Hadley Rille Escadrille 43: Timeless Aviator Spirit Ready For Any Adventure

June 12, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Hello!

My name is Tom Reilly. I was driven to share my passion for history and warbirds with the world and began writing The Warbird Watcher in 2013, nearly ten years ago. I am now the President of Hadley Rille Watches. An American company that crafts small batches of precision watches in Switzerland.

This is my story.

In 2009, when I was ten years old I had my first brush with a World War II fighter plane, a North American P-51 Mustang. Historians argue that this single aircraft, a true collaboration with an American designed airframe and British Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 engine, turned the tide of the war in favor of the Allies. Seeing this aircraft would change the course of my life.

I became fascinated with aviation, history, and all things mechanical. I researched historic aircraft and idolized the pilots who flew them. When I was 16 I began taking flying lessons and flew solo soon after. At 17 I earned my Private Pilot Certificate and was off and running on a path to fly the world’s most advanced aircraft.

Everybody needs a great watch and as a new pilot I was no exception. I became fascinated with classic pilot’s watches and set out to create a contemporary yet timeless pilot watch that my aviation heroes would have been proud to wear. Hadley Rille was born out of my admiration for the pioneers and a deep appreciation for the precision engineering and craftsmanship that took man from Kittyhawk to the Moon in less than a century. We started with a sketchbook and a clear vision, to create a precision tool watch fit for any occasion whether in the cockpit or the boardroom. The Escadrille 43 combines robust durability and high grade finishing with the heritage and spirit of adventure.

Our passion for aviation, adventure, and exploration drives everything we do. We are proud to be an American company crafting small quantities of precision watches in Switzerland for those with a sense of adventure who push boundaries and expand the envelope and are excited to have you join us on this journey.

Visit Hadley Rille for more information about how to pre-order the Escadrille 43

-Tom Reilly, Hadley Rille

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Vintage Aviation Museum Prepares to Take Wing

August 27, 2016 by 1 Comment

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Restoration work being preformed on B-17E “Desert Rat”

There is a new Warbird museum on the block.  The Vintage Aviation Museum may be young in age but not in ambition.  Sean O’Brien is the founder and president of the Vintage Aviation Museum.  Mr. O’Brien has worked in multiple museums, including flying on tour with a B-17.  These experiences have not only prepared him to start his own museum but have also been the driving force behind the new opening.  “I got to a point where I realized that  in order to fulfill my passion and vision for vintage aircraft, warbirds, and all of the history that surrounds them I needed to start my own museum” says Mr. O’Brien. He began planning the Vintage Aviation Museum in 2014, and launched it in January 2016.  Since opening the doors, Mr. O’Brien says, “…the response has been overwhelming”.  

The Vintage Aviation Museum is busy at work.  The museum will plans to move its headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah hopefully in 2017 when its museum facilities are completed.  The new facility will include state-of -art restoration facilities and museum spaces to be used for educational purposes.

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B-17E 41-2595 “Desert Rat”

The Vintage Aviation Museum joined forces with the Desert Rat B-17E Restoration Team, that has been working to restore B-17E 41-2595 since it was discovered in Maine decaying in a scrapyard in the 1980’s.  Mr. O’Brien has been following the B-17Es progress for a number of years and when he was in a position to help, decided to join forces with the Desert Rat team to complete the restoration sooner.  The time table for the B-17E Desert Rat’s completion is 3 to 5 years, however it is dependent on funding.  When the VAM facilities are completed in 2017, part of Desert Rat will be moved to Salt Lake City, Utah for restoration, while the remainder of the plane will stay in Marengo, Illinois to be completed.  Once Desert Rat’s restoration is completed, the entire airframe will be transported to Salt Lake City for final assembly.  After completion “Desert Rat” will be on tour across the United States as a flying museum and will be based out of Salt Lake City, Utah.

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Boeing B-17C Flying Fortress

In addition, the Vintage Aviation Museum and Desert Rat teams are joining forces to build an airworthy B-17C.   The B-17C build is in its early stages, parts are beginning to be collected.  The pace will not increase on the B-17C build until either the museum’s volunteer force increases or Desert Rat is returned back to flying condition.  Although building a B-17 can be done more quickly than restoring one, the thousands of rivets incorporated into the airframe make construction time consuming.  Once the B-17C is completed it will join B-17E “Desert Rat” on tour.

Mr. O’Brien thinks that flying these aircraft is necessary, “…so that people can see them operate in their natural element”.  VAM restoration and museum facilities will be open to the public to be used as an educational tool and share the stories behind their planes.  Mr. O’Brien believes, “It’s not just about the planes, it is also about the factory workers, the people that gave up their time to help out…” with the war effort.  The Vintage Aviation Museum wants to give people the opportunity to learn history first hand from the veterans that experienced it.

