Vought-Sikorsky Kingfisher

[CDF]

RAAF Station at Rathmines

[Zac Yates]

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?

[sandiego89]

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...

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?

[Zac Yates]

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

[Zac Yates]

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...?

[sandiego89]

but it makes me wonder about how/where the test flights will be carried out...?

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.

[Zac Yates]

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!