Restorations in 2014.......

[The Ripper]

Spitfire IX 'TD314' flew for the first time yesterday morning. Spitfire XVIII 'SM845' is very close to a first flight, it had high-powered engine runs back in mid-November.

[The Ripper]

Surely TFC will have something new?

Thats's an understatement ... I'll let someone else embellish if so inclined.

Care to expand on that, please?

[Airlift48]

C-97G "Angel of Deliverance" should be done in 2014.

[kalamazookid]

C-97G "Angel of Deliverance" should be done in 2014.

That is awesome news! I remember seeing the C-54 for the first time late in the 90s and being blown away with hearing about the C-97 from a member of the crew. It will be a long time coming, that's for sure. Can't wait to see her in person!

I also saw a blurb somewhere (maybe warbirdnews.com, but I can't find the article back) that the Airline History Museum Connie will be back in the air next summer. There was some sort of flight record the museum was going to try to break in the Connie. It could be a great year for heavies next year if both these flights happen!

[Dan K]

I also saw a blurb somewhere (maybe warbirdnews.com, but I can't find the article back) that the Airline History Museum Connie will be back in the air next summer. There was some sort of flight record the museum was going to try to break in the Connie. It could be a great year for heavies next year if both these flights happen!

It would appear April 17th is being targeted for first flight:

http://www.flightoftheconnie.org/

[Mark Allen M]

Surely TFC will have something new?

Thats's an understatement ... I'll let someone else embellish if so inclined.

Care to expand on that, please?

Well I'm usually not one for rumors and speculation because I'm certainly not in the loop. I was hoping at least one of the others who informed me would post something here but their probably much smarter than me. So I'll take a chance here and post a rumor against my better judgement and see what develops as far as anything factual.

RUMOR: TFC is either in the process of, or is going to, liquidate the majority of their assets. I believe he/they will keep three aircraft only.

Again this is only a rumor AFAIK so please don't tear my head off if it is indeed BS. I hope I don't regret this

[Flyin Illini]

Seems to be true so far with the p-40b going.

[Iclo]

Difficult to know : TFC was always in the process of buying/restoring/selling planes since it's creation, following the market and the wish of the owner. (The list of current and past planes they owned is very very long)

Of course, after the partial retiring of Stephen Grey there is question about the future, but for now, I don't see more signs of a scaling down of the collection that in the last decade or more.

[BuzzBy]

Not the typical restoration you were all thinking about but how about Kermit's Benoist.

This is a great project that is "scheduled" to fly in only 23 days.

Kermit plans to fly it at the exact time and place and route of the 100th anniversary of the first scheduled airline flight on Jan 1, 1914.

http://www.fantasyofflight.com/category/benoist-2014/

I saw it a couple of weeks ago and could not believe how fast it is coming along, and yet how much they still had to do. What an aggressive timeline. When Kermit and the craftsmen at FOF set their sights on something they don't mess around.








Best of luck,
John

[Warbird Kid]

Im going to say it here, I don't think they'll have a finished aircraft in 23 days. I hope they do, but I just don't see it. Best of luck to them!