DoraNineFan wrote:
Whatever happened to the Thomas Fausel / Todd Grothause Fw-190D replica with the Allison engine? It looked almost ready, but I never saw any follow-up on the status.
Also, has the Collings Foundation Fw-190 "White 1" actually flown? Or will it not fly at all?
It had not flown as of a couple of weeks ago. My source in AZ told me that they sent the 801 back to Nixon for some rework as they had some issues with the engine.
In light of Collings recent decision regarding their airworthy fleet, I fully expect this aircraft (White 1) to do a series of flight tests in Arizona and then be shipped/trucked to Stow for permanent static display at the AHM just like their 109 and several other previously airworthy aircraft have been.
I think the wave of the future is for Collings to fully restore all new restorations to airworthy, fly them a few times, them permanently park them at their museum. This does two things:
1) It gives them tremendous resale value should their aircraft ever be sold or traded (even with an expired annual/condition inspection);
2) It gives them bragging rights for claims/promotion/publicity and perhaps insurance replacement valuation (i.e.- only airworthy Stuka, etc.).
Yes, it's exciting, but I'm also bummed that unless you happen to be in Arizona for the test flight(s), which probably won't be announced, the vast majority of the public (including me) will never get to see this rare aircraft fly.