2017 restorations

[Flying Pencil]

C-97 is done. Ready to fly. We're just waiting on the FAA concerning crew relief. (No one's current in a C-97)

Barring any major MX issues, we ought to be out there a bit in 17.

Formation fly with the Super Guppy!!

SG is just a pregnant C-97

[The Ripper]

Some possibilities from England, if anyone is interested:

-Shuttleworth Spitfire V 'AR501'
-Shuttleworth Sopwith Camel
-Shuttleworth Sopwith Triplane
-Aero Legends Spitfire T.IX 'NH341'
-Grumman F4F Wildcat
-Hawker Hurricane P3717
-Hawker Hurricane P2902
-TFC's FIAT CR.42
-Air Leasing two seat Buchon
-HAC DH9
-Percival Q6
-BHHH Spitfire T.IX 'BS410'
-RNHF Operated Sea Fury T20 'VX281' (after its landing accident two years ago)
-TFC's Sea Fury T20 (refitted with R2800)
-BF109E 'White 14'

[quemerford]

Some possibilities from England, if anyone is interested:

-Shuttleworth Spitfire V 'AR501'
-Shuttleworth Sopwith Camel
-Shuttleworth Sopwith Triplane
-Aero Legends Spitfire T.IX 'NH341'
-Grumman F4F Wildcat
-Hawker Hurricane P3717
-Hawker Hurricane P2902
-TFC's FIAT CR.42
-Air Leasing two seat Buchon
-HAC DH9
-Percival Q6
-BHHH Spitfire T.IX 'BS410'
-RNHF Operated Sea Fury T20 'VX281' (after its landing accident two years ago)
-TFC's Sea Fury T20 (refitted with R2800)
-BF109E 'White 14'

But discounting the obvious replicas, how many does that leave? I'd imagine not much original will remain in those listed above, so I'd hold off calling them restorations. Still some great engineering work going on recreating those types however.

Thus my "restoration" list would retain the Buchon and RNHF Sea Fury (and maybe AR501?).

In terms of aircraft I'd like to see fly/in the flesh, the Q.6 has my vote: I don't care how much of it's original, it would be great to just see this one airborne. And maybe one day a DH.86 to go along with it?

[Zac Yates]

But discounting the obvious replicas, how many does that leave?

Good question. Discounting the obvious replicas, we are left with:

-Shuttleworth Spitfire V 'AR501'
-Aero Legends Spitfire T.IX 'NH341'
-Grumman F4F Wildcat
-Hawker Hurricane P3717
-Hawker Hurricane P2902
-TFC's FIAT CR.42
-Air Leasing two seat Buchon
-HAC DH9
-Percival Q6
-BHHH Spitfire T.IX 'BS410'
-RNHF Operated Sea Fury T20 'VX281' (after its landing accident two years ago)
-TFC's Sea Fury T20 (refitted with R2800)
-BF109E 'White 14'

As JimH mentioned, Tony Banta's Spitfire XVI TB252 is well underway here in NZ with AvSpecs. There's also a private Fairchild 28 restoration almost done at Omaka that I think will fly in early 2017, as well as a Comper Swift at the same field.

No-one's mentioned (unless I skimmed over it) Sea Fury D-CACE in Germany, close to completion at MeierMotors in its stunning original civil target tug scheme.

More of a guess, but we may see FHC's Stuka project fly this year (2017). Suggestions have been made of an engine underway in the US for it...

[DH82EH]

Thank you Zac.
That was really well put.
I appreciated your post. Cheers mate

Andy

[Ed Likes]

Unless I missed it what about Brent Hinsey's P-51C how far along is that one. I forget where, but I read somewhere that out of all the Current Mustang's flying there are 6 P-51C's flying. Im a huge fan of the Razorback Mustang. Actually any warbird that is a razorback.

[Lon Moer]

C-97 is done. Ready to fly. We're just waiting on the FAA concerning crew relief. (No one's current in a C-97)

Barring any major MX issues, we ought to be out there a bit in 17.

Wouldn't one of the CAF B-29 crews work out for that?

[Noha307]

Does a Flug Werk 190 count as a restoration?

[JohnTerrell]

Well, outside of those that haven't been completed/flown yet, most of those that have flown, have been restored at least once since originally being built. MeierMotors has a Flugwerk FW-190 under restoration for Hangar10 in Germany, which is the same example that was operated for a few years in France, until it was forced to ditch in the sea. It may be completed/flying again next year. The Erickson Aircraft Collection has had their Flugwerk FW-190 under restoration following a ground loop earlier this year (the same example that used to be owned/operated by Jerry Yagen/MAM), and the Chariots of Fire FW-190 has been under restoration in New Zealand to fly again, following a ground loop back in the spring of 2015.

