About a year ago I ran across this photo of this Nardi FN 305D....
http://preservedaxisaircraft.com/Italy/ ... I-TOMI.jpg
"Preserved Axis a/c" states that Kermit Weeks has purchased this bird
and it is being restored at Personal Plane Services, Ltd. in England.
Is anyone here familiar with PPS or the progress of the care of the
Nardi? Are there any current photos available or additional
information concerning the history of I-TOMI?
According to the limited info on the 305d available on the net, there
were only 2 "D models" factory produced. Both were radial-engine
outfitted with the 9cyl Walter Bora rated at 200 hp.
One was a 2-seat tandem, as in the previous photo, the other was a
single-seater...both were built as long-distance-record challengers.
The 2-seater, registered I-UEBI, set a record for class in Mar 1939
flying non-stop from Rome to Adis Ababa, Ethiopia at avg. 149mph.
What I'm wondering, is if I-TOMI is a re-registered I-UEBI? Most
Nardi 305's were equipped with an inline 6...perhaps I-TOMI is
merely a "standard" 305 re-engined with a radial. What rounder is
Kermits fitted with?
Another possibility is that at the end of WW2 there were some
"leftover" 305 airframes at the Piaggio plant (where large Nardi runs
were assembled at)...and a limited run of 305's was completed...less
than 10 aircraft I think. Being postwar this final airframes could have
fitted with whatever the guys at the plant could lay their hands on.
Pure speculations on my part...but I am curious about this bird.
Love those rockerbox blisters on the cowl...wouldn't she look good
with a set of gear fairings and pants?...such as the Miles Hawk Speed Six
http://www.dur.ac.uk/a.p.beney/slides/i ... &ip=http...
...or similar to the Mew Gull
http://www.edenforge.co.uk/photo/duxford-02/534.htm
Any help at info or steerage would be greatly appreciated!
