12 FLYPAST September 2018
NEWS THE LATEST IN AVIATION HERITAGE
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in New
York has successfully test fl own its
SPAD VII S5301 ‘11’, a reproduction of
the machine fl own in World War One
by American pilot Lt George Turnure.
The aircraft has been absent from
the attraction’s regular fl ying days
for a few years, but has now been
restored with help from Poplar Grove
Airmotive, which worked alongside
Brian Coughlin and the Aerodrome
team. The SPAD is described by its
owners as being “lighter and more
nimble than ever”.Engineers at Old Rhinebeck are also
making progress with their rebuild
of a Sopwith Pup, originally created
by aircraft enthusiast Dick King, and
a frequent fl yer in days gone by. The
biplane has been fi tted with an original
80hp (60kW) Le Rhône rotary engine.
The team’s Sopwith Dolphin is now
almost complete externally, although
much remains to be done before it fl ies
again. Mechanic Ken Cassens jokingly
described it as “99 percent fi nished
with 99 percent to go!”
http://www.oldrhinebeck.orgSPAD fl ies again at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
SPAD VII S5301 ‘11’ is now airworthy again at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome.
BOTH MARK MONDELLO-OLD RHINEBECKOld Rhinebeck’s Sopwith Dolphin is almost complete externally.Members of Fg Off Bobby Oxpring’s
family recently visited the late Battle
of Britain pilot’s Supermarine
Spitfi re Mk.IIA (P7540) which has
been restored to static display
condition at the Dumfries and
Galloway Aviation Museum.
Bobby fl ew several ‘ops’ in this
Spitfi re as part of 66 Squadron, and
ended the war with 13 victories, plus
two shared and two ‘probables’.
The fi ghter crashed into Loch Doon
in 1941 and was recovered by the
museum in the 1980s. VolunteerPeter Howieson managed to track
down Bobby’s family and invited his
granddaughter Jane Patching and
great-grandchildren Daniel and Olivia
to be the fi rst to sit in the cockpit
after its restoration.
Jane said: “When I got here it really
hit me, because although I knew
about it and had heard lots about my
grandfather, to actually be able tosee his plane and touch it, and sit in
it, was quite overwhelming.”
Daniel, 10, added: “When I was
young I didn’t know much about it,
but now to see it has just
been wonderful.
“I think he would have been very
brave to actually fl y it during a
time of war.”
http://www.dumfriesaviationmuseum.comBattle of Britain hero’s family visit restored Spitfi re
McDonnell Douglas T-45C Goshawk (left) has been restored for static display at NAS
Kingsville, Texas. The jet, which crashed into San Diego Harbor on May 25, 2015, is now on
show alongside North American T-2C Buckeye 158586 (centre) and Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk- GARY DONNISON
Daniel, Jane and Olivia with Spitfi re Mk.IIA
P7540 recently. VIA BOB SLOAN-DGAMGoshawk restored for
‘gate guard’ duties