Recovered Warbirds Thread

[old_goat]

And something recent from Hungary, a Messerschmitt 109 raised from the lake Balaton. Sadly not much recognizable parts remain.

https://hungarytoday.hu/wreckage-of-world-war-ii-fighter-plane-recovered-from-lake-balaton/

 

 

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

That will be a flyer in 10 years.

Nice that its a Hungarian one. Its probably worth preserving as is.

[old_goat]

11 minutes ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

That will be a flyer in 10 years.

Nice that its a Hungarian one. Its probably worth preserving as is.

If I had to guess, I think it will be exhibited in the Szolnok museum. Probably next to the IL-2 already there? (that was also recovered from Balaton)

[Stuart Galbraith]

Nice. Shame the rear fuselages on those always rot out, kind of like the Hurricane.

Correct me if im wrong, but dont they have the last remaining LA7 fuselage there?

[old_goat]

39 minutes ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

Correct me if im wrong, but dont they have the last remaining LA7 fuselage there?

No, the only thing they have from these Lavochkin fighters are an engine, and a few 20mm guns.

But on the other hand, they have a very nice Bf-108, although not an original german one, it was built in France, in 1946 and with a french engine. But it is in a very good condition.

[Stuart Galbraith]

Yeah, always had a soft spot for those. Arguably the first 'modern' civilian light aircraft.

[shep854]

How many times did a Bf-108 play a -109 in movies??

Edited November 29, 2023 by shep854

[Stuart Galbraith]

A lot. First time I noticed one was in Von Ryan's express.

 

 

[shep854]

55 minutes ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

A lot. First time I noticed one was in Von Ryan's express.

 

 

Never fooled me, though.  It was a struggle not to claw my eyes.

[Stuart Galbraith]

Well..... to be fair to them, it was more creative, and more effective visually than using a Harvard to pretend to be an Fw190. Which is what everyone else did.

No need to do that anymore....

 

[shep854]

Are there any restored Emils?  They were, to my eye, the most attractive of the breed.

[Stuart Galbraith]

Yes, by my calcuation there seems to be at least 2 or 3 that can fly.

 

Ive got a nasty feeling there are more Emils flying than Spitfire Mk1's. We shall have to watch 'em....

[sunday]

Fritz, or else!

[Stuart Galbraith]

I like the late G's, G10 and G14. The DB605 sounds glorious.

 

[futon]

.

Edited December 16, 2023 by futon

[Stuart Galbraith]

I read an interesting article the other day, suggesting at the end of the war the RAF was evaluating Japanese fighters with the assistance of former Japanese Air Force officers. Supposedly they also used a liberated Japanese copy of the DC3, which the RAF said compared pretty well with the original.

[futon]

.

Edited December 16, 2023 by futon

[Stuart Galbraith]

What are the records like for Japanese fighters? There must be potential of building flying replica's, even if you have to power them by something like a Wright Cyclone.

Well, there are so many C47's about, Im amazed nobody has converted one to be at least a visual facimile of an L2D. A much better fate than scrapping or turning into a ruddy turboprop.

[futon]

No idea, I'm more particular on the tanks. It's a miracle that a Chi-Nu survived. Too bad a Chi-To couldn't. But well, other countries can't claim anything for armored warfare pride since they couldn't have a tank industry in those days, so oh well. 

If there's anything eorthwhile in having a restored airplane fly, its for the sound. A flying replica would make the wrong sound. So a flying replica is cheap. Smaller radio control planes do fine enough.

[Roman Alymov]

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

IIRC, this is the Soviet C47 that force landed on the tundra in a snowstorm? They are making a nice job of it.

For comparison, there is an ex USAAF one being restored in the UK to flight. Apparently its going to be based at the place it flew out of in WW2, the former RAF Membury. Most people know it in the UK as the place where there is a service station on the M4.

 

[Captain Hurricane]

Another Mosquito restoration recently completed at Avspecs at Ardmore.....

https://youtu.be/wiDab5_obYc

This is what they started with.......

https://flic.kr/p/2jjy29L

Edited March 22, 2024 by Captain Hurricane

[Stuart Galbraith]

Yeah, the recent growth in airworthy Mosquito's is distinctly heartening. Time to do an operation Jericho movie.

[Rick]

Always liked the Short Sunderland and the PBY Catalina. I think there are some PBYs around, any Sunderlands?

[sunday]

2 minutes ago, Rick said:

Always liked the Short Sunderland and the PBY Catalina. I think there are some PBYs around, any Sunderlands?

Some

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Sunderland#Survivors