Warbird News and Restoration Projects

A Warbird is a term that defines an ex-military aircraft which is now operated by civilian organisations or individuals. These classic aircraft are often the result of extensive restoration projects, taking vintage planes and making them exhibition or even flight worthy. The focus of these projects is to preserve these machines and protect their historical legacy.

On this page, you’ll find all the latest news about Warbirds including updates on restoration projects, exhibitions , aviation museums and events where you can see them in action and much more.

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Review of the new film ‘The Shamrock Spitfire’

Review by Tom Allett, Editor of FlyPast magazine

Spitfire Flight Test

In a recent re-issue of a special magazine by Key Publishing featuring military aircraft flight tests, Dave Unwin takes aloft the legendary Spitfire

WATCH the trailer for the new film of RAF Spitfire ace

The soon to be released film ‘Shamrock Spitfire’ tells the story Brendan “Paddy” Finucane – the legendary Irish pilot who became one of the most celebrated fighter aces of World War Two.

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The challenge to replace the Spitfire and Hurricane: Supermarine twin fighters

When the time came to replace both the Hurricane and Spitfire, the Air Ministry had a very hard act to follow...

Kingcobra ‘Fatal Fang’ returns to Californian skies

Bell P-63 'Fatal Fang' is flying again in the US following a thorough restoration

Stallion 51 Boss interview – the world’s most experienced P-51 Mustang pilot

Stallion 51 has asserted itself as a P-51 centre of excellence over the past three decades. Barry Ambrose speaks to the boss, and the most experienced Mustang pilot in history, Lee Lauderback

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Historic aircraft - UK flight experience guide

A raft of companies offering experience flights in all manner of historic aircraft have sprung up to offer the opportunity to get behind the control columns of aircraft once reserved for a fortunate few. Aviation News provides a who’s who, detailing companies’ fleets and flights

Return to action for Griffon-powered Spitfire

Spitfire FR.XIV will feature at IWM Duxford exhibition later this month

German Corsair sold to new owner

Combat veteran F4U changes hands — but will stay in Germany

Premiere for ‘Silver Spitfire – The Longest Flight’

The feature length documentary about the famous Silver Spitfire’s global journey will debut on Sunday November 12 at 9pm on Sky History

Preserving Warbirds for future generations

The use of warbirds ranges from racing and restorations to exhibiting at airshows where enthusiasts will be treated to close up contact with legendary aircraft like the Supermarine Spitfire, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Messerschmitt Bf 109.

The name Warbirds once referred to World War II era fighter aircraft like the North American P-51 Mustang, North American T-6 Texan and Hawker Sea Fury, but in recent years it has come to mean any former military aircraft type now flown by airforce heritage squadrons, civilian organisations and private owners. 

There are a lot of airshows that have static and flight displays by Warbirds and the United States has many of them. Enthusiasts, as well as airforce heritage squadrons and civilian organisations, fly their aircraft at these shows. A high-profile enthusiasts’ project, the Silver Spitfire, flew its original 1943 build Supermarine Spitfire in a shining silvery livery around the world with the help of sponsors. The Spitfire is a popular Warbird and other military aircraft favoured by restoration enthusiasts include the Mikoyan MiG-15 and Grumman F6F Hellcat, along with the Spitfire and Mustang.

The airshows in the USA include, the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin; the Alliance Airshow in Fort Worth, Texas; Dayton Airshow in Dayton, Ohio; the History of Flight Airshow in New York state and the Indianapolis Airshow in Indiana. Outside of the USA, New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom also have a number of Warbird shows. New Zealand has the Classic Fighters Omaka in Blenheim and the Warbirds over Wanaka in Wanaka. Australia has Warbirds Downunder in Temora, while the UK's Warbirds airshows include Flying Legends, which takes place at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, and the Bedfordshire, UK-based Shuttleworth Collection which has displays in the summer. France also has an annual show, La Ferté-Alais, which takes place 50 kilometres south of Paris.

Don’t miss our dedicated page on international airshow news & updates.

The future of Warbirds and Warbird projects

Future generations will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Warbirds from airforces’ days gone by as restoration projects increase in number and widen in aircraft type worldwide. Find here the latest information about projects from Australia to Italy, and aircraft types from the World War II Helldiver to the 1950s Thunderstreak.

Whether the airframe to be restored was found in the Pacific’s Solomon Islands or had been retired to a safe hangar, the challenge can be a full bottom up reconstruction or trying to find a missing engine. The committed individuals and companies that restore these Warbirds have a story to tell in the great lengths they will go to in the hope of seeing these aircraft fly again.

The stories can be as simple as replacing damaged skin fabric and lubricating mechanical systems back to a functional state, which was what was needed for an RAF Westland Lysander; but they can be as challenging as a decades long, slow search for parts and reconstruction; which was necessary for a Royal Australian Air Force Curtiss P-40N Kittyhawk which had crashed on Rattlesnake Island, just off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Often the key areas for these restorations are missing engines or control system parts, wing or tail repair, a need for new nose and main gear tyres and seats for the pilots and navigator.

Obstacles to be overcome to return a Warbird to flight have included fixing a troublesome elevator pushrod, replacing cockpit cowl rails, or stripping off a worn-out faded livery and replacing it with a fresh coat of paint. It is the commitment to the Warbirds and the stories behind their return to flight that are as engaging as the sight of seeing the beautiful machines soar among the clouds once more; and all those stories can be found here.

Other military aircraft categories

Looking for military aircraft news or updates from your favourite military aircraft airshows? Or information on other military fighter aircraft?

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