That was awesome thanks for posting this. My dad worked at the Curtiss Wright plant in Columbus building these, he would have been thrilled to know another SB2C has been restored. He always talked about it and whenever he could he would make it a point to see the CAF's Helldiver. He would have loved to have seen this one.
The Mustang, Corsair and Avenger get all recognition; great planes, but the Helldiver had been forgotten. I'm so happy to see this blue beast alive beautifully restored to life and flying.
Welcome back to this veteran warbird. I’ve got pictures of Diamond 32 another SB2C, flaying at the 2011 Thunder over Michigan air show, that was celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first USN carrier take off and landing by a Curtiss pusher, of which a reconstructed model flew at the airshow.
JUST GOT 11O% PURE CHILLS W/ THAT BEAUTIFUL SOUND + SAW HER RISING UP ... >>> ___ I bet every SB2C pilot in Heaven is smiling down as they experience THE BEST view over her, as she just rises a bit closer to their/our promised eternity. GOD Bless every single soul, (past present future) who built /found /recovered /restored /piloted and forever will take care of this priceless piece of pure aviation history. May she fly proud/ strong forever. ___
Another one is being restored at Westpac Restorations in Colorado Springs. I just saw it a couple of weeks ago. It has a prop spinner on it a opposed to this one. It should be flying in the next week or so and will be displayed at the Colorado Springs Airshow in a couple of weeks.
Beautiful , I really wish a TBD Devastator could be found and made airworthy , are there any in museums? I read once that the Navy got rid of them shortly after Midway
Im sure during the restoration process probably over 90 percent of the parts had to be refabricated under the original blue prints- yet the blue prints had to be located! Quite an honor for those who fought and lost their lives against superior odds like the Zero for the sake of fighting against tyranny. 🇺🇸
These markings are called "G Markings" ,used by the U.S.Navy in 1945 to identify the airplanes belonging to a specific carrier air group,in this case the U.S.S. Essex (CV-9).
Looks like a magnificent restoration! Surprised the pilot wasn't wearing a helmet in this case, though it may have been required re possible accident ?
@@andrewwaller5913 hell of a restoration. I thought that pretty much all the existing warbirds have been restored by now. Where did they find this one?
@@fw1421 It was recovered from a US Navy base in Eastern USA, I forget the name about 20 years ago and had a few owners. It suffered a take off crash and hit trees, broke into 3 or 4 pieces. A massive restoration effort. The 3rd Helldiver to fly is imminent in Colorado too.
I don't believe it was as bad as portrayed. Based on how they portrayed the P40 and the C46 transport airplane, I kinda think there was a political, influence pedaling against Curtis aircraft, namely Glen Curtis, in the military arms acquisition industry. There were many other manufacturers interested in getting contracts. The new design aircraft were more for the purpose of profit than we know. All they had to do to improve existing designs was develop more powerful engines for them. But that would not make the industry nearly as rich. The P40, The Navy's wildcat, this helldiver and others simply could achieve air superiority with more power. The Allison engine P51 was nothing until they gave it the more powerful engine. They even redesignated some Allison P51s as as a dive bomber. Speed and power to climb gave air superiority
To be honest, not my favorite WW2 Naval aircraft. Too many teething issues before it became reasonably safe to fly and fight. But its part of history, and did help sink the Yamato, so it deserves to be restored and preserved.
@user-os6cs6jk7u Dauntless still more proven through the biggest battles and had been known to hold its own in a dogfight or 2 against Zeros. But I am biased, the SBD is my favorite naval plane from WW2.
What a beautiful beast!
I love the sound of those big ol' radials, maybe it's beat of the odd number of cylinders.
Absolutely beautiful. I'm personally very happy that there's another airworthy Helldiver.
@@chrissakal532 With a 3rd imminent in Colorado
@andrewwaller5913 Yes, and a -1C at that. They did taxi tests earlier this week I think it was.
@@chrissakal532 Yes and the rear canopy and guns etc were just fitted
Actually the ones in museums are technically airworthy they just need a few things to put them in the air
@@marcmccall237 Yes like a full restoration !
