P-40F 41-14205-restoration complete

[Warbirdnerd]

A lovingly-restored Kittyhawk has been wheeled into its new home at the air force museum at Wigram, 16 years after work began on it.

The museum's latest addition is an ex-US Army air force plane that crashed in Vanuatu during World War II, and languished there until it was moved to Australia.

Museum collections manager David Watmuff said they "got wind of the aircraft" and exchanged it for another plane in their collection in 1996.

Since then, the museum's staff and volunteers have spent a combined 22,319 hours refurbishing the aircraft and readying it for public display - ensuring it was "as authentic as possible".

"If somebody from 1942-43 was to walk in, the idea was they'd think it is no different from any other aircraft they'd find anywhere else."

It was believed to be the first significant aircraft restored at the Wigram museum since the 1980s, and was its first Kittyhawk.

Watmuff hoped it would be moved into the display hall for public viewing next week.

"Just to get to the stage it's at has been a fantastic achievement," Watmuff said.

Found it here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8823083 ... time-glory

[TOM WALSH]

I don't think this is a P-40F variant as that model did not have an air inlet on top of the engine cowling.

Also, the F was equipped with a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine which gave the aircraft a more pronounced deep chin look.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

[oz rb fan]

it's a p40f reconfigured as a pf40e
the rnzaf didn't use the f series,,,this was traded for the f4u5 that will soon fly in Australia

[TOM WALSH]

Thanks. I thought it looked like an E with an Allison engine.

Ask questions, and you get answers.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

[flightsimer]

it's a p40f reconfigured as a pf40e
the rnzaf didn't use the f series,,,this was traded for the f4u5 that will soon fly in Australia

Looks very nice!

The owners obviously thought it was, but are p-40's of the same value as f4u's? Just curious.

[ErrolC]

I can't remember the relative conditions of the airframes at the time of the swap. Note thatF model specific components went to the Pay P-40F in Oz.
More links on WONZ
http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/19481 ... eum?page=1

And here's a photo from a year ago (note that the restoration hangar was especially crowded that week as the floor was being replaced in the display hall.)


P-40E in progress by errolgc, on Flickr

[AvroAvian]

It's now a P-40R (a P-40F converted to Allison power).
While it is a shame that this aeroplane has lost its identity as a combat veteran P-40F, the crew at Wigram have done a great job with the restoration and it is important that the RNZAF Museum have P-40 on display in remembrance of their wartime efforts.
Congratulations fellas!

[oz rb fan]

it's a p40f reconfigured as a pf40e
the rnzaf didn't use the f series,,,this was traded for the f4u5 that will soon fly in Australia

Looks very nice!

The owners obviously thought it was, but are p-40's of the same value as f4u's? Just curious.

not sure but the rnzaf only flew f4u1's..it was considered impossible to reconfigure the f4u5 to the earlier spec,so this was a better deal....and i must admit a stunning restoration

[avenger2504]

Correct we never flew the later mark Corsairs. I worked as a volunteer at the museum when the Corsair arrived. Disney did a film here in New Zealand and the deal was (due to assistance from the RNZAF including at least one Skyhawk painted to look like a US one) Disney had to find a Corsair for the Museum. Pity they didn't specify what model!!
The Corsair was basically complete just dismantled and had had some work done on the fuselage but was basically undamaged whereas the P40F had a restored fuselage (still to be fitted out) and crash damaged wings.