LATEST CLASSIC WINGS .....

[DaveM2]

Is currently at the printers....







Main Features are:

THE REAL DEAL- HISTORY WITH HEART (Pt.1)


Paul Allen’s unique Focke Wulf Fw 190 has completed a long and complicated journey to flight which began with its discovery in a remote Russian Forest some two decades ago. The brief issued to JME Aviation Ltd was straight forward enough - if not far from simple! Restore this rare aircraft to as original as possible, and return it, as close as possible, to how it looked on the day of its last flight. In this, the first part of an in-depth article, we take a look at the fighter bombers history and then Bruce Gordon describes the painstaking restoration that followed to structurally complete the aircraft to the highest degree of originality demanded by the Flying Heritage Collection. Jim Larsen provides the air to air photography.



KILLER KOMET

Following on from our detailed look at the restoration of the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford’s Komet we now focus on the remainder of the survivors and their known history, backed up by ‘then and now’ photos. Frustratingly the identity of some airframes remains a mystery, a product of post war confusion and indifference; however we are fortunate that because of their relatively small size and perceived ‘novelty’ value a relatively healthy number remain to remind us that out of the desperation of war comes ground breaking technology.




IN PURSUIT OF FLIGHT – FLYING THE ‘AMERICA’


Readers of Classic Wings will have been following our reports on the construction and testing by the good folks at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, Hammondsport, NY, of the faithfully produced replica of the ‘America’ Flying boat. This remarkable achievement reached its zenith with the first public flight of this great ‘boat’ in 2008. As part of the follow up article experienced pilots Jim Poel (sadly since passed away) and Lee Sackett describe what it was like to get this magnificent aircraft off the water and into the air.




THE RESURRECTION OF A HURRICANE

Ron Werneth updates progress on one of the world's earliest surviving Hawker Hurricane Mk. 1 fighters and a Battle of France veteran which is being painstaking rebuilt to ground-running condition by the Cambridge Bomber and Fighter Society in the United Kingdom.


THE FALL OF THE BARON

We still read countless references in books and within electronic vehicles that the topic of the death of Manfred von Richthofen “Is still the subject of much dispute”. This should no longer be the case and perhaps, should never have been the case. After years of studying the subject, Editor Graham Orphan travelled to the place where the fatally wounded Rittmeister Manfred von Richthofen brought his famous red Triplane down for the last time, to try to gain a better sense of that final flight.


AIR SHOWS - Cactus Fly In

[Sopwith]

Thanks for the update Dave,looks like another good one again, as always.Look forward to it arriving in the mail.

[DaveM2]

Sopwith

No problem, been a struggle to get it done with the upcoming Classic Fighter airshow almost upon us.
Speaking of which, and appropriately 'Butcher Bird' related, 'our' FW190 arrived today....finally! Now all we have to do is get it assembled, certified and test flown before its debut at Easter!

regards
Dave

[Mike]

Speaking of which, and appropriately 'Butcher Bird' related, 'our' FW190 arrived today....finally! Now all we have to do is get it assembled, certified and test flown before its debut at Easter!

....plus it needs a bit of paintwork on the fin!

[DaveM2]

Speaking of which, and appropriately 'Butcher Bird' related, 'our' FW190 arrived today....finally! Now all we have to do is get it assembled, certified and test flown before its debut at Easter!

....plus it needs a bit of paintwork on the fin!

Indeed, however the new owner is reluctant to do so. We are having some removable examples of those nasty crosses made up anyway just in case we can persuade him that history should not be sanitized and represented as accurately as possible.
We will have the 190 lined up alongside the Stuka and Me(Nord) 108, so it will definitely look a bit odd sans swastika.
However if the owner insists, then we must respect his wishes-it is after all his aircraft. There is a possibility that the aircraft may be called on for movie or still advertising work in the future and those who are putting up money may well want accuracy, so our 'decals' will hopefully see some future use, if not at the air show.

Dave

[Mike]

Then perhaps he should paint RNZAF roundels on it. Or stars & bars.

[DaveM2]

He He - well there were a few with Stars 'n Bars flown, but none in RNZAF colours.
The boys at JEM Aviation had it on its gear earlier today-things are moving along at pace.
Anyone have FW Pilots Notes in English? None of the 190 owners we have spoken to have.
I have sent a few emails around to those who have flown the aircraft to get some feedback for our pilot, so hopefully we will get some good advice through them....



Dave

[BenG]

Dave,

What are the news about the Yak under rebuild with JEM, please?

Thanks!

PS: you should ask to Marc Mathis to come to NZ and fly your 190

Last edited by BenG on Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:30 am, edited 1 time in total.

[DaveM2]

Ben

The Yak-3 is nearing completion and has just had its paint scheme applied, an official unveiling is to be held (with vodka and dancing girls ) on the Thursday of the air show week - that is the day before practice day.The major hold up at present is the cowlings which have yet to be made which means it will be on static display for the weekend rather than being a flyer.

Marc would be a good choice indeed- we should have kidnapped him and put him in the container! Does he speak English?

Dave

[redvanner]

He He - well there were a few with Stars 'n Bars flown, but none in RNZAF colours.
The boys at JEM Aviation had it on its gear earlier today-things are moving along at pace.
Anyone have FW Pilots Notes in English? None of the 190 owners we have spoken to have.
I have sent a few emails around to those who have flown the aircraft to get some feedback for our pilot, so hopefully we will get some good advice through them....



Dave

@Dave:

Looks very good. You have a PM.

Michael

[BenG]

Thanks for the infos about the Yak.

Marc would be a good choice indeed- we should have kidnapped him and put him in the container! Does he speak English?

Answer is yes! Check your mail.

[bomberflight]

I just wanted to publicly say that you to Classic Wings.

I was shown the issue which covered B-29 "Fifi" and decided to take out a two year subscription as a result.

I put my order in on-line on a Sunday and my first issue arrived just four days later. NZ to UK in 4 days !!!

[DaveM2]

Thanks Peter, sometimes the stars align However we do have our share of drama with the Postal Service I can tell you
Latest should be in the post later this week......

Dave

[DaveM2]

Omaka 1600 hrs Thursday. A 190 fires up for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere. Ash engine sounds like a bag of spanners -barking and growling! CAA arrives for the all important inspection tomorrow morning-fingers crossed!

[redvanner]

Great news Dave. I´ll keep my fingers crossed.

Found those vids, I hope everybody enjoys them. Now I´m waiting for the first flight....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6-EkTTNt8k

http://www.youtube.com/user/CAPPHOTOGRA ... kFpMipd-7A

Michael