Warbird Information Exchange

Unfortunately, as things stand at the moment, it looks like I wont make the actual Flying Legends display this year, but fortunately I was able to make the arrivals/practice day on the Friday. The weather was not brilliant while I was there, strong winds and heavy cloud, but one or two pleasant surprises. The new P40 stayed in the hanger so I’ll have to catch that at a later date but the FW190 performed a short taxi and engine run.

















Oh, and a big change this year, a fast jet..



For a decent selection of Flying Legends shots this site might be worth a visit
http://forums.airshows.co.uk/cgi-bin/uk ... ct=SF;f=10

And to keep up with all events Duxford this site is a must..
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mclaydon/

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Life is for living, live it.

Nice pictures
One question what is the little swiss biplane ???Not a Nieuport is it ?

If you mean the biplane in the first photo, it's Swedish, or rather a reproduction of a Swedish aircraft called a Tummelisa, and it does have a lot of Nieuport features. It belongs to Mikael Carlson, and below is a description from Mikael's webpage.

At the end of WWI the Swedish Army Aviation Corps, "Flygkompaniet", was in need of a replacement trainer for the Albatross fleet. In 1919 the Swedish designer Henrik Kjellson came up with a new, small, lightweight design, built around the 9 cylinder Le Rhone 80hp rotary engine, containing many features from the successful French fighter Nieuport.

Because of its diminutive size the aircraft was named the "Tummeliten" (Tom Thumb from the HC Andersen tale), but pilots quickly changed it to "Tummelisa" (Tammy Thumb) due to its tendency to (snap) roll onto its back!

The aircraft was in active service between 1919 and 1934, with 28 aircraft built in all. It holds an unusual distinction from that era in that, of the 28 single-seat aircraft built and flown to train young pilots, not one fatal accident occurred within its 15 years of service! In 1935, all aircrafts, save one, were scrapped, with the sole original now residing in the Swedish Air Force Museum.

Mikael's aeroplane is a reproduction built by himself as his first project, between 1982 and 1989. He actually started by cutting a tree on his family land and went from there! Original drawings, numerous visits at the Air Force museum to measure the original Tummelisa, original instruments and parts where available and of course an original engine, restored by Mikael himself. Where original parts couldn't be found Mikael simply manufactured them by himself. Wheels, tyres and propeller are some examples, not to mention over 100 metric turnbuckles made by hand!

FIREBIRD
Thanks for the info

Wow. That Fw 190 looks impressive. Are they going to fly it ? Is it original or a Flugwerk kit ? Just one thing : it isn't complete without a swastika on it's tail. Political correctness, my a**.

Its a Flugwerk kit, I believe they have a lot of paperwork to do before it will fly in the UK.

I hate to get off topic, but whats the submarine looking thing in the background of the second picture?

The P-40 looks awesome...

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

I would assume it's the IWM's mini sub.

Correct.

See here
http://duxford.iwm.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.1208

thanks for sharing the Duxford pictures! It is so cool to see a Fw-190 with its engine running and moving about on the ramp. I can't wait until it flies.

Dennis

Who's is the potent looking Spitfire in the hangar? Stephen's? Did it fly? The 190 looks good, genuine or not.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

The Spitfire comes from France, was restored in America. It belongs to a group called Corsair Warbirds, they also own a Corsair which is in the first photo behind the little biplane.

Bit more info herethough it hasn't been updated recently.
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/spitregi ... ps890.html

Surprised you're not familiar with this one. The airplane was a gift from Thialand to Planes of Fame and sat static for many years. It was restored by PoF and operated out of the Chino for a year or two before being sold overseas. Not historically accurate but great fun to watch, and hear, perform! I was sad to see it go but she looks better than ever now and is operated regularly.