WOW!! a beautiful restoration of a classic plane and the incredible sound too 👏👏👏🇬🇧🇬🇧
One of my favourite WW2 aeroplanes.
What a magnificent Blue BEAST!!!! I'll bet Ray hasn't stopped smiling yet....
Thank you from a CAF member in Amsterdam. What a beast!
It isn’t CAF: it’s missing the CAF tramp stamp - and it isn’t smoldering with investigators around it.
Thank you from a CAF Member in Amsterdam, Missouri. Magnificent aircraft!!
My first boss in aviation was a former Helldiver pilot. He loved the Beast!
OUTSTANDING resto job!!!
That was awesome thanks for posting this. My dad worked at the Curtiss Wright plant in Columbus building these, he would have been thrilled to know another SB2C has been restored. He always talked about it and whenever he could he would make it a point to see the CAF's Helldiver. He would have loved to have seen this one.
My dad, aviation radioman 3C, flew in these off of jeep carriers in the Pacific.
Well done guys. Love the "double diamond" G marking of CV-9. My dad called called Helldivers the SB deuce C.
They don’t have the best reputation but my god do they look awesome
Thanks for sharing this with us. Lovely restoration on a great looking aircraft. 😊
I have never seen one of those before. What a absolute treasure. Please don't crash it
That's quite a machine - beautifully done - bravo!
The Mustang, Corsair and Avenger get all recognition; great planes, but the Helldiver had been forgotten. I'm so happy to see this blue beast alive beautifully restored to life and flying.
Welcome back to this veteran warbird. I’ve got pictures of Diamond 32 another SB2C, flaying at the 2011 Thunder over Michigan air show, that was celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first USN carrier take off and landing by a Curtiss pusher, of which a reconstructed model flew at the airshow.
Fabulous!! Thanks for giving us a look at this Veteran Warbird!
What a beautiful,shiny beast😍 The high polished ,paint shop fresh,glossy sea blue finish is my all time favorite colour of USN/USMC aircraft .
Beautiful resto on a big tailed beast
One of the most beautiful American planes of the WW2
Great footage ! 👏🏻
JUST GOT 11O% PURE CHILLS W/ THAT BEAUTIFUL SOUND + SAW HER RISING UP ...
>>> ___ I bet every SB2C pilot in Heaven is smiling down as they experience THE BEST view over her, as she just rises a bit closer to their/our promised eternity. GOD Bless every single soul, (past present future) who built /found /recovered /restored /piloted and forever will take care of this priceless piece of pure aviation history. May she fly proud/ strong forever. ___
Impressive. Wish I could have seen it. Maybe next year......
Superb job on the restoration.
That must have been a REALLY hard plane to get right. It is so beautiful.
What a beauty! Great video...thanks for sharing.
The story of what Curtiss had to do to get the very imperfect Helldiver into service is fascinating.
What a rare and beautiful beast
I wish somebody would come out with a new tooling in 1/48 of this magnificent piece of aviation history.
The Pro Modeler kit will be hard to beat.
Absolutely gorgeous.
Cool aircraft. Nice sound. Thumbs up! :)
Monumental effort, thank you!
Beautiful bird
Can be seen at the Fagen Museum in Granite Falls. Outstanding museum!
Awesome! A piece of aviation-history 😊
That thing is a beast. And some of those views really show off the weird proportions. No wonder it was so tricky to handle.
Another one is being restored at Westpac Restorations in Colorado Springs. I just saw it a couple of weeks ago. It has a prop spinner on it a opposed to this one. It should be flying in the next week or so and will be displayed at the Colorado Springs Airshow in a couple of weeks.
Gorgeous!
I believe the tail markings are of the USS Essex CV9.
Watched her being restored. Beautiful.
Nice catch!!!
I just love seeing those old birds fly again
Whoa!! I'm back in 1944! Gorgeous bird! And this is an 80 year old aircraft!?
