New P40 Flying in Australia?

setter · **Posted:** Mon Nov 22, 2004 12:49 am

Hi all

I was just looking at the Temora site and they apparently had Col Pays new P40 as flying now/soon - anybody got any news on this . )I know it was due but I didn't realise it was this close.

Regards
John P

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 22, 2004 2:09 am

John

It's doing engine runs at the moment, painted up nice , although the codes are apparently the wrong colour and will be corrected.

Dave

Browny · **Posted:** Mon Nov 22, 2004 5:16 am

Hi Dave

Any date for the proposed first flight?

I can feel a quick trip up to Scone coming on.

Browny

setter · **Posted:** Mon Nov 22, 2004 5:53 am

Hi Browny

Apparently it has ???????

I am really upset I wanted to be there!!!!

Regards
John P

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 22, 2004 5:55 am

Browny

Sorry I don't have a date, it hadn't flown as of a week ago, but could have in the last few days.

Dave

setter · **Posted:** Mon Nov 22, 2004 6:52 am

Hi

Well to ask the obvious what is the color scheme?
As a matter of nostalga here is my photo of the last P40 Col flew all thoses years ago at Scone when I lived in Newcastle and Scone was close enough for a drive in a morning from home !

Regards
John P

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Nov 22, 2004 11:09 am

John-
Do you know how Judy Pay's P-40F s/n 41-14112 is progressing? I heard from her a 6 weeks ago and she was hoping for a first flight in the Spring. The picture I last got showed it up on the gear with engine and tail feathers installed.

setter · **Posted:** Mon Nov 22, 2004 4:48 pm

Hi Jack

As far as I know there is a lot of progress on this one but I don't know when they plan to fly it - I will check today and get back to you tonight.

Regards
John P

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Nov 22, 2004 5:30 pm

John,
I sent Scott a scan of Judy's 40 so maybe he'll post it here. I heard the second P-40F s/n 41-14205 went to the NZ Air Force Museum and is or will be displayed has a a NZ P-40E. If that's true I'll be very disappointed has the pilot, Lt Ed Talbot dec'd of the 44th FS, was a very good friend.

setter · **Posted:** Mon Nov 22, 2004 6:22 pm

Hi Jack

The P40 F that went to new Zealand is as you say being converted to Allison power and as such this is a dissapointment to a lot of people.

I can understand why it was done as it was an easy way to get a representative of the P40 which was a very important type for the RNZAF but to lose the opportunity to have such a rare variant on display or active is a real shame.

I would have thought the P40F could have been swapped for a more representative model and caused a lot less issues. Lets face it the provinance on this aircraft will always be P40F converted to P40N or whatever. I realise the majority of people won't know but we do and to me it matters.

On the other side the work is first class and the museum is a great place and well run so at least there is a well rebuilt P40 in a safe home and who knows perhaps one day a swap can indeed be done .

Kindest regards
John P

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Nov 22, 2004 9:23 pm

John-
I've got some nice shots of the 4 P-40Fs after their crash landings on Dec. 23, 1942. If Scott wants to post them I'll forward them to him. One of the pilot Murph Radzuilinas just passed away about a months leaving only flight leader john Little still with us at the tender age of 90. I'm glad Judy is doing her's correctly. CU Later.....JACK

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 23, 2004 2:57 am

[quote="setter"]Hi

Well to ask the obvious what is the color scheme?

Regards
John P[img]

Colours are of 112 Sq. Desert style , with the sharks mouth and desert camo. Codes CV- and something I can't remember...that's what happens when you look at it everyday for the last week :roll:

Dave

Browny · **Posted:** Tue Nov 23, 2004 4:18 am

Hi guys,

The desert scheme on Col's P40 sounds great (especially having spent 5 years in 3Sqn myself). Although I can't recall ever seing a pic of any 3Sqn P40 carrying the 112Sqn shark mouth.

I guess it's a case of: If you own a real P40 you can paint it and darn colour you want!

All power to him & I can't wait to see it flying.

Cheers

Browny

setter · **Posted:** Tue Nov 23, 2004 7:33 am

Hi all

Page 152 "The Spitfire,Mustang and Kittyhawk in Australian Service" by Stewart Wilso - published by Aerospace Publications shows a P40 with Shark mouth and again on page 154 with Shark mouth in the desert and I am pretty sure they are 3 Sqn - I will get confirmation but I am pretty sure it is correct.

Dave is the rudder blue with stars as per page 155.

Regards
John Parker

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:30 pm

setter wrote:

The P40 F that went to new Zealand is as you say being converted to Allison power and as such this is a dissapointment to a lot of people.

I can understand why it was done as it was an easy way to get a representative of the P40 which was a very important type for the RNZAF but to lose the opportunity to have such a rare variant on display or active is a real shame.

So is the machine in question here the only P-40 currently in existance that is/was powered by a Merlin? I.e. are there any other Merlin powered P-40s out there? I suspect not, but I thought I would ask.

Mike

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