Eventful Week for UK Mustang
North American F-6D Mustang N51BS Lil
Margaret made its first flight from Sywell,
Northamptonshire, on May 22 following
reassembly by Air Leasing. The Mustang
was imported from the US and due to head
to Italy where her new owner is based. A
second flight to Headcorn, Kent, followed
later the same day from where the aircraft
then went to nearby Woodchurch. A few
days later the Mustang’s new owner was
at the controls when the aircraft was badly
damaged during take-off from Woodchurch.
Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.
Steve CoeBoeing B-17F Flying Fortress 41-
Memphis Belle went on display at the
National Museum of the USAF, at Dayton,
Ohio, on May 17, exactly 75 years after its
crew finished their last mission. The famous
bomber has been undergoing restoration at
the museum since the mid-2000s.Significant progress is being made in the
reassembly of Lockheed Super Constellation
N4247K at the Qantas Founders Museum
in Longreach, Queensland, Australia. From
late January to April volunteers worked on
the fuselage, completing more than 200
repairs and prepared the aircraft for the
attachment of its wings, undercarriage and
engines. Paint accumulated over at least six
decades was then stripped off the fuselage
and the Qantas livery applied.
On May 8 cranes arrived on site to lift
the fuselage onto stands so the wings could
be attached. Two days later the projectteam started the slow and careful process
of fitting the wings, which was completed on
the morning of May 11.
The undercarriage was reinstalled on
May 21 and the Super Connie was on its
‘legs’ for the first time in more than three
years. With no hydraulic or air pressure the
aircraft stands about 1ft (30cm) lower than
it normally would.
The following day the team started
to attach the engines/propellers, a taskthat was completed within 48 hours. The
rest of the week was spent working on
the engines, attaching the cowling and
preparing for the refitting of the tailplane,
which was completed on May 30.
Touching up the paintwork and
applying the insignia will complete the
external restoration, which is due to be
finished by the time Aviation News goes
to press.
The team will then focus on the internal
restoration and display creation, which they
hope to have accomplished by the Qantas
centenary year of 2020.PHOTOS, NEWS STORIES AND ARTICLES
In order to give the best coverage possible, Aviation News is looking for additional contributors. So if you have photos, news stories or articles of
modern or historical civil and military aviation subjects we would like to hear from you. Please contact the Editor at [email protected]http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 5Qantas ‘Connie’ Back on its Undercarriage
Memphis Belle
Goes On Show
The Memphis Belle shortly before going
display within the World War Two gallery at
Dayton. USAF/Ken LaRockMustang N51BS making its first flight from Sywell on May 22. Steve CoeSuper Constellation N4247K back on its
undercarriage and with its tail fitted on May- QFM
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