Russell Group 109 vs FHC 109 ....

Sorry to hear about the RG 109 mishap ... sad! ... questions:
What are the main differences between the two? powerplants different or the same?, replica vs somewhat original? history? .... and who here, besides me, have very little interest in "Spanish Buchons" painted as Luftwaffe 109's?

And last question: who would love to see the two fly together someday? ...

[gregv]

Hellcat

both, I believe, are the product of Craig Charleston's workshop, and I think both engines are from Vintage V-12's; don't quote me on this though. They are both "original" Bf-109E's, as built during the second world war, and both have combat history; the RG example I believe was flown at one point by none other than Hans Joachim Marseille, and was rebuilt from what was unearthed from a French beach. The FHC example I think came from Russia, but I'm going on memory here.

As far as "replica vs somewhat original" that would depend on your view of what defines each of those terms; I have the feeling that while both aircraft may contain a high percentage of Messerschmitt parts, how much is original to the werke numbers in question could be an interesting, and guaranteed eventually heated, conversation. Let's just rightly say that both are beautiful and extremely authentic examples of the breed that we warbird enthusiasts are very very lucky to be able to see, especially in their original liveries, and leave it at that.

Try here for some history on each:

http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com/

Hope the "RG" get their example back flying soon, and I wouldn't want to be on the other end of Mr. Russel's legal team. Ever.

cheers

greg v.

P.S. I'd love to see some "Buchons" in their original liveries, or at least in their original BOB movie paint. Especially the two seater that Connie Edwards has; see here:

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... ht=springs

[Hawkeye]

Your right Greg, just backwards. It was the Russell Group 109 that was recovered from Russia by Jim Pierce and flown by Marseille. The FHC example is the one that was recovered from a beach. From Preserved Axis Aircraft: 1,5 wings, main spar and u/c legs were recovered from a beach in France in 1988. Extensively rebuilt.

[gregv]

Dangit!

thanks for the corrections Hawkeye.

gv

[Speedy]

.... and who here, besides me, have very little interest in "Spanish Buchons" painted as Luftwaffe 109's?

I'm only answering because you 'asked'.

I personally like the Spanish HA-1112's. I think they look just different enough to be interesting. A couple years ago at Duxford I was going through the hangers and saw a Buchon and for the first time in my life kind of shrugged it off as "JUST" a Buchon, after seeing a half a dozen real 109's in the previous days.

But it's still a Buchon, and they still look cool painted in Luftwaffe markings....just like I still enjoy seeing the CAF Tora planes fly, even if they're not the real McCoy.

Now...if you want to talk about guys who own North American/Ryan Navions, and try to pass them off as L-17's...especially painted in wild paint jobs that no self-respecting L-17 EVER wore...that kind of makes me shake my head and think "these guys need to lay off the crack".

Just my .02

[DarenC1]

I personally love the Buchon - that front end gives an already sinister aircraft a much more mean-looking appearance.

The ex-OFMC Buchon (the one that Mark Hanna was fatally injured in) looked stunning in the original incarnation of its Defence of the Reich scheme...