Current aircraft being restored to flight

Discussions regarding historic aircraft, restoration and preservation etc
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K5054NZ
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by K5054NZ »

The engine for P-51D 45-11513/NZ2423 was run yesterday at Vintage V12s (on Facebook, not sure how to embed here):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1199825 ... 789476230/

Pics I took of the project yesterday are here: viewtopic.php?t=86932
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RogerN
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by RogerN »

Anyone any information on the progress of Rob Lamplough's Bf109e that was under restoration to fly with Meier Motors as it appears to have disappeared from their web site.

Regards Roger

GeeRam
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by GeeRam »

In regarding aircraft being restored to flight, and ones that already have, I see there is very strong rumours circulating that the whole of the Paul Allen Flying Heritage Collection Museum and Combat Armour Collection has been bought by the Walton family, who own Walmart.
The son of one of the Walmart directors, already owns and pilots a FG-1D Corsair a couple of P-51's, and his father Jim Walton (youngest son of Walmart founder) is also a pilot and worth about $60bn.....so they have the finances and interest to continue what Paul Allen started.

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K5054NZ
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by K5054NZ »

I'm curious too about the Spanish Civil War veteran Emil. That's a very exciting project and I'd been keenly following Matthias Dorst's updates on various forums.

The Waltons? Now that's an interesting (and promising) rumour. Another of the founder's sons was also an aviator:
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xr221
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by xr221 »

An update on the Wildcat/Martlett that's being restored to flight by the Aircraft Restoration Company at Duxford - it was outside yesterday and details are here - https://www-lecharpeblanche-fr.translat ... c#comments

Merlin70
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by Merlin70 »

EN224 G-FXII Spitfire Mk XII

Owned by Air Leasing, according to G-INFO

Any news on this restoration?

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Professor_M
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by Professor_M »

Lynx restorations seem to be very fashionable - this is taken from the Gazelle Squadron's "Lynx Flight" page on their website:
In the summer of 2022, Falcon Aviation, bought Lynx AH7 XZ 678 with the aim of returning it to the skies in 2023.

If you're interested in the progress of the restoration, please visit the Lynx Flight website.
XZ768 had been at North Weald but Project Lynx announced in July that it would be moving on.

Lynx being restored to flight/ Flying:
XZ678 - AH7 - Falcon Aviation
ZD252 - HMA8 - North Weald (ZD266 to provide spares)
XZ179 - AH7 - North Weald (Flying), XZ188 also at North Weald
XZ616 - AH7 - Historic Helicopters (Flying)

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Skylinerworld
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by Skylinerworld »

MiG-17 in Poland, might be old news but I've just seen an article about them restoring one to flight in the next few years.
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AMB
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by AMB »

How much longer before the former Indian AF Gnat F.1 at North Weald will take to the air? It's all gone very quiet!
Adrian

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Professor_M
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by Professor_M »

AMB wrote:
Sun 19 Feb 2023, 2:17 pm
How much longer before the former Indian AF Gnat F.1 at North Weald will take to the air? It's all gone very quiet!
I thought I saw a video/photo of it recently taxiing, but I can't find it anywhere.

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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by Mike »

Gnat F1 video taken on 19 Jan



Still no seat, from the look of it.

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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by K5054NZ »

Curtiss P-40N-5 42-105875/NZ3184 has flown in the last few days at Wangaratta, VIC, Australia after restoration by Precision Airmotive. This had been said to be for Ross Pay (owner of P-40E NZ3094 among others) but there has been chatter she's off overseas.
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AMB
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by AMB »

Mike wrote:
Sun 19 Feb 2023, 3:01 pm
Gnat F1 video taken on 19 Jan



Still no seat, from the look of it.
Many thanks - getting there. Hope it makes it to RIAT.
Adrian

Domvickery
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by Domvickery »

Apparently it’s ready to go but the CAA are being, well, the CAA
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by G-CVIX »

AMB wrote:
Wed 01 Mar 2023, 3:15 pm
Mike wrote:
Sun 19 Feb 2023, 3:01 pm
Gnat F1 video taken on 19 Jan



Still no seat, from the look of it.
Many thanks - getting there. Hope it makes it to RIAT.
What a beauty!

