Spitfire and Buchons for sale

[Brad]

I last saw them many years ago but I remember there were some Hispanos in a shipping container. I was thinking there were three of them but at some point one had been sold off. I may have pictures of them but I don't know if I'll ever find them or not.

[Michel Lemieux]

Wow.....tks for sharing!!!!!

I would have loved a close up on Connie's face when it fired up......When he walked away to the left I imagined him dropping his coffee to get a beer....hehe

Lovely...tks again

[Jerry O'Neill]

I see these Bushons have a lot of people worked up about them. Both on wix, facebook, and other forums. But dare I say Im not sure why people are so excited about them. They are not 109's, but Spanish build close copies with merlin engines. But I guess these are as close to a 109 you can get anymore. But still not 100% authentic. Just my 02$

I think they are worked up, so to speak, because these aircraft, except for their movie paint, are still in their original, unrestored condition. It is the "barn find" story that is fascinating people. It's not like most of us haven't known about these aircraft for years. It's just that seeing them come out is pretty cool. It's not one stuffed away and coming out. It's a bunch!

I have always been a Buchon fan as built by the Spanish. I realize the money needed to purchase and restore them is rather large, but I would love at least one cleaned up "as is" and displayed in the film colors, and at least one restored and flying as a Spanish AF Buchon. Here's one of my favorite Buchon photos:

Buchon masquerading as a P-51B for the filming of "Patton".

Oh, and by the way, thank you Connie for holding onto the group! It gives us stuff to write about and wonder when in the future we'll see on fly!
Jerry

[redvanner]

Now there is one Buchon of the ex-Connie Edwards batch up for sale by the new owner Boschung Global via Platinum Fighters.
It is c/n 166. reg. N90607, one of the single seaters. If I am not mistaken, it is Yellow 8, on the 4-a/c pics the last one in the rear. Call for price, lol.

Cheers
Michael

Link to Platinums homepage:

http://www.platinumfighters.com/#!ha-1112-m1l/c12zi

[Chappie]

I see these Bushons have a lot of people worked up about them. Both on wix, facebook, and other forums. But dare I say Im not sure why people are so excited about them. They are not 109's, but Spanish build close copies with merlin engines. But I guess these are as close to a 109 you can get anymore. But still not 100% authentic. Just my 02$

You're right that it is not a WWII-era 109, but it is an ex-military aircraft that probably has an interesting history. On top of that it is a bona-fide movie star, which is always cool. I've flown in Ken Laird's Val three times. Is it a real Val? No, but it is awesome to fly and airplane that appeared in one of my favorite movies. It always attracts attention too.

If I were in the market for one of these Buchons, I'd research the history of the aircraft and restore it to the way it was in the Spanish Air Force. Hopefully one will be restored in that fashion.


Chappie

[marine air]

Good point CHappie. It is cool because it is a movie bird.

[Milmart Militaria]

I don't know why people get so wrapped up about The Buchon question, but it is not rational. It is a Buchon, but it is still a Messerschmitt. Putting a Merlin engine in it does not make it not a Messerschmitt.

I seem to recall some discussion / claim (at the time approx 1990's) about the Hans Ditttes 109 being as being a German production fuselage and not Spannish

[DaveM2]

I don't know why people get so wrapped up about The Buchon question, but it is not rational. It is a Buchon, but it is still a Messerschmitt. Putting a Merlin engine in it does not make it not a Messerschmitt.

I seem to recall some discussion / claim (at the time approx 1990's) about the Hans Ditttes 109 being as being a German production fuselage and not Spannish

'Claimed' but more wishful thinking than anything else. He did include some parts of a G-10 recovered out of the Czech Republic. A photo of that particular machine ( which the new identity came from) was put about of a near complete G-10, however it was taken either late forties or early fifties. The ex Dittes aircraft is a converted Buchon, it being well documented in its original form before the change to DB power.
Very nice though, I saw it perform at Wanaka 96.

All Hispanos have been inspected and only one was found to have any German manufacturing stamps, the first MBB aircraft which later crashed. Even then, it is thought that it was a part number only and not fuselage related.

