New Year - New Aircraft Restorations for 2014

Happy New Year to all vintage aircraft enthusiasts!  2013 was very memorable for me with the birth of our son, Brennen.  I can't hardly wait to take him on more outings to see vintage airplanes in the coming year!  Also a sad memory from this year being that I sold my Cessna 170.  It has an appreciative new owner taking good care of it so that makes me happy. This was a good year seeing more vintage aircraft return to the skies.  Be sure to look back over this blog for some of the highlights and see the links below for some of those.  Also we listed some to watch in 2014.

Great to see this Jenny return to the air in 2013... as we have been watching the restoration on the blog.
http://curtissjennyrestoration.blogspot.com/

Progressing well during 2013 is the restoration of the XP-82.  Keep a watch on this one!
http://xp-82twinmustangproject.blogspot.com/

One to watch is the restoration of the P-61 up in Pennsylvania at the Mid Atlantic Air Museum.
http://www.maam.org/p61/p61_rest_latest.htm

Also watch the progress on the Helldiver and Dauntless in California.
http://vulturesrowaviation.com/currentprojects.html

Another Mosquito should take to the skies soon in Canada.
 http://vicair.net/projects/mosquito

So many rare airplanes to keep a watch out for!

As always check this blog but also watch...

AntiqueAirfield.com

RareAircraft.com

Aerocraftsman.com

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2014 with plenty of Blue Skies!

Lockheed Vega Flying Again

Very fitting to hear that this Lockheed Vega 5C returned to flight after restoration on the 110th anniversary of the Wright Brothers first flight!  December 17th.  This unique Vega is a 5C model that was called a "Detroit Vega" as it was built by the Detroit Aircraft Company featuring a metal fuselage but retaining the Lockheed's originally designed wood wings.  Watch the video below.

A few more details are featured over on the Flying Magazine web site... follow the link below...

http://www.flyingmag.com/pilots-places/pilots-adventures-more/video-vintage-lockheed-vega-flies-again

Happy 110th Anniversary of Flight!

Ford TriMotor - Two TriMotors For Sale

It is a cold and icy day here in North Texas.  So that has me looking over aircraft for sale around the country.  The internet sure makes dream airplane shopping fun.  All your dream airplanes right on your screen!

Two of the coolest listings I found are on www.courtesyaircraft.com and if I were to buy a time machine back to the 1920s I would snag one of the Ford TriMotors!

N9610 and N9645 are Ford Trimotor's that have been restored to flyable condition. N9610 is base in Minnesota with the Golden Wings Flying Museum.  N9645 is base in Oregon with the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum.  Both look outstanding!

Below are my photos of N9645 when I visited the Evergreen collection back in 2007.

Which one should I pick?  Maybe I should just snag them both!

Cessna 170B Donated to California Museum

From the desk of my friend, Mike Harbour, comes this article about a Cessna 170B being donated to the Pacific Coast Air Museum.  What an amazingly preserved 170B!  Check out the clean instrument panel.  Wouldn't we all dream of finding such and airplane!?

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20131129/articles/131129456

Sky Siren Travel Air Flies

I posted on this blog back in March that a cool looking, art deco Travel Air was nearing the end of it's restoration.  Well... it looks like Aerocraftsman finished up all the last little details and made the first flight!  Below is the video of this beautiful Travel Air gracing the skies.  As I stated before... this is one cool art deco paint scheme!


Links - Previous Sky Siren blog post - Aerocraftsman

Great Lakes Biplane For Sale

When a unique airplane comes up for sale and deserves a good home... I just have to spread the word... Dan

Exceptional 1977 Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 offered for sale.  The Great Lakes is a wonderful biplane and is a very capable entry into moderate level aerobatics, that is also fun to fly low and slow with the wind on your face.  It will do everything a Stearman does, but fits in a t-hangar and only burns 10gph.  It can easily be rolled in and out of the hangar with one person.

This offering is N3823F, serial number 791, aircraft total time approx. 2050hr, annual Inspection May 2013, Engine-Lyc. AEIO-360-B1G6, approx. 40hrs SMOH by Buldoc 2009, Prop-Hartzell HC-C2YK-4F, Overhauled by Maxwell 2009, Factory new in 2000.

Completely disassembled and restored in 2009-2010. Reassembled with all new hardware. Fuselage completely stripped, inspected, and refinished. Wings completely disassembled, inspected, replaced one wood spar (small end crack).  All fabric replaced with Ceconite.  All new wiring including new electrical panel with new circuit breakers.  All new instrument panels fabricated and finished with all instruments restored or replaced.  New avionics including Garmin 250XL nav/com, Garmin GTX327 transponder, PS intercom. New Cleveland brakes.  All hoses and fuel lines replaced.  New seat belts and shoulder harness with parachutes included.

