ME 163 Komet for sale on GunBroker

JDK · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:23 am

SaxMan wrote:

I guess technically, any plane can resemble any other plane if you look hard enough.

Pretty much. But then, there is the Vedo Villi...

Thanks to my good friend Brett Holman's blog, all is revealed here: http://airminded.org/2008/01/15/the-col ... aerospace/

Regards,

jmkendall · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 1:42 am

This might be apples and oranges, and I'm sure someone will.........quibble.

I used to specialize in restoring Pontiac GTO's.

An "authentic" restoration used all the proper parts and a good title. However this was like many modern P-51 restorations. I could use a frame from a LeMans; or, heaven forbid, a Chevelle. I could cut out the firewall of the real GTO and graft it onto a rust/damage free shell of a Tempest or LeMan's. I could put a correct drivetrain, aftermarket interior ( but made to the original specifications), aftermarket sheet metal,ect, ect. When I was done I would have an 'authentic" GTO. Even if 90 percent of it never started life as GTO.

An "Original" car is one that came with all the parts that came with when it fell off the car carrier at the local Pontiac dealership back in the day. It is only "Original" once.

Most restorations fell in between. Usually an Original car with new carpet; a repaint, some rechroming, and other minor cosmetic work.

In this case, perhaps, an "authentic" restoration is a recreation of a real ME 163, using parts from a crash site. In which case it would be as real as some of the Spitfires and Mustangs around today.

Just my two cents.....

Stephan Wilkinson · **Joined:** Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:23 am **Posts:** 699

So you didn't do any matching-numbers jobs, right?

Noha307 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 4:04 pm

Mike wrote:

The known survivors are all well documented, and the only one in private hands is Paul Allen's, which he paid IIRC $1m+ for to IWM Duxford.

Never heard of this. From what is written here, I would consider this to be bordering on the unethical on the part of the IWM by my personal standards. :hide:

EDIT: After thinking on it, I would like to tone down what I said a bit. I was a little harsh in my statement. My point is it just doesn't seem right for the museum to do that. It comes across as: "If I have enough money, I can do whatever I want, including buy artifacts from a national museum.".

A little extra info:

Messerschmitt Me 163 - Wikipedia wrote:

In May 2005, [Me 163B, Werknummer 191660, "Yellow 3"] was sold, reportedly for £800,000, to raise money for the purchase of a de Havilland/Airco DH.9 as the Duxford museum had no examples of a World War I bomber in its collection. Permission for export was granted by the British government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport as three other Komets were held in British museums.

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

They had an opportunity to purchase a fully-restored DH-9, and sold the Me163 to raise the funds to do this, on the basis that the Komet did not fit into the museum's remit in the same way that the DH-9 does.

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 01, 2013 4:18 pm

Sorry for the late response chaps.

The 163 is a replica containing some original parts which was built by Holger Bull.

The 162 was built by Sandy Air Corp, Austria and also contains original parts, particularly in the cockpit. It has no engine. Due to be auctioned in February
http://www.andreas-thies.de/

Dave

jmkendall · **Posted:** Tue Jan 01, 2013 5:03 pm

Not sure why you would assume I never did matching numbers restorations. I did several.

But remember that matching numbers usually only connects the shell and frame up to the 1968 model year. In 1968 some facilities began to stamp the VIN on the engine; but not all. Transmissions were hit and miss; and usually only on Manual transmissions. I have many TH400s from the the 70s that have a unit sequence number that has no bearing to the VIN. Not even on the PR TH400s. Engines also had engine sequence numbers that have no relationship to the VIN.

If you restored a 1965 GTO the only matching numbers you would need would be the VIN tag on the door jamb and the frame. A correct restoration would only need a WT/WS/YS 389 with 977877 heads, 977816 or 977817 intake manifold, ect ect. However; while it would be optimal to get date coded parts close to; and before the body build date, it is not necessary for a "correct" restoration.

I personally know of two 1968 RAII GTOs with matching VINs. How? In Pa the title goes with the frame. In Ohio it goes with the shell. Anyway this is the not the GTO forum, just thought I'd defend myself against a specious comment.

Taylor Stevenson · **Posted:** Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:31 pm

Just stumbled across this... Says its "Restored and Running"... I'd be interested in seeing a video of that.

http://www.airplanemart.com/aircraft-fo ... omet/5346/

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:18 pm

the federal batf would never allow the 2 cannons to be part of the aircraft unless they were permanently de- milled, & there is no mention of that. sounds like they are writing pie in the sky.

oscardeuce · **Joined:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 3:34 am **Posts:** 1021

Mudge wrote:

Forgotten Field wrote:

That's an assault aircraft- ban it!

No, it just LOOKS like an assault aircraft but it'll get banned anyway.

Mudge the well armed :shock:

If it has the gear that folds up.... Ban it :axe:

Randy Wilson · **Posted:** Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:13 pm

Anyone else note the interesting listed airframe and engine time of 500 hours each in that link?

Randy

Taylor Stevenson · **Posted:** Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:15 pm

My eyebrows raised at that one too, Randy.

Hope you're doing well!

T

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