Warbird Information Exchange

With 2011 rapidly coming to a close (where does the time go), what restorations will be finished in 2012? With very little if anything happening at the restoration shop at the NASM, I dont see much coming out of there anytime soon.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

At the Vintage Flying Museum:

Flyers:
Douglas A-26 Counter Invader "Special K"
ETO combat veteran Douglas C-47 "9X"
Aeronca L-3 Defender

Static:
NAA F-86F Sabre jet 52-4689 (OK, maybe I'm a little too optimistic on this one)

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

Just thinking out loud about some of the possibilities taking place...

- Jerry Yagen's Mosquito (maybe?)
- Bill Reid's Avro Anson in New Zealand?
- P-51D "Passion Wagon" at Midwest Aero Restorations (obviously another absolute stunner in the making!)
- TFC's P-47G "Snafu" seems to be very near to a first flight
- There is a number of Spitfire Mk.I's under restoration - X4650 should be flying soon, if it hasn't already (a photo of it from September showed it looking very complete and just about ready to go)
- Tri State Aviation's P-51A "A Freakin' A" (the goal seems to be to have the aircraft completed in time for Reno)
- The Collings Foundation A-36 at American Aero Services?
- Current status of P-51B "Berlin Express" at Pacific Fighters?

A couple of other warbird restorations I have been curious about lately -
The P-39 Airacobra at Precision Aerospace, as it seems there have been rumors of its near-completion for a while now - and P-47D "Dottie Mae" restoration - with the rate of progress that was being made up until the point that the updates stopped a few years back, I can only imagine opening a magazine or coming onto this site one of these days, and there will be a photo of the completed airframe. ; )

Here are a few that come to mind, some of which that have been already mentioned.

Flyers
MAM P-39 at Precision Aerospace
MAM Mosquito
CWH Avenger- I think I remember seeing the goal was for it to fly by the airshow next year
CAF Avenger in Virginia
FM-2 under rebuild in Texas, currently for sale on Courtesy Aircraft
Tri-State Warbird Museum FW190

Static:
Memphis Belle
NMUSAF A-1H- Heard the target date was summer 2012
MAPS F-100
Any projects at Pima getting close?

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Matt

Well, NASM's Heinkel He-219 should be coming together in 2012.

Cheers,
Richard

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Richard Mallory Allnutt - Photography - http://www.rmallnutt.com

Any chance either of the Twin Mustangs will fly next year or are they shooting for 2013 on those?

Some others not yet mentioned:

Static:
'Mary Alice' (or whatever the IWM decide to paint it as) at Duxford
Sea Vampire T22, also at Duxford

Flying (a few possibilities):
Chris Prevost's F3F at Schellville
Planes of Fame's Buchon
TF-51 at Meier Motors in Germany
Spitfire T9 also at Meier (although more of a major service than a full restoration)
I don't know how far along the F4U-5 is at La Ferte Alais (and I can't remember which of the increasingly splintered factions at La Ferte is doing it)
Hurricane G-ROBT at Hawker Restorations

The Reid's Anson has taxied, and should be flying in the not too distant future. 2012 seems very reasonable. The Mosquito may be a bit longer, but both worth following...

When I last saw it some time ago, it was pretty complete, but I had and have no real idea of how much more is needed to get it going. The tragic death of Murray Griffiths and his wife (sometime earlier) will have caused a good deal of disruption, but although I have no definite information, it seems to be 'business as usual' under Tom's leadership. Better gen welcome.

Also looking at 'unique' aircraft, the DAP Beaufort up in Queensland is progressing. I don't see that being 2012, but like the Mosquito, it'll add to the diversity of Allied mediums from endless B-25s.

Oh, and there will be one or two new CAC Boomerangs...

Regards,

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

i have been wondering about the P-47N, based at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, owned by the Commemorative Air Force. does anyone have an update on this bird?

As well as the hugely exciting Mosquito (late 2012 completion hoped for) and equally exciting Anson, both previously mentioned, Graham Frew's Yak 3 at Omaka is close to flying. Also the Chariots of Fire collection's Spitfire Mk XIVe NH799 restoration is moving along apace now and hopefully it will be up before the end of '12 too. Plus there are always several WWI replicas being built here in NZ these days at Masterton, Omaka and other parts.

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The Wings Over New Zealand Forum http://rnzaf.proboards.com

The Wings Over New Zealand Show http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show.html

Wings Over Cambridge http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz

Wasnt there talk of a P-82 coming to Oshkosh in 2012?

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http://floridawarbirds.wordpress.com/

Updated twice a week!!

I'm looking forward to the Cobra Den in San Marcos, Texas gracing our fair skies with a P-39 and P-63 once again.

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Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas

PIC, Ford 6600 pulling Rhino batwing up and down the runway

I would be curious to hear what the status is as well.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

We here on the WIX have been talking about the wings being attached for the past couple of years. I'm beginning to wonder if it will ever happen.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

The goal is actually set for 2013 (for both P-82's under restoration), though I wouldn't personally be surprised if the C&P example is flying by the end of 2012 (but that is just my feeling, judging by the amount of progress that was last shown, this past spring).

Thank you James for the added insight on those projects!

Speaking of Bell fighters, just out of simple curiosity, is anyone aware if there is a tentative completion-date/goal set for the Dixie Wing P-63A? Although from afar, I've been very impressed with the restoration work that has taken place on this aircraft.