Lesser Known Country's Fighters

There was a proposal to build a short run of PZL P-11c, but it foundered. Could be done, but the sole survivor will not be flown, though the engine runs are nice.

They are, aren’t they?

23 Boomerang identities listed in the current Warbirds Directory.

It rather depends where you are. In Spain, the I-16, due to its role in the Spanish Civil War, is very famous; in Poland the PZL P-11c because of the brave pilots in ’39.

You mention a website idea. Great. May I support Floods’ suggestion you get copies of the books listed by him above? It’s kinda like the initial booklist in a degree course. Trying without them is rather a square wheel effort.

We are publishing a book, shortly, on the D-520 containing my photos of the surviving examples among other data. see www.mmpbooks.biz There are two examples at Le Bourget, and the remains of the third. A early prototype was auctioned at Christie’s Wroughton, some years ago. We (MMP Books) rather specialise in more interesting W.W.II types; have a look through our catalogue.

Gliders, being rather disposable aircraft are more difficult to keep tabs on, I’ll grant you. There’s quite a few Waco Hadrians, I’ve seen the frames of two DFS-230 at Le Bourget, there’s a reconstructed Hamilcar at the Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop, and I’ve lost tabs on the state of play for bringing Airspeed Horsas back from extinction.

Other warbirds are easy if you do a bit of digging and invest some time and a little cash.

Cheers!

There’s now a P-36 being prepared to fly isn’t there? Or perhaps it’s flying now?

Boomerangs…Over 25 in existence
Dw. 520s…1 or 2?

Others…that’s the point of this thread, I want to know the same stuff.

I don’t like replicas, sorry.

Lesser-known aircraft do not include (in my opinion, anyway) Mustang, Spit, Hurricane, Jug, Lightning etc. Those are definitely not. However, some you mentioned are kinda in a “grey area” meaning not exactly lesser-known, but not the most famous either (I-16/I-153/Boomerang). I probably should have worded the question something along the lines of “surviving warbirds built by countries invaded by Germany during WWII with the exception of Russia.”

We need a flying Macchi 202 or 205, the Italian Messerschmitt, basically…very nice looking planes, very comparable performance to a Mustang or Spitfire, very nice looking and I’m assuming it would be a BIG hit on the airshow circuit of whatever country it flew in….someone call Herb Tischler or the guys at Paine Field in Seattle and get them on this…

Mark

Vague question.

BTW, ‘lesser known’ is a bit offensive, if you think about it. To the Poles or the Aussies, their country’s No.1 fighter is hardly lesser known.

Boomerangs. there’s three airworthy, two in Australia, one ‘replica’ in the US.

The Swiss have a MS406 variant airworthy.

There was a flying Dewoitine 520 in the 80s, but it crashed, killing the pilot.

There was a proposal to build a short run of PZL P-11c, but it foundered. Could be done, but the sole survivor will not be flown, though the engine runs are nice.

We do have Fiat CR-42s on the way, there are Polikarpov I-153 and (the most important fighter in the world at the time of its introduction) I-16s about now.

Despite the overballance towards Spitfires and Mustangs, enough people are investing enough money and energy that the diversity of types is increasing, which is a good thing.

Cheers!

D-3801/MS.406 , Dübendorf

Always liked the P.11. I just love that gull-wing. I guess that’s why I like the Stuka and the Corsair.

In any case, why don’t they send that thing to legends. It would be a nice change of pace from the 150 Spitfires and Mustangs that are always there.

And a D.520 would be nice to see as well. Any Potez 63’s or M.S. 406’s still in existence? What about the Boomerang?

Fantastic PZL P.11c with start motor !! 🙂

Evžen

What you need to do is consult other peoples work:rolleyes:
Try European Wrecks and Relics – http://www.tahs.com/Euro%20Wrecks%20&%20relics.html
And/or Wrecks and Relics – http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1857801334/infoline0f-21/026-4250996-6690030
What about the Warbirds Directory – http://www.tahs.com/warbirds%20directory.htm
I also use Leslie Hunts Vintage and Veteran Aircraft; its old but it covers the known world (of the 1960s-70s) – http://www.bookstore-tw.com/buch_200/hunt_leslie.html (should be able to find a description somewhere in there!)
Or…
You could search the net for each and every aircraft you desire.

Flood

Do any French WWII fighters survive? I can think of at least 2.
Are there any PZL 11s/PZL 24s in existence?

I would like to hear especially about the Dw. 520

The Polish Aviation Museum at Krakow has a PZL-11c in its collection.

http://www.muz-lotnictwa.krakow.pl/estrona.html

They roll it outside now and again and fire up the Bristol Mercury….

Ken