Surviving Aircraft with Unusual Modifications

[Paul Stroud]

Another Meteor testbed, the FR.9 VZ608, now at Newark (UK) had a RB108 vertical lift engine installed in the fuselage to test it before fitting in the Short SC.1 VTOL research aeroplane. The intake is visible on top of the fuselage.

IMG_1336 by Paul Stroud, on Flickr

not forgetting the two T.7 (mods) still used by Martin-Baker to test ejector seats.

Martin-Baker Meteor T.7(mod) WL419 by Paul Stroud, on Flickr

[Noha307]

Are the modifications to the two surviving Silverplate B-29s unusual enough for this list?

Honestly, I sort of struggled how to define the scope of the question when I was writing it. It was initially more narrow the some of the other answers - less about singular prototypes and more about modifications to a limited number of production aircraft. Generally, I guess it was also more focused on more temporary or removable modifications - although there's entries that don't fit that in my initial post. However, the line between the two is very blurred and I want to emphasize I'm in no way complaining about the other examples. Feel free to add any of the other instances as well.

What happened to the Fulton Skyhook that was on the B-17 that is now owned by the Collings Foundation and was also used in the movie Thunderball?

This reminded me of a post about civilian modifications to warbirds. Also, in regards to the "surviving" aspect, there's a thread about electronics and munitions.

This Stearman which came to grief at NAS Glenview during the war was mentioned as having a cockpit enclosure, although it was removed before the picture was taken to extract the uninjured pilot.

That's really interesting, thanks for sharing!

While writing the initial post I read that one of the downsides of the canopies on the Stearman - and presumably the reason it was not installed on more aircraft - was that it caused problems with glare at night. However, given the sort of afterthought design of the canopy, I could definitely see concerns of trapped pilots being another reason against using it. (As an aside, on the subject of trapped crew, the patent for the standard World War II aircraft safety belt makes for interesting reading, as it notes that one of the reasons for its invention was the difficulty of removing incapacitated occupants from wrecked aircraft using older belt designs.)

Also, on the subject of glare from windscreens - and to violate my own criteria for inclusion mentioned above - the Vultee V-1A, c/n 25, at the Shannon Air Museum, the Boeing 247, c/n 1729, at the Museum of Flight and the remaining Miles Falcons are some of the few surviving aircraft with a forward sloped canopy.

EDIT (24-10-02): Apparently, according to another post, there may have been a third problem with canopies on Stearmans: they blanketed the rudder and caused directional instability.

Last edited by Noha307 on Wed Oct 02, 2024 1:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Hooligan2]

Also, on the subject of glare from windscreens - and to violate my own criteria for inclusion mentioned above - the Vultee V-1A, c/n 25, at the Shannon Air Museum, the Boeing 247, c/n 1729, at the Museum of Flight and the remaining Miles Falcons are some of the few surviving aircraft with a forward sloped canopy.

Some Stinsons also had forward sloping windscreens (incidentally, four surviving 247s, UK has one secreted away in the Science Museum reserve collection at Wroughton. Pretty sure I remember it being flown into Farnborough for the 1982 airshow - they got a Electra Junior at the same time and that was certainly there...)

[ffuries]

MC-130E Combat Talon I 64-0567 is displayed at Commando Park, Hurlburt Field, Florida with the Fulton gear installed.

[Randy Haskin]

-Piper Enforcers, N482PE and N481PE. Still have the mods. I believe one has P-51 roots, while one was basically built from scratch..

Both PA-48s were new-build airframes, not modifications of existing aircraft.

[Kyleb]

Didn't the surviving Credible Sport C-130 get moved from Robbins to somewhere up north? That one had some very interesting mod's.

[Kyleb]

Didn't the surviving Credible Sport C-130 get moved from Robbins to somewhere up north? That one had some very interesting mod's.

[Dan K]

Richard Kriegsman's been flying a Brodie-equipped L-4 out of Illinois for years:

https://als-cannonfield.com/index.php/l ... kriegsman/

[Noha307]

One category I didn't consider was two seat conversions of fighters. These include:

• A6M2, 31870[1]
• Fw 190 F-8, 584219[2]
• HA-1112 M4L, C.4K-112[3]
• Spitfire Tr.8, MT818[4]
• Spitfire Tr.9, MJ627[4]
• TP-40N, 44-47923[5]

Although it doesn't count, it is worth noting that there is another TP-40N, 42-105927, that still exists, but was converted back to single seat configuration.

There are also a number of "replica" conversions, such as:

• A6M3, 3852[6]
• HA-1112 M1L, C.4K-169
• Hurricane IIB, BE505
• P-40K, 42-104721
• P-40N, 42-104977
• TP-51C, 42-103293

MC-130E Combat Talon I 64-0567 is displayed at Commando Park, Hurlburt Field, Florida with the Fulton gear installed.

I knew I would forget that one. Thanks!

Didn't the surviving Credible Sport C-130 get moved from Robbins to somewhere up north? That one had some very interesting mod's.

Yep, that's 74-1686 in the original post.

[Hooligan2]

Surviving two seat Spitfire conversions also include TE308, ML407, MJ772 and PV202. ML417 also survives but is back in single seat configuration. As far as I know all other current fliers are new "conversions" from wreckage i/ds.

[Noha307]

The Fargo Air Museum's TB-25K, 44-30010, sort of counts, as although it was gutted, up until recently it maintained the opaque nosecone from when it served as a radar trainer. The aircraft is currently being restored, but the plan is to keep it in its "K" configuration and reinstall the nose.[1]