G.55 / G.59 to Yagen's Fighter Factory / MAM

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 4:39 pm

Posted on MeirMotor's Facebook Page:

Quote:

The newest project in the shop. The fuselage will be delivered to Longoni for conversion to a Fiat G.55 Centauro singleseat-fighter . Our task is to restore the wings and later the assembly of wing, fuselage and of course the powerful Daimler Benz DB605a.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.386290438083651.91434.196699400376090&type=3

Now I always thought the Collings Foundation would grab a G.59 two seater since they seem to be all about the ride program, and to be honest I would have liked to see a "Iron Eagles" flight of fighters from WWII:

P-51C
ME-262
Spitfire T9 (Like the one MeirMotor is working on currently)
A6M2 (Like FHC's)
G.59
Yak 9M (Like CFM's)

Dave Lindauer · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 9:27 pm

This is awesome!

Dan K · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 10:40 pm

Dave Lindauer wrote:

This is awesome!

Agreed!

Looks like this project comes from the Italian Air Force Museum (who converted another G.59 to G.55 for display):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... c7Ija6PQd8

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

They've had this project for many years. At least a decade. Good to see that it will at last see the light of day, but I do wonder if it would have been better leaving a Merlin in it and flying it. With the rebuild to G55 spec it is in danger of ending up as another static like the Polikarpovs, Lavochkin, and everything else that doesn't have a US or UK engine in it.

Wilson · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 11:29 pm

I'll be looking forward to Matthias' updates on this one!

Here's a pic of the example at the Italian Air Force Museum when it happened to be outside:

However, I've always been partial to this scheme:

Dave Lindauer · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 11:36 pm

The Merlin powered G.59 is very attractive, but the G.55 with it's DB605 is downright sinister. I would love to see (and hear) one in flight.

lmritger · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 5:23 am

Mike wrote:

They've had this project for many years. At least a decade. Good to see that it will at last see the light of day, but I do wonder if it would have been better leaving a Merlin in it and flying it. With the rebuild to G55 spec it is in danger of ending up as another static like the Polikarpovs, Lavochkin, and everything else that doesn't have a US or UK engine in it.

From what I've heard, the Polis don't fly because the pilots don't like them, not because they can't maintain them. (The MiG-3 is another story entirely, apparently!) Plus, with two 109s in various stages of rebuild, they're going to develop some DB maintenance expertise there out of necessity. Frankly, I think this is an AMAZING development, and am absolutely thrilled to hear about it!

Cheers,

Lynn

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 8:06 am

lmritger wrote:

From what I've heard, the Polis don't fly because the pilots don't like them, not because they can't maintain them.

Well that sucks! Why have three if your not going to find a pilot that did in fact fly these when they were in NZ and train the american pilots! Are they really that unforgiving / dangerous? I mean I know they have like, no range, but I just think its a shame they don't fly. The only one in the country that does fly is FHC's.

shrike · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 8:11 am

Warbird Kid wrote:

lmritger wrote:

From what I've heard, the Polis don't fly because the pilots don't like them, not because they can't maintain them.

Are they really that unforgiving / dangerous? I mean I know they have like, no range, but I just think its a shame they don't fly. The only one in the country that does fly is FHC's.

I recall reading that the official VVS spin recovery technique below 3000M, was to bail out......

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

shrike wrote:

I recall reading that the official VVS spin recovery technique below 3000M, was to bail out......

So don't spin them. :roll:

There are pilots out there who seem to be able to fly (and aerobat!) them perfectly well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE1-scpV ... ata_player

(Yurgis Kairys, Duxford Flying Legends 2010)

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

shrike wrote:

I recall reading that the official VVS spin recovery technique below 3000M, was to bail out......

The video Mike posted seems to show an Immelman with snap rolls at the top. Of course the pilot is somewhat accomplished at aerobatics.

Travisd80elcam · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 4:22 pm

I could see flying the I-16 but the I-15 and I-153 have next to no visibility out the front. If I had some pictures I'd post and show you guys that on both it's like maybe a 1ft box to look forward threw on both the I-15 and the 153. But thats just my 2 cents. maybe one day some of the guys at MAM would decide to fly them.

Travis

Dave Lindauer · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 6:43 pm

Just for a moment imagine the sight and sound of this --

A fly-by with a Bf 109G, a Bouchon DB605 conversion, a G.55 and a Ki-61.

Ausgezeichnet!!

bombadier29 · **Joined:** Sun Jan 29, 2012 9:17 pm **Posts:** 272

Warbird Kid wrote:

Why have three if your not going to find a pilot that did in fact fly these when they were in NZ and train the american pilots! Are they really that unforgiving / dangerous?

It has nothing to do with not being trained or being able to fly them. It was said earlier that they don't LIKE to fly them. Thats different.

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

bombadier29 wrote:

Warbird Kid wrote:

Why have three if your not going to find a pilot that did in fact fly these when they were in NZ and train the american pilots! Are they really that unforgiving / dangerous?

It has nothing to do with not being trained or being able to fly them. It was said earlier that they don't LIKE to fly them. Thats different.

Have any of Yagen's Polikarpovs flown since arriving in the US?

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