Volume 27 #2, Issue 125

SWIBLO STUNNER!

Just over a year ago hugely experienced warbird test pilot Steve Hinton lifted a Messerschmitt Bf109 off the runway at Danville, Illinois, the culmination of a decade’s work by the crew at locally based Midwest Aero Restorations Ltd. No effort was spared in making this rebuild as original and authentic as possible. This came down to the dedication of the owner Bruce ‘Doc’ Winter’s investment in seeing that happen, and trusting in the right people to get it done. The result surely speaks for itself! Here will look at the fighter’s wartime history, recovery from its watery grave, its time in Australia and the massive international effort to return it to the air. We held off running this sooner in order to secure the magnificent air to air images captured by master photographer Scott Slocum - we are sure you will agree it was worth the wait!

WACO RETURNS HOME

In January a time warp of sorts occurred at Omaka Airfield, Blenheim, NZ, when one of only three WACO UOC built took to the air some 55 years after it had taken off from this exact same location wearing the exact same colours. In his article we present an overview of the aircraft’s history, including the mystery of a passenger leaping to her death on a flight over Cook Straight between the South and North Islands of NZ, and the sleuthing which culminated in what might be considered dumb luck, which saw it return home from long term storage in Australia. Co-owners Jay McIntyre and Rex Newman discuss how this happened and the frustrations of trying to replicate the ‘Insignia Blue’ colour scheme. All of this complemented by historical, restoration and current air to air images, as she once again soars over a familiar landscape.

SPAD FIGHTER SURVIVORS – FINAL

The final part of the Great War SPAD fighter survivors looks at the remaining examples which call New Zealand and the United States home. The NZ example shares the same identity as one of the US survivors, so this is explained, as is how Cole Palen acquired and eventually bequeathed his machine to the NMUSAF, which unfortunately does not publically acknowledge the fact. Our SPAD series has covered three issues covering the types’ build and operational history and survivors across the world, several examples of which are combat veterans flown by aces.

Our Last Mystery Aircraft was a...LWF Model V Tractor

The LWF Engineering Company was founded in 1915 for the manufacture of “all types’ heavier-than-air machines.” In a 1919 advert for the company their machines were touted as “having stood the most severe tests and the only machines used for advanced training in America in the fall of 1917. A large number had been sent to France for the same purpose and 25 at the time were being used on the “Czecho-Slovak front.” Here we chart the aircraft’s design and development and concentrate on its service in Russia with both the Czechoslovakian Legion and the White Russians, all fighting to stem the Red tide. Thereafter we take a look at a remarkable survivor which not only escaped that conflict, but years of socialist government’s thereafter.

AIRSHOW - Classic Fighters 2023