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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