Breighton 109

When Mark Hanna was killed, the first ting to come into my mind was him speaking on the Legends 98 video. Every time he walked away from flying it he’d say something along the lines of ‘you didnt get me this time you *******’.

I concur with Mike. Although I would like to see them, its always tinged with worry. Hell, even the Luftwaffe lost pilots left right and centre in them – didn’t accidents cost more losses than combat? Mind you, I don’t like Buchons. I like 109’s.

Aint it the truth? A wonderful aeroplane yes, but a handful and a half for trained Luftwaffe aircrew, it amazes me that modern pilots fly ’em at all (no disrespect to those that have/do)

When Mark Hanna was killed, the first ting to come into my mind was him speaking on the Legends 98 video. Every time he walked away from flying it he’d say something along the lines of ‘you didnt get me this time you *******’.

I concur with Mike. Although I would like to see them, its always tinged with worry. Hell, even the Luftwaffe lost pilots left right and centre in them – didn’t accidents cost more losses than combat? Mind you, I don’t like Buchons. I like 109’s.

I recall one of the ‘109 pilots (may have been Mark Hanna, or one of the Black 6 drivers) saying that the ‘109 was a bit easier to handle on grass.

Just one point to add in the defence of the much maligned Buchon in civilian use.

Grass or should I say the lack of large grass airfields, the 109 was built primarily to be operated off the grass, taking off and landing directly into wind. How many airfields are left that can offer this facility.

Septic.

As Al Capone might say, Stig, “What’s a year or two between friends. But decades?”

Is it ever actually flown though? As far as I know, it has remained locked away in the hangar since being airtested, a smart move if self-preservation is at the top of the owner’s agenda.

Patience my friend! Don’t see all things so black and white. The owner hopes to fly this machine in the future. But as we all know, getting something historic in the sky sometimes takes a lot more time and effort than first expected.

She will be ready when she is ready! :p

Stieglitz

So why do they have such a bad safety record?

Hmmm.

Not very many, so low type hours, low familiarity with today’s pilots – there’s nothing else quite like it

Narrow track undercarriage, made worse by angled wheels also with toe-in

High power upright V-12, with an even higher power + thrust line than any 109 had (the early 109 had a Kestrel, lower power, the latter 109s have inverted V-12)

two great big cylinder heads in your line of signt from a cockpit that you have to land with the cover closed – which is small, has a smaller quarterlight and winscreen setup and heavy framing

Tiny rudder & fin with airfoil section

Small airframe, big engine

High(ish) wing loading plus free floating slats

Give a dog a bad name? Pilots are very conservative in their opinions, and this type has a bad reputation throughly earned. Nice doggy… Grrrrr.

Not the far end of the performance envelope, but not a good corner to spend quality time. The changes from the 109 to Buchon have all made the aircaft more, not less of a handful.

So why do they have such a bad safety record?

Lots of reasons. The aircraft (the 109G in particular) was renowned for being tricky to handle on the ground.

Once you get the thing airborne, it’s apparently pretty nice, but on the deck a ‘109 can be a pig if you’re not careful.

The Buchon is still at Breighton and still owned by Rob Fleming.

So why do they have such a bad safety record?

Bloody horrible things, best left on the ground.

All the other 7 (yes, 7, a 100% accident record) which have been operated in Europe in recent years have suffered accidents of varying degrees of severity, and those in the USA haven’t fared much better.

It seems that with privately-operated ‘109s of whatever type, it’s not a case of whether they will have an accident, but when.

It is believed that the Vormezeeles Buchon OO-MAF is the only Buchon left in the world which never had an accident (during and after it’s service life). A strange accomplishment. OO-MAF is currently under long term maintenance.

Stieglitz

i just hope they keep it in the uk and it doesn’t make the trip over the atlantic! seems a bit strange that raco have sold it before it even flies? do u think it needed more work than first thought? :confused:

More a case that the beurocratic paperwork has now outweighed the aeroplane and it will struggle to get of the ground!!!!!

i just hope they keep it in the uk and it doesn’t make the trip over the atlantic! seems a bit strange that raco have sold it before it even flies? do u think it needed more work than first thought? :confused:

Personally, can’t wait to see her up and about. Been too long since we had a ‘109 or Buchon gracing UK skies 🙁

Since the airshow season is all but over, it’ll be something to look forward to for 2006.

All good things come to those who wait !

Im guessing it will be ready when its ready.

Yes, it’s pictured on the move around the airfield at Breighton.

Is this going to fly? I’m sure it was supposed to be in the air for this years season.

It appears that the plane is on the move. According to the sticky regarding the next Flypast, that is part of the news section. Mikael Olrog’s preservedaxis a/c site even calls it the ex RACo buchon, and places it at Cheltenham, Glos!
http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com/

T J

Seems to be a little in there about it.

I believe there is going to be a piece on this in flypast.