Warbird Information Exchange

Hi all,
Ok, well given the concern raised of recent times about this board being centred more towards U.S. activities, I'm going to try to do my bit to help out.
Something which I don't believe has been publicised through any channels as yet, is that Australia is going to be home to another P-40 recovered from PNG. This is a P-40N-5 which was part of the U.S. 49th Fighter Group. It will be restored to fly, and a target time frame for completion is around about the 3 year mark. I'm not sure if the bulk of the aircraft has arrived down here yet, however work has certainly commenced.
That's enough from me for now.

Cheers,
Matt

n/t

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Hi Matt,
Thanks for the news... any details on the serial number, and it's current condition (ie. completeness)? Is it to be owned and flown in Australia? Do you know when it was recovered from PNG?

Cheers,
Richard

Hi Richard,
Firstly, well done on the Helldiver article in Classic Wings mate. Would make a great project.
Now about the P-40. I don't have a serial number on this beast as yet, nor much of an idea about the recovery and completeness of what was recovered. Was talking to the owner-to-be just recently, and from information gleaned, the remains would seem to be at least moderately substantial. It will certainly be owned and flown here in Australia. I know a little more than I've revealed, however I'll keep this quiet at this time. It's all great news for Australia however.
We're certainly about to witness a P-40 boom time down here. Col Pay's P-40E should be flying sometime this year (it's very advanced). Judy Pay's P-40F is probably a year or so away. Murray Griffiths' P-40E is progressing well also. They should be the next to fly, with another substantial batch following these ones.

Cheers,
Matt

Thanks for the news Matt, and thanks very much for your compliments, they were much appreciated. The P-40 really does seem to be in the ascendence, which is terrific. I am also so glad that so much of the action is happening downunder; it's a really global effort now!

Cheers,
Richard

How many P-40 restorations are conducted around the world at this time?

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

Hi Chuck,

You can find more infos about the P-40 projects on Pioneer Aero Restorations web site. Check here for more details: http://www.pioneeraero.co.nz/p-40_serial_numbers.htm

Ben

Just a quick glance at that site indicates that there is approx 22 P-40s under restoration and 24 that are stored awaiting restoration. Another 50 P-40 on the warbird scene would be an amazing thing.
Are the any other types of warbirds that there are more of being restored than the P-40?

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

That sounds like a P-40 factory! What a beautiful thing.

Edit: Should have looked at the link. That count is World wide

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Matt--

Thanx for the post! That sort of item is just the ticket. And there can never be too many Kittys around for my liking!

Re Col Pay's E-model, is this the ex-RCAF bird he had on the circuit in Oz back in the late 80s (AK752 iirc)? If so, great to hear it is going to be active again. Ironically, that Aussie-based Kitty is the only restored (to fly) P-40 I know of that wore an RCAF livery--that despite the substantial proportion of surviving H87s that are ex-RCAF.

Cheers

S.

Hi Steve,
The ex-RCAF P-40 of Col Pay was sold some years back, and I believe it has been owned since that time by James Smith (the owner of the Seafire FR.47, etc) of Montana. Col purchased an unrestored (as saved from the scrap yard) P-40E from New Zealand, and it is this aircraft which is nearing completion. Original RNZAF serial is NZ3094. Hope this helps, and have a great weekend mate.

Cheers,
Matt

Hmmm.... this is a most excellant list. There are two P-40s at the Reilly facility in Kissimmee, Florida. One is an 'E' model and the other an 'N'. My Dad got shots of them for me last March. You cand find the pics at...

http://community.webshots.com/album/123261802lGxsiI

Is the first one featured there, the 'N' model, the Roger Simpson airframe that is listed in the list above. Which airframe is the 'E' model?

I have been looking for IDs for these airframes for a while now.

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

It will be cloce Col Pay's E or Judy's F bit of a race then most likely Alan Arthurs N1 and then Point Cooks E1.