"New" P-40C takes flight

[Naki]

Under rebuild for a US customer and due to appear at this weekends Classic Fighters in Omaka (South Island, NZ)..the same company (Avspecs) that rebuilt this is also rebuilding the Mosquito which unfortunately didnt make it in time

http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2011/04/curtiss-buffalo-hawk-81a-3-p40c.html

Also a "new" to NZ warbird (as a civilian) and due at Omaka is this ex RNZAF Strikemaster

http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-think-i-can.html

..and this Flug Werke 190!

http://nzff.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=14355&st=0

Plus some new WW1 warbirds (exact replicas) which have yet to be unveiled - A Sopwith Snipe and another new Albatros V


..unfortunatley I wont make it :frown:

[txnetcop]

I guess just about everyone in here knows I lived in the same neighborhood in San Antonio as David "Tex" Hill. I have loved the P-40 and all it's variants since I was a little kid...that's a long love affair! Thanks for info above
Ted

[Cazzie]

Fantastic photography Gavin. You wouldn't happen to know a bloke named Dave Lochead, would you? He's a modeling buddy and runs an aftermarket firm called Kiwi Resins. I see many of these birds from his photos over at a modeling pub.

Caz

[Curtis P40]

Great to see another P-40 take to the air. Like, Ted, my favorite aircraft from a long time ago.:icon_lol:

[Sascha66]

that the FW 190 is not the one that was recovered from Russia and restored?

[Panther_99FS]

Love to see those airworthy B/C models! :applause:

[stiz]

that the FW 190 is not the one that was recovered from Russia and restored?

nope totally different. The one recovered from russia is being restored in the states :) The flug Werks ones are modern builds with Pratt and whittney engines i belive.

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you for the heads up, Naki!

Here's a video of one of the P-40C's last run-ups before the first flight, sounding great:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJneTHjiHK4

And a brilliant photo of its take-off run captured:
http://www.airplane-pictures.net/image130921.html

This P-40C is owned by warbird collector/pilot Rod Lewis, and when it makes the eventual trip to the US, will be based with his private collection in San Antonio, TX. I have an inkling it may be at Oshkosh this summer.

And a video of the first engine run of the new NZ-based Flugwerk F'W' 190:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkFpMipd-7A&feature=related

What I have read is that this was the very first Flugwerk 190 produced, the 'prototype', which through the years and recent months has all of the updates incorporated into it from the experiences and re-engineering gathered from years of flight testing on it and other completed builds since, along with a newer paintjob.

Also, it is always great to hear of those next, new, WWI restorations/new-builds! The first Albatross V, that they completed by last year, is absolutely stunning!

[Bomber_12th]

And some little minor points about the discussion of Fw 190s (Focke Wulf) and FW 190s (Flugwerk).

The Flying Heritage Collection is the company/museum which owns the original Focke Wulf Fw 190 that was found in the Russian forest two decades ago. It just completed restoration a few months back, and has since finished flight testing. The last information I had heard, is that it was on a truck headed to its new home base at Everett, WA, with the rest of the FHC aircraft. It will be unveiled to the public (and flown for the public) on June 18, alongside the museum's P-51D. This aircraft is completely stock original, just as it was the day it crashed, with a fully operational BMW 801 engine, the only one currently running in the world.

Here are some photos of the FHC's original Fw 190 on a few test flights while it was still in Arizona:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37585658@N00/5477495870/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37585658@N00/5476896621/sizes/l/in/photostream/

The modern Flugwerk new-builds, of which there totals 20/21 around the world (mostly in Germany) in various states of construction or airworthy at this time, are manufactured to accept the Ash 82 engine, a Chinese-built Russian radial engine, which was selected due to their tremendous supply (affordable) and available parts, as well as the fact that it was a close match, as far as size goes, to the BMW 801 which originally powered the Fw 190. One of the Flugwerk 190's, was re-engineered quite a bit, to accept an R-2800 engine, with all new cowl and fire-wall forward redesign. This aircraft is owned by Rudy Frasca here in the US, and has been flying, seen at Reno last summer and other venues at Chino. It will be at Oshkosh this summer. Furthermore, there are a couple of Flugwerk 190's that were manufactured as the long-nose 'Doras', powered by Allison V-1710 engines. At least one of these currently, is being re-designed/re-engined with an original, operational Jumo engine, just as the original Doras had, to bring it as close as possible to an original Fw 190D.

[hairyspin]

...The one recovered from russia is being restored in the states :) The flug Werks ones are modern builds with Pratt and whittney engines i belive.

That's Paul Allen's Fw190A-5 at the Flying Heritage Collection. The Flug Werk machines mostly use Shvetsov ASh-82 engines - Russian developments of Wright R-1820 Cyclones.

[Bomber_12th]

Speaking of P-40 restorations in the 'land down under', this time Australia, I heard (though haven't seen) that the Duxford, UK based "The Fighter Collection's" merlin-powered P-40F flew for the first time at Wangaratta this past week as well! I've heard mentioned that it is painted in a North African-theatre color-scheme, which makes very good sense. This is the second P-40F flying in the world, joining Judy Pay's Australia-based example. It will be interesting to see whether or not it arrives in time and is flying at "Legends" this summer, though before it leaves it would be great to see it flying with Judy Pay's example.

And another nice photo of the P-40C, coming into land (note how much reflection of the sky color is shown in the armor glass panel):
http://www.airplane-pictures.net/image130922.html

[Allen]

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/image130922.html

Thats a real palne? It looks like a RC...

