The pilot’s seat of 425/17 is on display somewhere in Canada. On more than one occasion, the rivet holes at the back of the seat has been described as bullet holes!

One of the aeroplanes flown by von Richthofen was a two-seat Albatros C IX. Apparently, he used it as a personal “run-about”. The C IX ended up at the Berlin Museum as well, with an interesting twist. After the War was over, von Richthofens family is said to have donated the Albatros to a Swedish vicar. The vicar had corresponded with von Richthofen until his death, and after that, with his family. Due to the Versailles Treaty, the Albatros remained in Germany. It was displayed in Berlin with a sign saying that it was owned by the Swedish vicar! I heard this story from a Swede who had visited the Berlin Air Museum sometime in the ‘thirties.

Re the Berlin Air Museum, I believe no complete list of its aeronautical exhibits exist. Very few photographs, apart from official post cards, survive as well, due to a strict ban on cameras.

Regards,

Jan

When I was five, my parents took me to an airshow. To this day, almost 35 years later, I still vividly remember a Hkp 2 (ie Alouette II) picking up a bucket of water with one of the skids, moving the bucket, and then putting it back on the ground, all without spilling one drop of water! (at least according to my memory!)

After that demonstration, I was lost. There was nothing else I wanted to do, talk about or hear about than aeroplanes and helicopters. Building models (and then blowing up quite a few of them!) became the next thing. When I was about ten, I began collecting aviation books and magazines. After that, writing and researching. I thought about learning to fly, but I could never afford it back then.

Looking back on it, aviation history has enriched my life immeasurably. I’ve written several articles, and is currently trying to compile my first book (the subject being the various Lao air forces 1955 until the present day). To me, aviation history is more than a hobby, much more than a pastime. But, I haven’t got an aviation-related job, that will most probably remain a dream.

Jan Forsgren
Archivist, National Railway Authority,
Gävle, Sweden

Sweden did quite a lot of research into nuclear weapons. Saab actually had a design provisionally called Saab A36, which was a nuclear-capable bomber. The A36 (thankfully) wasn’t proceeded with, as the Government decided against developing nuclear weapons.

More on the development of the Swedish R & D into Nuclear and Chemical weapons can be found in the book “Svenska förintelsevapen, utvecklingen av kemiska och nukleära stridsmedel 1928-1970” (Swedish Weapons of Mass Destruction The development of chemical and nuclear weapons 1928-1970), by Wilhelm Agrell. The ISBN code is 91-89442-49-0. The book was published in 2002 and is recommended. Don’t know if there’s an English edition, though.

And Papa Lima, the DC-3 incident occured in June 1952. The DC-3 Fv 79001 which was lost has been recovered, while the Canso Fv 47002 has been located, but not recovered.

Regards,

Jan

No 8, A Scott Mathieu Russell??? At least that’s what the FAA database says about N996N…

Jan

No three is the sole prototype of the Tupolev ANT-23, aka I-12.

Jan

Yes, I think it did. While on the subject of Burnelli aircraft, didn’t the RAF use one of them in Africa? From memory, there’s a connection with the Free-French AF as well. The RAF/French Burnelli ended its career on a bonfire during VE-celebrations.

Has anyone got more details?

Jan

Igor Sikorsky served with the Imperial Russian Navy during WW I, arriving in New York on March 30, 1919. During his time in Russia, he had designed 28 different aircraft, including the S-16, and helicopters.

More on the S-16 can be found at http://sikorskyarchives.com/S-16.html

I believe the New England Air Museum´s S-16 replica was built in Russia during the ‘nineties. There was a short piece on it in Aeroplane Monthly at the time. I believe the intention was to fly her, but due to some substandard materials (or construction techniques) used, that never happened.

Siorsky’s first US built aircraft was the twin-engined S-29A (A indicating America). The S-29A had a fairly chequered career in the USA before it crashed on the set of the movie “Hell’s Angels” The poor sod who operated the smoke effects died in the crash.

More on the various Sikorsky designs can be found at http://www.sikorskyarchives.com

Regards,

Jan

5) is a Caudron C.714. France donated 80 to Finland during the 1939-1940 Winter War, but only six arrived. The Finnish Air Force, Ilmavoimat, withdrew the type in 1941. One is preserved in Finland, with another of the former Finnish ones being stored at Musee de l’air.

Jan