Warbird Information Exchange

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this site are the responsibility of the poster and do not reflect the views of the management.
It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 11:00 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Classic Wings Magazine WWII Naval Aviation Research Pacific Luftwaffe Resource Center
When Hollywood Ruled The Skies - Volumes 1 through 4 by Bruce Oriss


Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 60 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Author Message
PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 12:03 pm 
Offline

Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 6:44 pm
Posts: 170
Location: Navarre, FL
It took me a while to dig these out of my files but I though you all might like to see the Southern Museum of Flight's Fokker D.VII. I know very little about the aircraft, but I seem to remember that there are some original parts and it is not a 100% replica. I also remember that the aircraft had some kind of connection to Glenn Edmund Messer, who founded an airport in the Birmingham, AL area.

Image

Image

_________________
The Breaks of Naval Air-Skid Marks in the Sky


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 9:17 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 1:06 am
Posts: 1056
Location: Virginia
The Birmingham one is one of the replicas from The Blue Max. The Huff Daland Duster behind it is interesting also, it borrowed a lot of the design from the Fokker.




-

_________________
http://www.biplanerides1.com/


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:52 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 23, 2004 10:28 pm
Posts: 788
Location: Washington State
In 2003 at the WWI replica fly-in at the NMUSAF there was an incomplete project from California.
It was stunning, does anyone have information on it?

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 6:47 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:55 pm
Posts: 137
Location: Charlotte, NC
James has already posted a photo of the TVAL DVII from 2007. In 2008 she was overhauled and re-built. All struts were re-fabricated, the pseudo-4-color lozenge fabric was replaced with a more accurate 4-color lozenge fabric, and the nose was completely rebuilt to more accurately resemble a DVII nose. Overall the bird was lightened by 200 lbs! She still flies with a Ranger engine (I think), but its difficult to tell just by looking at her.

The markings are a fictional scheme created by profile artist Ronny Bar of Argentina.

Here she is in 2009 after her facelift and liposuction.

Image
Image
Image

_________________
I paint, therefore, I am.
site: http://www.russellsmithart.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Russell-Smith-Studios/103226508613
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 6:48 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:55 pm
Posts: 137
Location: Charlotte, NC
JBoyle wrote:
In 2003 at the WWI replica fly-in at the NMUSAF there was an incomplete project from California.
It was stunning, does anyone have information on it?



I've got photos of that plane somewhere. It was exquisite! That guy had been working on it for something like 20 years. I haven't heard anything of it since the 2003 show.

_________________
I paint, therefore, I am.
site: http://www.russellsmithart.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Russell-Smith-Studios/103226508613
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 8:02 am 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 10:01 am
Posts: 1126
Location: Post-Confederate People's Republic of Alabamastan, Suh!
billtate wrote:
It took me a while to dig these out of my files but I though you all might like to see the Southern Museum of Flight's Fokker D.VII. I know very little about the aircraft, but I seem to remember that there are some original parts and it is not a 100% replica. I also remember that the aircraft had some kind of connection to Glenn Edmund Messer, who founded an airport in the Birmingham, AL area.

Image


It is one of the Blue Max replicas, and is a non-flyer today. I worked at the SMF from 1998 - 2003 (at which time I got uppity and decided to go full time with my art), and had the privilege of watching it being restored over that time period. The engine is a build up meant only to hold the prop in place. The machine guns and visible engine parts were beautifully fabricated out of wood by museum craftsmen. The lozenge scheme was painted on this aircraft. I forget if commercially-available printed lozenge fabric was an option on this aircraft during restoration, but maybe cost was a factor ...

Interestingly, the logs are in the museum collections (I was the collections manager), and we found out that during the filming this airframe was flown 7-8 times by author/pilot Richard Bach.

Glenn Messer was one of those pioneer aviators you never heard of, but he did everything from wing-walking to parachuting to barnstorming back in 'the day'. He's a legend in Birmingham/southern region and among the 'old-school' US aviators who ALL knew him. You should see his collections and scrapbooks!! He was an inventor as well, and if memory serves, he made a small fortune as the inventor of the floor-click headlight dimmer we all used to have. During my SMF tenure I was constantly amazed by Messer's contributions to early aviation as I went through the files. He founded the museum and served as it's director for many years. It was a tough decision to leave a great job at the SMF, but between job, family, and art, something had to give, and "art" was giving too much, IMHO!

Wade

_________________
Website: http://www.wademeyersart.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Wade.Meyers.Studios

Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 8:50 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:55 pm
Posts: 137
Location: Charlotte, NC
Chicoartist wrote:
billtate wrote:
Image


It is one of the Blue Max replicas, and is a non-flyer today.


Interestingly enough, I believe the TVAL DVII is also a Blue Max veteran, as are both of their Pfalz DIII replicas.

JBoyle wrote:
In 2003 at the WWI replica fly-in at the NMUSAF there was an incomplete project from California.
It was stunning, does anyone have information on it?


Here are a couple of shots of that one. I had an interesting discussion with the guy who built it. After working on the project for 20+ years she was ready to fly. All that was needed was the airworthy certificate. I can't recall his name, but the guy was in his 80's in 2003. I dare say there's a good chance that he's no longer with us. I'm curious to know whatever became of this project.