[Bomber_12th]

...it has very fresh paint. ;)

[Naki]

Thanks for all the extra info, videos etc John..

The Flug Werke 190 is owned by the "Chariots of Fire Collection" which also has a Fokker DVIII and Sopwith Pup (both replicas) and has a Spitfire MkXIV under restoration (use to be owned by Tim Wallis untill he had an unfortunate accident in it).

More info here (scroll down)

http://www.omaka.org.nz/latest-news.htm

The Chariots Fire Collection is based at Omaka which is also home to part of the huge Vintage Aviator WW1 aircraft collection (owned by Peter Jackson) which now has over 50 aircraft, most of which are airworthy and includes exact replicas and orginals. The Vinatge Aviator has recently obtained an original Sopwith 1/2 Strutter from Kermit Weeks (to be restored) which originated from Argentina. More info of it here:

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1167284/


Fantastic photography Gavin. You wouldn't happen to know a bloke named Dave Lochead, would you? He's a modeling buddy and runs an aftermarket firm called Kiwi Resins. I see many of these birds from his photos over at a modeling pub.
Caz

I can't take credit for the photography ...that was Gavin Conroy (I'm Paul - NZFF admin - Gavin is a member of NZFF) and Colin Hunter. In saying that I have heard of Dave Lochead and Kiwi Resins - when time allows I will be getting back into modelling so I follow current developments closely.

Cheers

Paul

[Allen]

...it has very fresh paint. ;)

Too clean! Should have ruffed it up abit.

[Bomber_12th]

Lol, and I suppose they should have airbrushed the panel lines to make them darker, and add gun stains streaking back a couple of feet for that added touch of 'realism'. :d

From a craftsman's point of view, the fact that the airframe is so clean (very tight panel spacing, no dents/bubbling/flaws in the aluminum), is a testament to the quality control and perfectionism amongst the crew that restored it. It all makes for a much better flying aircraft, with a much happier customer who has spent a large fortune on it in return. At the same time it does very well in continuing to promote the excellent work of Avspecs, Ltd. as a world-class warbird restorer.

Paul, I love that name of the collection, "Chariots of Fire". And very cool the news of that original Sopwith 1/2 Strutter! I've been very impressed, to say the least, with what Peter Jackson and his company, Vintage Aviator, have done in providing such a re-birth in WWI aviation, and so meticulously accurate in all regards. Just as fascinating to me, are the new production runs of the near to extinct aero-engines from that time period, providing the exact engine type for most all of the new reproductions, instead of modern radials/in-lines. For example, he Mercedes engine(s) that have been reproduced/restored for the Albatross D.V(s) are just amazing works in their own right.

For anyone who has not see the amazing work Vintage Aviator has/is doing, you need to check out this website in detail (start at 'projects'):
http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/

[TARPSBird]

The FlugWerk 190's are full-size replicas, right?

[Naki]

Correct

[Allen]

@Bomber

The craftsmanship is vary good but the never look right with new paint. It don't matter if a is a restore or replica plane. We'll just have to wait a few year for it to "wear in" to look right.

[Bomber_12th]

A great new video posted by Avspecs of the first flight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3GjFlw5lQU

[Bomber_12th]

Here is one of the photos posted by Peter Lewis over on the Key Publishing forum (http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=108286), showing it with final touches of paint. Omaka air show this weekend, and then it sounds like it will be shipping out the following week. It will be interesting to see whether or not it shows up at Chino upon arrival for reassembly, with the Planes of Fame air show happening at Chino on May 14-15.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/ZK-TWK_IMG_9688-Edit.jpg

[Naki]

Ive just heard that the FW-190 flew a couple of hours ago..pictures later when I find some

[Bomber_12th]

Right you are, Naki! I just found this posted on 'WIX': http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=40580

With most all past Flugwerk builds, I have seen where the crew keeps the lower gear doors off, just until everything else is surely sound and the aircraft is ready to go, before fitting them, so it should very well have its gear doors on by the time of the show.

[Allen]

I can't get the link to work. My IE errors....

[Naki]

Link doesnt work me either unfortunately...

here's some pics of the Strikemaster flying

http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2011/04/first-flight.html

and the P-40C arriving at Omaka and a FW-190 test flight (they do cut these things fine for airshow appearances!)

http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=airshow&action=display&thread=13238&page=1

[Curtis P40]

Just judging by the pictures, that P-40C looks absolutely gorgeous. Love to see it in real life,as I wipe the drool from my keyboard...

[Bomber_12th]

The best media coverage of a wabird restoration I believe I have ever seen...very well done news-piece here on this P-40C: http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/tomahawk-takes-skies-again-4137460/video

[Naki]

Here's some pics of the Omaka airshow..unfortunately the FW-190 only flew on practise day as they had some problems..P-40C flew though.

Kermit Weeks turned up to fly the new Albatross DV which apparrently will be delivered to him

http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=airshow&action=display&thread=13238&page=1

[Wild Bill Kelso]

The FlugWerk 190's are full-size replicas, right?

Here's some more about their stunning work:

http://www.skandalshirt.com/Flugwerk/html/index.php


It's a completely different thing than the elaborate (and adorable!) craftsmenship of restorating "real" artefacts, but in my eyes a legitimate way of perpetuating flying heritage.

Cheers,
Markus.