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Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress

“We try to do things where we are a little outside of the box, we don’t want to be like everyone else…we want to create our own path… and be able to reach people not just local to the museum but across the country”, says museum president Mr. O’Brien.  An example of this being the “Night With Dick Cole” event that the museum hosted.  Unlike other events, VAM kept the event to a group of 100 people in order to allow people to personally interact with Mr. Cole, the last surviving Dolittle Raider and have their questions answered from a man who is walking and talking history.

Keep your eyes open for the Vintage Aviation Museum’s future projects, which include:

PV2 Harpoon D-Day C-47 F9F Panther
BT-13 Valiant A-26 Invader B-25D Mitchell
TBF Avenger

Interested in donating to or volunteering to  restore the B-17C and B-17E “Desert Rat” to flying condition? Contact the Vintage Aviation Museum and check out their Facebook Page

Photo Credit:

-Vintage Aviation Museum

-Desert Rat Restoration Team

-B17bomber.de

 

Filed Under: Museum, Vintage Aviation Museum Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hurricane 501 “The Aeroplane That Saved Our Nations”

August 21, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Hurricane-501-WW2-Figther-Plane-Hawker5Hurricane 501 is a British organization that is working to restore Hurricane V7497 a Battle of Britain veteran of 501 Squadron to airworthy condition.

Hurricane “V7497 is a Hurricane Mk 1, manufactured in mid 1940 by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. Flown operationally at the very height of the Battle of Britain from the famous fighter station, RAF Kenley, East London, the aircraft was lost during an operational patrol on 28th September over Sutton in Kent”.  In fact V7497 had only flown seven sorties before being shot down over Kent, England on September 28, 1940.  hurricane501-2

Hurricane V7497 was discovered during an aviation archaeology expedition, the remains were recovered, and the decision was made to begin restoration to airworthy condition.  When completed V7497 will be made up of only period correct parts, including those that are hard to find.

Currently Hurricane V7497 is being restored by Hawker Restorations in the U.K., and its Rolls Royce Merlin Mk.III is being overhauled by Eye Tech Engineering based in Suffolk.     Hurricane 501 hopes to have V7497’s first engine run and flight in 2016.  When completed Hurricane V7497 will serve as a memorial to the members of 501 Squadron and that gave their lives in the skies over Britain.

Photo and Information Credit: Hurricane 501

 

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Collings Foundation Welcomes New TF-51 Mustang

July 15, 2016 by Leave a Comment

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The Collings Foundation welcomed this TF-51D  named “Toulouse Nuts” back to the skies over Florida with the the help of American Aero Services in New Symrna Beach.  “Toulouse Nuts” will be joining the Wings of Freedom Tour and will be available for rides across the U.S.  For more information about the restoration process check out: “Whats new at the Collings Foundation”

Photo Credit: Mike Ligosh

Filed Under: Collings Foundation, P-51 Mustang, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wooden Wonder Down Under

June 13, 2016 by 1 Comment

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Mosquito TV959 nearing completion at Avspecs in New Zealand

The Flying Heritage Collection, owned by Paul Allen-of Microsoft fame-is preparing to welcome a new aircraft to the collection.  The aircraft is a De Havilland Mosquito TV959.  TV959 was built at the Leavesden De Havilland factory in the U.K. and delivered to the RAF in 1945.   After fifty year of absence, this Mosquito is getting ready to take back to the skies.

Mosquito TV959 was built in August 1945, too  late to see combat.  From 1945 to 1963 this

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Mosquito TV959 prior to restoration.

aircraft was transferred through 12 squadrons in the RAF.  At the completion of its military service it appeared in the film Squadron 633 before being placed on display at the Imperial War Museum.  In 1992 TV959 was purchased by The Fighter Collection in Duxford  and a restoration to airworthy condition commenced.  Almost 25 years later, TV959 is now owned by Paul Allen’s Flying Heritage Collection in Everett, Washington and its restoration is nearing completion at Avspecs Ltd. in New Zealand.

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Jerry Yagen’s Mosquito KA114 at the Mid Atlantic Air Museum’s WWII Weekend 2016.

Avspecs Ltd. restored Jerry Yagen’s Mosquito KA114, which was completed in April 2013.  TV959 will be the second Mosquito restoration to roll out of the Avspecs shop. .  The Warbird Watcher will be standing by with updates on Mosquito TV959’s first flight following its completion.

 

 

 

Photo Credit:

-Avspecs Ltd.

-The Reilly Collection

History courtesy of Warbird Registry

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Museum, Restoration, Restoration Project, Veterans, Warbird Pilot Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Erickson Aircraft Collection’s New Grumman TBM Avenger

April 29, 2016 by 1 Comment

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The Erickson Aircraft Collection’s new Grumman TBM Avenger is currently nearing  completion at Pacific Fighters in Idaho Falls, Idaho.  Pacific Fighters has returned this TBM back to its original condition.  It wears the markings if a VT-40 Avenger  based off the USS Suwannee in 1945.  Also notice the paint is flat.  Drab paint is period correct for this TBM. We look forward to seeing this TBM back in the skies with the Erickson Aircraft Collection!

