FP_2015_05_

May 2015 FLYPAST 9

http://www.fl ypast.com

Airworthy Fokker D.VIII reproduction

N94100 has been acquired by Brian

Coughlin, who plans to operate it from

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in New York.

The machine was built by Brian

but has been part of Kermit Weeks’

Fantasy of Flight collection in Polk

City, Florida, since 2001. Being the

fi rst aircraft that he constructed, the

Fokker has particular sentimental

value to its new owner. Brian has

also acquired Kermit’s replica of a

1911-built Valkyrie Model A, in which

he hopes to perform short fl ights

down the runway at Old Rhinebeck.

The D.VIII was disassembled at Polk

City on February 25 in preparation

for shipment to New York. Kermit will

replace the machine with a Fokker

D.VII replica, which is being built by

Fred Murrin of Pennsylvania, and is

now nearing completion.

http://www.fantasyoffl ight.com ROGER SOUPART

New home

for Fokker

reproduction

Fokker D.VIII reproduction N94100 at Fantasy

of Flight recently. ROGER SOUPART

American Eagle destined for new home

McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle 71-0286 has been acquired by the St Louis Science Center in St Louis, Missouri. The jet is currently on display at the

Chanute Air Museum in Rantoul, Illinois, and no date has yet been set for its move. The Eagle was one of the fi rst ten pre-production models and

made its debut fl ight on June 14, 1973. It was later used as an instructional airframe for ground crews and engineers. TONY SACKETOS

Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson has

announced it will soon begin work to

construct another display hangar, thanks

to the support of the Arizona Aerospace

Foundation which has already raised a

signifi cant portion of the funds needed. Local

fi rm Acorn Associates has drafted a design

plan for the new building. http://www.pimaair.org

The RAF’s 17 (Reserve) Squadron marked its

centenary in February in memorable style –

by beginning the operational testing of the

UK’s fi rst Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II

at Edwards AFB in California. Personnel are

fl ying and maintaining the jets independently

from their US colleagues as the UK develops

its Joint Strike Fighter capability.

The American Air Museum at IWM Duxford

is undergoing signifi cant redevelopment

and will remain closed to the public until

next spring. The attraction’s revamp will

involve several aircraft being moved in and

out of the museum – some of these will be

positioned in other accessible locations at

Duxford until the work is complete.

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