Warbird Information Exchange

I did a search in the forum and found no hits, so forgive me if this is old news. I took my son out to the Dulles Air and Space Museum Annex yesterday and had a thrill.

They've parked the restored fuselage of the last remaining He 219 across from the AR 234. The wings weren't on it, yet, but even sitting on jacks without wings it looks dangerous. Beautiful paint scheme. I last saw it at the Silver Hill facility in 1980 when it was laying on the floor in pieces.

I don't know where it will eventually be put, as it won't fit where it is when the wings are mated. (I'd like to see a special night fighter cluster with the Irving, the Owl, and the P-61 someday.)

Sorry, no pictures yet, since I wasn't expecting any surprises.

The Lysander's up, too, hanging from the ceiling. Also nice.

I plan to go back next month and I promise to get some pictures.

Rich

Richard

The wings and engines will not be ready for another couple of years. Not sure if it has moved since last month but it was due to go into the 'German corner' from its initial temporary position..sounds like it has.

Dave

On a somewhat related topic... there is another Axis fuselage sitting in the same vicinity as the Uhu, the Ki-45 Toryu. Does anyone know if the NASM has the parts to do a complete restoration on the Kawasaki as well?

Goshikisen--

I'd be interested to know that, too. I do know that in the early fifties the Smithsonian aircraft collection was culled-out and sadly some aircraft got the chop, including all but the nose section of the G4M "Betty" . Other airframes were offered to interested museums, but of course in the Korean War era there were precious few air museums anywhere. One that did exist that early was Ed Maloney's collection then at Claremont CA; they requested and received (ie., unquestionably, rescued) what is still the only known extant Ki84 Hayate (now in a museum in Japan...but restored to FLY in California in the 60s, using its original engine--!). At the time the Ki84 became available, Maloney's own book on the Ki84 indicates that the Ki45 Toryu was on offer as well. That, coupled with what we know happened to the G4M, makes me wonder how much of the Ki45 was kept.

At any rate, it's terrific that the J1N Gekko is completed, with the He219 to follow. I must make my way to Udvar-Hazy before too long...

S.

C'mon, pictures please!
someone must have a link?

Marty

Check the latest Classic Wings which should be still in the stores for a nice shot of the He 219 and several others that have just been moved in. We will be covering all the major moves, including the upcoming Do335.

Dave