XP-82 Twin Mustang Nears First Flight

A North American XP-82 Twin Mustang is nearing is first flight after a ten year restoration. EAA has produced a video that is worth watching. I am beyond excited to hear of its first flight!

Links - XP-82 Twin Mustang Web Site

Spartan Executive NC17662 to Texas

Spartan Executive serial number 28, NC17662 has a new home in Texas with the Mid America Flight Museum in Mount Pleasant. This Spartan 7W is a welcome addition to the impressive collection of vintage aircraft. 

Serial number 28 was built in 1940 and served as a executive transport for the Spartan Aircraft Company. Maxwell Balfour, the Spartan Sales Manager, flew this 7W all around the country to promote the aircraft and visit the Spartan Schools in Muskogee and Miami, Oklahoma. Spartan retained this 7W for company use until 1976. 36 years of service!

It would fly on to new owners based in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and California before returning to Texas the summer of 2018. One interesting add on this Executive featured in years past was wing tip fuel tanks! The only 7W to be fitted with tip tanks.

We look forward to posting more photos of serial number 28 upon our next visit to East Texas.

Links - Spartan Survivors - Mid America Flight Museum

Oshkosh AirVenture Awards 2018

For the last 18 days I have been pouring over photo feeds from Oshkosh to soak up as much aviation goodness as I can since I did not make the show this year. The weather and attendance looked outstanding this year. Too many highlights to try and list. Be sure to set aside some time to look back through the EAA Flickr albums here. If you are on Instagram search the hashtag #osh18 for loads of photos.

EAA has posted the award winners for 2018 here. It was fun to see that Rusty Morris' Cessna 170B, N2935D as the winner of the Grand Champion Classic. It is a beautiful 170B and well deserving of the award! Below is a photo of N2935D back in 2010 in VERY original condition. Not many "barn find" originals exist anymore so when I first saw it the details took me back in time. Rusty has refreshed the paint and engine over the last 8 years so an Oshkosh award is no surprise to me. Hats off to the Morris family.

Cessna 170B N2935D

Aviation Posters - Time Flies

Looking for a unique aviation gift? Check out Dylan Wreggelsworth’s creation at BVR Design - “Time Flies” Air Racer Poster:

https://bvr.design/…/air-…/products/time-flies-racer-poster…

It was designed in collaboration with Dan Linn of Fly to Another Time

http://flytoanothertime.com

BVR Design also carries unique t-shirts and patches that have graphic details only an aviation loving designer would incorporate. Watch for more upcoming designs from BVR Design and Another Time!

Vintage Lockheed Electra Junior Advertisement

My current research "dive" has been into my magazine collection. The hunt for rare aircraft featured in company advertisements. I love the art, the ad copy and the company logos. Can you imagine the conversations around the boardroom tables in the 1930s as the executives crafted their next company ad campaign? It must have been pretty exciting. The Lockheed ad above even features a comic style story! Fly along as the owner does business all over the country.

Watch this space and the Instagram page (user name dtlinn) for more of the art as I continue to scan these cool ads.

Link - Instagram dtlinn

Matt's Luscombe 8A - N71556

N71556 on the grass in Gainesville, Texas

Luscombe N71556 is a 65hp 8A owned by Matt Hood of Argyle, Texas. Matt purchased the Luscombe in 2014 from his dad in Indiana and brought it to Texas. It is not what the owner would call a show plane but a flyer. It has had some interesting adventures in its life. The logs tell the tale of an off airport landing. The metal doesn’t shine of new aluminum but that suits Matt just fine. Winning awards wasn’t in the plans for this ship even though it won a “Most Original” award at the Blakesburg, Iowa antique fly-in!

Matt flies the airplane often and loves sharing flights with others. One day I caught Matt at the gas pumps at Northwest Regional airport as he prepared to launch on a tailwheel lesson for a daring young aviator. The mission for this little Luscombe is not to gather dust. It is to introduce the next generation of pilots to cool vintage airplanes.

Based at Northwest Regional it shares a hangar with a classy Cessna 170. When not flying Boeings for Southwest Airlines you will find Matt flying various airplane types over North Texas. Most likely sharing stories of flying airplanes from another time.

Legend Airways DC-3 N25641

I first remember seeing the Legend Airways DC-3 at Oshkosh many years back. I was able to peak inside and I took a full photo walk around. It was a beauty! On a recent cruise of the Aerometal International web site I found a listing of N25641 for sale. Hopefully she will find a new owner! See the listing below. 

Aerometal photo

LEGEND AIRWAYS” – S/N:9059 – 1943

A spectacular corporate aircraft. This aircraft has not flown in a little over 6 years. The current owner is “considering” selling her as is. She has been hangared and has not deteriorated significantly since the images (of her in flight) were taken in 2010. The following images of her in the hangar were taken in 2015.

This aircraft is another remarkable example. She under went a multi million dollar overhaul with Basler turbo Conversions in 2006. Her corporate cabin interior is nothing short of spectacular, a unique 14 seat configuration with lavatory and galley.

R-1830-94 power and an FAA approved Flight Manual supporting operation at 26,900lbs and 1350 HP at T/O.

The aircraft will need minor work before she can be moved under her own power and various elements of her equipment and finish are indeed dated now. In her day she was quite possibly the finest example of a corporate DC-3. In my opinion She is still one of (if not the) highest specification aircraft for the price and represents value for money – (if you are going to compare this opportunity to the cost of trying and recreate something similar again.)

