![]() Obstacles to be overcome to return a Warbird to flight have included fixing a troublesome elevator pushrod, replacing cockpit cowl rails, or stripping off a worn-out faded livery and replacing it with a fresh coat of paint. Often the key areas for these restorations are missing engines or control system parts, wing or tail repair, a need for new nose and main gear tyres and seats for the pilots and navigator. ![]() The stories can be as simple as replacing damaged skin fabric and lubricating mechanical systems back to a functional state, which was what was needed for an RAF Westland Lysander but they can be as challenging as a decades long, slow search for parts and reconstruction which was necessary for a Royal Australian Air Force Curtiss P-40N Kittyhawk which had crashed on Rattlesnake Island, just off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The committed individuals and companies that restore these Warbirds have a story to tell in the great lengths they will go to in the hope of seeing these aircraft fly again. Whether the airframe to be restored was found in the Pacific’s Solomon Islands or had been retired to a safe hangar, the challenge can be a full bottom up reconstruction or trying to find a missing engine. ![]() Find here the latest information about projects from Australia to Italy, and aircraft types from the World War II Helldiver to the 1950s Thunderstreak. The future of Warbirds and Warbird projectsįuture generations will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Warbirds from airforces’ days gone by as restoration projects increase in number and widen in aircraft type worldwide. France also has an annual show, La Ferté-Alais, which takes place 50 kilometres south of Paris.ĭon’t miss our dedicated page on international airshow news & updates. Australia has Warbirds Downunder in Temora, while the UK's Warbirds airshows include Flying Legends, which takes place at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, and the Bedfordshire, UK-based Shuttleworth Collection which has displays in the summer. New Zealand has the Classic Fighters Omaka in Blenheim and the Warbirds over Wanaka in Wanaka. Outside of the USA, New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom also have a number of Warbird shows. The airshows in the USA include, the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin the Alliance Airshow in Fort Worth, Texas Dayton Airshow in Dayton, Ohio the History of Flight Airshow in New York state and the Indianapolis Airshow in Indiana. The Spitfire is a popular Warbird and other military aircraft favoured by restoration enthusiasts include the Mikoyan MiG-15 and Grumman F6F Hellcat, along with the Spitfire and Mustang. A high-profile enthusiasts’ project, the Silver Spitfire, flew its original 1943 build Supermarine Spitfire in a shining silvery livery around the world with the help of sponsors. Enthusiasts, as well as airforce heritage squadrons and civilian organisations, fly their aircraft at these shows. There are a lot of airshows that have static and flight displays by Warbirds and the United States has many of them. The name Warbirds once referred to World War II era fighter aircraft like the North American P-51 Mustang, North American T-6 Texan and Hawker Sea Fury, but in recent years it has come to mean any former military aircraft type now flown by airforce heritage squadrons, civilian organisations and private owners. The use of warbirds ranges from racing and restorations to exhibiting at airshows where enthusiasts will be treated to close up contact with legendary aircraft like the Supermarine Spitfire, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Preserving Warbirds for future generations Biggin Hill Spitfire Company to offer flights from Kembleį, a company that offers flights in Spitfires, has announced that it will operate from Cotswold Airport in Kemble starting this summer.
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