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ISSUE
23 - July 2008
Over 7,000 Total Ads Listed
1,000 NEW Ads Per Week
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GULL-WINGED & GLORIOUS |
By Kevin
Moore, Contributing Editor & Photographer
Roslin, Ontario, Canada
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Vintage Wings FG-1D Corsair taxiing in
after it’s first flight
with both the museum and pilot
Paul Kissmann. |
Baa-Baa-Blacksheep.
Those of us who have been around aviation and airshows
for a while will know or will have heard of the “Black
Sheep Squadron.” They were a rag-tag bunch of US
Marine aviators who flew Corsairs in the South Pacific
during WWII against the Japanese. Though the Corsair was
built as a carrier-based airplane, it was equally effective
as a land-based aircraft as well.
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Vintage Wings Corsair tucked in the hangar. |
Many people are not aware that the
Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm flew these aircraft and Canadian
Naval fighter pilots were part of the group who flew them
from carriers in both theatres of war. The Corsair was
manoeuvrable, fast, and deadly. In the hands of a skilled
pilot, the Corsair was to be both feared and respected.
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The Corsair sits
high off the ground. Here you can see the flaps in the down
position, left. Taxiing out on its maiden flight for both
Vintage Wings and pilot Paul Kissmann |
Vintage Wings of Canada out of Gatineau,
Quebec owns a Goodyear FG-1D Corsair that was purchased
in order to let the public know some history of Canadian
Naval Aviators who flew with Britain’s Royal Naval
Fleet Air Arm. One of those naval aviators was Lt. Robert
Hampton Gray, VC*, DFC**.
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Take-off from Gatineau, Quebec on it’s
first flight. Paul Kissmann left the Gatineau airspace for
about 30 minutes of airwork before coming back for several
passes to show off the Corsair. |
Lt Hampton Gray, or “Hammie” as
he was affectionately known, flew from HMS Formidable,
a Royal Navy Carrier. Lt. Hampton Gray was shot down during
the last few days of the war flying a Corsair against the
Japanese Navy. He was attacking a Japanese warship when
he was hit after releasing his bombs and hitting and sinking
one of the ships. Lt. Hampton Gray was killed in the crash
but was posthumously awarded the VC for his actions.
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Showing off the
beautiful lines of the gull-winged bird. |
Though this airplane arrived in
Gatineau with US markings, it was detailed in the livery
of 1841 Sqn, Royal Navy and dedicated to Lt. Hampton Gray.
It had its first flight with Vintage Wings during their
open house on June 7, 2008. It was also the first flight
in the aircraft for pilot Paul Kissmann who did several
wonderful passes after spending half an hour ‘practicing’ and
getting to know the airplane. |
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Graceful in the
sky, you can see the shape of the wings here,
a front view,
left, and a rear view, right |
The FG-1D Corsair has a P&W
R-2800-9, 18 cylinder engine that offers it a top speed
of 417mph and a service ceiling of 41,000 feet. Depending
on configuration, It can carry a load of almost 10,000lbs
of bombs. This aircraft also flew in the TV series “Baa-Baa
Blacksheep” and appeared in 22 episodes. |
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The Corsair lined
up for landing, seen above a RCAF North American Harvard.
Just after touch-down, the Corsair rolls-out along the runway
before taxiing back. |
Vintage Wings of Canada flies many
fabulous warbirds including a Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIVe,
a Hawker Hurricane Mk IV, a Mustang Mk IV among others.
See www.vintagewings.ca for more information about their
aircraft and their flying season/schedule. |
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Turning around
and taxiing back after landing,
you can see the Royal Navy
markings of the VW Corsair. |
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