A small visit to the AirFighter Academy Gmbh/ Hangar 10

[Matthias Dorst]

My visit at Hangar 10, a wonderful collection of flyable historic aircraft, based on the island Usedom nearby Heringsdorf.

As you might know, some of the aircraft displayed at the flying museum are maintained and/or restored by MeierMotors GmbH. So I know about the planes over there. I took some photos in the MeierMotots facility and sent them to the family who operates that unique collection. Seems that this was a big pleasure for them, so I was inveted to the far North-East Germany, near the Polish order. This was some months ago ......

In May Volker called me and asked "when will you come and visit us?" . I told him, that I will check out the travel possibilties. An hour later his secretary called. "What do you think about Thursday thias week ? "okayyyyy ... an hour later, the flight tickets with EasyJet and the ticket for a car to rent were in my email-inbox. ... again woww. Okay, lets travel to the high North

pretty early in the morning .... Basel-Mulhouse airport



bad weather .... we will see. My travelling companion is a cuddly toy from my daughter, a duck. And I got order to sent pictures home .... breakfast above the clouds



beautiful and final Berlin Schoenefeld





here we are, here we go. Beautiful conditions and 150km road to the island Usedom

[Matthias Dorst]

Well, after some hours driving through the north-eastern landscape, you will find the Heringsdorf airfield. Quite a historic place. That airfield was used in the Second Worldwar as fighters nest, training center, bombers nest. Nearby Peenemuende, the rocket testcenter of the German Luftwaffe in WW2. In the summer season some airlines are flying directly to Heringsdorf. Heringsdorf is a wonderful place for summer holidays with a really beautiful sandbeach.

The Airfighter Academy bought an old hangar and restored it. In the hangar there is showed the collection. Nearly all aircraft are in top shape and flying conditions. Placed beside the ac there are some vehicles of the same era. The idea behind ... show the visitors the career of a pilot. So you will find primary trainers (Tiger Moth, Polikarpov Po-2, Stearman, Jungmann), advanced trainers (AT-6, Jungmeister) and at the end of the evolution the fighter aircraft (Spitfire T9, P-51, Bf109 (in fact a Buchon), Yak-9).



At the backside of the hangar there are some modern holiday flats. In those beautiful flats there are all my pictures at the walls *big like ... as you can see, I got the Spitfire-suite



At the right side there is the superb restaurant "Big Beautiful Doll" with the "BBD-longue" were you can smoke a cigar and taste some good wine.



At the left side there is a big indoor-adventure park for the kids. Perfect... so you can "store" the kids and and have stress-free time to visit the collection :highly_amused: Of course every exhibition piece is explained by a multimedia device which you can get at the counter. 18hours of information ......

Lets begin with the exhibition ... general view. From the left American corner, German corner, Russian corner and British corner

[Matthias Dorst]

Lets begin with the American corner :

• Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub D-ERDJ
• Boeing Stearman D-ERAX
• NorthAmerican AT-6 D-FITE
• NorthAmerican TF-51 "Little Ite" D-FUNN
• Willys Jeep --> not in flyable condition. Just for driving issues

The Piper and the Stearman are used for tailwheel-education. The education is carried out by a Berlin Pilotschool (friends of the Airfighter Academy). The Stearman is pretty often flown by the owner.

At first the Piper D-ERDJ









training



Grasshopper ?



taxing from grass to tarmac and back again ... something very important to learn





debriefing



I like those Pipers really. Well the blue of the "stars&bars" is too pale. Some work to do ....

[Matthias Dorst]

The Stearman ist in topshape and condition. The owner flies that beauty often at sunset. He loves it, cruising over the "Haff" a big freshwater sea. He has got a exceptional permission to fly before the airfield is open. And so, five o`clock in the morning the "Yellow peril" is on the way, delighting the owner. In my eyes a perfect beginning of the day. Too early for my, I would prefer a sundown-flight ... told it to the owner... "okay, no problem, when you visit us again, we will do that"



Typical for the collection/ owner. If an aircraft is in the air (quite normal for aircraft) , immediatly the sign withe the documention of that aircraft is placed outside. After the local flight, the aircraft will be displayed in front of that sign "The customer payed to see the plane, so he will see it. Thats the reason why I could not visit airshows with my planes. The visitors in my Hangar10 want to see them. I promised to see a Mustang, some people are coming only to see this fighter, so there must be a Mustang in the hangar."



meine daughter loves biplanes .... so ... here is the famous duck with a biplane



the radiocontrolled device at the tailwheel enables the owner to tow the plane alone ... good idea early in the morning

[Matthias Dorst]

Stearman details .... modelers paradise. I want to build something like that in quarterscale





















old an new tailwheel trainer. The Citarbria is also used for tailwheel-training, but she´s not really sexy

[Matthias Dorst]

This AT-6 is in my eyes the most beautiful Texan worldwide. Eyecandy and in perfect shape.

