Midwest Aero's BF-109G close to first flight

[Sopwith]

First test runs today of the DB 605 mounted to the airframe:

Sorry, John, but "first test runs" don't count unless the hand crank is used.

How did they start it? Was a starter installed?

Yes an inertia starter, you can hear it winding up to speed on the video before it is engaged.

[Ken]

Mike & Co continue to set the standard with their work. Wow.

[marine air]

Hopefully, they will do a function check of the manual start system and video it. I volunteer to help turn the crank!

[marine air]

The cameraman walking around the rear of the airplane reminded me of the doing the same several years ago at Oshkosh. The Cavanaugh Buchon/109 had successfully flown in all the way from Texas and landed without incident. The pilot called for a fuel truck. When the fueler pulled up to the ME-109 he was so amazed he jumped out of the truck with putting it in park, using the parking brake or turning the engine off. So, it rolled into the right rear flap and aileron. (Good technique is to position the ground vehicles where if they were to roll, they would not roll into the aircraft.) , It ruined everyone's chance to see it in the air and it stayed in the Weeks hangar the entire show.

[Lynn Allen]

First test runs today of the DB 605 mounted to the airframe:

Sorry, John, but "first test runs" don't count unless the hand crank is used.

No thanks. I hand cranked a Fi-156 once and that was a battle there...

[Thomas_Mac]

[DH82EH]

Hopefully, they will do a function check of the manual start system and video it. I volunteer to help turn the crank!

Myself and another guy tried to hand start the Swordfish once.
Bob Spence, the restorer, said we only got it to about 85%. He engaged the clutch anyway, with predictable results.
Pretty fun to try though. Not many get to say they tried that.

The 109 looks so fine!

[Spitty]

Heres an old one of them doing a Fw190D.

[Firebird]

Great close up clip here of them starting Black 6 at Duxford. Can't believe that, it was 30 years ago this year that I was at Duxford to witness the first flight of a real Bf.109 in some 40 years. Its still a sight, and especially a sound that is a vivid memory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgTw-w4k87E

[Warbirdnerd]

As noted in the airworthy warbird thread, this beauty made its first flight yesterday.

[kalamazookid]

Video, albeit with music:

https://www.facebook.com/14935709844101 ... 856908471/