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Volume 24 #3, Issue 111

LEWIS LEGEND

Lewis Legend MosquitoJoining the ranks of the very few air worthy Mosquitos extant today, Lewis Air Legend’s stunning aircraft is another tribute to the skills of New Zealand based Mosquito Aircraft Restoration and AvSpecs - made possible by the backing of an oil magnate with a passion for aviation history. In a major feature we kick off with an overview of RNZAF Mossies before looking at the convoluted history of this particular example, which in places reads like a spy novel. We then move on to the dark days of dereliction and how it came to be born again. Of course no such article would be complete without stunning air to airs and we have those in spades!


THE BATTLE OF BALALAE

Battle of Balalae

Classic Wings is often in a privileged position to be aware of what is happening in the fascinating world of wreck recovery. This is however a double edged sword, given that we are often unable to report on it immediately as much red tape needs to be cut and certain individuals like to run interference, particularly so in this instance. This means that during the interim the news breaks on the internet and wild speculation ensues. This is the case with the recent happenings relating to the recovery of several wrecks, including Betty bombers, in the Solomon Islands. A couple of Classic Wings team members (not Dave, he is a slave to the office it seems - but I digress) joined the expedition during its opening stages in mid 2018 and in this part to the article the Editor describes the experience. We then look at how the aircraft were moved and the grand plans being formulated to display some of these rare machines, which will not only save them from oblivion, but add a major attraction to boost the small island economy.


MYSTERY MUSEUM -THE MUSEUM OF THE AIR FORCE OF THE NORTHERN FLEET

Museum of the Air Force of the Northern FleetLittle known to the average enthusiast and seldom visited because of its remote location and vicinity to an active Russian military base, the Museum of the Air Force of the Northern Fleet is a modest facility which contains some rare machines. The majority of the exhibits from the WWII era are based on the numerous wrecks which litter the Kola Peninsula and have been restored to the best of the ability of inexperienced volunteers. Following some difficult times things are now looking up for the collection and a visit is well worth the effort. In this article we look at the history of the museum, from the neglect during the mid 1990s which saw several aircraft spirited away and a roof collapse, through to a new beginning thanks to an injection of funds. The dedication of its long suffering volunteers is finally being recognised and they can look forward to the future with some hope.


HARRY TATE -THE ROYAL AIRCRAFT FACTORY R.E.8

Harry Tate R.E.8

Intended as a replacement for the increasingly vulnerable and obsolescent B.E.2, the R.E.8 was to become the mainstay of the Royal Flying Corps aerial reconnaissance and spotting fleet. However it quickly garnered a negative reputation and was much maligned, many feeling it was a potential death trap. It did however perform its core duties well and even became a respected opponent when being flown by experienced and aggressive crews. Consequently for some, its less than flattering reputation was over stated. In this article we present an overview of the types development and combat history, before taking a look at the original survivors and of course the magnificent TVAL reproductions, with some superb air to air coverage of one of these machines.


Our Last Mystery Aircraft was a ...KZ-II TRAINER

KZ-II TRAINERRoskilde, located some 20km (12 miles) west of Denmark’s capital Copenhagen, hosts various flying schools. One of the general aviation schools based there offering flight-training to Danish and international students is the Phoenix Flight Academy, owned by Henrik Kragg. Operating three Piper PA-28 aircraft and a helicopter, the Academy’s aircraft hangar also houses one of Denmark’s most stunning ‘all-Danish’ vintage-aircraft in the form of Henrik’s 1946 Kramme & Zeuthen (aka KZ) II Trainer. In what is a departure from our usual Mystery Aero format, the author describes the history of the elegant machine and focuses on one of the few survivors. The type proved to be a difficult one for our readers to recognise, the majority picking it as a Moth Minor.



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