The A-26 is a fast and maneuverable airplane. Very big difference between the DC-3. That’s the point.

However, Douglas aircraft, generally are “over-engineered” – and the FAA statement seems to support this. Mr. Basler’s relative success would appear to bear this out, no?

In a former life I was a program(me) manager on the wing attachment bits for both DC 10/MD-11 ‘s and similar-sized Boeing aircraft. the Douglas piece consisted of two huge Alcoa forgings Huck-bolted together with a shear plate in-between. The Boeing part was a “simple” machined Alcoa forging…

So, for long life – my money’s on Douglas. If one has the requisite altitude & velocity , I have no problem with the idea of an aerobatic Gooney.

As an aside, I had a Brit colleague, ex-Hatfield, who felt that G. deH should have ended up in the Old Bailey for the Comet windows.

Thanks, Zulu Romeo… wonderful to see so many airworthy!

N91FS is likely a Canadair Sabre Mk. 5 – after SOS RCAF, many Sabres were purchased by Flight Systems for drone conversion and chase plane duties.

I’ll pore through Larry Milberry’s book to find her history, if you like?

That IS snow in the photo, I’m guessing? 😀

Next one-

Latecoere 550? Early one? Later ones had “normal” cowlings.

I’ve resisted the temptation to post an image of another avion Français – so have a go with this.

Damned time-zones! Pobjoy Niagaras… Cool! 😀

I thought the mid-upper sitting on the fuselage mock-up was a Martin.

As I recall, CWH had restored a Frazer-Nash turret, because Andy Mynarski actually flew in a British-built Lanc – and the “purists” wanted to insert it into FM213. I remember MUCH discussion over this… Messrs. Sobering, Randall & Etheridge would be the ones to say definitively (if they’re still with us?)

In the end, CWH used a Martin for many reasons:

a. It is the correct turret for FM213

b. The modification costs in time & material to insert the F-N were absurd – if the aircraft was to fly that year.

c. The Martin profile uses less fuel – a BIG consideration when running an aircraft with four thirsty Merlins.

Now, this was about 1986… and I haven’t visited Mount Hope since 2000, when I moved to the Ottawa area – so you may indeed be correct.