Warbird Information Exchange

RAAF Station at Rathmines

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Disclaimer: Photo discription, original photographer and/or original web source credit unknown unless otherwise noted.

Latest update on Jerry Yagen's machine - via Kermit Weeks on Facebook yesterday - is that it is headed to Pioneer Aircraft in New Zealand, and that Kermit's own will follow. Is this A48-2?

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Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22

Excited to see a Kingfisher project, not many left. Although most remembered on it's floats (and much better looking that way IMO) I wonder if Jerry will fly it out of the Virginia Beach MAM in it's wheeled configuration? Or Kermit? Maybe have the option to fly either way. I seem to recall it was pretty much a nut and bolt swap out between floats or wheels.

What is the history of these two airframes?

All I can find online - not too much research though as I'm at work! - is that Jerry's is A48-2, ex-RAAF. Some info and photos here: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/os2u/A48-2.html

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Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22

Pioneer Aero Restorations has now posted on their website about TWO Kingfisher projects headed their way, in addition to a P-39Q:
- Bu.No. 5985, the well-known former Whaleworld aircraft which served with the RAAF and looked very complete when displayed, which is the abovementioned A48-2 of Jerry Yagen: http://www.pioneeraero.co.nz/project/vo ... gfisher-2/

- Bu.No. 5982, another former RAAF machine which served as A48-7: http://www.pioneeraero.co.nz/project/vo ... ingfisher/

At this point only 5985's page says "Now under going assessment prior to restoration to flying condition" but that may change.

Exciting times for Kingfisher fans but it makes me wonder about how/where the test flights will be carried out...?

_________________
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22

Perhaps first flight tests might be in wheeled configuration? Of course the Kingfisher is much more well known with the main float and outriggers, but many were delivered, ferried and operated in wheeled configuration. If I recall it is a bolt on/bolt off process. Yagens Mosquito was test flown in NZ, then disassembled and put into shipping containers for delivery to the USA.

Re the Mosquito quite right, I was there that weekend! I am wondering too whether they will take the wheeled approach for testing, although I'm also aware it's a purely academic question for some time yet!

_________________
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22