Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

[JohnTerrell]

Thank you for the input, Rajay. The 'Goose list' is the only one I didn't do myself, and I just assumed when it was provided here that it had been well researched and gone over with a critical eye, as I had done with all of the lists I made. In looking closer at those, I don't think VH-GWH has flown in a while either.

Edit: After looking it through, I've whittled the Goose list down to this:

There are perhaps as many as 19 flying examples of the Grumman Goose (original and modified) in the world:
Canada: 4 (C-FIOL, C-FUAZ, C-GDDJ, C-GYVG)
United States: 15 (N42GL, N77AQ, N401SJ, N600ZE, N640, N642, N703, N789, N985R, N22932, N68157, N95467, N159F, N69263, N7211)

-----Purposely not included: VH-GWH, VH-MBA, C-FMXW, N9KL, N121SR, N48550, N9074U, N70AL, N39FG, N1019N, N778, N87U, N6DF


If anyone has information to contradict this/to add any of those not included back into the list, just let me know. I changed the list title to reflect the few that are quite significantly modified - similar to the DC-3/C-47 list, which includes all of the turbo and otherwise-modified examples as well.

[Mick G]

I think Basler C-FKAL can be removed from the Canadian fliers as it has not been repaired to my knowledge since the 2019 crash into the trees.

[JohnTerrell]

I don't see it on the list (it hasn't been since the 2019 crash).

[Mick G]

Weird, I could have swore I saw it earlier today. Are you pulling my leg? Maybe I got it confused with FKGL

[JohnB]

John

About your Goose list...
Why don't you list N9750Z, as seen in page 19?

It is spending this summer (2021) at Spokane's Felts Field.
I saw if fly recently.
It is parked outside the hangar that houses N95467....it really does exist and fly.

[JohnTerrell]

Thank you, John, It is there now. As I mention in my response to your PM, it simply was not on my radar and wasn't on the original list that I was provided.

[JohnB]

happy to help, just trying to help builder a accurate census.
It's fun seeing two Geese in the area.
There are also a couple of Mallards in the area, so we are well stocked with Grumman waterfowl.

[JohnTerrell]

I've just added Spitfire Mk.IX LZ842 (G-CGZU) to 'the list'. It had its first post-restoration test flight performed yesterday morning, from the historic Biggin Hill Airport in the UK, with Pete Kynsey at the controls.

This early Mk.IX Spitfire had been, intermittently, under restoration at the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar since November 2012, when the restored fuselage first arrived. In the years since, it spent some periods of time as only a back-burner project. I am a huge fan of of the North African/Mediterranean Theatre color scheme, so I have been really looking forward to seeing it completed/flying ever since the first photos emerged of the painted fuselage back in 2014. The aircraft has been accurately restored to its early marque design, including early upper engine cowl and small carburetor intake (among other details).

LZ842 served in Malta and Sicily with RAF No 93 Squadron and No 232 Squadron. It later was reassigned to RAF No 327 (free French) Squadron in October 1944. With No 327 Sqdn., LZ842 was damaged in a forced landing at Mourmelon-le-Grand in northeastern France when it hit a bomb crater which put it out of action for the rest of the war. After the end of WWII, it was one of 136 Spitfires supplied to South Africa, with LZ842 arriving by ship at Cape Town on April 28, 1948. Only serving until 1952, the aircraft wound up being sent to a scrapyard, where what remained of the airframe was eventually recovered in 1989. Peter Monk acquired the project in 2003, and later sold it to the aircraft's current owner, Mark Bennett, in 2005. LZ842 has been restored in the markings/color scheme of No 232 Squadron.

Here is video of an engine run performed a couple weeks back: https://www.facebook.com/TheTwoSeatSpit ... 1704315900

[phil65]

Nice....

Phil

[JohnTerrell]

One of the Colombian-based C-47's, HK-2820 (ex-USAAF 43-15705), operated by Aliansa, crashed shortly after taking off from the Vanguardia de Villavicencio Airport on July 8th, on what was a post-maintenance test flight. All three people onboard were killed. The crash site was found near the Guatiquia River, close to the village of Salinas de Cumaral, Restrepo, Meta, Colombia.

Last edited by JohnTerrell on Thu Jul 15, 2021 8:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[JohnTerrell]

I've added a list for the Canberra bombers which remain flying today - the one English Electric Canberra, flying in Australia, and the three modified WB-57F Canberras flying for NASA in the US.

There are 4 Canberra bombers flying in the world:
Australia: 1 (English Electric Canberra TT.18 VH-ZSQ)
United States: 3 (Martin WB-57F Canberras N926NA, N927NA, N928NA)

[CAPFlyer]

I've added a list for the Canberra bombers which remain flying today - the one English Electric Canberra, flying in Australia, and the three modified WB-57F Canberras flying for NASA in the US.

There are 4 Canberra bombers flying in the world:
Australia: 1 (English Electric Canberra TT.18 VH-ZSQ)
United States: 3 (Martin WB-57F Canberras N926NA, N927NA, N928NA)

While I would agree that in name, the R/WB-57Fs are Canberras, I would disagree that they are actually Canberras. They have been so extensively modified as to have little if any similarity to any actual Canberra, including that the wings were designed independently by General Dynamics for the larger engines, higher altitude requirements and longevity (after the RB-57D suffered a wing failure and major fatigue issues due to the "ad hoc" nature of the original long wing).

[JohnTerrell]

That is a very valid point, CAP. My perspective was that if I didn't include them, someone would be jumping in to point out that they aren't listed.

[Mick G]

Just a small update to C46 CP-1655 in Bolivia, I came across the links below and looks like it is being offered up for sale. She was being brought back serviceable condition prior to the crash of CP-1319 in 2012. From what I understand, no C46 has flown in Bolivia since, as the only Captain who was certified to do check rides was killed in the 2012 crash. Note this C46 is not CP-973 that has been listed for sale in passenger configuration for several years now. These are the only two C46 still serviceable in South America, there is one other at La Paz (CP-987), but hasn't moved in 30 years, and it almost certainly just a parts bird.

CP-1655
https://www.aircraft.com/aircraft/20075 ... tiss-c-46d
and
https://www.aircraft.com/aircraft/11714 ... ight-c-46f

CP-973
https://www.aircraft.com/aircraft/14193 ... tiss-c-46d

[JohnTerrell]

Hawker Hurricane V7497 has been added back onto the list of active flyers, having returned to the air last weekend, following significant repairs at Hawker Restorations. The aircraft had been involved in a groundloop with gear collapse on landing back in the summer of 2020. Yesterday, it was flown back to its home base at Duxford.