To quote the guy from "Double Impact":
THERE'S TWO OF THEM!
Just bad ass!
Such a beautiful beast 😍
Beautiful , I really wish a TBD Devastator could be found and made airworthy , are there any in museums? I read once that the Navy got rid of them shortly after Midway
All gone. Scrapped by 1944. The only ones that exist are deep under the ocean.
@@tbd-1 yes , sadly so , one at least could've been a tribute to the torpedo squadrons los at Midway
It's a shame that these beauties didn't preform that well.
'I have good news and bad news. First, you won a WWII airplane! Second, it's a Helldiver.'
Im sure during the restoration process probably over 90 percent of the parts had to be refabricated under the original blue prints- yet the blue prints had to be located! Quite an honor for those who fought and lost their lives against superior odds like the Zero for the sake of fighting against tyranny. 🇺🇸
Any eas8er to fly? Beautiful!
What do the white diamond markings signify ?
These markings are called "G Markings" ,used by the U.S.Navy in 1945 to identify the airplanes belonging to a specific carrier air group,in this case the U.S.S. Essex (CV-9).
❤❤❤❤❤
Where does the money come from. I can’t fathom the cost of a project like this.
Looks like a magnificent restoration! Surprised the pilot wasn't wearing a helmet in this case, though it may have been required re possible accident ?
Did this plane used to be at the Cunningham Aviation Museum in Addison Texas?
No it was wreckage from a crash in 1945.
@@andrewwaller5913 hell of a restoration. I thought that pretty much all the existing warbirds have been restored by now. Where did they find this one?
@@fw1421 It was recovered from a US Navy base in Eastern USA, I forget the name about 20 years ago and had a few owners. It suffered a take off crash and hit trees, broke into 3 or 4 pieces. A massive restoration effort. The 3rd Helldiver to fly is imminent in Colorado too.
Helldiver love to see it flying. Dauntless was way cooler
Anyone know what the thin is on the wing?
Ray Fowler in the seat ?
hes trouble ya know ...
Was this the plane raised from lake Mead?
No it crashed on a Navy base in 1945 on take off
Is this the last flying example?
These one more flying I believe
@@flyingfortressrc1794 with a incorrect Corsair engine / prop spinner. Old CAF bird.
@@flyingfortressrc1794 Seriously rare bird. Amazing job.
👍
I understand the guy in the back is there in case they need to fly it in reverse???!!
I don't believe it was as bad as portrayed. Based on how they portrayed the P40 and the C46 transport airplane, I kinda think there was a political, influence pedaling against Curtis aircraft, namely Glen Curtis, in the military arms acquisition industry. There were many other manufacturers interested in getting contracts. The new design aircraft were more for the purpose of profit than we know. All they had to do to improve existing designs was develop more powerful engines for them. But that would not make the industry nearly as rich. The P40, The Navy's wildcat, this helldiver and others simply could achieve air superiority with more power. The Allison engine P51 was nothing until they gave it the more powerful engine. They even redesignated some Allison P51s as as a dive bomber. Speed and power to climb gave air superiority
To be honest, not my favorite WW2 Naval aircraft. Too many teething issues before it became reasonably safe to fly and fight. But its part of history, and did help sink the Yamato, so it deserves to be restored and preserved.
Is this the only Helldiver airworthy? I haven't seen one of these in decades.
One of two at the moment. However, this time next year there could be four!
@@AviationHighlights Fantastic! What a great peace of American Naval Aviation history.
Beautiful from some angles. Heinous from some others.
Nicknamed "Son of a Bitch, 2d Class"..the 1900hp SB2C was "The Beast"
Cool.....but it aint a Dauntless.
Ya it was in the end a much better plane. Faster, more payload, more range, higher ceiling, longer flight radius....
@user-os6cs6jk7u Dauntless still more proven through the biggest battles and had been known to hold its own in a dogfight or 2 against Zeros. But I am biased, the SBD is my favorite naval plane from WW2.
Rich People. Who says money can't buy the world?
🇺🇸
SBDuceey
Better than sex…