Flight of the Phoenix

Originally posted by DazDaMan
Someone’s bound to correct me…

The Spanish received 25 incompleted Bf109G-2 airframes, lacking tails and DB engines and incompleted drawings in about 1942. As the Germans were losing the war, and the missing bits and pieces looked unlikely to come along, they finished them with what they had available engine-wise.

I’m assuming the drawings were complete enough to show tail construction, so I wouldn’t say the tails were ‘new’.

Can’t argue with this as I don’t know enough but I do know I’ve read very recently that the Merlin was recommended by Willi Messerschmidt himself, post-war.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DazDaMan
[B]Despite the ‘real’ ‘109 having a more famous operational history, the Buchon is my favourite ‘109 variant!

Thanks DazDaMan, heres another shot for fans of the Buchon.

“The top of the rudder is an aluminium welded capping that also helps to trim out the rudder due to the engine torque by being constructed off set, but, because the DB & the Merlin turn the prop in opposite directions then the rudder is not interchangeable between the two!”

Correct me if I’m wrong,but aren’t both the DB and the Merlin right-handed?Why would they need to switch round the the aerofoil of the fin and rudder??

The fin unit is the difference it is flat on one side and aerofoil section on the other and the opposite way round on the Buchon and not the rudder

Nice! Thanks, Chad Veich.

Originally posted by Transall
Thanks for the picture, Dazdaman.

Wouldn’t it be nice if they painted a Buchon in the Spanish colour scheme for a couple of display seasons?
Silver over blue and big red and yellow roundels.

Best regards, Transall.

Kalamazoo Air Zoo has one transall, although I don’t think they have ever flown it as such. It may not be airworth at all in fact. Still looks nice. Regards, Chad Veich.

The latest issue of Pilot mentioned this project; the original a/c was a Fairchild C-82 Packet, not a C-119, which is what they are going to use in the remake. And they will cut up two others (said to be beyond salvation) in the process as well…. :rolleyes: I sometimes really loathe film producers for the amount of a/c and classic cars they have destroyed along the way (although they saved a few too), even in our days.

Originally posted by DazDaMan
In what way? Internal, external? Doesn’t look any different to me…

The top of the rudder is an aluminium welded capping that also helps to trim out the rudder due to the engine torque by being constructed off set, but, because the DB & the Merlin turn the prop in opposite directions then the rudder is not interchangeable between the two!
Cheers………….

Thanks for the picture, Dazdaman.

Wouldn’t it be nice if they painted a Buchon in the Spanish colour scheme for a couple of display seasons?
Silver over blue and big red and yellow roundels.

Best regards, Transall.

In what way? Internal, external? Doesn’t look any different to me…

But then, I’m no expert….! 😉

There is a major difference between the rudder of the Messerschmitt & the Buchon………

Saw a recent advert (last couple of months) stating ‘Airworthy C-119 required for film work’. I think it was Flight, but can’t remember any details. If it goes ahead, there are a couple of them still hanging on in there – Greybull and Anchorage….

Someone’s bound to correct me…

The Spanish received 25 incompleted Bf109G-2 airframes, lacking tails and DB engines and incompleted drawings in about 1942. As the Germans were losing the war, and the missing bits and pieces looked unlikely to come along, they finished them with what they had available engine-wise.

I’m assuming the drawings were complete enough to show tail construction, so I wouldn’t say the tails were ‘new’.

Surely the Buchon is a Messerschmitt that was built under licence in Spain with a different engine fitment & rudder, is it not?
Cheers…….:)

Despite the ‘real’ ‘109 having a more famous operational history, the Buchon is my favourite ‘109 variant!

Here’s a nice shot for Septic…

I agree David, although I feel its role as a film star will be remembered long after its role as a ground attack aircraft has been forgotten!

Surely it’s service with the Spanish Air Force is more important historically then their use in a film!

Originally posted by warbirdUK
Real Messerschmitts have Merlins??????????

Whats that all about? :confused:

The term came about initially to annoy some fanatical and obsessive luftwaffe enthusiasts (rivet counter types) , who used to frown on the poor Buchon as a very poor relation to the 109.

What made it worse for me was at the time (late 80’s) many Buchon owners were trying to call the Buchon an Me 109 J, trying to increase the airframes provenance, whilst quietly forgetting about its Spanish origins.

The Buchon had been in the Battle of Britain Film which was all the provenance it needed.

Re: Flight of the Phoenix

Originally posted by Septic
[They originally used a Flying Boxcar and an O 47, does anyone know what aircraft they are going to use. [/B]

Hi,

I don’t think it was a C-119 Flying Boxcar, but a C-82 Packet.

Best regards, Transall.

Ummm. Yeah. Oops. Perhaps I was thinking of the prototype Spitfire…..I’ll get my coat.