The P82 was conceived as a bomber escort late in the war and six .50cal appeared to deemed suitable for knocking down German fighters. Unfortunately it didn't get operational until about 1946. I have a photo somewhere in my collection of a prototype concept with a large gun pod in the center between the two fuselages with talk they were going to put an extra eight .50 in that, also a heavier cal weapon 57mm size but again never got past the design stage over a drink in the club. The P82 had some limited success in Korea escorting B26 Invaders and shooting down piston engine Yak's but with the appearance of the Mig15 they were rendered obsolete in the bomber escort role. About this time the Russians began flying a knock off of the B29 that they reversed engineered called it the Tu4 so the P82 was pressed into service as an interim all weather air defense fighter till the arrival of the F94 and the F89. So with 10 years they had been rendered surplus to requirements and obsolete by the Jet Engine and by the mid 50's most were gone.
Warbirds (Historical, Veteran & Vintage Military Aircraft)
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If there was an award for the most weird and wacky then surely the Blohm und Voss BV 141 must qualify. An extremely unusual design that looks like someone has taken an axe to it and taken away half the tail and at first glance one must think “where on earth is the other engine”? When it was designed, part of the requirement was for good visibility and good visibility one had forward, aft and to the starboard side, and I would imagine you would have excellent view of the engine on the port side.
But fly it did and from all accounts it was very good, it only had a top speed of about 247mph. but its major downfall was it used that same engine as the FW190 and most available engines were allocated to the construction of the 190. There were only 27 or so made and as far as I am away there are no surviving examples, I could be wrong.
Blohm and Voss Bv 141 Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft
But fly it did and from all accounts it was very good, it only had a top speed of about 247mph. but its major downfall was it used that same engine as the FW190 and most available engines were allocated to the construction of the 190. There were only 27 or so made and as far as I am away there are no surviving examples, I could be wrong.
Blohm and Voss Bv 141 Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft
The video in the attached link shows a B36, that’s six turning and four burning, engines that is.
The aircraft flew low over a built-up area and it is alleged that it was so low it took out a TV antenna and cracked plaster on a house. But the aircraft did not do just once it did it twice. Which I imagined impressed the locals even more. The camera operator is the wife of the pilot and she was thrown sideways and dropped the camera. The telephone exchange at the local base went into melt down. It got to the stage where the local area commander a General I believe fined the crew $250, then thanked them and said it was a good BUZZ.
Can you imagine you Misses screaming blue murder on the first fly by as she watched half of her good china shatter in the china cabinet and scream even louder on the 2nd fly by when the other half shatter’s?
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Haha brilliant. Umm the missus wouldn't have calmed down by the time you got home either. Doghouse material for a good few days.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Well over 300 of these built in 4-5 years (along with all the other stuff being built for the USAF). The military aviation manufacturing base back then...awesome and never to be seen again.
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Was also central in the James Stewart movie Strategic Air Command. Of course he was a Brig Gen in the USAF as well in real life. Great movie too.
They even put an active nuclear reactor in the bomb bay of one of them to see if was viable to be used to power the aircraft limitless. My opinion an exercise in shear stupidly, They called it the NB36H
www.ststworld.com
Convair NB-36H: The only American Aircraft to Carry an Operational Nuclear Reactor - STSTW
The Convair NB-36H was built using elements from a fleet of the Convair B-36 bomber, which had been destroyed in a tornado, in 1952, in Texas at the...
www.ststworld.com
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The Convair follow up to the B-36 was the YB-60 which was a swept wing 8 jet engined variant of the B-36. Convair YB-60 Jet Bomber
Another variant of the B-36 was the XC-99 transport which actually saw service during the Korean War. Convair XC-99 Transport
Finally, 6 turning and 4 burning.
Another variant of the B-36 was the XC-99 transport which actually saw service during the Korean War. Convair XC-99 Transport
Finally, 6 turning and 4 burning.
Westland Whirlwind Fighter Project
Some enterprising souls in the UK decided since there is no complete example of the Westland Whirlwind in existence, they will build one. Westland at Yeovil gave them the original plans of the aircraft on the condition it is not built to flying condition, which I thought was a little unusual.
I think the main reason this restoration will be static only is the engines. There are only two known Rolls Royce Peregrine engines and they are very rare. Two were dug up from a crash site in Scotland and these are in the Rolls Royce Trust Museum in Derby, and I believe these are the only known in existence. I also believe there is no complete example of this aircraft in any Museum anywhere in the world, so this one will be welcome.
Some enterprising souls in the UK decided since there is no complete example of the Westland Whirlwind in existence, they will build one. Westland at Yeovil gave them the original plans of the aircraft on the condition it is not built to flying condition, which I thought was a little unusual.
I think the main reason this restoration will be static only is the engines. There are only two known Rolls Royce Peregrine engines and they are very rare. Two were dug up from a crash site in Scotland and these are in the Rolls Royce Trust Museum in Derby, and I believe these are the only known in existence. I also believe there is no complete example of this aircraft in any Museum anywhere in the world, so this one will be welcome.
Tom Reilly's XP-82 Twin Mustang is For Sale
It’s not often aircraft like these come on the market, so if you have a spare 12million dollars sitting in the swear jar, you can buy yourself two Mustangs. You may also need a couple of million a years to service and run it.
It’s not often aircraft like these come on the market, so if you have a spare 12million dollars sitting in the swear jar, you can buy yourself two Mustangs. You may also need a couple of million a years to service and run it.
