Got back from the Youth Day a few hours back, and thought it worth updating you all on a few items at RIAT. The Bradshaw Fury is there, but had canopy covers on it. There is an ME-109 with no markings what so ever. – Any ideas?
The history of flight line up is really good, with Lightning, Simitar, Javelin and Swif (mid restoration state) to name just a few.
Well worth a visit to the show. I will try and post some pictures.
By: robbelc - 19th July 2003 at 19:41
I went to RIAT today for the first time in 8 years and was very impressed. Left Farnborough at 5am in the carpark by 6:45 after very few delays. main delay was that the gates didn’t open until 7:30 and the security check, but was inside be 8am!
The 100 years of flight exhibition is fantastic. Don’t think I have been so excited at a show for years. Meteors in a line, DC2(where have they been hiding that all these years), finally the Spitfire prototype flyable replica,Javelin,Scimitar,Sea Hawk Bradshaws Fury outside(bet they even roaded it from Kemble!!),lots of Gnats,Jp’s,Lightning, a bit lacking in Hunters though. Some good civil types, including 6 Miles aircraft.Brillant.
Some nice ‘modern stuff’,Mil 8,Piaggio 166,Mirage IVP.
Back to giving it a miss next year have a small airshow at the end of my road this time next year!
By: warbirdUK - 19th July 2003 at 17:47
Thanxs!:)
By: Kenneth - 19th July 2003 at 16:58
It’s in an upright position like the RR Merlin
By: warbirdUK - 19th July 2003 at 15:37
So, which way up is the Hispano engine? are the exhausts high as the Merlin engine or low as the German one? ( I’ve had no dealing with the 109)
By: Kenneth - 19th July 2003 at 15:12
The Messerschmitt Foundation already has two flyable Bf109 which are both based on Hispano’s, so it is possible to convert them to a DB605. I posted some pics of them a while ago. Quite a few Hispanos have been converted for museums, and this one is (was) a particularly rare Ha 1109 with a Hispano engine. and not the usual Ha1112 with a RR Merlin. It was displayed for many years in the open at Augsburg, was then restored, and then converted to Bf109G-2 standard.
By: warbirdUK - 19th July 2003 at 14:21
Graeme C, Nice idea but the logistics would be prohibitive, Main thing between the Buchon & the Me 109 the engine is the wrong way up! this would take all sorts of modification, engine frame, cowlings, plumbing etc, I’m not saying it can’t be done, anything is possible if you throw enough money at something but the ground handling is also crap due to the U/C on the aircraft almost being an after thought. So good on the guys with this static example, at least people can see one close up in the static park. We must all remember that at an Airshow maybe 80% of the visitors will know next to nothing about old aeroplanes so they probably wouldn’t know the difference between the two anyway, & they are the folks who keep Airshows alive! With the greatest of respect, most aircraft enthusiasts want the most for the least, so I don’t think Airshows would last long If the show relied on just enthusiasts who attended for their revenue.
By: David Burke - 19th July 2003 at 13:31
Graeme – If you compare the accident rate for the Buchon and Me109 in the last twenty years there are many who would argue that taking them to airshows on the back of a lorry is a lot less fraught ! The machine in question is a Buchon modified to look like a Me109 – personally I rather like them back as they were in a Spanish AF scheme and Merlin fitted rather than pretending to be something they are not.
By: Graeme C - 19th July 2003 at 12:05
whats the point of having a static ME109 to drive about, isnt it more worth while to have a flying me109 to fly to different airshows! duh! lol Its just me and i my dislike of static aircraft!
Is it possible to restore that me109 to flying condition? i heard a story the other week that alot of me109 engines were found in Germany? anyone know anymore info?
cheers
By: Bluebird Mike - 19th July 2003 at 09:05
Yes, to be fair that does sound good, but I’m afraid the BIG shows just don’t do anything for me anymore, apart from leave me very skint, and then in a traffic jam for six hours…and just how many grey F-16’s can even a parrafin head appreciate?! 😮
By: darrenharbar - 18th July 2003 at 21:12
Totally know where you are coming from Lancman. I was very lucky this year to get in free as part of youth day. I would not normally have gone if I had had to pay. The 100 years of flight lineup is however unique and actually worth seeing.
By: Bluebird Mike - 18th July 2003 at 21:06
Gotta admit, it would take a Squadron of Lancs doing the fandango to get me back to RIAT these days-endless bloomin’ jets, traffic and expense… 🙁
By: darrenharbar - 18th July 2003 at 20:54
Yes it is. Glad you could post an image, as I am not getting anywhere!
By: Kenneth - 18th July 2003 at 20:51
Is it this one? This is a static Bf109G-2 converted from a Hispano which the Messerschmitt Foundation and EADS lugs around and displays at airshows.
Sign In
July 18, 2003 at 8:48 pm