EX CAF BUCHON - HAS IT LEFT YET?

[markstringer]

Hi guys.

Anybody know if the ex caf buchon has left for Duxford yet? it was due over at the end of march.

Will it need a complete overhaul or will it be able to join the airshow circuit straight away?

cheers

[retroaviation]

Unfortunately, it has not left yet. We have been struggling to obtain the export license for the shipment of the aircraft overseas, but should be getting quite close to that finally happening. I don't know the exact plans for the aircraft, but it is my suspicion that it will be completely restored before it flies.

Gary

[OZFURYFAN]

Hi Gary,must have missed the news on this,can you tell me who/where its going,regards,Pete

[Bill Greenwood]

I don't know details of the Buchon, but I have looked at it and it looks fairly complete inside. I wonder in teh engine was preserved in nay way when it quit flying? It would have be great if someone here had bought and renewed it, but it will probably be more appreciated in England.

[Bill Greenwood]

I don't know details of the Buchon, but I have looked at it and it looks fairly complete inside. I wonder in the engine was preserved in any way when it quit flying? It would have be great if someone here had bought and renewed it, but it will probably be more appreciated in England.

[Chad Veich]

I don't know details of the Buchon, but I have looked at it and it looks fairly complete inside. I wonder in teh engine was preserved in nay way when it quit flying? It would have be great if someone here had bought and renewed it, but it will probably be more appreciated in England.

I thought it just went through a complete restoration with the CAF?

[retroaviation]

I'm not at liberty to mention the owner's name at this time, but I'm sure that it'll be made public at some point. And no, the airplane did not undergo a complete restoration with us, although I heard that rumor as well. The firewall forward area was worked on and looked nice, along with the original hydraulic system being replaced with something else, but other than that, it seemed to me to be the same ol' Buchon that it always was. It'll be greatly taken care for now and I look forward to seeing it's real restoration in due time.

Gary

[Warbird Kid]

It’s so sad to see another flyable axis fighter leave our shores! But I can understand why the CAF made the decision to "trim the fat" and start to streamline their operation. That still doesn’t change the fact that were now 1 109 less!

Ohhh, now I need to get my mind on something else! Quick! Somebody, how many 109's are being restored for flight in the US?

Wait I just found this site.
http://www.adlertag.de/heute/restoration.htm

It’s sad to see that Axis fighters aren’t appreciated as much as their American and British counterparts in the US. If I had the chance, I would make sure I represented both sides of the conflict. I mean c'mon what else would you fly for a photo mission besides 2 opposing fighters?

[Warbird Kid]

reposts

Last edited by Warbird Kid on Tue Apr 15, 2008 5:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Warbird Kid]

i hate reposts

Last edited by Warbird Kid on Tue Apr 15, 2008 5:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[51fixer]

It’s so sad to see another flyable axis fighter leave our shores! But I can understand why the CAF made the decision to "trim the fat" and start to streamline their operation. That still doesn’t change the fact that were now 1 109 less!

Ohhh, now I need to get my mind on something else! Quick! Somebody, how many 109's are being restored for flight in the US?

Wait I just found this site.
http://www.adlertag.de/heute/restoration.htm

It’s sad to see that Axis fighters aren’t appreciated as much as their American and British counterparts in the US. If I had the chance, I would make sure I represented both sides of the conflict. I mean c'mon what else would you fly for a photo mission besides 2 opposing fighters?

They aren't exactly fun to fly. You would have to really love that airplane to want to fly it for many hours. For the money and the cost per hr to fly other airplanes stand out as being easier to operate, have better performance and have better ground handling characteristics.
Rich

[Warbird Kid]

Does that just go for the 109 because of its ground handling characteristics? Surly a 190, Zero, Tony, 262, Oscar, so forth must have positive and negatives attributes as well.

I don’t know, when I make my millions I hope ill still want an axis bird or two!

[Bill Greenwood]

A genuine Me 109 must be one of the most important military planes of all time, certainly in the top 3 or 4 in fighters. The Buchon or Spanish Ha 109 is the nearest aproximation for most of us. It does have the reputation for difficult ground handling. Steve Hinton said the real ME flies a lot better than the HA. The Me 109 was a good performer, superior to P-40, early Allison P-51, and gave Hurricanes a good battle. It was close enough to the Spitfire and Mustang to still be a formidable oppenent even late in the war, especially if flown by one of the top German aces. It is a shame it is not on the airshow circuit more. Just a few years ago Skip Holm brought one from California to Oshkosh. He parked beside my plane,never said a word to me, nor flew in the warbird show. Whoever was deciding such things didn't seem to care and neither they nor Skip ever talked to me about flying together, so the opportunity passed.
For every pilot who can fly a 109 with skill and confidence there are hundreds who can fly a T-34, or maybe T-28, or L-39 without risking a mishap. I don't think I'd ask to fly one at this point, but I would sure like taxi one and get the feel and experience of it.
A Zero by contrast is reputed to be very easy to fly and land.