Warbird Information Exchange

i dont know if this has been posted here, however i think it is a very cool restoration

http://www.jneaircraftrestoration.com/AM274/AM274.html

The diagram showing which specific parts of the fuselage are original to the aircraft, original Hurricane parts, and modern reproductions is very nice. It adds history to the airplane and makes it more valuable in every sense of the word. This should be done with all restorations, enough so that those aircraft that did not do this could be assumed to be essentially reproductions with an original data plate.

This presentage should be the template and style guide for future work.

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Kevin McCartney

HURRICANE!!!! Thanks for posting this link. I never tire of seeing a Hurricane....

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REMEMBER THE SERGEANT PILOTS!

What a fantastic project and a very well done web site as well. I was completely unaware of this bird but you can be assured I will be looking forward to its completion from now on. Thanks for sharing the link earnie.

GEEZ! ya never know what's in your backyard! Bayview is about 20 minutes away from my house.

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

the AM274 restoration is a work of art! I have had the opportunity to spend several hours with this aircraft, and talk heavily with the owners. In fact, an article is currently in work and will be appearing in a leading warbird magazine in the future... The work that Mr Norman has accomplished is amazing. What is even more amazing is the fact that he is basically doing it all by himself!

I have done a couple of write ups about the project on my website
http://kristopherlhull.zenfolio.com/blo ... cane-am274
http://kristopherlhull.zenfolio.com/blo ... 274update1

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Fly Low, Fly Fast!
http://kristopherlhull.zenfolio.com

I seem to recall this having popped up on WIX before. Thanks for the reminder. Truly astounding work.

Thanks for sharing those links, Kris...neat, neat project.

Question: Mr. Norman states that the Hurri will be restored as it was while in Russian service. Do you happen to know if that would include the altered armament as well? TIA

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

I asked him about that on my last visit. As of right now, it is undecided if it will have armament. That will be decided at a later date.

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Fly Low, Fly Fast!
http://kristopherlhull.zenfolio.com

Its been really fun to follow this project over the past several years. Still some of my favorite updates, were those with the bent and twisted plumbing, that looked only worthy of the trash heap, that John was able to work his magic on and make completely right again - where as they could have simply been made brand new, there is that much more of the original aircraft to be once again fully functioning in the completed aircraft.

Although the information that Kristopher has posted is more up-to-date, from the page on the AM 274 website about the Future of the aircraft (that dates back a few years), it mentions there that besides recreating the Russian markings, it has been hoped to have 2 ShVAK cannons and 2 Berezin UBT heavy machine guns re-fitted to the aircraft, as it had during WWII. Whatever the case may be, its been an amazing project to follow, and it will certainly be an extraordinary aircraft to see when completed and flying.

John Norman is a lovely guy and so so talented. You really need to go through every year on the site to see how things were 'restored' and how he has done it - especially restoring the crushed and flattened pipework. There really is a massive % of original material. Heather his wife must be a dream, so supporting to have John doing that every spare evening and weekend. Must be like having another child and Heather also updates the website.

It was a great one to research. History is all on the site. AM274 was fitted with ShVAK and ShKAS weaponry. Only trouble is the rough cut out through the spare web? is a non standard or any standard mod. Can't do it. It is being finished in a Soviet scheme and would be great to have the Soviet weaponry fitted but might only be a 'false' 20mm cannon through the leading edge. John also has two timber drop tanks.

When you think this is nearly all done by one engineer (who works at Boeing on the 787 as his day job and who's Dad is also an engineer. I think if lived within a few hours of him I would have been divorced very quickly.

A beautiful beautiful project and of course my fav plane.

regards

Mark

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'Coups De Foudre'
(511FS, 405FG watering hole), St Dizier, France 1944/45

I could not agree more about the Normans! When I first found out about this project back in April, I immediately sent them an email, and the next thing I knew, John and Heather were welcoming me into their world with open arms. I was surprised to find out that John was a coworker of mine (he is a QA on the 787 flight line here in Everett, and I am a 747 flight line A&P up here as well), and that his Boeing Salary is paying for everything. It really is amazing. It is just a bummer he lives an hour north of me, or I would be at his barn every weekend! My jaw dropped to the floor the first time I walked into the barn, and I was impressed with all of the history that is in that building! From seeing the original engine, complete with German rounds still in the block (not the engine currently mounted on the airframe!), to the detailed rework put into it so far. It just blows me away every time I walk in the door. This last visit two weeks ago was even more amazing, seeing the wings hung on her!

It is my goal to visit John and Heather every couple of month and keep my site updated with current news about the project.


I should also mention that aside from AM274, John is also busy working on a full scale replica of the Ryan NYP, a project which he has just finished tacking the frame together.

Kris Hull

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Fly Low, Fly Fast!
http://kristopherlhull.zenfolio.com

hi kris thanks for the updates and better pics, is there a way i can get copies of them thanks

Is it going to fly or will it be static?

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Cheers,
Peter

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Flyer!

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'Coups De Foudre'
(511FS, 405FG watering hole), St Dizier, France 1944/45