WW II Era Planes Today

[Eksel]

its quite a drive to florida...im in seattle

[Bodhi]

FYI, Guys, there are actually quite a few WW2 aircraft that are flying today.  I am not speaking from the hip on this, I work in this industry (warbirds) full time.  Last year at the Mustang meet at the Kissimmee, FL Airport, Stallion 51 corp hosted it, and just under 70 showed up.  It was awe inspiring to say the least.  The furthest one came from Mexico City.  As for B-24's, there is more than one, Collings Foundation owns and operates "Dragon and his Tail", formerly "All American", and it was rebuilt at Tom Reilly's Vintage Aircraft of Kissimmee, FL.  Their is also another B-24, "Diamond Lil" flying and I believe one other, with 2 in the works.  As for B-25's there are roughly 40-50 in operation with some absolute gorgeous examples out there.  Last I heard, there were roughly 200 flying mustangs with more surfacing every year.  There are also roughly 25ish Corsairs flying, and a number of projects out there.  The # of flying 38's is in big question, last I saw it was 2, with Glacier Girl soon to be flying when they sort out the ownership issue, and 2 more too be built at Reilly's in Kissimmee over the next 6 years.  Unfortunately, the 262's in TX are in some litigation issue, no flight in sight last I heard.  There is a number of FW restorations in the US, one, an actual combat veteran being built in Kissimmee at Reilly's as well.  As for SNJ's / T-6's, there are roughly 600 in the US, and more abroad.  They are a blast to fly, I have about 30 hours in them.  B-17's is a fluctuating number too.  There are 3 under restoration in Kissimmee at Reilly's another near Portland with Weiss aircraft, and that was all I heard of, but it would not surprise me if more are being built.  Thats what I can think of off the top of my head.  As for the zekes in PH, 2 or 3 were built from scratch for the movie, and the rest were replicas.  Converted Texans and the like.  

The issue over whether an aircraft is a replica or real is rather tough to decide.  When we rebuild aircraft, obviously parts have to be refabricated.  We try to use original if at all possible, but if it becomes a safety issue, we use newly formed.  Unfortunately, there are nowhere near the parts needed to replicate Japanese WW2 aircraft, so if they are to fly, they must be replicated.  To be a stickler, you can claim them as replicas, but when they are to the same specs, they should be considered real IMHO.  Anyways, thats all I have time for tonight, hope you can all take the time to see these living legends.  And come down to Tom Reilly's Vinatage Aircraft (aka The Warbird Museum) and say Hi!  Would love to see you.  And btw, yes, you can ask for Bodhi, I am there M-F 8ish to 5.

[grizz]

 

Originally posted by Bodhi:
To be a stickler, you can claim them as replicas, but when they are to the same specs, they should be considered real IMHO.  B]

Yes, Bodhi...I agree. I fabricate parts as "per sample" all the time for Boeing and Lockheed aircraft and they're not considered replicas, I'm sure.  

I would consider a replica to be more like a 2/3 or 3/4 scale P-51 etc. etc.

Anyway, if I ever get down to Florida...I'll take you up on that visit to the museum.  


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griz

[Augie]

There was a guy in AW, waaaay back in late 80s early 90s- his CPID was Phoenix (he was on HT's Squad-FUBARS), who owned a P-38 along with some other Warbirds... I know this is old info but may help shed some light on the P-38 issue.

The fact that the number of flying WWII Warbirds is increasing is a GREAT thing. To have the opportunity to preserve a piece of history and NOT take advantage of it, is wrong.

Ain't no sound on the planet quite like a big old P&W R2800 radial or a Merlin at full chat. Gives me goose bumps!

Damned Augie

[DocFalconer1]

Are there any flying Me-262's?  Very interesting plane.

[hazed-]

at last an interesting post  

[Yoj]

Okay - the Stormbirds project, which is building rivet for rivet reconstructions of Me-262's is now located in the Seattle area (moved from Texas).  The first one should be flying this summer.

Eksel, you have to get up to the Arlington Fly-in.  They have warbirds there every year.
I have been on a B-29 restoration project for the last three years and there is always something happening at the Museum of Flight. The Collins Collection's B-17 and B-24 were here last fall (you could get a ride if you wanted), as was the Silver Lady (the Vickers Vimy).  Two weeks ago the Flying Tigers were in town and they had a Zero replica and a beautiful P-40N come by.  The P-40 put on a great show.

