Warbird Information Exchange

Hi all

Latest CW is just out and main features are:

BUTCHER BIRD – SURVIVORS PT.2

Continuing our look at Fw-190 Survivors, we concentrate on the A- Series of aircraft. Featured in this section are several of the ex Norwegian aircraft, one under going rebuild with Mark Timken for a Norwegian Museum, and those that have been acquired by Jerry Yagen. There is a new owner for Malcolm Laing’s 190A-6. The Saxonwold Museum’s aircraft gets an airing during the move to new premises and the unique two seat trainer is featured.


THE FULL FURY PT.3- SURVIVORS EUROPE & CANADA

The third installment that takes an in depth look at the surviving population of Hawkers finest, sees our focus shift to cover those extant in the type’s birthplace in the U.K. along with Continental Europe and one of the most prolific users of the aircraft - Canada. A concise history of these specific examples is complimented by some rare ‘then and now’ photos, particularly of the aircraft now under going restoration in Sweden with Dan Borgström, previously based in the U.K. with the late Paul Morgan.


BONZER BOMBER

After two decades in the making, the only Bristol Beaufort being restored to fly anywhere in the World continues to make steady progress towards completion. Ralph Cusack’s unwavering dedication to the task supported by an eager and devoted crew of volunteers has ensured that the future of this rare Australian built twin engined bomber is rosy. With the fuselage sections being mated together, the morale boost of such visible progress has seen the team redouble their efforts in attacking the internal fit out and ancillary components - CW drops in for a look.

YELLOW PERIL!

Owner and pilot, Tom Mezger, describes the history of, and what it is like to fly the Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3. The biplane is often confused with and referred to as a Boeing Stearman, and although there are many parallels between the two types, the construction of both could not be more different. Tom found his stored complete, but naked, at Fresno, California and after nursing it back to health, now takes delighted passengers on a trip back into a bye-gone era, with a smile on his face and a baseball cap that somehow stays on his head!


THE FRANK COLLECTION

‘An old plane in a barn’? The dream of such a find will always be part of aviation’s collective psyche: that aeronautical treasure hunt that sees the squeaky barn door prised open to reveal a dusty and long forgotten piece of flying history. This article traces the story of such a place, and the unique opportunity that has allowed some lucky buyers to load up a N3N (half a dozen!), JN-4, Kinner Sportster, Fairchild 71, Travel Air, and for good measure a ‘Bamboo bomber’!



AIRSHOWS

CHRISTMAS WINGS, OMAKA
THE GREAT EASTERN FLY-IN, NSW.

Website updated..nice shot Eric!

Dave

http://www.classicwings.com/currentissue.html

I've waited years for an article somewhere on Gene Frank's collection. Maybe I missed one or two elsewhere in an antique aircraft publication or possibly the AAHS magazine. Has anyone ever seen an article before?

In the early 70s Gene had 34 airplanes registered to him (including, besides a mess of N3N's, an SNJ and one or two Fairchild PTs for us warbird guys) but at least a dozen other aircraft were not registered including two Jennys at least. I can put that registered aircraft list on here tonight if anyone is interested.

He bought a large collection of original warbird photos from me in 1988 that I often regret selling, but a baby was due and I was broke.

Lowell

Hi Lowell

That list would be of interest, thanks

Dave

Hi Dave

The P40C for Mr Raftis turning up at AveSpecs was a nice thing to see - Western Desert RAAF scheme would be nice - Nice coup for you guys - well done - wonder if he will keep it or sell- Would be nice to see her stay downunder and a Wanaka 2008 arrival perhaps ?

John P

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Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

John

Hard to know what will happen to it once complete. I would like to see it finished in its authentic VVS colours...but wouldn't be surprised if it gets the usual AVG 'sharkmouth' scheme- but his aircraft, his money and all that

Dave

True Dave as you say- his to do with as he pleases - be nice if it came here and was displayed in RAAF colors for a while and VVS would be good too as you say - be very nice at Wanaka in Russian scheme with the La9, Yak 3, Polikarpovs and even the Hurricane in a Russian Scheme?

Lots of good ideas - sad if she goes in AVG as everybody does that

Wings will take a year I think - you know where - does a C model have two or three guns per wing?

Regards
John P

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Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

whats the chances of a clive caldwell 112 sqn desert p40 scheme desert markings and a shark mouth ?
paul

The Caldwell scheme would be good however the current Col Pay P40 scheme is also very close so I would think something different will get picked - on the other hand chances are it will not come to Australia so it wouldn't make that much difference

Regards
John p

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Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

I just got my copy today. I can't wait to sit down and read it. It looks great. Nice cover shot BTW Eric!

