. We should also have another Hurricane, V7947, which should fly early next year.

As for America, the Twin Mustang isn't far off from first flight.

Any other rumours?

Darn, you beat me to it. Of course the big one here in the US is the unveiling of the B-17,. the Memphis Belle. Its been a long time in coming!

_________________
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

1918
AIRCO (Dehavilland) D.H. Has a goal of flying by the end of March.

Off the top of my head:

XP-82 Twin Mustang
Texas Flying Legends F8F Bearcat at Ezell Aviation
CAF C-47 "That's All, Brother"

AMHF PV-2 Harpoon "Hot Stuff" should be repaired and in the air again soon.

Not sure how close any of these are to flight ...

Collings Foundation F6F Hellcat at American Aero
Tri-State Warbird Museum FlugWerk FW190
Warbird Heritage Foundation FG-1D (I think that's further out than next year)
Brewster Corsair at Ezell Aviation
Kermit Weeks A-26 "Whistler's Mother" at Aero Trader
Canadian Warplane Heritage TBM
Air Heritage C-47 "Luck of the Irish"
Doug Matthews/Classic Fighters of America F-86
EAA B-25 "Berlin Express"

_________________
Matt

The third Mosquito by Avspecs, owned by Rod Lewis, is slated to be completed/ flying this coming spring.

In recent videos by Kermit Weeks, his A-26 Invader will be finished/ flying likely this coming spring, in-time to debut at Oshkosh.

I would expect that the FHCAM P-38J will be completed in the coming year.

On a tour of C&P Aviation in 2015, Pat Harker mentioned the F-82E project very likely being completed/flying in 2-3 years time (stated in 2015), so maybe 2018 will be the year.

Like I say every year: The POF P-59!

_________________

All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

I know of a Stearman restoration due for completion next year.

Jerry Yagen's P-39, out in New Zealand, may also be ready for next year, though I haven't seen any pictures of it recently.

Maybe, just maybe, 2018 might also be the year TFC's FIAT CR.42 may finally fly, although I do believe parts are still too scarce to come by.

There's the BF109E out in Germany that has taxiied but not yet flown, I think. Maybe next year too.

Following the Aircraft Restoration Company's Instagram page, work seems to be flowing nicely on their Spitfire PR.XI. Maybe that might finally fly again next year.

Historic Aircraft Collection's DH-9 should fly next year also.

In the UK and Europe i can think of

Meier Motors Sea Fury T.20
ARCO Lysander
TFC CR.42 (fingers crossed!)
Sea Fury WG599
Hangar 10/Air Fighter Academy FW190
Spitfire AR501
Hurricane V7497
HAC DH9
Spitfire PL983
ME109E "1983"
Belgium Hawker Fury ISS
Folland Gnat F1
FM2 Wildcat G-KINL

We might have an update on Pioneer Aero (NZ) projects after the weekend - Wings Over NZ Xmas meetup next door, with Pioneer hangar visit

Not a restoration, but one of our hangar tenants is building a full-scale replica Fokker Dr.1 triplane which should fly in the spring of 2018.

_________________
Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

Also not a restoration, but ReplicAir continues to forecast a 2018 first flight for their Dewoitine d.551 reproduction.

_________________
It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

I banged my head several times and nothing ... could you elaborate on this one please? I like the sound of 1918.

_________________
Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas

PIC, Ford 6600 pulling Rhino batwing up and down the runway

Airco DH.9 E8894, at Duxford: http://www.historicaircraftcollection.ltd.uk/dh9.html

_________________
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22

Anyone heard anything about Hangar 11's Spitfire Mk IX PT879? Could be seeing more progress with the sale of their P-40?

James Bradley from the CWH posts Avenger updates at this Instagram. Its strictly airplane updates so I hope he wouldn't mind the link being posted.

https://www.instagram.com/jamesbradley4041/