As for flying warbirds in general, there are lots of P-51's, and a fair number of spits, but I believe there are six P-38's, four P-63's, about a dozen P-47's (they are being rescued from South America), NO Bf-109's with Daimler engines (there are a bunch of post-war Spanish built CASA's with Merlins), two He-111's, NO Martin B-26's left, something like 15 P-40's.  I have a list somewhere that's about a year out of date - I'll try to dig it up and post it.

Yoj

[Bodhi]

FYI Yoj, there are 2 109's flying with authentic engines to type.  One that ground looped last year in Europe, and one based out of Lauderdale.

[Lugnut]

What I can add:

I know there was a fully restored and flight ready 109G-10 with a DB605 for sale out of Germany not too long ago (not Black-6, which is grounded). I thought as well that one of the old Merlin 'Buchons' (sic) was rebuilt as an Emil with a DB601 in California not too long ago.

I also think that the flight ready 190 Dora from the Champlain (?) museum was still on the block.

There one less P-63, after the unfortunate Biggin Hill  tragedy last week.

Kermit Weeks has a fully restored B-26 that he flies regularly. It was profiled in a recent Speedvision program about his Fantasy of Flight museum. He also has what is probably the most original B-24 around as well. It came from India and still has the original turbo-superchargers slung under the motors.

I went to the Airshow at Lakehurst NJ yesterday, and they did a Pearl Harbor re-enanctment and they had the CAF 'psudeo' Jap squadron there. A coupla of Vals, repli-Zeros and 2 or 3 of the Kate torpedo bombers (which looked very authentic) blowing stuff up, and being chased around by Jeff Clymans P-40E. Great fun to watch, and now I don't have to sit through 3 hours of PH to see them.

Lugnut

[This message has been edited by Lugnut (edited 06-04-2001).]

[Bodhi]

FYI,

All aircraft of that vintage generally carry the original chargers in them, whether they work or not.  The simple reason for this, is they were not made after the war.  And as for Weeks having the only authentic 26, that is correct, as it is the ONLY B-26 still flying after the CAF lost theirs.

[Nifty]

 

Originally posted by -ammo-:
You gotta check out the Pensacola Naval Air station Museum, several grumman, an A6M, P40, N1K, etc...

Uhmm, ammo, do you live here too???  

[Gargoyle]

I got to visit the Stormbirds hangar last summer, it was fantastic!  They had the remains of the original ME262 that they are using as their template there as well, the fuselage was still intact, with the 30mm cannon still in the nose    They had one of its original Jumo engines as well, it was still in good condition and they said that for fun they would attach a power drill to the turbine shaft and rev it up to recreate the original sound of the engines    FYI, they aren't trying to recreate the original engines for flight, but are sticking small modern learjet engines inside the Jumo housings.  They have to build in a thrust/throttle limiter as well because the modern engines are too powerful  

I also got to sit in the cockpit of one of the replicas, they are beautiful machines with roomy cockpits and superb visibility, they must have been a joy to fly.

[Yoj]

 

Originally posted by Bodhi:
FYI Yoj, there are 2 109's flying with authentic engines to type.  One that ground looped last year in Europe, and one based out of Lauderdale.

Good to hear it.  I didn't know of the one in FL (is it a recent restoration?) and when they wrecked the one in Europe they said it was too badly damaged to be safely repaired. Of course, where there is a will (and enough money)....

Yoj

[Yoj]

BTW Gargoyle - I believe the original 262 (the "template" aircraft) is now fully restored and ready for static display.  I understand its going back to Germany.

Also - the other non-original change in the new 262's is a redesign of the nose gear.  The original was always a weakness for the plane, so it has been strengthened.  

I can keep up on the project because one of my co-organizers of AWCon 2001 is working on the project.  A tour of the facilities and possible test flight are features of the Con  

Yoj

[This message has been edited by Yoj (edited 06-04-2001).]

[sling322]

 

Originally posted by Skorpyon:
Regarding bombers.... only remaining flightworthy B-24 is "The Dragon and His Tail",

Actually.....  "Diamond Lil" is around also and is also still flying.

By the way, isn't the CAF's B-29 still flying also?

I start my volunteer career at the flight museum in Galveston on June 18th....really looking forward to it.

[This message has been edited by sling322 (edited 06-04-2001).]