Sikorsky S-43 To Kermit Weeks

I have long had an interest in the aircraft of Howard Hughes.  The H-1 "Racer" being one of my favorites.  In a time when biplanes ruled the skies he built the slick monoplane and broke speed and distance records.  Most people remember his Flying Boat nicknamed the "Spruce Goose."  But there were also quite a few other aircraft that he owned like a Boeing Model 100, a Sikorsky S-38, a Lockheed 14, a Douglas B-23, a Douglas A-20, a North American B-25, a Boeing 307 and the Sikorsky S-43 that is the subject of this posted video.  Collector Kermit Weeks has purchased the Sikorsky S-43 once owned and flown by Hughes and is in the process of disassembling the aircraft to take to his Florida aviation attraction Fantasy of Flight.  Take 20 minutes and watch the story unfold as Kermit visits, inspects and decides to have the aircraft shipped to his facility.  Hopefully we will see it take to the skies in a few years after the restoration is complete.

Hughes Flying Boat

Hughes Racer

An S-38

The Vanderbilt family S-43 very much like Hughes S-43

Hughes flying his Lockheed 14 over New York

Links - Fantasy of Flight - Evergreen Aviation Museum - Hughes Racer - Aerofiles

Howard 500

The Mighty Howard 500 was a conversion from a Lockheed twin that makes a ramp presence like very few airplanes today.  If you were to see a Howard 500 on a ramp full of Challengers, Gulfstreams and Falcons... which do you think YOU would be drawn to?  Watch the video above and tell me you wouldn't skip the others and walk around the Howard!  Thanks to collector Toni Phillippi in Minnesota there are now two preserved Howard 500's in flying condition.  I first saw the Howard 500 at Oshkosh and walked by it several times a day for the week that I was there.  The powerful twin just draws you in.  If I were assembling a dream fleet of airplanes for my personal collection, A Howard 500 would be my traveling machine!  The video above shows that Mr. Phillippi flies his Howard's all over the country and even went to great lengths to return one from Europe to the United States.

For more on Mr. Phillippi's aircraft visit his web site - http://www.tpaero.com/

For more on Lockheed's Twins - http://www.burbanksbest.com/

Flying Heritage Collection Grumman F6F Hellcat

The Flying Heritage Collection in Washington State is making great progress on the in house restoration of their Grumman F6F Hellcat.  Jason Fortenbacker was kind enough to grant permission to post his photo taken on December 28, 2012.  This looks to be another jaw dropping restoration to add another rare fighter type to the flying line up in the collection.  Hopefully we will see first flight photos in the next month or so!  Thank you for the photo, Jason.

Links - Flying Heritage Collection - Jason's Fight to Fly Photography

New Year - New Aircraft Restorations for 2013

Happy New Year!  It is 2013 and as I look back on 2012 I think back on the Warbird and vintage aircraft restorations that returned to the air this year.  The highlights for me were...

The de Havilland Mosquito completed for Jerry Yagen from the shops at AvSpecs.  The photos that are being posted and printed just makes your heart skip.

AvSpecs home page - http://www.warbirdrestoration.co.nz

http://forum.planetalk.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11019

The Fighter Collection flew their in house restoration of the Razorback P-47.

http://flytoanothertime.blogspot.com/2012/05/p-47-snafu-first-flight.html

The Spokane based Pemberton family flew their Waco Cabin.  The custom cabin Waco's are one of my favorites and the Pemberton's turned out a beautifully restored example.

http://www.antiqueairfield.com/articles/show/1323-pemberton-waco-photo-shoot

A rare, little know type is the Davis D-1 that rolled out of Terry Wallace's hangar.  This orange parasol sure has slick lines.  

http://flytoanothertime.blogspot.com/2012/08/davis-d-1-restoration.html

 

For the new year in 2013 I am excited about...

 

This Curtiss Jenny that is shaping up for the Candler Field Museum in Georgia.

Check in on the Jenny project here...

http://curtissjennyrestoration.blogspot.com/

The P-82 in Georgia also continues to make good progress.  Will we see major components mated soon?

http://xp-82twinmustangproject.blogspot.com/

At Midwest Aero we could see another Mustang take to the skies as well as the challenge of a new aircraft type in the shop.  A bf-109 to be restored to flight!

http://midwestaero.com

So... stay tuned here as I hope to keep posting on the latest news in Warbird and vintage aircraft restorations.

