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Latest edition is out, features are:


PRECISION AEROSPACE PRODUCTIONS

A considerable amount of time has elapsed since we last visited Murray Griffith’s Precision Aerospace Productions facility at Wangaratta, Northern Victoria, Australia. In fact, few people have visited the facility in recent times as the doors were closed to the public in 2006. Editor Graham Orphan decided it was time to return to the facility to gain a sense of how things are progressing. This extensive article takes a look at the multitude of types, from P-39 and Curtiss Hawks through to Ki-61 and Corsairs undergoing work at ‘the world’s largest restoration shop.’

CURTISS AMERICA

The Curtiss H-1 was the first multi engine flying boat made and derivatives of the type gave birth to the British Flying Boat industry. The first ‘America’ was built to attempt the first Trans Atlantic flight, but fate intervened. As our previous ‘Mystery Aeroplane’ we take a short look at the history of the elegant flying boat and follow the magnificent reproduction being built at the Curtiss Museum located in Hammondsport, New York. Steady progress is being made towards a projected first flight at the Museum’s 5th Annual Seaplane Home-Coming, Keuka Lake in September 2007.


MIG-NIFICENT!

On 23 September 1941, MiG-3, 3457, of the Fighter Air Regiment 147 took off from Murmashi airfield on a mission to support ground troops and it was during an attack on anti aircraft positions that the MiG was hit in the engine, forcing the pilot to crash land. The remains of the machine lay forgotten until recovered along with several other wrecks in order that two examples could be rebuilt by the Avia Restoration Company, based at Novosibirsk. The fruits of that labour appear on these pages, with the successful first test flight taking place on 28 May. Along with an overview of surviving relics, this beautiful aircraft features as the centre spread.


TUNDRA SURVIVOR


During a routine flight to Northern Québec, Patrick Cloutier, bush pilot for Aventures Norpaq, noticed a familiar shape reflecting from the wilderness. It became clearer the closer he flew that this was not an ordinary aircraft and as he circled for a second glance, he recognized a Lockheed Lodestar. Upon his return he started researching the aircraft and came to the conclusion that this was in fact a Lodestar that flew with Canadian Pacific Airlines during WWII. This was the beginnings of what became known as the CF-CPA Project. In this article Michel Côté lays out the Project’s ambitious plans.


P-40s DOWNUNDER

We decided that since we had not produced an updated P-40 survivors list for seven years that it was time to go and visit everybody and get the ‘state of play’ on the P-40 passion that continues to burn brightly south of the Equator!


THE RETURN OF JASTA 11

Those who visited the Classic Fighters air show would have thrilled to the sight of SEVEN full size Fokker Dr. Triplanes flying in formation. All of these aircraft were presented in the authentic schemes of pilots who flew with the famous ‘Jasta 11’ - part of the ‘Richthofen Flying Circus’. Presented along with some stunning air to air photography are the known histories behind each of the schemes worn by the Dr.1s and an overview of the Jasta’s history.

I just got mine in the mail yesterday. It is the best issue I have ever seen you produce so far. Incredible reports and great pictures too.

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Live to fly, Fly to live.....

I agree a GREAT issue....

I have 2 quick questions though on the article on PRECISION AEROSPACE PRODUCTIONS

a) What is the serial of Murray Griffths Hawker Sea Fury
b) Does this mean PRECISION AEROSPACE PRODUCTIONS are going to tool up (or have already) o build Corsair Gull Wing Spars - as Murrays' Corsair has had the Spar cut... If so does this mean the 'holy grail' of Corsair rebuilds will no longer be there!

Paul

It was there when I got home.
Still have to read but I agree with the rest, the best issue I've seen, beautiful.

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The cover was super, and the contents were even better!

(That cover's good enough for framing!)

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Bob

I agree with the opinions above! The Mig photo is gorgeous.

Thanks guys, a bit peeved some of the text got wiped when one of the P-40 photos pushed up too far........there is always something !!!
Paul, will make a few enquiries re the spars, didn't hear that they were gearing up to do production runs though.
Serial for the Fury is WG599, 61631, ES3617 ( check issue 54 for more details in the Fury Survivors PT.3)

Dave

It is indeed a superb edition of the magazine this time - good to see the P-40's downunder article.

Can you tell ay more about the P-40F-10 owned by Stephen Grey at all? Such as where it came from? I thought Judy Pay's was the only example in the world (since Wigram's one is now backdated to a P-40E).

And that cover photo is a stunner, I love the green lake as a backdrop. I also liked Gavin Conroy's Fokker photos, and Roger Cain's shots of all the B-25's.

Well done to the CW team.

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.....the ex-OFMC, ex-Kermit Weeks red German single-seater. I believe that this one has Korean War history (according to the late Mark Hanna)

Dave.. thanks for the info.. if you could check about Corsair spars then that you be great...

The Sea Fury.. Ahh ex OFMC, Kermit Weeks, prob never left UK before Oz..

Mike, Air Britain post war FAA serials does not indicate Korea service....

Paul

As I said, I'm only going by what Mark told me......

Okay, a bit more info:

Corsair Spars: Murray will have to produce spars for his own project, so yes he will have the capacity to make them for other projects. I assume this will depend on the economy of scale ( i.e. how may orders he gets)

TFC P-40F-10. At present we have no further info on this aircraft, and we presently do not know its origins. We are making further inquiries with Mr Grey, and will report when we are able.

regards
Dave

Dave

Thanks

Paul

Precision Aerospace is also building replacements spars for our FG-1 Corsair. In fact the are using our center section as a guide since there's is cut. Our Corsair project is the ex JOE air racer that flew in some later 40's air races. We have had the project for several years and sent the center section to Precision to have it rebuilt, the rest of the project is at our shop.