Vintage Aviation News

MAY 6, 2024

Brooks had long wished to own an airworthy Flying Fortress as his father, Elton Brooks, had flown 35 missions as a B-17 tail gunner with the 570th BS, 390th BG from RAF Framlingham in England. Left unchecked, the fire consumed most of the aircraft; just the tail and outboard wing sections survived the blaze.

Tail 126

Tail Airplanes Cockpit Firewall 126

Vintage Aviation News

SEPTEMBER 2, 2024

Under its wings, stood Garry and Janne Ackerman of Plano, Texas, the owners of this magnificent machine, who told attendees all about the story of this airplane and the effort they helped start to return a basket case of an airplane back to its former glory. The last owner prior to the Ackermans was Wilson Cary Selden of San Jose, CA.

Firewall 98

Firewall Airplanes Hangar Tail 98

Vintage Aviation News

AUGUST 28, 2024

According to the Navy accident report, the airplane hit the water at a near vertical angle on its back. In the process, she lost her outer wing panels, engine section and a number of other components, so what remains today consists mostly of the fuselage, from the firewall back, and the tail feathers. SBD-5 BuNo.36175

Firewall 98

Firewall Tail Approach Pilot 98

Vintage Aviation News

MAY 21, 2024

During the 18-month restoration, Frank replaced TG114’s damaged cockpit section with the piece from VR919 and the tail section of VR918. It was repaired and mated to the wing center section of ex-German target tug, and the tail section was from an ex-Iraqi Sea Fury. People didn’t have that kind of equipment to do that type of work.”

Cockpit 105

Cockpit Airplanes Tail Firewall 105