FAH 609 Restoration to begin

[jaldo]

As far as I know,once the restoration is finished,the aircraft will be displayed inside the museum.Forget about seeing this aircraft fly again,it will be for static display only.
Congratulations to the museum guys for getting their hands on this project .

[Wildchild]

Wasn't it originally restored to flying status?

[zorro7]

Wildchild:

Good day!

The aircraft that you are referring to is F4U-5N Buno 123168 an XFAH 603 now under final stages of restoration in Darwin, Australia. It will be wearing the same color scheme of the Honduran AF (FAH) F4Us!

[jack973]

the plane has been displayed in static exhibition and will continue like that.

[zorro7]

FAH 609 Folks:

Good Day!

Logically after so many years in indoor/outside storage in will take quite a bit of F4U tech expertise to crank it up and get ready to taxi!!

The sooner you get your hands on this project the better for your funds collecting effort... the F4Us crowds will come at Toncontin just to see FAH 609 do its thing!!

2 B cont...

[jack973]

the aircraft will be displayed inside the museum.Forget about seeing this aircraft fly again,it will be for static display only.

only this will be done

[WIXMOD-Charlie]

You're walking a thin line Zorro!

[zorro7]

FAH 609 Folks:

A summer day like today, on 17 July 1969...some 43 years ago over the Salvadorean skies a young FAH Captain named Fernando Soto Enriquez (R.I.P) shot down 3 FAS aircraft in one day. One Cavalier P-51 Mustang in the AM hrs and 2 FG-1Ds in the afternoon!

It's worth to mention, that after these aerial encounters...the course of the so called "100 hrs War" came to a stop! FAS had lost some 8 aircraft to different reasons & had no more qualified pilots to fly the surviving fleet.. 2 FG-1Ds!! Drawing Enrique Pablo del Cabo/Autograph Lt. Col Fernando Soto Enriquez c. Oct 2009.

[Cherrybomber13]

Thanks Zorro for sharing the anniversary. Sometime we need to be reminded why we commemorate these men and their amazing flying machines.

[K5DH]

At the time of the "100 Hour War", was the radar on Capt. Soto's Corsair operational? Just curious.

Dean the inquisitive

[jack973]

FAH corsairs never used a radar. that´s a little mistake in the drawing. beside, they never used reserve tanks in any operation and their operative life.

[51fixer]

beside, they never used reserve tanks in any operation and their operative life.

The Corsair didn't have a "Reserve" tank. Are you referring to the droppable external tanks on the bottom of the fuselage?

[jack973]

yeap, those are the reserve tanks i am referring to. they only used them when they were sold in their travel to the United States.

[fahnach]

At the time of the "100 Hour War", was the radar on Capt. Soto's Corsair operational? Just curious.
Dean the inquisitive

Dean, most if not all AN/APS-19 radar systems from Honduran Air Force F4U-5Ns and F4U-5NLs had been removed by 1968.
I'd like to share with you ALL the following comments posted at the Aviation Enthusiast Corner by Capt. Carlos A. Gamundi at the date shown below:

Miami, FL. I served in the Honduran Air Force from 1953 through 1964. I flew all of the older P38's and P63's; later on we acquired the F4u-4'S AND THE F4U-5NP's. The gentleman referring to the Radome on right wing, is correct. In the Honduras Air Force we had no practical use (at the time) for it, so it was removed along with the Radar system. Autopilots were left on board. These Corsairs were ALL great aircraft, perfect fit for low altitude operations.
I was a (FAH) Reserve Pilot during the Salvadorean conflict. The "surprise" attack by salvadorean fighters on Honduran military installations was so poorly planned and executed that NO TARGETS were hit in Honduras. No Honduran Aircraft were lost. We did get 3 Salvadorean fighters, plus a Refinery ( Acajutla ), plus a lot of moving Ground targets at El Amatillo, Las Mataras, and Ocotepeque area.
I am a Witness for I WAS THERE...............
02/15/2009 @ 07:45 [ref: 23728]

[K5DH]

jack973 and fahnach,

Thanks for the information!