ME-262 first flight over Puget Sound

It’s a bit sad that my old friend, Steve Snyder, who was tragically killed in the crash of his
F-86 back in 1998 isn’t around to see his project take flight. It’s also a shame that Steve is rarely, if ever, given credit for being the one originally responsible for the Me 262 project.

He was the brains, the inspiration, the one who thought of modern day replacement engines, and the one who convinced the Navy to lend him their Willow Grove Me 262 to use as a pattern. He also was the one who raised the money to get the project started, first in Texas, then in Washington state. The Me 262 project was his dream.

Steve was not only an aeronautical engineer, he was a prolific inventor. For example, all present day civilian and military skydivers have him to thank for their square parachutes. That was Steve’s work. He did not invent the square parachute, but he made it work and was first in production with one. And the small wrist altimeter … that was Steve.

He loved aviation and loved to share the joy of flight. He once mentioned to me that the downside to flying his F-86 was that he was unable to share the thrill with anybody else because it only had one seat. I’m sure the Me 262 replica he’d planned to keep for himself would have been configured as a two seater.

Nice little video,was idly wondering what the obviously classic jet camera ship was – then on the go around the camera panned back to the wing mounted speedbrakes…Ahhhh Fouga 🙂

I should have guessed from the fact that the cockpit was almost at runway level LOL

Not the same aeroplane, but another test flight video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWdmNX6kjxg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8HblYdUUcg&feature=related

DAI

The Messerschmitt foundation aircraft is also configured as a single seater. Both can be converted to twin cockpit operation if required.

It looks also this 262 has a canopy with the correct shape, what is nice.

?? It´s the only single seater IIRC.

It looks also this 262 has a canopy with the correct shape, what is nice.

I´m astonished – I was going to post that that was an old vid, as I was so sure I´d seen it before.

There´s another view here…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvK3rrZnuQg

It slipped by my radar because I had thought it had flown long ago!

Here is the notice from The Me-262 Project‘s web-site of the roll-out of “White 3”:

13 APR 07

“White 3” emerges from the Hangar! Legend Flyers pulled out Messerschmitt 262 “White 3” for some sunbathing in the spring weather. The canopy for the single seat version is nearing completion and engines are nearing installation. It is possible that the Me 262 could be flying this summer, and MAYBE, just maybe even be available for the Gathering of Mustangs in Columbus, Ohio in September. You can be one of the first to ride in the Me 262 with the Collings Foundation.

So a 4-year delay between roll-out (and hints of flight by Sept. 2007) and actual first-flight!

BTB… these reproductions use J85 engines for reliability & certification reasons.

beautiful 262

Congratulations..A beautiful aircraft. Would love to see it in formation with other WW2 aircraft such as Mustangs & Spitfires, that is if they could keep up with it. The speed comparsion would be an eye opener!
Take Care.

Very nice, seems to have gone a bit unoticed here!

Thank you!