Spitfire and Buchons for sale

[Left Seat]

It would be great, and appropriate for one to end up with the Fundación Infante de Orleans (FIO) in Spain, for instance.

Isn't C4K-158 / 71-23 (cn 211) still located at Museo del Aire in Madrid - Cuatro Vientos (LECU / LEVS)?

Pictures here:
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=C4K-158
http://www.myaviation.net/search/search.php?view=&cn=71-23

There are 15 Buchons rat-nested in various locations in Spain according to:
http://www.airport-data.com/search/search2.html?field=model&search=Search&code=Hispano%20HA-1112-M1L%20Buchon
Take that with a grain of salt... Wikipedia lists 2... as if Wikipedia is credible.

Last edited by Left Seat on Wed Jul 09, 2014 2:50 pm, edited 5 times in total.

[Taylor Stevenson]

These are a 'time capsule' opportunity

Yes, but just to be clear, 'time capsule 1968'.

No. Actual time capsules.

[davidwomacks]

Wow this is a cool find I always wondered what happened to the planes from that movie. Guess there will be some more fake 109's flying around now wonder where they will get that many DB605's?

[Jerry O'Neill]

It was going to happen sooner or later, one way or another. Love to see one statically displayed in the film colors though.
Jerry

[Chappie]

Don't forget the Spitfire:
http://www.platinumfighters.com/#!spitfire-mh415/c12uh
With the history of landing accidents, a Buchon deserves a grass runway. Geneseo?

Wow oh wow. I'd keep that baby in her Guatemalan markings!


Chappie

[wendovertom]

Wow, what a collection of cool planes Platinum is representing at the moment! the Mustangs and Buchons are all really cool but then you have "Miss Demeanor" in there as well. That has to be on of the most recognizable Hawkers out there!

Tom P.

[JohnTerrell]

That Mustang is the last one that Connie Edwards has held onto, having had a small air force of them starting in the late 70's. All of the other Mustangs he had at one time, in very similar states/configurations as the one for sale, have since become "Happy Jack's Go Buggy", "February", "Miss Marylin II", "Kansas City Kitty", "It's about Time", "Archie", and "Red Dog XII" (probably forgetting one or two others).

[JDK]

It would be great, and appropriate for one to end up with the Fundación Infante de Orleans (FIO) in Spain, for instance.

Isn't C4K-158 / 71-23 (cn 211) still located at Museo del Aire in Madrid - Cuatro Vientos (LECU / LEVS)?

Yes. That's the equivalent of the National Museum of the USAF. Not going to be released or fly, and shouldn't. They also, as one would hope, have the earlier Hispano engine version. (That incidentally, Connie's two-seater was originally built with, as well.)

The FIO is a flying historic aircraft collection, and went to a great deal of trouble to get an airworthy Polikarpov I-16 and fly it.

It may be worth adding that's the Spanish equivalent of the Spitfire to Britain and the Mustang to America.

As a postwar type, the Buchón is the postwar equivalent of 'high importance' in Spain, and as well as what we know them for, mostly as 'Messerschmitts' in films, the Buchón has a hot-war COIN combat history in North Africa.

Regards,

[Jesse C.]

I just bought some Lotto tickets!

[Kyleb]

If memory serves, Gary Austin mentioned that this collection (the Spit, Mustang, 109's, plus the spares) was available for $10 million several years ago. He posted quite a few pictures of the collection to this site, which apparently didn't make the folks in Big Spring particularly happy. I don't remember if Gary took the photos down or if they disappeared when his photobucket account expired.

In any case, it is great that these airframes and spares survived, and I hope the right people come along to take care of them for the next 45 years.

[JDK]

If memory serves, Gary Austin mentioned that this collection (the Spit, Mustang, 109's, plus the spares) was available for $10 million several years ago. He posted quite a few pictures of the collection to this site, which apparently didn't make the folks in Big Spring particularly happy.

I understood Gary had explicit permission. There were issues, but we must also remember Gary was one of the best behaved most careful and gentlemanly posters on WIX, and respected confidences and privacy while sharing as widely as he could to include perople.

I don't remember if Gary took the photos down or if they disappeared when his photobucket account expired.

The latter.

IIRC, there was some issues when Gary first posted, but they were resolved and the thread returned with pics.

Here it is: viewtopic.php?t=11006

In any case, it is great that these airframes and spares survived, and I hope the right people come along to take care of them for the next 45 years.

Agreed.

[DoraNineFan]

Any word as to why Connie has decided to part ways with these now?

It would be neat if a group could buy the collection and restore them to BoB film stock and tour the airshow circuit similar to CAF and Tora Tora Tora.

Connie explains his reasons in this video. In his own words.
http://vimeo.com/99991680

[Michel Lemieux]

Wow....what a great viedeo!!!!!!!

Tks for sharing.

I only one thing.......You have to respct the passion these gave into the movement.

Tks Conny.

I only can dream of being into your shoes......

[AEH]

Great story, great video. But the prices being asked for these machines are complete fantasy. He may not want any bargain hunters coming around, but the market will bear what it will bear. And it's not the millions being asked. A little sad really.

[airknocker]

Back in 2007, didn't Courtesy have a tough sell to move an airworthy Buchon for the CAF?