Daimler Benz Mid 90's?

[Matt_in_NC]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZn1ZMPlX6Y

This beautiful "109" is being put through its paces by Mark Hanna in '96. I think it is a modified Buchon? But if so, it has Galland hood, extended tailwheel, late model vertical stab...which airframe is this? And where is it today?

My other question is who was overhauling Daimler Benz engines back in the 90's??? I remember being absolutely blown away by the reveal of Black 6 as an original 109. That had to have been around 96 or so??? Help!

[DaveM2]

Yes modified Buchon with some original G-10 parts out of the Czech Republic, at that time owned by Hans Dittes. I was at Wanaka in 96 and was privileged to watch Mark put it through its paces, beautiful whistle as it whizzed by low and fast.
Currently operated by the Messerschmitt Foundation, IIRC as Yellow 3

[DoraNineFan]

In the documentary about "Black 6", I remember someone saying that Rolls Royce had sponsored the overhaul for the DB-605. Adding that RR had said don't break it because we can't fix it.

In another topic, someone said that Sigi Knoll from Germany (now with the Messerschmitt Foundation team) had a role in getting the early DB engines up and running.

[T J Johansen]

From this:

http://www.airshowspast.com/uploads/4/9 ... 1_orig.jpg


To this:

http://www.planepictures.net/a/74/28/1211886296.jpg


From Geoff Goodall's Warbird Directory Vol. VI

213 • HA-1112-M1L C.4K-40 Tablada AB, Spain: inst. airframe
Hans Dittes, Speyer near Mannheim West Germany .80/86
rest. Mannheim, ff .86 in Luftwaffe scheme)
D-FEHD Hans Dittes, Speyer 29.8.86/95
(rebuilt at Saarlouis, Germany .91/95,
mod. to Bf109G standard with DB601 engine
and parts of Bf 109G-10 WNr151591,
ff 23.3.95 Mannheim as Luftwaffe "2+-")
D-HDME Hans Dittes, Speyer 3.95/96
(registered as Bf109G, id. 151591)
op: Old Flying Machine Co, Duxford UK: del. 8.5.95/96
ZK-CIX Alpine Fighter Collection, Wanaka NZ 20.3.96
(airfreighted from UK to NZ 3.96,
reg. for airshow flying, shipped back to UK 5.96)
D-HDME Hans Dittes: op OFMC, Duxford UK 12.4.96/00
(returned to Germany .97)
dam. taxying accident, Manching, Germany 6.98
(repaired, ff Manching 12.00)
D-FDME Willy-Messerschmitt-Stiftung, Manching .00/08
(flies as Luftwaffe “Black 2+-”)

T J

[Dan Jones]

I wonder if Willy Messerschmitt ever voiced his opinion on the Hispano?

[John Dupre]

I wonder if Willy Messerschmitt ever voiced his opinion on the Hispano?

I remember an interview in the old Air Progress magazine in which he claimed the Merlin engine made the design better than the Spitfire!

[Dan Jones]

There's a clip on Youtube somewhere of Connie Edwards saying that he thought it was a better airplane than a P-51...

[Kyleb]

There's a clip on Youtube somewhere of Connie Edwards saying that he thought it was a better airplane than a P-51...

It is the definition of a hot rod. Tiny airplane, big engine.

Also, slats help manage low speed behavior.

A great fighter/interceptor. Not so good as an escort or fighter/bomber.

[EDMJ]

Here's the Messerschmitt Foundation's homepage: http://www.flugmuseum-messerschmitt.de

D-FDME is indeed now Yellow 3. I don't think it's airworthy at the moment, I seem to recall having read about it being damaged in a runway excursion incident some time ago. I also seem to recall that their other Bf 109's are also not flying at the moment due to engine issues.

Incidentally, it was never registered D-HDME, the D-Hxxx range being for rotorcraft only in Germany.

[DoraNineFan]

D-FDME is indeed now Yellow 3. I don't think it's airworthy at the moment, I seem to recall having read about it being damaged in a runway excursion incident some time ago. I also seem to recall that their other Bf 109's are also not flying at the moment due to engine issues.

D-FDME "Yellow 3" has flown several years back after repairs. I don't know why it has not flown very much since unless new issues were discovered.

D-FMBB has been undergoing maintenance for several years now.

D-FWME "Red 7" ground-looped a year ago or thereabouts, so it is probably still in the shop for inspect and repair.

[Matt_in_NC]

Man, that sure was a transformation! Thanks for all the replies. I was wondering about this airframe as I hadn't seen any recent photos or video of her. I really like the look of the late 109's with the Galland hood and tall tailwheel. I wonder how much difference there is handling-wise between the Buchon and its DB powered brethren?

[DoraNineFan]

Man, that sure was a transformation! Thanks for all the replies. I was wondering about this airframe as I hadn't seen any recent photos or video of her. I really like the look of the late 109's with the Galland hood and tall tailwheel. I wonder how much difference there is handling-wise between the Buchon and its DB powered brethren?

D-FDME as she looks today, though it doesn't seem to fly much.

[redvanner]

D-FDME is indeed now Yellow 3. I don't think it's airworthy at the moment, I seem to recall having read about it being damaged in a runway excursion incident some time ago. I also seem to recall that their other Bf 109's are also not flying at the moment due to engine issues.

D-FDME "Yellow 3" has flown several years back after repairs. I don't know why it has not flown very much since unless new issues were discovered.

D-FMBB has been undergoing maintenance for several years now.

D-FWME "Red 7" ground-looped a year ago or thereabouts, so it is probably still in the shop for inspect and repair.

IIRC Messerschmitt Foundation´s G-10 D-FDME (Yellow 3) is waiting for her engine just some time now. It is not an DB 605 A or B (as most Gustavs have installed), but an DB 605 D. (I have no idea what the diffeences are, but it seems to be more difficult to get it running again, as they are working on / repairing that engine since several years now.)

Michael

[Firebird]

My other question is who was overhauling Daimler Benz engines back in the 90's??? I remember being absolutely blown away by the reveal of Black 6 as an original 109. That had to have been around 96 or so??? Help!

As already mentioned, the DB in 'Black 6' was restored to airworthy state by RR Heritage at Filton over a period of a couple of years in the late 1980's, as the first flight of 'Black 6' was around 1991 IIRC. It's last flight was Oct 1997.

I can't recall who rebuilt the DB for that Buchon conversion, probably was as mentioned Sigi Knoll. I think there was an interview with him written up in one of the Warbirds Worldwide issues around that time...?
I've still got every issue of WWW, will try have have a dig through them to see if I can find it.

I think the first DB that Mike Nixon did was for 109E Wr.Nr. 3579 that first flew around 1999?

[camshaw]

with the huge amount of Bf109s produced there still has to be a huge number of them sitting at the bottom of lakes scattered all over europe one would think?