Aerometal photo

Contact: Paul Bazeley – Aerometal International Inc. 661 717 6639

Link - DC-3 for sale - Aerometal International

Air Racing T-shirts - BVR Design

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I recently stumbled upon the BVR Design Instagram feed that features remarkable aviation t-shirts. Being a vintage aircraft nut myself, I was instantly fascinated by the unique design and layout of the shirts. After exchanging a few notes with the designer, Dylan, I inquired about what was on the drawing board next. A few mutually appreciated types were mentioned but when one of my favorites was in the queue I had to speak up! Within a few days the Lockheed 12 t-shirt was released.

As a deep-rooted, die-hard, Lockheed fan I often cruise the internet in search of “new” modern aviation t-shirt styles that also have an authentic vintage look, but am rarely able to find anything worth purchasing. So when I laid eyes on this Lockheed Model 12 Electra Junior shirt from BVR, I knew this one would be worth it. Not only was the Lockheed rendering true to detail, but the addition of the designation and first flight dates anchoring either side of the aircraft were spot-on. The added touch of the classic Lockheed lightning bolt gave the final design punch to secure the deal. I had to have one!

Once it arrived, I was able to actually take a closer look at the artwork. It was an incredibly accurate representation of this classic airplane. The shirt is excellent quality and is comfortable. The fit is true to size so I recommend adding one of BVRs designs to your collection.

Further designs to come off the BVR drawing board that have me excited would be the ones in the Air Racing series. The powerful Gee Bee Z, the sleek Crosby CR-4, the timeless Travel Air Mystery Ship and the racy DH.88 Comet. I have just purchased 4 more shirts to add to my collection and am on the edge of my seat waiting for the next design release.

The eye-catching selection covers a broad aviation audience, so when shopping for yourself it will be hard to choose which one to buy first! The selections are also perfect for gift giving.  Click through to BVR for some beautiful bespoke aviation t-shirts.

Links - BVR - Instagram - Lockheed 12s

Rare Porterfield 35-70

This rare Porterfield 35-70 came up for sale recently. It comes from a collection in Texas that I have loved to visit for years. History and nostalgia are experienced when you land on a grass airfield and see an aircraft like this Porterfield. Below is the Barnstormers.com listing and some photos of this rare ship.

PORTERFIELD 35-70 • $25,000 • FOR SALE • 1935 Porterfield 35-70. Approximately 1400 TT, 300 TSMOH, restored in the late 1980's. Last flown about 10 years ago, ran great then. Spare LeBlond engine for parts. Always hangared. Beautiful airplane. Located in Krum, TX, just north of Dallas. As is, where is. $25K firm. Leave message. • Contact Jake Bilstad, Friend of Owner - located Plano, TX USA • Telephone: 817-709-8663

Taylorcraft BL-65 Showpiece

1940 Taylorcraft BL-65 N27652

When Jake Bilstad purchased his 1940 Taylorcraft BL-65 (N27652) in 2001 at Spinks Airport in Fort Worth, Texas it was in need of some serious attention. It was just a big pile of parts. It last flew in 1970, then it was disassembled for restoration. 

When I first met Jake he passed me in the hallway at work. He had a bag full of parts over his shoulder and I caught site of the large diameter tachometer. So I just had to ask what it was for! Being a former Taylorcraft owner myself I knew it might be from an early model Taylorcraft. Over the years Jake and I exchanged emails as I checked in on the progress of the rebuild.

The slow but steady rebuild was finished in 2013. Jake said he loves flying it “It performs really well with the C85 engine.” When asked what the biggest challenge was in the restoration Jake said “Finding the time, space, and money to finish it.” The logbooks told a story that took the history all the way back to 1940. It spent most of its life as a trainer at a flight schools based in Minnesota and Wisconsin. As the photos featured here show it is now a pampered cream puff based in Gainesville, Texas. 

(All photos via owner Jake Bilstad)

N27652

N27652

N27652

Lockheed 12 For Sale

This beautiful example of a Lockheed 12 (NC25628, Serial Number 1286) has come up for sale in early 2018. One of about a dozen actively flying Electra Juniors, this is a rare opportunity to purchase a Lockheed. I was fortunate enough to see this example at Oshkosh 2014 when seven were in attendance for AirVenture. Like many early Lockheed this one served as an executive hauler for an oil company having flown for Humble Oil Company.

NC25628 at Oshkosh 2014

Three of the seven Model 12s at Oshkosh 2014

Lockheed 12 brochure

Text from the advertisement on barnstormers.com

1940 LOCKHEED 12A • $595,000 • HISTORICAL AIRCRAFT FOR SALE • Classic 450 HP R-985 P&W twin. Right engine- 33 SMOH and left engine- 75 SMOH by Kenmore Air Harbor. Landing gear overhauled with new jack screws and gearboxes. Factory installed 50 gallon auxiliary fuel tank- 250 gallons total. Factory installed and functioning engine fire extinguishing system. Humble Oil Company corporate aircraft 1940-1963. Outstanding Antique Transport Aircraft- Oshkosh 2004. One of the "Magnificent Seven" featured at Oshkosh 2014.Featured in March 2017 Air & Space Magazine.Own a piece of aviation history. • Contact John T. O'Keefe, Owner - located Winthrop, WA USA • Telephone: 509-322-1630 . • Posted January 22, 2018