LATEST CLASSIC WINGS
Thu Mar 22, 2018 9:49 pm
All, latest issue should make the Post Office for mailing just prior to Easter.
Cover107
Main articles this time around are as follows:
GOLDEN AGE GLAMOUR GIRL!
Following Trevor 'TC' Collins purchase of a forlorn looking but rare Fairchild F-24C8c project from an owner in the USA, he spent more than a decade feeling his way through the aircraft’s restoration to air worthy condition. The end result is stunning, it finished in off-white with maroon trim, designed to reflect the glamorous mid-1930s era of Packards and Duesenbergs, Wacos and Staggerwings. As the photos which accompany this article show, he got that absolutely spot-on, having created an aircraft of great 'Gatsby glamour' complete with that magnificent 'bump' cowling as originally fitted to the 1934 model Fairchild cabin tourers. Now this machine looks set to lead the way at her home base at Omaka, where she will be soon joined by other glamorous American built cabin tourers of the era including two more Fairchild products, an F-24W and an exceedingly rare F-45.
BUCHÓN IS BACK!
Renowned display pilot John Romain, owner of the Duxford based Aircraft Restoration Company and Historic Flying Ltd, is revisiting Warbirds over Wanaka in New Zealand with a crowd favourite which he debuted at the 2016 air show, the Merlin powered member of the famous Messerschmitt family – the Buchón. Following a short historical overview of the type we take a look at this specific aircraft which has undergone several changes of scheme, several of which were as a result of starring on the big screen in movies including the iconic Battle of Britain and more recently Dunkirk.
DIVINE AND DESPERATE
Four of Imperial Japan’s last ditch aircraft which have been hidden from the general public for decades are enjoying time in the spotlight, one as a partial airframe and three relatively complete. The fuselage of the Nakajima ‘Kitsuka,’ and the forward fuselage of the J7W1 ‘Shinden’ are on display at the NASM’s Udvar -Hazy Center. At the Pima Air & Space Museum the Ki-115a Special Attacker ‘Tsurugi’ is on display, whilst the dual seat ‘Ohka’ based trainer is destined to be in the immediate future. In this article we take a look at the history of these types and focus on the aircraft which have survived and are now enjoying some much needed attention.
DOING THE (UP) RIGHT THING
Turning a Gipsy engine upside down.
Clarke Seaborne has been a fan of the lovely de Havilland Moth for some years and chancing upon the sad remains of a DH 60 he decided to rebuild it – not easy when there was only the fuselage frame remaining. Knowing that De Havilland Canada produced some 1,500 Tiger Moths Clarke felt that it would make a good project to build up a DH60M using some of the Tiger Moth parts still existing in Canada. However over a decade of searching turned up only one Gipsy upright engine, which was nowhere near serviceable. Clarke decided there was one way to fix the problem, an engine modification. Here he describes the process- one for the engineers among us!
Our Last Mystery Aircraft was a...REID & SIGRIST
Our teaser last issue was the unusual and unique R.S.4 Desford, the second and final foray into aircraft production by the R&S Company renowned for their aircraft instrumentation through the 1930s/40s. Their first machine was the amusingly named Snargasher and it showed enough potential to build the improved model, incorporating numerous upgrades. The resulting Desford was a cutting edge multi engine trainer superbly catered to its role. The only thing wrong was its timing, first flying in mid 1945. With the war almost at an end the RAF were not enthusiastic about ordering a new trainer, when they already had hundreds of surplus trainer types sitting idle. Despite the initial disappointment, spirits were lifted when the RAF decided it could employ the aircraft in an experimental role. This required a major modification, allowing for a prone pilot’s position. Here we look at the type history and trace the career of this still surviving and once again air worthy oddity.
Cover107 Main articles this time around are as follows:
GOLDEN AGE GLAMOUR GIRL!
Following Trevor 'TC' Collins purchase of a forlorn looking but rare Fairchild F-24C8c project from an owner in the USA, he spent more than a decade feeling his way through the aircraft’s restoration to air worthy condition. The end result is stunning, it finished in off-white with maroon trim, designed to reflect the glamorous mid-1930s era of Packards and Duesenbergs, Wacos and Staggerwings. As the photos which accompany this article show, he got that absolutely spot-on, having created an aircraft of great 'Gatsby glamour' complete with that magnificent 'bump' cowling as originally fitted to the 1934 model Fairchild cabin tourers. Now this machine looks set to lead the way at her home base at Omaka, where she will be soon joined by other glamorous American built cabin tourers of the era including two more Fairchild products, an F-24W and an exceedingly rare F-45.
BUCHÓN IS BACK!
Renowned display pilot John Romain, owner of the Duxford based Aircraft Restoration Company and Historic Flying Ltd, is revisiting Warbirds over Wanaka in New Zealand with a crowd favourite which he debuted at the 2016 air show, the Merlin powered member of the famous Messerschmitt family – the Buchón. Following a short historical overview of the type we take a look at this specific aircraft which has undergone several changes of scheme, several of which were as a result of starring on the big screen in movies including the iconic Battle of Britain and more recently Dunkirk.
