|
With some time off this week I've updated the list in several places. From top to bottom:
- For the Mustang list, the location of residency for the P-51D Miss Helen (G-BIXL) was changed from the UK to Denmark, after it was flown to Billund last week. The aircraft was sold to Danish billionaire Anders Povlsen in 2024, but the aircraft had since remained in the UK, during most of which time it was refurbished, including stripping off the old paint, polishing the bare metal, and adding a more historically-accurate depiction of the Miss Helen markings. Dan Friedkin's TF-51D Mustang N20TF, which for a number of years flew as Bum Steer, was the subject of a recent mini-restoration and exterior overhaul at Fighter Rebuilders, and has since flown again now polished and painted in the markings of The Enchantress of the Iwo Jima-based 457th FS. Several Mustangs have been removed from the list, if they hadn't already, including Cottonmouth, Ho Hun, Miracle Maker, Miss Judy, Scat VII, Strega, VooDoo, 42-83738, 44-74602 and 44-84864, as they are either currently in storage, have been placed on long-term static display, or their current status cannot be confirmed (such as in the case of 'Scat VII').
- For the Spitfire list, the location of residency for Ross Pay's newly-flying Spitfire Tr Mk.IX BS548 has been preemptively switched from the UK to Australia, with the aircraft expected to have been arriving in Australia this week. I was also provided confirmation that Dan Friedkin's Spitfire Mk.V EP122 and Spitfire Mk.XIV SM832, located in Texas, were both flown earlier this year. Seafires PP972, PR503 and VP441, and Spitfires AR614 and TE554 remain inactive at this time. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Spitfire PR Mk.19 PS915 remains under restoration, and W Air Collection's Spitfire FR Mk. XIV RM927, in France, should hopefully soon be receiving its overhauled Griffon engine from the US, which will allow it to return to the skies this year.
- For the B-25 list, there are at least three B-25s that were flying in recent years but are now receiving restoration/repairs, due to corrosion found in the wings/wing attach angles - those being Pacific Princess (N9856C), Executive Sweet (N30801), and Sweet Dreams (N3438G). Both Pacific Princess and Sweet Dreams are expected to return to flight this year.
- For the Corsair list, the CAF Airbase Georgia FG-1D N9964Z was removed, as its wings are currently undergoing major repairs/restoration after being damaged from a storm while attending the Fagen Fighters airshow in Granite Falls, MN, back in August 2025.
- For the A-26 Invader list, I've whittled it down from at one time being as many as 16, to now just 11 currently-airworthy examples at the most. It has been great seeing N126HK active once again (and looking fantastic), now owned/operated by the Stockton Field Aviation Museum.
- For the Lodestar/Harpoon list, there are several that I removed from the list of flyers which haven't flown in several years. I've also removed PV-2 Harpoon N6657D, as although recently acquired by Kermit Weeks and having it flown to Chino, I believe Weeks' plan is to now have it remain parked at Chino, to eventually have more restoration work carried out on the airframe by Aero Trader/California Aerofab, before it flies again.
- For the PBY Catalina list, I've also whittled it down considerably, to just 7 examples that can be considered currently airworthy at this time (assuming that John O'Connor's PBY-5A N222FT is undergoing repairs/has not yet returned to flight).
- For the A6M Zero list, I've removed, for now, the Timmermans Legends of Flight A6M2 Zero (ex-N8280K) from the list of flyers. Despite joining the collection in Canada in October 2024 and being de-registered in the US since early last year, it has yet to be placed on the Canadian register. The most recent photos I've seen of the aircraft, from an event held in June 2025, it was displayed void of its main landing gear legs, so I assume they're being overhauled.
I also finally got around to updating the Curtiss P-36/Hawk 75 list, with Walter Bowe's P-36 (N336CW) now flying in the US since last month, as well as the Lancaster listing, with the BBMF Lancaster undergoing major maintenance and structural overhaul until 2027.
In addition to all of this, there have been some significant warbird sales and movements within the last few months (even within the last couple weeks), which are not yet public - flyers and restoration projects.
Last edited by JohnTerrell on Fri Mar 13, 2026 10:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
|
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
