Warbird Information Exchange

Dorian put his heart and soul into this aircraft. Maybe it can be rebuilt or sold. Not totally surprised, but everyone had hoped for the best. I think this was it’s initial test flight.

If this was an original airplane, was this "substantially" original or "just-the-metal-parts" original?

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Kevin McCartney

How about, "more substantially original than most Spitfire/P-51 restorations". Pretty obviously there won't be much wood left.

This looks like the one that was on static display at Oshkosh a couple of years ago? Sad, that was a nice plane. Glad he is ok.

August

Didn’t the same group wreck their other airplane (a Jenny) a couple of years back too?

Same airport and a different pilot. The Jenny was repaired.

The determined cause was the pilot stalling the aircraft after take off.
http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2017/08/c ... ds-of.html

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"They done it, they done it, damned if they ain't flew." December 17, 1903

My heart goes out to all of those on the team and who have been involved with this project. I'm so glad that Mr. Walker got out of it so unscathed. I had been following the project on Facebook for the past 4 years or so and it is incredibly sad to see this happen, but I hope, with time, they can muster the determination and funds to rebuild it. This aircraft was displayed, static, at Oshkosh in 2018, and it had been undergoing many ground runs and taxi tests in recent months. This same group of individuals also operate a Curtiss Jenny, and used to be known as "Friends of Jenny", now known as "Friends of Vintage Flight". As the article says, their Curtiss Jenny was substantially damaged a few years ago, but it was soon repaired and has been flying since 2018.

Speaking of DH.4's - The Vintage Aviator in New Zealand operates a fully-accurate reproduction WWI-era DH.4, built by Century Aviation, powered by an original Liberty engine, finished in a very similar paint scheme from the same squadron. Century Aviation also restored two original DH.4's for Kermit Weeks, who has yet to have them completed. The Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum also has a beautiful mailplane DH-4 that was completed by Glenn Peck back in 2006 and which flew for a few years (not sure if it is still active, but it has a valid registration). The Evergreen museum also has a beautiful mailplane DH-4 that was for sale some years back and which could easily be a flyer from what I understand.

My photos of the TVAL example

https://www.flickr.com/photos/errolgc/a ... 8587209526

Changing Mag by Errol Cavit, on Flickr

What a tough break. I too have followed this project closely over the years. It has been a fascinating project to follow. This had to have been one of the first flights, too. The last update I saw from late March was from taxi tests.

I really hope it can be rebuilt.

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Matt

Why the lack of surprise?

...or the superfluous apostrophe?

It’s an original aircraft, not a replica. The center part of the fuselage is original. The tail feathers, wings, and engine bearer are new wood. The project had original cabane struts, gear, wheels, engine, brass radiator, steel fittings for the wings and controls, an original prop and a couple pieces of cowling. Also had original instruments and an original scarf ring and gun on loan from Kermit.
Of course, sometimes it’s best , if it’s to be flown, to build new pieces. It had new build wooden landing gear and engine bearers, propellor, replica scarf ring, all new engine cowlings, new flying wires, etc. it had original wheels , however, they sourced new wheels and tyres from New Zealand.
To me, it didn’t look like a good day for a test flight. Winds were 15 to 20 knots all day and the grass was completely saturated from days of rain. The plane didn’t have radios, brakes or a tail wheel. Authenticity was chosen over enhanced safety. However, to me, the photos suggest he got the airplane too slow, with a resulting very high sink rate. It impacted the ground breaking the landing gear, etc. The news article says the left wing dropped before impact. That may have been a wind gust as it was blustery conditions or he got too slow .