Flying de Havilland Mosquito - KA114

September 27th of this year a de Havilland Mosquito took to the skies again.  Owner Jerry Yegan and the restoration team at AvSpecs (based in New Zealand) poured their money and efforts into an amazing and what some said to be impossible restoration.  The mostly wooden construction was designed and built to fight a war and not last much past its wartime service. This team made Mosquito KA114 new... to fly again.

In my opinion this is THE restoration of 2012 and to see it flying this year is a major highlight.  Watch the newstand at your local book store as most major aviation magazines will feature this awesome restoration.  Be sure to check out Classic Wings magazine Issue 87 and Warbird Digest Issue 46.

To fly IN the Mosquito watch this outstanding video by Scott Slocum.  The video will surely bring a smile to your face as the sound of two Merlins ring out!




To see some additional heart stopping air to air photos click on this link...
http://forum.planetalk.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11019

Now I just hope I can see it fly in person sometime next year when it makes it to the United States!

Links - Military Aviation Museum - AvSpecs - Classic Wings - Warbird Digest - Aero Media Group - Vintage Aero Writer

Kermit Weeks Grumman Duck

It was cold and even snowy here in Texas over the Christmas holiday but I found a video to fly me to a warmer climate.

Kermit Weeks has been posting a series of videos on YouTube called the "Kermie Cam."  Watch the series to fly along with Kermit in some of the rarest aircraft in his collection.  One of my recent favorites was the Grumman Duck. Biplane plus seaplane plus Grumman equals very cool!


http://youtu.be/fCFhxiUcsTw

Links - Fantasy of Flight

Carvair N89FA

A couple months back I was itching to find a unique subject to shoot with my new camera, a Canon 60D.  With any new camera there is a learning curve so I have been shooting airplanes, cars, scenery and my niece and nephews soccer games!  So one Saturday morning I flew the 170 up to KGLE, Gainesville, Texas airport to photograph the Carvair, N89FA.  This modified DC-4/C-54 has seen the world from the air but now lives on the quiet ramp in Gainesville.  The dry grass and blue skies made for a worn and tired setting for this vintage ship.

Stearman Model 4 N667K

Sarah Wilson flew her newly restored Stearman Model 4E "Junior Speedmail" N667K through Dallas a few weeks ago.  The Stearman was on display at the Cavanugh Flight Museum so I took the time to visit the museum and snap a few photographs.  This rare Stearman was operated by Richfield Oil Company from 1929 to 1937 and wears the unique markings featuring the Richfield Eagle.  Jim Kimball Enterprises completed another amazing restoration with this Stearman.  See the photos below for the level of detail that went into this rare beauty.  Thank you to Sarah for saving and restoring this aviation treasure.

For more on surviving early Stearmans see our Civilian Stearman web page at - www.flytoanothertime.com

Links - Stearman Flights - Jim Kimball Enterprises - Cavanaugh Flight Museum

Texas Antique Fly-In 2012

It was a windy Saturday in October for the 50th anniversary Texas Antique Fly-In.  My wife, Mom and I drove in and spent a couple hours catching up with friends and watching some airplanes come and go.  Because of the weather the aircraft attendance was down but still a few nice ships flew in.  A few photos below show the types that captured my attention.  Hope we see better weather next year!

Reb Stimson's T-34

Bill Signs Grand Champion Beech E18S

Tom Richard's Monocoupe

Scott Glover's TravelAir 6000

Aviation's Enduring Classics - book sale

Back in July I released my first aviation photography book, Aviation's Enduring Classics.  From now until October 23, 2012 it is on sale!  Follow the link below to my book store.  Select the print version you prefer and at check out enter the code FANS to receive a 20% discount!

The book features aircraft from the 1940s and 1950s.  The following aircraft types are featured...

Piper Cub, Aeronca Champ, Luscombe Silvaire, Taylorcraft, Stinson Voyager, Stearman, Beech Staggerwing, Fairchild 24, Cessna 120, 140, 170, 180, 195, Beech Bonanza, Globe Swift, DC-3, Piper Apache, Cessna 310, Beech 18.

Order yours on sale TODAY!

Click on the book cover below to see the book in the Blurb book store.

Aviation's End...

Avation's most mem...

By Dan Linn

Book Preview

Grumman F3F Flies in Sonoma, California

A Grumman F3F is now flying in Sonoma, California.  One of several F3F's that were recovered from Hawaii and rebuild in Texas this F3F was operated for many years by the Lone Star Flight Museum.  After a hurricane flooded the museum the aircraft was sold.  Watch the video below for its first flight in recent years!