(Edit - March 2014... this Great Lakes has found a new home.)

Lindbergh Monocoupe

In 1934 the Lindberghs purchased a Moncoupe D-145.  The registration number was unique as it was the same as Linderghs "Spirit of St. Louis" - NR-211.  At the time he was a PanAm consultant and traveled all over the country.  In September of 1934 the Lindberghs flew the Monocoupe coast-to-coast.  They kept the airplane until it was donated to the Missouri Historical Society in 1940.  Recently NR-211 was re-hung in the Lambert International Airport in St. Louis after a refurbishment.  Take a few minutes to watch this video of the Monocoupe being hoisted into position.



Re-hang of the Lindbergh Monocoupe at Lambert International Airport from Missouri History Museum on Vimeo.

Aviation Collectibles - Greatest Generation Aircraft Auction - Fall 2013

The Greatest Generation was on the ramp at Meacham Field selling rides in their C-47 "Southern Cross" during the AOPA Summit AirportFest.  Visibility at the AirportFest ramp provided interest to the organization and their mission.

Like many operators who maintain and fly vintage aircraft The Greatest Generation Aircraft has found some creative ways to raise funds.  As a follow on to their first fund raising auction earlier this year a second auction was held last weekend during a very busy week of aviation events in Fort Worth. (Link to my blog post covering the first auction.) The funds from the auction are rolled back into aircraft ride operations and aircraft restoration projects. An auction of aviation memorabilia and aircraft parts attracted my attention again so I signed up to bid on a few items that might fill a spot in my office!

Porterfield - did not attract a buyer

Helmets sold quickly

Culver Cadet stands guard over the auction selection

Drop tank submarine replica

 As the sun began to set on the Vintage Flying Museum hangar the auction items were lit up the bright rays shining through the hangar doors.  Rows of propellers, shiny metal cowling pieces, worn aircraft instruments, Russian pilot helmets, even two complete aircraft along with other one of a kind art pieces made from aircraft parts would draw a crowd of about 50 people into the hangar for bidding.  Over 200 items took about three hours to auction.  Only a few pieces did not sell so it would the auction was a success.  I only walked out with one item (a manual gear extension handle from a vintage aircraft) but I am happy with the entertainment the auction provided.

On Mark B-26K restoration project

The auction had a great back drop!

DC-3 rudder

Hats off to Jim Terry, Dana Wood and the crew at Greatest Generation Aircraft for the enjoyable evening.  Hopefully the funds raised will keep their birds flying another season.

Links - Greatest Generation Aircraft - Vintage Flying Museum

Boeing 100 - Kermit Weeks Video Tour

 Airplane collector Kermit Weeks has been posting a series of videos that he titles the "Kermie Cam" and gives watchers a unique view into his world.  I sat down the other night with my son, Brennen, in my lap and watched this video of Kermit giving a tour of the restoration shop that is restoring his Boeing 100.  This Boeing biplane was produced as the civilian model 100, the Navy F4B and the Army P-12.  Take the 30 minutes to watch and listen close as Kermit talks about these rare airplanes, interviews the restorer, Roy Rehm, and shows us around the amazingly organized workshop.  The model I am most interested in is the unique Boeing 100 previously owned by Howard Hughes!



Here is a series of photos of the Howard Hughes Boeing 100.  WOWIE!

Links - Kermit Weeks Fantasy of Flight

Warbirds Over Paine Field - Warbird Video

I have posted a few photos and videos from Fight to Fly Photography but this compilation of Jason Fortenbacher's videos is one of his best.  There is great Warbird action that displays over Paine Field in Everett, Washington and Jason brings the action right to our screens.   Pull up a chair, sit back and go full screen on the video!  History flies in the skies over Everett!  When you are done watching this one be sure to watch his other fine works. 


Follow this link to Fight to Fly's YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/fight2flyphoto

Blakesburg 2013 - Antique Airplane Fly-In

This past weekend was the Antique Airplane Associations annual fly-in up in Blakesburg, Iowa.  Be sure to watch their web site (http://antiqueairfield.com/) for photos and the list of award winners.  This years featured aircraft was the Luscombe and it sounds like over 60 of the type were on the field over the weekend!  Walk along with Jim Savage on the two videos below for the "Friday night roll call" as Jim shows an overview of the wonderful variety that the fly-in attracts.