[JohnTerrell]

With regard to Flying Heritage Collection projects, I wouldn't expect to see the Ju-87 anytime soon, but I do keep wondering if we just might see their P-38 completed/flying in the not too distant future, since it seems to have been underway at Westpac for about as long as "White 33" was. Of course it will be a thrill to see their Mosquito flying from Paine Field this coming year, in its permanent night fighter markings. Also, with rumors having been afoot last year, that their Me-262 was likely to be completed/flying sometime in 2016, perhaps 2017 will be the year.

Beating 2017 by a couple weeks, Gerry Beck's F4U-4 Corsair flew again yesterday, with Doug Rozendaal at the controls, following a year of overhaul/refurbishing work at Tri-State Aviation. The aircraft will be joining Paul Ehlen's flying warbirds at the Wings of the North Museum in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

The Texas Flying Legends A6M2 Zero, which has been under repair/restoration at Tri-State Aviation, should likely be completed/flying again next year. The A6M3-32 Zero, under restoration at Legend Flyers, also looks like a possible candidate to be completed/flying in the coming year or so.

The Texas Flying Legends P-51C "Lope's Hope 3rd", under restoration at AirCorps Aviation, is set to be completed/flying in-time for Oshkosh next year. It has been easy to say that "Sierra Sue II" is the most WWII-authentic P-51 flying today, but once "Lope's Hope" is completed/flying, it will have to be clarified that "SSII" is the most authentic D-model flying, and "Lope's Hope" the most authentic C-model flying, as they are on-par with one another. This will be the first WWII fighter that I can think of, restored and flying, to have a complete set of all of the original/unique C.B.I. Theatre specific radios and associated hardware (such as the radio compass and directional finder loop antenna).

Ed, at this time, there are 8 P-51B/C-models flying (the P-51B's Old Crow, Berlin Express, and Impatient Virgin, and the P-51C's Betty Jane, Tuskegee Airmen, Ina the Macon Belle, Boise Bee, and Princess Elizabeth). There are three more currently under restoration to fly, which includes the examples at AirCorps Aviation, Pacific Fighters, and the Oklahoma Museum of Flying (Brent Hisey). Other than the one at AirCorps (Lope's Hope), I'm not sure of when the other two are expected to be completed.

Ezell recently posted some photos on Facebook of the Texas Flying Legends Bearcat project, with the engine mounted and exhaust work being done. It doesn't look too far off from completion.

What I'm perhaps most excited to see in 2017, is the completion/first flights of the P-47 "Dottie Mae". What a stunning sight that will be, to see it rolled out into the sunshine, and with all of the original, colorful markings and noseart re-applied, over the shiny fresh alclad. Another of the most authentic warbird restorations we've seen to-date (according to what I've seen/heard, it even goes a few steps beyond the level of authenticity in FHC's P-47).

At Aero Trader, Trent Latshaw's B-25J has been under restoration for the past couple years, and is the only current B-25 restoration that I can think of that just might be completed/flying in the not too distant future. Also at Aero Trader, Kermit Weeks stated at the start of 2016 that he was green-lighting Aero Trader to complete his A-26 Invader by the end of the year. However, a few months ago, Weeks posted that he was changing the direction of the restoration a bit, by having the aircraft re-fitted with a B-model gun nose, instead of the C-model glass nose (which had already been fully restored). Perhaps we'll see it completed/flying in 2017.

[TOM WALSH]

Overall, a goodly number of restorations that hopefully will find their way to a future Thunder Over Michigan warbird gathering.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

[kalamazookid]

Does a Flug Werk 190 count as a restoration?

I'm not going to debate that, but I'm hoping the comment in reference to the Tri-State Warbird Museum Flug Werk. Looking forward to seeing that one when it's finished! The P-40M is spectacular.

[marine air]

Thanks guys for posting those updates, really interesting. Any word on the FHC's Focke Wulf FW189 "Uhu"?
I would like to see the Fw 189 flown and studied as I think it may have been way ahead of it's time for battlefield reconnaissance and the light COIN role. Look at the similarities in it and the OV-10A, which actually needed more wingspan.

[Zac Yates]

I knew we could rely on JohnT to give us a juicy rundown of what's happening

[The Ripper]

Well, outside of those that haven't been completed/flown yet, most of those that have flown, have been restored at least once since originally being built. MeierMotors has a Flugwerk FW-190 under restoration for Hangar10 in Germany, which is the same example that was operated for a few years in France, until it was forced to ditch in the sea. It may be completed/flying again next year.

Hangar 10 have confirmed the FW-190 will be joining the collection in spring 2017.