[DaveM2]

I don't know why people get so wrapped up about The Buchon question, but it is not rational. It is a Buchon, but it is still a Messerschmitt. Putting a Merlin engine in it does not make it not a Messerschmitt.

Did the Beaufighter quit being a Beaufighter when they put Merlin engines in it?

Did the Spitfire quit being a Spitfire when they put the Griffon in it?

How about the DAP Beaufort? American engine and it wasn't even made in England! Yep, still a Beaufort.

The major point of difference is that all of those aircraft saw WWII combat, whereas the Buchon did not.
What isn't 'rational' is the number of owners over the years making claims that theirs just happens to be one of the original 25 German supplied fuselages. Stories such as, that when the metal is polished it has a blue hue, which indicates German manufacture ( how I am not sure) etc etc.
Motivation...a 'real' 109 means 'real' history which means 'real' $$$.

The Buchon is historic in itself, has a post war combat and film history, but obviously is a long way away from the 'glamour' of the Luftwaffe icon.
Hopefully one day we will see an example flying dressed in historic colours rather than a 'wannabe' Luftwaffe scheme.

[Dave Homewood]

The major point of difference is that all of those aircraft saw WWII combat, whereas the Buchon did not.

Most of the Mustangs and Flying Fortresses plus the Lancasters around the world also never saw any WWII combat. Who cares though? I don't. They represent a type that did see combat, and do a great job.

It's a lot like the Blenheim now flying from Duxford - it was built under licence in Canada as a Bolingbroke but it has been backdated now to a Blenheim Mk 1 (like the Buchons that are converted back to the earlier Bf109G design) and it represents the type that did see combat very well. No-one seems to complain about that, so why do people get their knickers in a knot if a Buchon is backdated to represent a combat veteran Bf109G? It makes the aircraft more interesting in my opinion and does no damage to it's own personal history.

[DaveM2]

The major point of difference is that all of those aircraft saw WWII combat, whereas the Buchon did not.

Most of the Mustangs and Flying Fortresses plus the Lancasters around the world also never saw any WWII combat. Who cares though? I don't. They represent a type that did see combat, and do a great job.

It's a lot like the Blenheim now flying from Duxford - it was built under licence in Canada as a Bolingbroke but it has been backdated now to a Blenheim Mk 1 (like the Buchons that are converted back to the earlier Bf109G design) and it represents the type that did see combat very well. No-one seems to complain about that, so why do people get their knickers in a knot if a Buchon is backdated to represent a combat veteran Bf109G? It makes the aircraft more interesting in my opinion and does no damage to it's own personal history.

That isn't my point, I am talking 'type' not 'individual' aircraft. IMO backdating an aircraft is diminishing its history, particularly when the suggestion is made that it is the genuine item, because it is representing something it isn't.
A 'one off' like the Blenheim Mk1 isn't the same as squadrons of them.

[marine air]

Dave , I'm with you on some level. One thing that gives me heartburn are the TF-51's with WWII themed paint, especially if they have the vertical fin extension. MY preference is the the 1950's
USAF scheme.

[Zac Yates]

Hi team,
Platinum Fighter Sales' Facebook page has been active of late with updates on the dispersal of the former Connie Edwards collection of Spitfire IX (to Australia) and HA.1112 Buchons.

This morning on a Buchon post they said: "The planes will be going to UK, Switzerland, Australia and USA".

Let the speculation begin!

[Milmart Militaria]

Buchon is going to Ross Pay at Scone NSW

[Mick F]

Buchon is going to Ross Pay at Scone NSW

Which one? The dual seater was also listed as sold. Pay has a single and dual seat Mustang (Ca-18 and P51D), single seat MkIX Spitfire getting close to completion and a long term MkIX project to be made into a Tr.9 dual seat ala the Grace Spitfire. So a single AND a dual seat Buchon would be sensational! Plus, Pay's is almost finished the return to airworthy status of the ex Russell Hurricane that it is to operate on the owner's behalf. The Connie Spitfire is also on the way to Scone, also to be restored and operated by Ross's team on belhalf of the owner. Hmm, wonder if the Spit and Buchon are with the same owner? John P, do you know?