106500
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by 106500 »

Domvickery wrote:
Wed 01 Mar 2023, 5:26 pm
Apparently it’s ready to go but the CAA are being, well, the CAA
Not sure what you mean by this? A Gnat pilot was killed some years ago at a display and so if you’re implying they are being super cautious before permitting flight then there’s probably good reason?

purple_95
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by purple_95 »

CAA are as ever in a no win situation, despite what some still think after all this time the CAA do not sit around finding reasons to keep former military jets from flying in private hands. For anyone who still thinks otherwise have a read of just how much support the CAA gave in order for the likes of the Vulcan and Sea Vixen to fly again. Not to mention the other types such as the Hunter (pre Shoreham), Meteor, Mig-15, Strikemaster, Venom etc etc that have flown under the CAA's jurisdiction over the years. If the CAA are keeping this Gnat on the ground (and I have no idea if that is or is not the case) then I would assume its for a very good reason based on nothing more than wanting to keep its pilot and the general public safe.

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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by Mike »

The CAA got a good kicking from AAIB in the aftermath of the Shoreham accident. It should therefore come as no surprise that they’re very circumspect about signing off ex-military jets as fit for flight as playthings. Once bitten, twice shy.

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Brevet Cable
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by Brevet Cable »

If you believe the CAA's own G-INFO website ( and why shouldn't you? ) there are currently four Gnats on the register....three Folland-built T Mk.1s & the HAL-built Mk.1
The three Follands ( G-FRCE / MOUR / RORI ) still technically have valid PtoFs which expire this year, although the first two are showing as having a "Date of "No Flight" declaration" on them.
The latter two are listed as being owned by the same company ( Heritage Aircraft Ltd ) who own the HAL-built one ( G-SYLR )
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AMB
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by AMB »

purple_95 wrote:
Sun 05 Mar 2023, 1:01 pm
CAA are as ever in a no win situation, despite what some still think after all this time the CAA do not sit around finding reasons to keep former military jets from flying in private hands. For anyone who still thinks otherwise have a read of just how much support the CAA gave in order for the likes of the Vulcan and Sea Vixen to fly again. Not to mention the other types such as the Hunter (pre Shoreham), Meteor, Mig-15, Strikemaster, Venom etc etc that have flown under the CAA's jurisdiction over the years. If the CAA are keeping this Gnat on the ground (and I have no idea if that is or is not the case) then I would assume its for a very good reason based on nothing more than wanting to keep its pilot and the general public safe.
Well said. It's probably because there has never been a single-seat Gnat fighter on the UK civil register before, let alone an Indian HAL-built one, so there may be some differences between that and the British-built two seaters that the CAA are checking out. Even those single-seaters built in the UK were tested with Class-B registrations and then put on the military register.
Adrian

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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by Gt5500 »

Totally agree, the CAA can never win, one minute they're the campaign against airshows the next minute they're murderers for allowing the Shoreham tragedy to happen.

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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by K5054NZ »

baz1962 wrote:
Sat 07 Mar 2020, 1:46 am
In 1971 the RNZAF sold to our two major airlines ,NAC (National Airways Corporation) and Air New Zealand (the two merged in 78) a Harvard each. NZ1041(NAC) and NZ1044(ANZ). Both of these airframes survive with NZ1041 now owned by John Saunders based at Omaka. 44 was sold too but just recently has been sold to Bevan Dewes a well known local pilot who flies his own Chipmunk (one the Prince of Wales trained on)but also holds ratings on the Harvard and most if not all the TVAL WW1 fleet. He has also flown a P40 in Australia so is well on the way to flying the heavy metal!
Here's a link to the Wings over New Zealand thread about his purchase: https://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/1760 ... ile?page=2
Both Harvards are currently in need of restoration but as they both were training aids they have been looked after.
Bevan Dewes' NZ1044/ZK-OTU flew again on 10/03/2023 at Wanaka, with Bevan himself at the helm.
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Tommy
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by Tommy »

Kiwi Wasp has performed its first post-restoration flight:


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K5054NZ
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by K5054NZ »

Fantastic to see!
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Andover
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Re: Current aircraft being restored to flight

Post by Andover »

Tommy wrote:
Thu 30 Mar 2023, 1:25 pm
Kiwi Wasp has performed its first post-restoration flight:
In the words of Brenda, from Bristol: "What, another one???!!"