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Photo Credit: Pacific Fighters

Filed Under: Erickson Aircraft Collection, Grumman TBM, Pacific Fighters Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Cavanaugh Flight Museum Adds Another Skyraider

February 17, 2016 by Leave a Comment

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The Cavanaugh Flight Museum’s newly acquired Douglas AD-6 Skyraider

The Cavanaugh Flight Museum located in Addison, Texas recently announced that they have added a second Douglas Skyraider to their collection.  The museum already owns an AD-5W Skyraider Bureau No. 135152, which they give rides in.  The recent addition is an AD-6 (A-1H) Skyraider s/n 139606.

 

This AD-6 is one of only two -6 Skyraiders currently airworthy in the world, an unlike the museum’s AD-5 this Skyraider is a single seat model.  This AD-6 Skyraider served with the South Vietnamese Air Force and was recovered from Thailand by Yesterday’s Airforce in 1980.  After passing through a

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Photo Credit: Courtesy Aircraft  

few owners it was rebuild to fly by Steve Hinton’s Fighter Rebuilders in Chino, CA in 1989.  This AD-6 was recently sold through Courtesy Aircraft Sales to the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in early 2016.  The Cavanaugh Flight Museum said, it is “…look(ing) forward to having two Skyraider’s in the air at Warbirds Over Addison, May 21-22.” If you are in the area, check it out!

 

Filed Under: Cavanaugh Flight Museum Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Last Liberator Film Project

December 26, 2015 by 1 Comment

b-24cf“This is not simply the story of the B-24 Liberator, but the story of the men and women who designed, built, maintained and flew it. If is the story of a Nation united, allies focused and determined. It is the story of thousands of individuals who played their parts in defeating an enemy.  Its story is but one powerful symbol that illustrates the story of victory”

“The Collings Foundation, a non-profit, Educational Foundation (501c-3) has recovered and restored many of the true landmark aircraft that built the world aviation history, in order to meet its mission of organizing and supporting living history events that enable Americans to learn more about their heritage through direct participation.

Included in their collection is the world’s only flying B-24J , which continues soaring through its native skies as part of the annual Wings of Freedom Tour with its sister ship, the B-17 Flying Fortress.

Now, with a mission of capturing the recollections of the real people behind the machines, the Collings Foundation, in conjunction with Inversion Films and Inland Sea Productions is proud to present The Last Liberator a one-of-a-kind story of World War II as told through the eyes of veterans who were responsible for building and flying the Liberator. The foundation and the producers are determined to capture their story in their own words and marry those memories to the most powerful medium on the planet, the giant screen theater, creating a legacy that will engage all Americans in remembering, learning and honoring.  It will indelibly sear their lessons in the archives of American heroism.

When executed properly, with accuracy and authenticity as the overriding mission, the marriage of the highest caliber information with the state-of the art tools of entertainment deliver a powerful and relevant tool in education. The Last Liberator is an edutainment program, designed to reach today’s audiences on multiple levels, many times, in an accurate and lasting manner. It will be a catalyst for ongoing learning and leave an indelible mark on the viewer.”

To help the make this project successful, make a tax deductible donation to the Collings Foundation  and for more information visit The Last Liberator.

Photo Credit: Collings Foundation

Information Credit: Collings Foundation/ The Last Liberator

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Help Rebuild Air Racer- Precious Metal P-51

September 14, 2015 by 1 Comment

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Help the Precious Metal Air Racing Team to raise 500k to rebuild Precious Metal to airworthy and racing status.  Precious Metal was recently involved in a fire on the ground after refueling.  Pilot Thom Richard was not injured.

To Donate visit: Precious Metal Air Racing Team’s GoFundMe Page

Filed Under: Air Racing, Precious Metal Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

P-38F White 33 On Her Gear

August 15, 2015 by 7 Comments

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Retired Col. Frank Royal salutes P-38F White 33. Mr Royal was the commanding officer of the 39th that White 33 was in. Photo Credit: National Museum of WWII Aviation

The National Museum of WWII Aviation in Colorado Springs, Colorado is the owner of  Lockheed P-38F s/n 42-12652.  This P-38 is currently undergoing restoration to flyable condition at Westpac Restoration.  On August 12, 2015 she was able to roll on her gear for the first time in 70 years.  This P-38F will have her first flight sometime before the end of the year.  Visit: National Museum of WWII Aviation’s website and Westpac Restoration’s website

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Photo Credit: N

National Museum of WWII Aviation

Westpac Restorations

Filed Under: National Museum of WWII Aviation, P-38 Lightning, Restoration Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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