Warbird Information Exchange

from today's issue of Aero-News.net:

"Restoration of Messerschmitt Bf109s Joins Me262 Project
Work Ongoing At Facilities In Everett, WA

Air Assets International of Lafayette, Colorado and Bob Hammer
LLC (Me262 Project) of Everett, WA have signed an agreement to
complete the restoration process of two Messerschmitt Bf109 Wk.
Nmrs, 10144 and 10256, both F4 models, to flying condition. The
restorations will be co-located at the Me262 Project facilities in
Everett, WA.

Gordon Page, President of Air Assets International said "Air
Assets is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Bob Hammer
and his expert team to restore the Bf109s. Bob and the Me 262
Project team have done a masterful job to put aviation history back
in the sky by building five flying Me262s, and we look forward to
the same results on the Bf109 restorations."

ANN Has also learned that the second Me262, known as Tango Tango
(shown below), has emerged from the paint shop and is nearing first
test flights.

Bob Hammer, President of Bob Hammer LLC commented "We are truly
pleased to have the opportunity to work with Air Assets
International on these exciting restorations. We have worked with
Air Assets in the past as they have represented the sale of our
three remaining Me262 aircraft. They have worked closely with our
team and have seen how we are committed to providing quality
workmanship. Air Assets and their company Warbird Recovery is just
as committed to saving aviation history".

Air Asset Intl. intends to keep one of the Messerschmitt Bf-109s
to be displayed at the new Spirit of Flight Center located near
Denver, Colorado. One of the Bf-109s is offered for sale.
Established in 1997, Air Assets International was formed to provide
extraordinary aviation solutions around the world. Air Assets
International has knowledge and experience in the purchase, sale,
charter and management of corporate and collectable aircraft, as
well as facilities.
FMI: www.airassets.com,
www.warbirdrecovery.com, www.stormbirds.com"

That'd be great to get some more German aircraft in the skies.

When I last visited thie Me-262 project I had the impression that buyers were not stepping forward for the other airframes. The first two were sold, and work was proceeding on wings for a third, but a buyer had not yet stepped forward.

Maybe this is a way to keep the team intact and busy while they go looking for more buyers. I would assume when the first two Me-262s hit the airshow circuit they would generate some interest in people that have the $$$.

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

I think as soon as the first one gets delivered to the proud new owner the others will go like hotcakes, At lest that is what I hope. I also hope a couple will stay in the states (or North America) and make the airshow
rounds.


About the Bf-109s that is great news. Let see a few more in the air in the N. America (I don't want to leave our Friends up North out ). After all That is where the Bf-109E is coming from to Geneseo.

_________________
www.tailhookstudio.com

Hi All,

A question with this one, someone might have the answer. The article speaks of the BF-109's. Now, correct me if I am wrong here, but I thought that there weren't many of the original inverted V Jumo or Daimler Benz engines around any longer, let alone something that could be made airworthy. That being said, would these projects use the Merlin variant instead ? Or do these projects have a basis from where to start with an engine (project) to go with them ??

Paul

I figure enough restorable engines have been gathered up over time to power a small handful of 109's. For the hard core "gotta have it at any cost" type of guy, I think the big problem has more to do with cost. Last I heard it ran about $250K just for the overhaul, not including the engine itself.

_________________
Rob Mears
'Surviving Corsairs' Historian
robcmears@yahoo.com
http://www.robmears.com

Hi Rob:



Doubtful, there are plenty of overhaul shops all over the U.S. who are capable of overhauling a V-12 engine. With that kind of competition cost should be far less than that.

Robs price is pritty much spot on for a DB, they are so expensive that Dave Prewett has approached airline engineering shops to see if they can make new parts for his 605. Being 109Fs Gordons wrecks originally operated 601s, that are rarer still.
There are several new crated engines available at Flugwerk that came out of the East, cost is high and they would still need to be overhauled...in anycase they are probably 605s.
Gordon has a couple of DB options open to him, but that is going to be a long and expensive operation given the 'non airworthy' state they are in

Dave

Well, I guess if they're so bad that all the parts need to be built new. However, a straight overhaul with mostly good parts shouldn't ever cost that much.

Hmmmmm.... I wonder how much a newly made camshaft or forged piston would cost? Are drawings available?

I was told that Evergreen's overhaul of the 605 cost them $350.000 for one engine, which another source said wasn't even fired up after installed in the a/c!

T J

The engine in the C4K-75 Buchon displayed as D-FWME incorporates parts from 24 (twenty-four) different engines.
So much for the availability.

The engine in the C4K-75 Buchon displayed as D-FWME incorporates parts from 24 (twenty-four) different engines.
So much for the availability.

The engine in the C4K-75 Buchon displayed as D-FWME incorporates parts from 24 (twenty-four) different engines.
So much for the availability.