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Looks interesting. I actually wonder how good the aircraft would've been if they had been able to fit RR Merlins to it, or even the Bristol Hercules radials. Could've been a different story then especially at altitude and possibly allowed the carriage of more fuel, extending its range.
Yep, saw that on a social media page that I belong to. US$12 million is a lot though. I think the Mosquitoes were / are running at about US$7-8 million each so $12 million looks a bit steep.
The trouble with this beastie was two things, one the engine's were unique to aircraft and the undercarriage. Incase of a flat with the Spitfire it took the mechanics 15 mins to change a wheel with a jack, but with the Westland Aircraft it took up to 2 hours and a crane was required, did not make it popular with the servicing crew.
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Poms, if there was a hard way of doing things they'd find it and use it. Never let common sense get in the way of servicing impossibility. One reason why I gave up on pommy cars 40 years ago.
Beat you by 10 years , last one I had was a MK 3 zephyr in the late 60's, which by pom standards were not to bad.
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Update on the John Smith Mapua Collection.
Whilst preparing John's Mosquito, NZ2336, for transport to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre near Blenheim they have found the remains of second Mosquito. At the moment it is unknown which Mosquito it is but it's basically the aircraft from the wings forward. If the makers plate is with it then technically it could be restored to flying condition as long as funding could be found. It is thought that it would cost at least NZ$7 million for a full restoration to full flight status. NZ2336 will not be restored to full flight status, but will be restored to ground display status because that is John and his family's desire. Nothing of his collection will be returned to the RNZAF; that is his stipulation. He said over the years that they wouldn't get one thing back. Likewise the P-40 Gloria Lyons III which is arguably one of the RNZAF's most historic aircraft, will be restored to ground display condition. From memory, it was flown by Geoff Fisken amongst others, having enemy (Japanese) kills notched up.
EDIT
SOURCE: Facebook Groups
Edited to add source.
Whilst preparing John's Mosquito, NZ2336, for transport to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre near Blenheim they have found the remains of second Mosquito. At the moment it is unknown which Mosquito it is but it's basically the aircraft from the wings forward. If the makers plate is with it then technically it could be restored to flying condition as long as funding could be found. It is thought that it would cost at least NZ$7 million for a full restoration to full flight status. NZ2336 will not be restored to full flight status, but will be restored to ground display status because that is John and his family's desire. Nothing of his collection will be returned to the RNZAF; that is his stipulation. He said over the years that they wouldn't get one thing back. Likewise the P-40 Gloria Lyons III which is arguably one of the RNZAF's most historic aircraft, will be restored to ground display condition. From memory, it was flown by Geoff Fisken amongst others, having enemy (Japanese) kills notched up.
EDIT
SOURCE: Facebook Groups
Edited to add source.
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+My father told me in 1972 that John Smith he had a downer on the RNZAF, I didn't realize how much he hated them. I do know that two CAS visited him one of which I believe was Sir Richard Bolt the other escapes me and he told them both you can look but you are not getting any of them...
Antipode
Member
Well that's an impressive amount of birds.
Seems like a really great event, tons of veteran equipment so well maintained and restored. Some of the paint jobs and names have to put a smile on your face.
Great material!
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I am only surmising but I think it may have to do with the way the RNZAF treated the aircraft and successful tenderers. If that's the case, don't blame him.
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- #39
Yes, I would like to spend a few days there too, but she who must be obeyed will have other ideas.
https://www.warbirdsonline.com.au/2013/06/30/a-hawker-tempest-in-the-air-again/
Back in 2013 there was a Hawker Tempest at Ardmore pending restoration. The aircraft was with Pioneer Restorations, but sadly this appears to be no longer the case. The comments following the article which is dated 2013 indicate that the Tempest has been sold to an American for restoration to airworthy condition and that a restoration company in the UK Anglia Aircraft Restorations have got two under rebuild. A search of the Anglia Aircraft Restoration website indicates that no such work is being done on any Tempest’s.
Rare Hawker Tempest V Update! | Fantasy of Flight
But the American buyer that MAY have secured the Pioneer Restorations airframe could be Kermit Weeks, the above article states that there are only two Tempest V’s left in the world and the RAF Museum has one and he has the other. It also states that there are only two Napier Sabre engines in private hands and he has both. The article is dated 2020 and the work looks well advanced so knowing how much Kermit Weeks loves his vintage aircraft I think it will be not long before we see one back in the air.
Back in 2013 there was a Hawker Tempest at Ardmore pending restoration. The aircraft was with Pioneer Restorations, but sadly this appears to be no longer the case. The comments following the article which is dated 2013 indicate that the Tempest has been sold to an American for restoration to airworthy condition and that a restoration company in the UK Anglia Aircraft Restorations have got two under rebuild. A search of the Anglia Aircraft Restoration website indicates that no such work is being done on any Tempest’s.
Rare Hawker Tempest V Update! | Fantasy of Flight
But the American buyer that MAY have secured the Pioneer Restorations airframe could be Kermit Weeks, the above article states that there are only two Tempest V’s left in the world and the RAF Museum has one and he has the other. It also states that there are only two Napier Sabre engines in private hands and he has both. The article is dated 2020 and the work looks well advanced so knowing how much Kermit Weeks loves his vintage aircraft I think it will be not long before we see one back in the air.