Twin Merlin Run

Well worth the trip

 They now do make them like that anymore.

Very impressive.

Mighty Mars

Just a great shot of the remarkable Martin Mars.

[Credit: Dan Megna, via Coulson Flying Tankers, in my case via XPLANES]

The Messerschmitt that delayed an invasion

From this webpage, comes a fascinating little story of early W.W.II.

"It was just a matter of time until Nazi-Germany would attack more countries. Fall Gelb ("Case Yellow"), the highly secret plan to attack France across Belgian and Dutch territory, was about to become reality. Hitler decided that 17th of January 1940, after being delayed 4 times, would be D-day for the German army. However, on 10th of January, one week prior to D-day, something occurred that made history. Fall Gelb was postponed until the 10th of May 1940."

One of three known existing pictures of the crash of the Bf 108 Taifun D-NFAW on January 10th 1940. [Via: http://www.powerglidertaifun.de]

Read the rest here. 

New Zealand's First Mosquito

As is well known, Britain, Australia and Canada all built Mosquitoes in W.W.II.  With no flying examples currently, the rebuild of the Jerry Yagen example by Glyn Powell and Avspecs in New Zealand is much anticipated in the warbird world.



This magnificent film (by Bruce Salmon) illustrates, I suggest, what an amazing achievement that build is.

While this is an authentic restooration of an original Mosquito identity, I suggest it's not too much to see it as the first New Zealand built example.

Well done, the Kiwis.

Caution, Wet Paint

Much is written about colours, markings, schemes and stencils of aircraft through history, but there are very few photos of people actually creating the colours (or painting the aircraft).


WAAF with paint 1941

Here's one, thanks to a very interesting W.W.II British Commonwealth colour Flickr stream, well worth a further browse.  At a guess, it's a Short Sunderland getting some new paint.  Of course the picture raises more questions than it answers, as is often the case for posed press shots like this.

Rare Fairchild boat

It's rare I come across a flying boat* I've never heard of before, being somewhat a fan of the species.  But scrolling through a Flickr account, I encountered this remarkable looker for, I think, the first time.  At a guess it may not have become famous due to being underpowered, or possibly having some unpleasant water characteristics - but I could be quite wrong!  Any Fairchild FB-3 fans out there?

Fairchild FB-3 NX7385

Fairchild's first flying boat (there doesn't seem to be an FB-1 or 2). Only one built, 1929. Four place all metal monoplane powered by one pusher Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp, then only producing 410hp. Wings and tail were fabric covered metal structures, hull was aluminum clad. Span 52', length 41 feet, top speed 130mph.

Credit to 'Batman 60' at his Flickr account here.  Check it out, lots of neat stuff. More on the FB-3 here, and links to more photos.

* Strictly speaking it's an amphibian.