DIVINE AND DESPERATE
Four of Imperial Japan’s last ditch aircraft which have been hidden from the general public for decades are enjoying time in the spotlight, one as a partial airframe and three relatively complete. The fuselage of the Nakajima ‘Kitsuka,’ and the forward fuselage of the J7W1 ‘Shinden’ are on display at the NASM’s Udvar -Hazy Center. At the Pima Air & Space Museum the Ki-115a Special Attacker ‘Tsurugi’ is on display, whilst the dual seat ‘Ohka’ based trainer is destined to be in the immediate future. In this article we take a look at the history of these types and focus on the aircraft which have survived and are now enjoying some much needed attention.
DOING THE (UP) RIGHT THING
Turning a Gipsy engine upside down.
Clarke Seaborne has been a fan of the lovely de Havilland Moth for some years and chancing upon the sad remains of a DH 60 he decided to rebuild it – not easy when there was only the fuselage frame remaining. Knowing that De Havilland Canada produced some 1,500 Tiger Moths Clarke felt that it would make a good project to build up a DH60M using some of the Tiger Moth parts still existing in Canada. However over a decade of searching turned up only one Gipsy upright engine, which was nowhere near serviceable. Clarke decided there was one way to fix the problem, an engine modification. Here he describes the process- one for the engineers among us!
Our Last Mystery Aircraft was a...REID & SIGRIST
Our teaser last issue was the unusual and unique R.S.4 Desford, the second and final foray into aircraft production by the R&S Company renowned for their aircraft instrumentation through the 1930s/40s. Their first machine was the amusingly named Snargasher and it showed enough potential to build the improved model, incorporating numerous upgrades. The resulting Desford was a cutting edge multi engine trainer superbly catered to its role. The only thing wrong was its timing, first flying in mid 1945. With the war almost at an end the RAF were not enthusiastic about ordering a new trainer, when they already had hundreds of surplus trainer types sitting idle. Despite the initial disappointment, spirits were lifted when the RAF decided it could employ the aircraft in an experimental role. This required a major modification, allowing for a prone pilot’s position. Here we look at the type history and trace the career of this still surviving and once again air worthy oddity.
Re: LATEST CLASSIC WINGS
Fri Mar 23, 2018 7:51 am
Looking forward to it!! 
Re: LATEST CLASSIC WINGS
Sun Mar 25, 2018 9:55 pm
Will be looking forward towards its arrival...
Update: No disappointment here, really nice articles...
Update: No disappointment here, really nice articles...
Last edited by Lynn Allen on Mon Apr 09, 2018 9:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: LATEST CLASSIC WINGS
Mon Mar 26, 2018 8:03 am
Me too, it never disappoints. It’s a good-un.
Re: LATEST CLASSIC WINGS
Wed Apr 04, 2018 2:14 am
Just got mine in the UK
I wonder if there is an April Fool in it, because I can't see any P-40 News, Snippets, Photos or Articles
Good Issue none the less!
Paul
I wonder if there is an April Fool in it, because I can't see any P-40 News, Snippets, Photos or Articles
Good Issue none the less!
Paul
Re: LATEST CLASSIC WINGS
Wed Apr 04, 2018 5:50 am
Pat Carry wrote:Looking forward to it!!
What he said!
Re: LATEST CLASSIC WINGS
Wed Apr 04, 2018 4:57 pm
Skimmed through my copy over the weekend and intend to thoroughly enjoy it after dinner tonight. Some great photography and I'm especially interested to read the story on TC's Fairchild, having seen it on Restoration Row several times over the last decade-plus.
Re: LATEST CLASSIC WINGS
Wed Apr 04, 2018 8:15 pm
paulmcmillan wrote:Just got mine in the UK
I wonder if there is an April Fool in it, because I can't see any P-40 News, Snippets, Photos or Articles
Good Issue none the less!
Paul
Paul, so you obviously missed the item on the little known 'stealth' P-40S
Re: LATEST CLASSIC WINGS
Sat Apr 07, 2018 11:14 pm
That article about the Canadian who converted his Gipsy major to run upside down (which was the original right way up cylinders uppermost!!) without using the normal upright Gipsy parts was a fascinating read. Plus some nutter with a couple of Austers on his Mum's lawn.............. 
Re: LATEST CLASSIC WINGS
Sun Apr 08, 2018 4:39 am
Hello avenger2504. I happen to be one of those nutters !. The one that is still in its service markings, painted white is mine. Its going to take some time to rebuild this ex Hong Kong Auster, but thankfully its very complete. Feel free to drop me a line.
Thanks.
Damon
Thanks.
Damon
Re: LATEST CLASSIC WINGS
Sun Apr 08, 2018 10:21 pm
You plonker Damon it's me Baz!
Re: LATEST CLASSIC WINGS
Mon Apr 09, 2018 5:28 am
Plonker time it is , ha ha !