Of course you follow all my walkaround efforts on my homepage, so you know of course that advanced trainer. Am I right ? Just for you to remember .....

Walkaround AT-6 D-FITE

here that beauty at home in the hangar

[Scott Rose]

Very cool Mathias, looks like a very interesting place.

[AG pilot]

Great photographs! Thanks for all your posts.

[TAdan]

Thanks Mathias! Looks like a wonderful facility and destination.

[Matthias Dorst]

This particulary TF-51 may be the best TF worldwide. The fighter is newly restored, better than new. The engine is revised by Vintage V12´s. This beauty is in my eyes absolute perfect ... and I had the chance to take a ride with on the backseat after restoration.

Well, the informed know that there is also a walkaround on my homepage. Its even more a blog recording the restoration and assembly of that double seater.

Walkaround TF-51 "Little Ite" D-FUNN

here the "Little Ite" at home in Hangar10











on the other side of the hangar the FockeWulf Fw190 D-9 build by Mr.Falch (sandy air)





Side by side to the TF-51 an original wartime Willys Jeep for daily use

[Matthias Dorst]

the British corner ....

• De Havilland Dh.82 Tiger Moth - D-EDHA
• Supermarine Spitfire T9 MJ772 - D-FMKN
• Lightweight Landrover

at first the car of the collection, a Lightweight Landrover :







something special. Pretty interesting, not really a beauty, not really rare but it fits perfect into the collection

... and of course the immortal Tiger Moth. What a difference to the rockstable Stearman. Small, filigree and beautiful. Of course in best shape and flyable condition. Just a bit fuel ......

Tiger Moth R5246



















... some details ... I love it





anyone needs more instruments for the airspeed ?





Yes I am a big Tiger fan

[Matthias Dorst]

This exhibit is (was) still "based" at MeierMotors facility in Bremgarten (EDTG). This restoration project is having a lot up and downs as told in my thread "News at MeierMotors" . But work is done, the Spitfire is now delivered to the AirFighter Academy with Achim Meier at the controls. Just in time for the summer season at Hangar10

When I visited the Hangar10 the Spitfire was still in Bremgarten. Some carburator problems (false air) kept the fighter grounded.

Here´s the complete story on my homepage with all pictures at the MeierMotors shop.

Supermarine Spitfire T9 - D-FMKN



Thats it for this time .... time for coffee or so. Stay tuned and keep interested. The German and Russian corner still waiting ....

[Rajay]

Very nice thread about something new and different at least from a US perspective. Very well and thoroughly documented with lots of nice photos.

I have two questions though. Was it just my imagination - or are most if not all of the stars on the Stearman oriented at strange angles? Especially the one under the lower left wing, but they seemed to be off a bit on the two on top of the top wing as well.

I was also wondering - how well does it "go over" or is it "received" by the viewing public, presumably mostly German citizens, when they see all of the red "kill" crosses painted on the side of the TF-51? Don't mean to be too "PC" about it but it seems to me as if that might be unnecessarily inflammatory - after all, it's a trainer version now, not an actual combat aircraft, at least not anymore....

[Matthias Dorst]

Very nice thread about something new and different at least from a US perspective. Very well and thoroughly documented with lots of nice photos.

thank you very much for your feedback, its a pleasure

I have two questions though. Was it just my imagination - or are most if not all of the stars on the Stearman oriented at strange angles? Especially the one under the lower left wing, but they seemed to be off a bit on the two on top of the top wing as well.

right you are. In case of restoring the plane, they will "fix" the problem

I was also wondering - how well does it "go over" or is it "received" by the viewing public, presumably mostly German citizens, when they see all of the red "kill" crosses painted on the side of the TF-51? Don't mean to be too "PC" about it but it seems to me as if that might be unnecessarily inflammatory - after all, it's a trainer version now, not an actual combat aircraft, at least not anymore....

No, thats no problem. You will only have problems by showing svastika-kill-markings. The people visiting the collection want to see unique aircraft and this wish is fulfilled. Again, its really not a problem. Of course its a fantasy paintjob. "Little Ite" is a reminiscence to the owners wife Arite. Let me qute the owner Volker "Arite, my wife, supports me everytime with my hobby. Without the understanding and support of the family you cannot manage such a collection and museum" ... and I tell you, that family is absolute stunning. Its really a family-enterprise, and I am very thankful that I got the chance to look a bit inside. And of course a reminiscence to the famous "Blue nosers"

[Matthias Dorst]

Super photography Matthias, thanks for posting your museum quest. I have to wonder tho why you didn't trip over the Fw190D and Bf109 while photographing the Mustang... Would really enjoy any pics of these... What are the restoration stories about them?
Link to Air Fighter Academy http://airfighteracademy.com/index.php

Just be patient the German section is coming soon on this fantastic board and thank you for your feedback