This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Having received word of its first post-restoration test flight today at Sywell Aerodrome, Spitfire FR MK.XIVe RM927, registered as G-SXIV, has been added to the list of flyers. The aircraft, which is considered to be as much as 85% original, is registered in the UK to a French owner, and once flight testing is completed I believe it is to be based in France. Some will recall that the restored fuselage of this Spitfire could be seen stored inside the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar for several years, when owned by Paul Andrews. The project was transferred to Air Leasing Ltd at Sywell in 2020, following the sale to its current owner, "W Aircollection". The 'FR' designates that it is a Fighter-Reconnaissance version, outfitted with both armament and cameras, as opposed to the 'PR' Photo-Reconnaissance Spitfires, which were unarmed. Painted by Warbird Colour, it has been restored in the color scheme it had when it served with No 430 RCAF Sqdn., based in the Netherlands in early 1945.
Good to hear RM927 is flying at last though sad that it's moved away from Biggin - I was hoping to hear the occasional Griffon in the circuit there, intermingling with the Merlins... ah well!
A few other changes I've made to the list reflect these recent happenings:
- Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIa DR393, previously based in France, was recently sold and was flown to England, arriving with Hawker Restorations at Elmsett Airfield. This brings the total of airworthy Hurricanes in the UK to an even dozen. - The TF-51D D-FUNN, previously painted in 352nd FG markings as "Little-Ite", has been refinished in the 78th FG markings of "Big Beautiful Doll" over polished aluminum. - The Yak-9 OO-RAW (ex D-FENK), previously based in Belgium, was recently sold and flown to its new owner, the Catalonia Aeronautical Museum, at the Sabadell Airport in Catalonia, Spain.
Last edited by JohnTerrell on Thu Aug 25, 2022 12:37 am, edited 2 times in total.
In the Czech Republic today, August 14th, Hawker Hurricane KZ321 (OO-HUR) crashed into a house in the town of Cheb while participating in the Cheb Aviation Days event. The pilot was killed in the accident. This aircraft was new on the Czech warbird scene as of last year, having previously been owned/operated by Vintage Wings of Canada for over a decade. https://www.europeanairshows.co.uk/news ... 8Fw4uBXRto
Grumman FM-2 Wildcat BuNo.86690, owned by Tom Harris and registered as G-KINL, made its first post-restoration test flight at Duxford today, piloted by John Romain. The aircraft had been under restoration at the Aircraft Restoration Company since arriving at Duxford in 2016. This particular Wildcat, having flown in the US for some years as N49JC, had been part of the static museum collection at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, when it was sold to The Shuttleworth Collection in 2011. Exported to the UK, it was initially displayed static at Old Warden until when sold to its current owner in 2016. The Wildcat has been painted in the markings of a Fleet Air Arm Martlet III, based in North Africa with No 805 Sqdn., flown by Sub. Lt. W.M. Walsh.
