Warbird Information Exchange

Time for my annual question, which ongoing restorations can we look forward to be finished in 2016?

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Always difficult to say. I will assume that by "completed restorations" you mean warbirds that actually reach the flight stage. Here are a few that come to mind, some likely and some just possibilities that could very well be (if not likely) later than 2016. Some of these are probably a real stretch for 2016.

Doc, B-29
Marine PBJ Mitchell
BAHF C-97
XP-82
Columbine II C-121A
Bataan C-121A
PoF P-59
A-26A/B-26K "Special K"
Wings and Rotors F-4A/F4H-1F Phantom II
Collings P-40B at American Aero
CWHM Avenger
CWHM S-2 Tracker

Vultures Row SBD-4?

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"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

Addison Pemberton's Grumman Goose, a genuine warbird (ex-RAF). Now in 1943 USN colors.

And while not a restoration, a friend is finishing his Sopwith Pup replica, complete with the correct engine. 2016 is the centennial year of the type.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

Hopefully the CAF Dixie Wing P-63! Others:

P-38H 'White 33'- though that might fly before the new year
Vultures Row SBD-4
Paul Keppeler's F-86???
Canadian Warplane Heritage TBM Avenger
Valiant Air Command TBM???- heard it was being brought up to flying condition.
Midwest Aero Bf109???- No idea how far along this one is.
Air Heritage C-47
Collings Foundation TF-51D

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Matt

Collings Hellcat
Dottie Mae?
Polar Bear? although no longer Polar Bear
Meier G-12
Meier Seafury
Kermit's P-12

I'll think of more

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www.spiritof44.com

Flying Heritage Collection's Me-262 and F-86A
Vintage Wings of Canada's Spitfire Mk.IX
Hangar 10's Bf-109G-6 and Bf-109G-12 at MeierMotors
C&P Aviation's L-5 (and maybe TF-51D?) - the F-82E perhaps another couple years from flying

Although I'd imagine it won't be completed/flying yet, next year, Aircorps Aviation's P-51C "Lope's Hope" will certainly be well on its way to completion by this time next year. Also I've been curious when we'll see Fagen Fighter's SNJ restoration completed.

I've been greatly anticipating seeing Kermit Weeks' Boeing 100, the P-38F "White 33", the P-47 "Dottie Mae", and the B-29 "Doc" completed/flying.

Not a warbird, but the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome's very accurate "Spirit of St. Louis" reproduction could be flying just about any day now.

At VWoC, our Spitfire IX, the first Spitfire to ever be built in Canada, should fly in 2016.

Also we hope our Fairey Swordfish will be flying again, after several years.

Dave

Hasn't the P-59 been "close" for many years now? Anyone have some insight on the status? I have a soft spot for her....

Thank you for mentioning this (I've posted some links on the "vintage" page). I've been watching this effort with great anticipation for years. They've done a heck of a job and the plane looks just about perfect inside and out. I think they are planning a first flight in the spring...

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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 saw Week's Boeing 100 following Hurricane Andrew, I was there with the military recovery effort and my helicopter landed at Tamiami. I walked over to his wrecked hangar and Weeks was directing a crane to lift the roof joist off the tail of a Corsair (it and his Duck were only lightly damaged).
I had to as someone what the ball of tubing was. It could have been just about anything ...

Good to see its finally finished, but I have to assume it's a dataplate rebuild (not that there is anything wrong with that).

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

two more Sabres likely to fly in 2016:

Classic Fighters (Doug Matthews) F-86F ?? (Second one)
Rod Lewis F-86 Sabre Mk 6 ?? Or is it flying already?

Maybe the He 219 wings will be attached at the NASM in 2016 but I'm not holding my breath with that one.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

The Cubs may finally win the World Series first...

oops!

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WWI & WWII Warbird Fan.