Mike

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Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

SEVERAL OF GREG HERRICKS A/C CAME FROM THE GENE FRANK COLLECTION. THANKS MIKE

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IF YOU CAN FIND IT WE CAN FIX IT

G' day Chap's ,

Just a quick pop in, as I am still pretty blooody raatsshiitt

Magic stuff as alway's Dave and Team at C.W. H.Q.

Butcher Bird's RULE!!! (Fury's are a very close in the race too!)

Thank's so much again Dave and GMO, made a pretty poor day , just so much better, when I walked to the letter box and.......

COOL and what do I see instead of Bill's and Junk mail.

The Latest C.W.D.!!!

Just becoming tottaly insane with WHAT is happining on the Warbird resurection front .

1. Can not wait for a FLYING C.A.C Sabre, just hope atleast ONE will stay in Oz .

2.Hanging out REAL bad for a Mozzie to take to the sky again.

3. And a bloody Beaufighter, whenever that will happen, darn Cent's(still think a Merlin job, may be MUCH quicker!), more of a bitch flying it, but Hey atleast one's in the air again.


4. Stuff all the NOB'S at that HOLE Canberra , let's get G for George flying again, reclaim her bit's whereever they have ended up, and put her back together again.

She flew in to Oz, very complete, and then was butchered, great display YES, BUT she is a DEAD bird, NO beating Heart, No air under her wing's

THIS has become a passion for me again, and make me sick to the Gut's, after watching the Lanc, on " Bomber Crew " on the ABC 2 .

The Lanc sure is a Beautiful Brute, and is an Awesome sound and sight barreling past for a flypast at 50 feet.

That Fokker D.IV look's MAD Dave, and great addition to N.Z.!

And that DR.1 for sale look real nice, I alway's wanted to be the Red Baron, so I better keep buying those Lotto ticket's hey!.

Great tribute to Ray Hanna too lad's, Magic centre spread!

Well that's enough for now,

I WILL BE SKYDIVING for the first time in April this year, as it has been put off for the last 10 year's.

I will turn (Buggger ME already ) 40!!!, on the 13th of April(unlucky for some, Mum's already checked to see that it's not a black friday again LoL)

So the her Only baby boy, is GOING NO MATTER WHAT SHE SAY'S!!!!

Now maddly trying to get fit and well, put on some weight and jump out of a perfectly good aircraft! .

Cheer's all far and WIDE , Tally Ho! Ho! from

Phil.J.Nankivell in Oz

P.s G' day R.B. Paul

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" There's nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so."(Shakes baby)

Hi Phill you old Bas@#$d

Nice to hear from you again

Beaus Have Hercules not Centaurus - sorry - and no I hate the look of the Merlin Beaus - don't look right and I don't think an Aussie Beau flew with them.

At least one Sabre is sure to stay here (Temora/RAAF one) and the Yeagan project will be great in the USA and fly the flag for Aus over there - love to see it fly off with an F86 !!


I have money on the Mossie flying before the end of 2007 but some don't agree - we will see - love to see here at Wanaka in 2008!!!

Better Lanc would be the one in WA - flew a shorter time ago and should be more complete and in better nick? Former Froggy one from Tahiti

Good luck with the controlled crash landing

Regards
John P

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Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

Ahh , to many cent on the mind John! my Doh!

Those blooody big round job's , I had been look at some site's about keeping Cent's alive and kicking, can see why the Pratt's cheaper to run.

That said, did or can a Beaufighter fly O.k, and look good to you, with Pratt's or Cyc's?.

On the Mossie front, I had been watching a U.K. airshow display, of that YES, last Mossie to find mother Earth the hard way(R.I.P.Lad's).

It's a bit before she went, sent to me with other great display stuff, and the Mossie story by a Mad Mossie UK Dude on flyass .

MAN could that dude throw her around , almost like watching a large remote model job.

Would be great to see one of the bugger's flying AGAIN in good old Oz .

BUT still live in hope

Also has Sally-B doing a HUGE bounce , which must have put a bit of strain on thing's I reckon!

I also think it's GREAT NEW'S, that the " SOUTHERN CROSS " Rep , may take to the air once more, a darn shame it has take so long!

If anyone can do it, HARS CAN!

Ooooo Rooooo for now

Cheerio all, far and WIDE , Tally Ho! Ho!

Phil in Oz

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" There's nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so."(Shakes baby)