Me-262 Stormbirds @ 1998

[Ztex]

I ran across my photos of the Me-262's, sitting in the VFM hanger, just prior to their departure from Fort Worth.

Now the questions...the green nose airplane "White 3" has it flown? N-number?

And the blue nose two seater...is that the Collings bird? N262AZ?

Thanks
Z

[JimH]

here it is a couple years ago...to see it now go to sandersaircraft.com




jim

[roymcm]

"White 1" is now with the collings foundation:

http://www.collingsfoundation.org/ma_me262program.htm

[262crew]

Here is "blue nose" 501241 now with the Collings foundation.





Here is "Red nose" 501244 now in Germany also known as Tango Tango.





Here is "Green nose" now called yellow 5 this is a static plane. These are a few months old, it is near comletion and pictures will be up on the web site soon.

[Steve Nelson]

Is it just me, or are the caonpies on the single-seat reproductions a bit taller than the originals? I can certainly understand if they are..I got to sit in an original 262 once, and it was exremely cramped for a 6'2'' guy like myself.

SN

[262crew]

Is it just me, or are the caonpies on the single-seat reproductions a bit taller than the originals? I can certainly understand if they are..I got to sit in an original 262 once, and it was exremely cramped for a 6'2'' guy like myself.

SN

Yes the conopy on the single seat aircraft is a bit taller (towards the fwd frame). This is how the lexan was delivered to us from TAF. They did this to accommodate the pilot who may be a bit taller. I am 6'4" and the conopy works good for me, however being that the canopy and cockpit are rather narrow (not as narrow as an A-4) I could not imagine being in a dog fight and having to look over either shoulder to see what is behind me!

[aseanaero]

Warbirds being towed by a Jeep , I like it

[262crew]

Its a 1943 Willy's, and thats Tango fresh out of the paint shop.

[aseanaero]

It's amazing what an old Willys can pull

I've modified mine (CJ2a/MB hydbrid with a CJ5 hurricane 4cyl) so I can get 2 wheel drive low (removing the interlock pin) and it will pull 4 or 5 tonne ground service equipment at low speed around the airport with no problems.

[262crew]

It's amazing what an old Willys can pull

I've modified mine (CJ2a/MB hydbrid with a CJ5 hurricane 4cyl) so I can get 2 wheel drive low (removing the interlock pin) and it will pull 4 or 5 tonne ground service equipment at low speed around the airport with no problems.

Low end torque rules!

[aseanaero]

I read an article in an old copy of Pilot magazine (1986) about a guy with an avionics shop and a Vampire that was going to build a 262 , is this the same person ?

In the meantime some photos of my Willys in action at the airport.






Old Jeeps are brilliant for towing items around , and it looks cool too. Where else do you get a smile like that driving if you were driving an aircraft tug ? (the Jeep was on hand throttle and that's me hanging out for the photo)

[John Dupre]

I read an article in an old copy of Pilot magazine (1986) about a guy with an avionics shop and a Vampire that was going to build a 262 , is this the same person ?

It sounds like you are talking about Ed Stead of Stead Aviation, Manchester New Hampshire USA. That was my first job in aviation 1983. The Vampire was an ex Australian bird if I remember. He told me that he knew of unfinished Czechoslovakian versions of the Me 262 in storage in a museum and he hoped to buy one. In the end he bought a, ex Danish I believe, two seat Hawker Hunter. He did a great job of restoring it but it crashed on a test flight killing the test pilot. As I understand it the flight was briefed and fueled for a certain time frame and the pilot exceeded that resulting in a flame out short of the runway. The end result was a lawsuit that put Ed out of business.

[aseanaero]

Hi John,

Yes that's the guy Ed Stead.

What a sad ending to that story.

[Dave Cheeseman]

Does the Collings bird tour the airshow circuit in North America at all?

Cheers Dave C

[JimH]

The Collings bird will be joining us on tour when it is finished at Sanders. No firm date but we are planning on seeing it sometime around our Moffett Field stop. This year the tour will consist of the 24, 17, 51, and 262.

collingsfoundation.org for updates

jim harley