Warbird Information Exchange

About a year ago I ran across this photo of this Nardi FN 305D....
http://preservedaxisaircraft.com/Italy/ ... I-TOMI.jpg
"Preserved Axis a/c" states that Kermit Weeks has purchased this bird
and it is being restored at Personal Plane Services, Ltd. in England.

Is anyone here familiar with PPS or the progress of the care of the
Nardi? Are there any current photos available or additional
information concerning the history of I-TOMI?

According to the limited info on the 305d available on the net, there
were only 2 "D models" factory produced. Both were radial-engine
outfitted with the 9cyl Walter Bora rated at 200 hp.
One was a 2-seat tandem, as in the previous photo, the other was a
single-seater...both were built as long-distance-record challengers.

The 2-seater, registered I-UEBI, set a record for class in Mar 1939
flying non-stop from Rome to Adis Ababa, Ethiopia at avg. 149mph.
What I'm wondering, is if I-TOMI is a re-registered I-UEBI? Most
Nardi 305's were equipped with an inline 6...perhaps I-TOMI is
merely a "standard" 305 re-engined with a radial. What rounder is
Kermits fitted with?

Another possibility is that at the end of WW2 there were some
"leftover" 305 airframes at the Piaggio plant (where large Nardi runs
were assembled at)...and a limited run of 305's was completed...less
than 10 aircraft I think. Being postwar this final airframes could have
fitted with whatever the guys at the plant could lay their hands on.
Pure speculations on my part...but I am curious about this bird.

Love those rockerbox blisters on the cowl...wouldn't she look good
with a set of gear fairings and pants?...such as the Miles Hawk Speed Six
http://www.dur.ac.uk/a.p.beney/slides/i ... &ip=http...
...or similar to the Mew Gull
http://www.edenforge.co.uk/photo/duxford-02/534.htm

Any help at info or steerage would be greatly appreciated!

The link for the Six was blocked....here's another diferent link, but not
as good a photo
http://www.apda61.dsl.pipex.com/AV8/G-ADGP_4.jpg

GRRRRR..... sorry...webmaster, please delete the second post
http://www.apda61.dsl.pipex.com/Av8/G-ADGP_4.jpg

If this one doesn't work..."I'll no be tryn' laddies!!!"

Here's a clipping or an artist rendition of the 305D record setter from an
Italian site..
http://www.aerei-italiani.net/Cartoline/Nardi_1941.jpg

I say an artists rendition because it appears to be "stretched" image
than that of I-TOMI. The paint scheme on I-TOMI seems to "tip the hat"
to I-UEBI's historical nature. There'll be no landing gear "fairings and
pants" for Mr. Weeks I-TOMI..they had retracts...."how embaressking".
I had never seen an in-flight photo of a Nardi...hopefully Mr. Weeks
will remedy that! I wonder how clean the gear appear after retraction?

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF