First Flight -- Vintage Wings of Canada Kittyhawk

Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:03 pm

This has been a long-running project for me, overseeing the restoration of this P-40N-1. HUGE sigh of relief at the conclusion of its first flight.

That was yesterday. Tomorrow is 65 years to the day it crashed in New Guinea, and, also, Anzac Day.

http://www.vintagewings.ca/page?a=571&lang=en-CA

Dave

Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:23 pm

Very cool! Thanks for posting this, it's nice to see another P-40 in the air. Can't wait to see it this summer!

Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:36 pm

Oh sweet...she'll be at Thunder!

SN

Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:24 pm

Dave, that is excellent news. I hear it will be in Canada soon. Your time is getting close.

Eric

Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:24 pm

Here's a few more shots of the first flight taken by Colin Hunter in New Zealand. Thanks to Colin for letting us use these shots. Steve

Last edited by K225 on Fri Apr 24, 2009 5:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:32 pm

The real question is "will it be at Geneseo?" :lol:

Great news about it taking it's first flight, congrats and great job to all those involved.

Tim

Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:03 pm

Dave, Rich Dann here. Saw you this weekend with the Mutual Concerns Museum folks. Was a friend of your brother down in Houston....at the Bayview Duck.

The P-40 looks fantastic. I helped rebuild RCAF 1058 Kittyhawk I years ago. Also wrote the new P-40 in Action for Squadron Publications.

Good to see you on WIX!

Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:05 am

the kiwi restoration movement is just amazing!!! you have contributed so much to the cause worldwide!!

Fri Apr 24, 2009 1:01 am

tom d. friedman wrote:the kiwi restoration movement is just amazing!!! you have contributed so much to the cause worldwide!!

We try our best :lol:

Seriously though, another fine example of what Pioneer Aero Restoration do best. Congrats to Paul and the team, and well done Frank Parker for his test flying efforts. Normally I don't like glossy warbirds, but this P-40 somehow looks right in it. Very keen to see the paintjob completed!

Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:01 am

Hi Rich! Good to see you again. Quite the collection, isn't it?

Regarding the gloss, the target finish is between matte and satin. I suspect they cleaned the airplane before the first flight, and might have used something which imparted a shine. It'll flatten out.

They were planning on waiting for the flight test sequence to be completed before the finish painting (markings) in order to only have to clean off the exhaust residue only once.

Colin has captured it very well, I think!

I was there a month ago, as they were wrapping it up, but I only got to start and taxi the thing!

Dave

Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:11 am

Nice to see one without a sharks mouth.

Looking forward to seeing it in person.

Looks like a excellent restoration.

Cheers dave C

Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:38 am

Looks great.

(Two "new" P-40's flying within a week! Awesome)

Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:55 pm

...very nice -- if the rest of the plane is that good (which it appears to be) then WOW! good job!

Sat Apr 25, 2009 2:24 am

She flew again today..................65 years to the day that she crashed in PNG, today is also ANZAC day, NZ and Australia's remembrance day and to make things even more special the widow of her last pilot (Jim Harvey) and his son and grandsons were there today to see her fly.

Notice anything different?

She's grown one of these............................

The roundels have also been applied......................

.............see it sez it's a roundel. :lol:

Also notice the flawless finish.

Sat Apr 25, 2009 3:41 am

Great shots Marcus! Loving the droptank - saw it on the news footage tonight. How many P-40s fly with one of these?

First Flight -- Vintage Wings of Canada Kittyhawk

First Flight -- Vintage Wings of Canada Kittyhawk

Hi Dave!

that cooler duct is a work of ART!