2023 restorations.

[The Ripper]

That time of the year again where we get together and have a think about what warbirds could fly/fly again in 2023.


-Spitfire I P9372
-Spitfire TE517
-Spitfire EN750
-DTAM P-47 Thunderbolt (may even fly before the end of the year)
-Lewis Legends F6F Hellcat
-Lewis Legends Super Constellation
-P-51C "Thunderbird"
-P-51D Mustang (at Sywell)
-Collings TP-51C "The Stars Look Down"
-Military Aviation Museum A6M Zero (ex Legends Flyers example)
-Anglia Aircraft Restorations Lockheed 12A
-Yanks P-63 Kingcobra
-Both Hawker Tempest's in Canada and the UK
-Fagen Fighters SB2C Helldiver
-NMWWIIAviation SB2C Helldiver

Of course, as always, there will be ones I've forgotten!

Last edited by The Ripper on Tue Dec 06, 2022 1:31 am, edited 1 time in total.

[K5DH]

Special Kay? (it'll be a tough road, but if anyone can do it, the Kay Krew can)

Not a warbird, but a famous classic which is likely to fly in '23: VFM's Beech Super 18, once owned and flown by famed aviatrix Jacqueline Cochran and later by TV mogul Merv Griffin.

[Chris Brame]

Continuing my perfect track record, I predict the POF YP-59A will not fly in 2023!

[kalamazookid]

A few others:

Kermit Weeks A-26
Boeing 100/F4B/P-12 replicas
Canadian Warplane Heritage TBM
Wings of the North BT-15
Collings Foundation FW 190F-8

[kalamazookid]

Edit: double post.

[Zac Yates]

We have a few coming up in NZ:
Brendon Deere's P-51D 45-11513/NZ2423
Unknown owner's DH Mosquito T.43 NZ2308
Jay McIntyre and Rex Newman's WACO UOC ZK-AEL
Allan Arthur's Beech D17S VH-BBL
Cam and Tracey Hawley's D17A NC20778/VH-AFP (Admiral Byrd's Antarctic aircraft)
Charles Somers' De Havilland Dominie NZ528/ZK-AKU
Graham Orphan's Fairchild 24W HB600/ZK-AUN
Bristol F.2B replica ZK-BHS (High Road to China build)
Rob Mackley's Lockheed 10A Electra CC-226/CC-LCN/CC-CLEA/N10310/ZK-AFD (may fly in the coming weeks)

Last edited by Zac Yates on Fri Dec 09, 2022 12:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[JohnB]

A friend is finishing an N3N, it hasn't flown since being surplused in '46, so it will be new to the civil register.
Long term plans are to fly it on a float.
It's an absolutely first-rate restoration.

Last edited by JohnB on Mon Dec 05, 2022 11:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[lucky52]

I can think of three B-17s; (1)one in Florida with the wing problem (2) Desert Rat-the one that used to be a cargo B-17 (3) the one a few years ago that they landed in the corn field with a fire in the left wing. I think #2 might be a long shot for 2023.

Last edited by lucky52 on Mon Dec 05, 2022 10:16 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[ErrolC]

We have a few coming up in NZ:
Brendon Deere's P-51D 45-11513/NZ2423
Unknown owner's DH Mosquito T.43 NZ2308
Jay McIntyre and Rex Newman's WACO UOC ZK-AEL
Allan Arthur's Beech D17S VH-BBL
Cam and Tracey Hawley's D17A NC20778/VH-AFP (Admiral Byrd's Antarctic aircraft)
Rod Lewis' De Havilland Dominie NZ528/ZK-AKU
Graham Orphan's Fairchild 24W HB600/ZK-AUN
Graham Orphan's Bristol F.2B replica ZK-BHS (High Road to China build)
Rob Mackley's Lockheed 10A Electra CC-226/CC-LCN/CC-CLEA/N10310/ZK-AFD (may fly in the coming weeks)

The Bristol F.2B is for Omaka Brisfit Syndicate
A chance of the P-40 that Pioneer is doing for a Dutch syndicate?

[Sopwith]

What’s the gen on Spitfire EN750 please, I am not familiar with this one?

[DoraNineFan]

Any recent news on the Condor Legion Bf-109E-1 at Meier? It was looking good but things have gone quiet.

[menards]

I can think of three B-17s; (1)one in Florida with the wing problem (2) Desert Rat-the one that used to be a cargo B-17 (3) the one a few years ago that they landed in the corn field with a fire in the left wing. I think #2 might be a long shot for 2023.

Aluminum Overcast may be down for several years. Thinking when Texas Raiders had wing spar work done it was down for 7 years if memory serves. Desert Rat is a LOOONG way from airworthy flight ready status. Liberty Belle has not had some viable updates in a few years. It too may be years off. Of the B-17 restorations Champaign Lady may be the furthest along, and it too may still be years away from flight.

[menards]

I can think of three B-17s; (1)one in Florida with the wing problem (2) Desert Rat-the one that used to be a cargo B-17 (3) the one a few years ago that they landed in the corn field with a fire in the left wing. I think #2 might be a long shot for 2023.

Aluminum Overcast may be down for several years. Thinking when Texas Raiders had wing spar work done it was down for 7 years if memory serves. Desert Rat is a LOOONG way from airworthy flight ready status. Liberty Belle has not had some viable updates in a few years. It too may be years off. Of the B-17 restorations Champaign Lady may be the furthest along, and it too may still be years away from flight.

[FuryFB11]

What’s the gen on Spitfire EN750 please, I am not familiar with this one?

It's a new build T9 for Norwegian Flying Aces. It's being rebuilt at Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar.

[bdk]

A few others:
Kermit Weeks A-26

This one already flew a few months ago for about 10 minutes. The canopy opened in flight and was damaged. It has since been repaired and is in the Aero Trader hangar having the other first flight squawks worked off.