Vintage Aviation News first reported on the restoration progress of the 1954 Beechcraft E18S-9700 “Super 18” in January 2023. This aircraft is currently under a return-to-flight program at the Vintage Flying Museum (VFM) located at Meacham International Airport (FTW) north of Fort Worth, Texas.
The Vintage Flying Museum’s Beechcraft E18S “Hollywood Bomber” project was not completed in time for AirVenture 2024 as originally planned. The team, dedicated to ensuring the aircraft is done correctly and safely, has encountered and resolved several major airworthiness issues discovered over the past year. With 7000+ manhours invested by an all-volunteer team, significant progress has been made, including engine tests, avionics installation, and wing reinstallation. The aircraft may debut at the Beech Party this fall, depending on the health of the core engines.
- Current Equipment Status:
- Aspen Evolution: Installed, awaiting power-up.
- Cleveland Wheels and Brakes: Installed and operational.
- Aithre CO Monitor: Installed, awaiting power-up.
- Genesis STEC 55X:90% installed.
- Stratus ESG: Installed, awaiting power-up.
- Whelen Lighting: Installed and operational.
- Hartzell Jasco Alternators: Installed, awaiting power-up.
- CiES Fuel Senders: Installed, awaiting power-up and calibration.
- NuLite Rings: Installed, awaiting power-up.
- PS Engineering Audio Panel: Installed, awaiting power-up.
- Precise Flight Light Flasher: Installed, awaiting power-up.
- ACK ELT and Encoder: Installed, awaiting power-up.
- Aerospace Logic Fuel Gauge: Installed, awaiting power-up.
- Electronics International Oil and Fuel Gauging: Installed, awaiting power-up.
- Concorde Batteries: Installed and operational.
The team hopes to present the aircraft at various events in 2024 and 2025, including Sun ‘n Fun, Wasp Homecoming, Wings Over Cowtown Airshow, Breckenridge Airshow, AirVenture, Ranger, TX, and Beech Party. Some team members will attend AirVenture to connect with supporters. The project’s progress is documented on YouTube, focusing on straightforward aviation without drama. The museum appreciates the support that has made this project possible, aiming to deliver a reliable aircraft to the aviation community.
The restoration team’s work can be viewed in weekly video updates on the HangaRatz YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/c/HangaRatz. If you would like to donate to the project, visit www.vintageflyingmuseum.org/join-and-support/. You may also contact the team directly at [email protected].