Image
Image

_________________
I paint, therefore, I am.
site: http://www.russellsmithart.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Russell-Smith-Studios/103226508613
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 10:18 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jun 09, 2007 1:22 pm
Posts: 248
Location: South Boston VA
JBoyle wrote:
In 2003 at the WWI replica fly-in at the NMUSAF there was an incomplete project from California.
It was stunning, does anyone have information on it?[/

Here are a couple of shots of that one. I had an interesting discussion with the guy who built it. After working on the project for 20+ years she was ready to fly. All that was needed was the airworthy certificate. I can't recall his name,

That would be Richard Enos. I'm pretty sure I received a Christmas card from him, this past Christmas..Can't seem to find his most recent emails, right now.

_________________
hundreds of images of aero art, memorabilia, photos and artifacts at;
www.memaerobilia.com


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 10:51 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:55 pm
Posts: 137
Location: Charlotte, NC
barnbstormer wrote:
JBoyle wrote:
In 2003 at the WWI replica fly-in at the NMUSAF there was an incomplete project from California.
It was stunning, does anyone have information on it?[/

Here are a couple of shots of that one. I had an interesting discussion with the guy who built it. After working on the project for 20+ years she was ready to fly. All that was needed was the airworthy certificate. I can't recall his name,

That would be Richard Enos. I'm pretty sure I received a Christmas card from him, this past Christmas..Can't seem to find his most recent emails, right now.


Richard Enos. That's right! So he's still around then, Barnstormer? What is the status of his DVII project?

_________________
I paint, therefore, I am.
site: http://www.russellsmithart.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Russell-Smith-Studios/103226508613
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 6:28 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:31 pm
Posts: 1332
Location: Galveston County
Yes indeed, please know that there are at least a few of us here on WIX who are plumb fascinated with these sorts of warbird developments. Those last few photos are just beautiful, especially love seeing the "Axial" prop! If anybody cares to "zero in" in the Spandaus, I'm currently researching same.

Barnstormer, every time I see it I want to mention how I love seeing your avatar. Lots of people have never even heard of a rotary piston engine.

_________________
Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas

PIC, Ford 6600 pulling Rhino batwing up and down the runway


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 7:13 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:55 pm
Posts: 137
Location: Charlotte, NC
Pogo wrote:
Yes indeed, please know that there are at least a few of us here on WIX who are plumb fascinated with these sorts of warbird developments. Those last few photos are just beautiful, especially love seeing the "Axial" prop! If anybody cares to "zero in" in the Spandaus, I'm currently researching same.


Hi Pogo. Not sure if you're wanting detail shots of Spandaus or specifically looking for shots of mounted Spandaus, but here are some detail shots of Spandaus from Dave Watts' collection.

Image
Image
Image

Pogo wrote:
Lots of people have never even heard of a rotary piston engine.
That is truly a crying shame! :shock: :wink:

_________________
I paint, therefore, I am.
site: http://www.russellsmithart.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Russell-Smith-Studios/103226508613
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 8:53 am 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:31 pm
Posts: 1332
Location: Galveston County
What's an even bigger shame is never having seen one "out for a spin" or hearing one speak! To my ear they snap and snarl more like a Merlin than snort and rumble like the radials they appear to resemble. Shame to miss smelling them too; the castor oil all over everything really takes you back to those Cox Tee Dee days. :rolleyes:

Russell, those pics leave me wanting more - lots more - THANKS! PM sent....

_________________
Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas

PIC, Ford 6600 pulling Rhino batwing up and down the runway


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 10:30 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:55 pm
Posts: 137
Location: Charlotte, NC
Pogo wrote:
What's an even bigger shame is never having seen one "out for a spin" or hearing one speak! To my ear they snap and snarl more like a Merlin than snort and rumble like the radials they appear to resemble. Shame to miss smelling them too; the castor oil all over everything really takes you back to those Cox Tee Dee days. :rolleyes:
.



For those who have never had the [pleasure:
http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/projects ... rii-action

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g51mnCw-OxA

_________________
I paint, therefore, I am.
site: http://www.russellsmithart.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Russell-Smith-Studios/103226508613
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2019 9:30 pm 
Offline
2000+ Post Club
2000+ Post Club
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 8:11 am
Posts: 2373
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Quote:
was used to run rum in from canada in prohibition


Wow...now that is one heck of a first post :-)

Quote:
he built it from a wrecked fokker he found in woods
An original D7 frame? Or he based a replica on an existing frame?

Where was it built in Canada?

You may want to look into the origin of the most original D7...the one in Knowlton QC.

http://www.bromemuseum.com/ Image

This one was a war prize I think.


Last edited by Michel Lemieux on Wed Jan 16, 2019 4:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 3:51 pm 
Offline
3000+ Post Club
3000+ Post Club

Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 9:33 pm
Posts: 4699
Location: refugee in Pasa-GD-dena, Texas
Some zombies are a welcome sight...great old thread... :D

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 60 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4  Next

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google Adsense [Bot], warbird51 and 99 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group