FW-189 OWL

[Jack Cook]

What's the progress on the one being restored???

FW-189 Owl captured in Austria May 1945

[warbird1]

You mean Paul Allen's? I don't think any work has been done to it since he bought it. I get the impression that it might be a while before we see it fly, if it ever flies again. Perhaps our Northwest reporters (Spookycat, Inspector, Hal B, etc.) can give an update on it if they know.

[A2C]

Nice picture. The T/W is in an odd place. A rough landing might rough it up.

[spookythecat]

Aside from him apparently adding one to the collection I have no other info. I hope it would be a flyer.

[gary1954]

The tail boom's look quite fragile. I imagine a hard landing kinda totals one of these.

[JDK]

Interesting remarks -

Nice picture. The T/W is in an odd place. A rough landing might rough it up.

The tail boom's look quite fragile. I imagine a hard landing kinda totals one of these.

Perhaps this is a reaction to the odd look of the type. The Uhu was actually designed for, and successful at army co-op operations operating from rough forward fields. The construction of the booms was effective, basic engineering 'beam' theory, and simply stronger than a single fuselage boom would be, as covered by that beam (and the box /cell) concept. The central tailwheel is vital, an offset one with offset loads or two (which would have the same effect over rough ground as an offset) would be counter productive. With mass on either side, like a dumbell, or a high-wire walker's bar, it adds stability to the rear.

The Uhu design was also better for mitigating combat damage, and the overall layout was excellent for view, forward, aft, up and down.

Not saying that was the views expressed above, but I personally find the 'if it looks right it'll fly right' axiom one of the most asinine in aviation; and probably the biggest brake on aviation progress. Plenty of very successful aircraft have looked odd - sometimes later being regarded as 'right' later after they'd proved themselves, from the F-4 Phantom II, the Warthog, the work of Rutan, and less unconventional types such as the Fw 189 and it's competitor the Blohm & Voss Bv 141 - which flew very well, but was too difficult to believe for the visual conservatives.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blohm_&_Voss_BV_141

(Designer Dr. Vogt used his brain instead of his fashion sense, and used the engine torque to balance the asymmetry.)

The 'Cross of Lorraine' layout is just one of the possible plan views from aircraft, and while often the best answer for a requirement, isn't always.

As they say, discuss.

[Oscar Duck]

Canadian or British pattern truck in the background!

[The Inspector]

You can never tell about the status of any of VULCANS projects, they happen as they occur.
Their two seat A6M has been sitting inside the FHC hall sans cowlings and some other bits and pieces for two years now and I never see so much as an additional screw installed whenever I visit the place and it always looks like two long, hard weekends of dedicated work would complete it's restoration, but then again they've been through SEVERAL directors of Maintenance in the past couple of years, so I don't hold out a great deal of hope for my seeing the 189 flying in my lifetime-

[astixjr]

I've got some photos of the FW-189 that came out of the former Soviet Union. I assume it's the same one that Paul Allen has now? I may have posted some photos of it on WIX a few years ago. I'll do a search. If I remember correctly, there was no evidence of a large post impact fire so the plane was more or less "all there". The paint markings were in remarkable shape considering how long it had been outside.

[JDK]

I've got some photos of the FW-189 that came out of the former Soviet Union. I assume it's the same one that Paul Allen has now?

Yes, there is only one survivor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focke-Wulf ... #Survivors

[edit] show us the pics!

[astixjr]

Here you go JDK. Finding the photos was the easy part. Finding the notes on this airplane will be more of a challenge. I think Dimitri Sokolski took these photos for me but it might have been Boris Ositinski. I've got some video of it somewhere in the basement but I think its in SECAM or PAL format. I'm glad to hear this plane has found a good home. It's not often that something comes back from being extinct. Now, if we can just find a B-32 Dominator somewhere on the Russia tundra.

JDK, I know I still owe you the Sh-2 photos. I suck. The photos are done and scanned. The box is on my desk at work so I'll try to get it out this week. My Italian Schiavi flexo press runs on German Bosch Rexroth Indramat servo drives and the two have not been getting along for the last three weeks. I call it my "Axis of Evil" press. Not much time for airplane stuff right now.

[tom d. friedman]

i'm well aquainted with the fw 189, but i never gave it any thought that there were 2 owls in the luftwaffe.... the fw 189 & the he 219!!

[JDK]

Here you go JDK.

Great stuff Albert, nice to see.

JDK, I know I still owe you the Sh-2 photos. I suck. The photos are done and scanned. The box is on my desk at work so I'll try to get it out this week.

Don't worry, there's no hurry. If you are going to be at Osh, we could meet up there?

Cheers,

[MattP38]

Thanks for calling this one out Jack and that's an excellent picture. Do you mind if I save it?

I found out about the 189 a few years ago and have been wondering what's the latest on the status since progress got awful quiet awful fast. I would love to see it fly.

[Jack Cook]

Have at it