Berlin FW Condor replica

[Stephan Wilkinson]

I'm doing a short article for Aviation History magazine on the FW 200 Condor that is currently on display at the German Museum of Technology's hangar at the former Tempelhof Airport, but I'm not getting any responses to my copy-checking questions sent to the Airbus PR department.

Can anybody here give me reasonably authoritative answers to the following questions?

It's my impression that the airplane on display has a finished airframe and engines/props. Correct? (I do know that it is an amalgam of four Condors, not a restoration of one.)

Has the airplane been painted, presumably in Deutsche Lufthansa livery?

The cockpit is only partially complete. Correct?

The passenger cabin is unfinished. Correct?

Is the cabin interior currently under restoration, or is that work to be put off into the future?

Many thanks for any help you can provide...

[DoraNineFan]

I'm confused because she was wearing Lufthansa colors during the restoration and now it is all silver. Unless it will get a repaint in the future?

It is still a remarkable accomplishment though.

[quemerford]

I'd advise against using the term "replica". Given the amount of original material in this airframe, and the efforts that the restoration team have gone to in order to keep it that way, it might be seen as an insult. It might also indicate why you've received no response from Airbus.

[Noha307]

The project actually has an excellent website that, with a bit of Google Translate, should have all of the information you need: Fw 200 Condor Restaurierung Bremen

I'm confused because she was wearing Lufthansa colors during the restoration and now it is all silver.

That is strange. Although it is worth pointing out that I believe only the inboard left wing, the associated engine nacelles, and a small section of the left fuselage was actually painted this way. My guess is it was done for presentation's sake.

Just to confuse things further, the Deutsches Museum in Berlin has had a Fw 200 engine nacelle with landing gear and a fitted out portion of a Fw 200 passenger cabin on display at some point. I can't help but wonder if they are in some way related.

I'd advise against using the term "replica". Given the amount of original material in this airframe

I'd actually have to question how much original material is in that airframe. If you look at what they started with and some of the pictures of the restoration, it looks like almost all of the fuselage as well as significant portions of the inner and outer wing are mostly new material. Not to take away from all of the work the team working on the aircraft did (which is a lot), but I think it is fair to calls this at least a reproduction.

[phil65]

https://fw200-restaurierung-bremen.de/2 ... 6vjoODecao

Phil

[Stephan Wilkinson]

I'd advise against using the term "replica". Given the amount of original material in this airframe, and the efforts that the restoration team have gone to in order to keep it that way, it might be seen as an insult. It might also indicate why you've received no response from Airbus.

Airbus has no idea what is or isn't in my article.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

The project actually has an excellent website that, with a bit of Google Translate, should have all of the information you need

Believe it or not, I'm actually aware of their website, having been doing this kind of work for about 50 years now. Not my first rodeo. The website says nothing at all current about the state of the passenger cabin.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

I'd advise against using the term "replica".

What would you call it if a restorer/rebuilder used parts from a P-51D, an A-36, a P-51B and a Cavalier Mustang, then painted it in the "Begin the Beguine" color scheme, and the Smithsonian put in on display as a restoration of Bill Odom's crashed racer?

[kalamazookid]

I'd actually have to question how much original material is in that airframe. If you look at what they started with and some of the pictures of the restoration, it looks like almost all of the fuselage as well as significant portions of the inner and outer wing are mostly new material.

We could play this game with pretty much any restoration these days.

[JohnB]

I'd actually have to question how much original material is in that airframe. If you look at what they started with and some of the pictures of the restoration, it looks like almost all of the fuselage as well as significant portions of the inner and outer wing are mostly new material.

We could play this game with pretty much any restoration these days.

And if we get too picky about what's "real", there wouldn't be many warbirds flying.

[quemerford]

For someone asking for our help, he's a bit testy ain't he?

I've seen the restoration in-person a few times, so I think I can speak with a tad of background knowledge.

[Archer]

Just to confuse things further, the Deutsches Museum in Berlin has had a Fw 200 engine nacelle with landing gear and a fitted out portion of a Fw 200 passenger cabin on display at some point. I can't help but wonder if they are in some way related.

I'm certain that the cabin section is related. I saw that same section there and the sign clearly stated it to be a part of the Fw200 under restoration. I suspect that the engine nacelle with gear was a similar situation, as they wanted to show parts of the restoration while it was underway. The restoration was done for the Deutsches Technikmuseum in Berlin but it will be put on display at the Tempelhof Airport as the museum building does not have room for a complete Fw200. See: https://fw200-restaurierung-bremen.de/2 ... in-berlin/

[Matt_in_NC]

I think they are far from finished with this restoration/ reconstruction...in the various photos on the website, there's one that shows a mostly complete instrument panel, and there was at least the one portion of the passenger cabin that was outfitted with seats, curtains, etc. In a short video clip, the undercarriage is actually shown retracting/ extending. While it looks to be mostly just externally complete at the moment, my bet is this will be a very complete/ nearly functional aircraft once they're finished with it. Part of me wishes they'd restored it as a Luftwaffe example with turrets, gondola, etc, but I completely understand the desire to do it as an airliner, and I'm amazed at what's been accomplished. Classify it as what you like; in the end, it'll be an FW-200, and I hope to see it one day.

[shrike]

Just throwing out that 'reconstruction' gets the point across without starting a fight

[Mike]

It’s a strange contraption, neither fish nor fowl

It has ostensibly been restored as a civilian Fw 200, but has retained the double-wheel main gear of the military version. So I’m not entirely sure what it is that they are trying to portray.