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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
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Re: Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

Sun May 27, 2018 10:16 am

Sad news.

Re: Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

Wed Jun 06, 2018 12:09 pm

Been some action up in Idaho. Doc Sugden has been running some of the jets (Fury, A-4, Sabre), but important to this list is Corsair N4901W. Can't confirm it has flown but it has been doing ground runs. Will keep updated...

*edit, just got sent a video of her flying!

Re: Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

Wed Jun 06, 2018 7:11 pm

That is good to hear! I've "promoted" N4901W back into the list of flying Corsairs.

Re: Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

Wed Jun 13, 2018 12:00 pm

I've added P-51B "Berlin Express" back into the list of flyers - following repairs to the vertical and horizontal tail fins (the horizontal having been the most damaged), and installation of another/new canopy, the aircraft has been test-flown from Duxford today.

Re: Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

Thu Jun 28, 2018 11:02 am

The UK-based Buchon G-AWHH, "White 9", just made its first test flight today at Sywell and has been added to the list, bringing the total number of Buchons/109's currently flying in the world to 9. This is the third Buchon completed by Air Leasing within just the last 7 months, all flying. This latest Buchon is painted in the markings of a Bf-109F-4 flown by Edmund Rossmann of 7/JG52. https://www.facebook.com/Ultimate-Warbi ... 121510239/

All four of the UK-based/flying Buchons are scheduled to appear at the Duxford Flying Legends airshow in a couple weeks.

Re: Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

Wed Jul 04, 2018 11:18 am

The one and only surviving Brewster F3A-1 Corsair, registered N4634, owned by Jim Slattery and restored by Ezell Aviation, made its first test flight today and has been added to the list of flying examples. For those who have not seen how she looks now, a photo by Jay Miller, via Ezell Aviation, here: https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5BA07AEA

Re: Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

Tue Jul 10, 2018 12:45 pm

Anglia Aircraft Restoration's TF-51D "Contrary Mary" (formerly "Miss Velma") made its first post-rebuild test flight today at Sywell, in the UK, just shy of a year since it made a forced landing in a field near Duxford at Flying Legends 2017. The aircraft is scheduled to make its first public debut at Flying Legends this weekend. Sections of the aircraft were rebuilt and overhauled in the US and then combined with a new wing which had already been previously restored awaiting another potential project. All of the sections were brought together at Air Leasing, at Sywell, UK, last month for reassembly, painting and flight testing.

Here is a photo taken from a flight today, posted on the Ultimate Warbird Flights Facebook page (paint work around the name artwork not yet fully completed): https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5BEB3ED2

The markings were very well researched and replicated to exacting accuracy to the original wartime photos. Although it was before my time, I've always been fond of Jimmy Hunt's P-51D back in the 80's when it sported the same paint scheme, so it is awesome to see it now on a Mustang flying again. There are currently only 4 Mustangs flying in the world painted in 78th FG markings (which are among my favorite), and it is the only one outside the US.


In other news, though not directly related to "numbers", the Comanche Fighters/Dan Friedkin P-51D N351MX, previously painted as "February", was revealed yesterday, at Biggin Hill in the UK, in a completely new paint scheme as the 355th FG "The Hun Hunter ~ Texas", and will be debuting in this new scheme at Flying Legends this weekend. I'm not sure if the aircraft will be staying in the UK for a prolonged period or not - Dan has had warbirds based in the UK for long stretches of time, and has also shipped warbirds over just for Flying Legends, so time will tell. For the time being, I'll have it listed with the UK-based Mustangs (with 8 Mustangs in the Friedkin stable, I've always thought that he would have at least one based permanently in the UK, like a few of his Spitfires are). Dan's Spitfire Mk.V JG891 also is now flying again as of the last couple days, following about a year of restoration/refurbishment in the UK at Duxford. The aircraft is now back to the same, very attractive and unique desert color scheme it had worn for the first few years after it was initially restored/completed in 2006 (for the last several years, based in Texas, it had been painted in the "RS-T" Robert Stanford-Tuck markings).

https://www.flyinglegends.com/aircraft/ ... 351mx.html
https://www.flyinglegends.com/aircraft/ ... -lfvc.html

Re: Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

Sat Jul 14, 2018 2:41 pm

The Hangar10/Air Fighter Academy "Bf-109G-14" (DB 605-powered Buchon conversion) has now been test flown and added to the list of flying 109's/Buchons. Video of the test flight is here (note the boom temporarily added to measure/provide test flight/handling data): https://www.facebook.com/27462506266559 ... 36153/?t=3

