Helldiver & Dauntless Restoration Updates

[Bomber_12th]

Its been a few months since the last time Vultures Row posted updates on their Helldiver and Dauntless restorations, but here are the latest just recently posted for December...

Helldiver: http://vulturesrowaviation.com/helldiver12_2013.html

Dauntless: http://vulturesrowaviation.com/dauntless12_2013.html

For those that haven't followed these projects, you can view updates from previous months by navigating to the "Current Projects" page. There you can also find pages that provide brief backgrounds on each aircraft, back to their recoveries in the 80's/90's (both .

These two aircraft are being restored to fly, and are both owned by the same individual (who also has the very rare Brewster-built Corsair under restoration at Ezell Aviation). All three of these aircraft, when completed, will be painted in matching tri-color schemes (perhaps even all in the same squadron markings). The Helldiver, being an early model (SB2C-1A), is being restored as such, and will be fitted with the correct three-bladed prop and nose cone (will be a very unique, authentic flying example of the Helldiver when completed). As can be seen in the Dauntless update, that aircraft is really taking form as of late, and by comparison, you can really tell how complex of an aircraft to restore/build the Helldiver must be (they have another Helldiver project in store).

 

[Curtis P40]

Wow...to me every part on an aircraft, is a work of art. Thanks for posting

 

[Bomber_12th]

Also, I thought I would add to this thread another restoration update. At Legend Flyers, the restoration (to airworthy) of an A6M3-32 Zero is reaching an advanced stage. These videos were recently posted, showing the aircraft sitting on its gear for the first time in 70 years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW13UHXET84
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAtN1kly5IA

And a recent photo album:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.774405909242514.1073741850.255443124472131&type=1

Unlike the others flying today, it is a unique "Hamp" variant, with the shorter wings. Also, unlike most of the examples flying today, it will have an original Sakae engine powering it, like the Planes of Fame Museum's A6M5. The Sakae engine that will be mounted to the airframe was built/overhauled by Vintage V-12's, the same company that built/overhauled the BMW 801 that powers the Flying Heritage Collection's original Fw 190A-5.

 

[Willy]

Thanks John, I especially enjoyed the Dauntless pics.

 

[trucker17]

Thank you John.
Really glad to see the Helldiver work is progressing.....
until these birds were retrieved, I only knew of one....Its location was on the bottom of the Atlantic. Sadly the U.S. Government would not allow it to be pulled up and restored....So she still sits their just rotting away sad thought.....

 

[Skyhawk_310R]

Having the actual engine would be huge. The sounds of the engines are an integral part of the original aircraft and form a signature that people need to hear to appreciate. As nice as some of the 1970's era movies were, and as much as the producers strove for accuracy, they were forced to use modified American produced aircraft that featured American engines and the sounds as the planes flew overhead were unrealistic.

I personally would love to hear this restored Zero with the actual engine just to hear the start up, taxi, takeoff, and overhead flight.

Ken