This particular aircraft is speculated to be the former Buchon G-AWHE, but has not been confirmed by Hangar10. The company that did the work, Rare Bird Aviation, describes the project as having included an "engine conversion", with some airframe work, which clearly points to the aircraft having been a Buchon first, despite it being now registered with an original G-14 identity. When the aircraft was unveiled earlier this year, the time it took to produce this "Bf-109G-14" was also described as only having taken a year, which also puts the timeline back to when Hangar10 purchased the Buchon G-AWHE.

The number of currently active 109's/Buchons worldwide now stands at quite an impressive 10 - by far the most there has been since the Battle of Britain movie in the late 60's.

Re: Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

Wed Jul 25, 2018 1:52 pm

I have updated the A-26 listing to include N4313.

I had not been following the restoration of this aircraft that closely and it came as a surprise last week to have learned that it had been flying again since this past April. N4313 is the A-26 44-34313, which until 2011 had been owned by David Lane. The aircraft was sold to Black Crow Aviation of Santa Rosa, California in 2011, and for about the last 7 years had been undergoing restoration and overhaul. The aircraft is a Korean War vet, and it has been returned to the same markings it had initially in the 730th Squadron of the 452nd Bomb Wing, with the name "Sweet Eloise II". The aircraft was originally built as an A-26B in 1945, but then converted to a "C" in 1951 for service in Korea (at which time the glass nose was added and both gun turrets were removed - therefore it is authentic by not having the turrets installed today). Through its stoired combat career in Korea, it flew over 1800 combat hours and was the personal aircraft of two different 730th Squadron Commanders. It was one of the stars of the Skyfair airshow this past weekend at Everett, Washington: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA-cFPwGZv8

More photos, videos and information about this very special aircraft here:
https://www.a-26invader.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Black-Crow-Avi ... 954546934/

Re: Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

Wed Jul 25, 2018 3:32 pm

That is a great looking Invader. Thanks for the updates as always John.

Re: Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

Sat Aug 04, 2018 4:25 pm

With the news of its first post-restoration flight taking place today, Spitfire Mk.XVI TB885, restored by the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, has been added to the list of flying examples. The aircraft is owned by Dutchman Frits van Eerd, CEO of supermarket chain Jumbo, and will be moving to Holland where it will be based/operated: https://www.facebook.com/BigginHillHeri ... =3&theater

However there has also been tragic news today in the loss of a Ju-Air Ju-52 (HB-HOT), which crashed on a mountain side in Switzerland with reportedly a significant loss of life - 17 passengers and 3 crew members aboard. Still early news at this time: http://avherald.com/h?article=4bbf2069&opt=0

Re: Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

Tue Aug 28, 2018 1:47 pm

Westland Lysander V9312 (G-CCOM) took to the air for the first time today, at Duxford, following a long-term restoration by the Aircraft Restoration Company (ARCo), which also owns the aircraft. This is the first time the aircraft has flown since December 30, 1944. It came into the ownership of Harry Wherreat of Assiniboa, Saskatchewan following WWII and it remained stored there until being acquired by Kermit Weeks, during which time no restoration work was performed. The aircraft was sold to ARCo in 2003 and the restoration began thereafter.

It has now been added to the list of flyers, bringing the worldwide total back up to three (the Canadian Warplane Heritage Lysander remaining out of commission for the time being, as far as I know), and of course it joins the Shuttleworth Lysander as now two flying examples in the UK.

Some nice photos from today's test flight of V9312, with John Romain at the controls, have been posted here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/64209520@N05/

Re: Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

Tue Aug 28, 2018 2:18 pm

Thanks John.
For the benefit of those that may come across this in the fullness of time, the below link takes you to the same photostream, but will include the relevant Lysander photos in the visible page.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64209520@ ... 280007122/

Re: Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

Tue Aug 28, 2018 3:26 pm

I thought I already commented, but Sea Fury N63SF has been flying plenty up in Ione. Racing at Reno this year with the Thibodeau's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCuJ785nVhE

Re: Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

Tue Aug 28, 2018 4:32 pm

Thanks guys! Somehow I completely overlooked adding N63SF some weeks ago, even though I’ve been seeing the test flight videos on Facebook.
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