Visit at Hangar 10 Air Fighter Academy, Heringsdorf/Germany

[redvanner]

If you ever happen to be in the eastern parts of Germany for holidays, for business or whatever, you definitely should plan to visit Air Fighter Academy´s facility in Hangar 10 at Heringsdorf airport on the island of Usedom. I did so last week, and was impressed by the ever expanding collection of the Schuelke family. They aquired and are aquiring warbirds at an impressive rate. At the moment of my visit there were 10 a/c present in hangar 10, 7 of them airworthy, 2 static and 1 wreck. They plan to / display the a/c representing 4 Nations: Britain, Russia, USA and Germany, showing each country´s trainer and fighter aircraft. Starting from left to right when entering were (airworthy) a DH Tiger Moth, Yak 9 UM, Po-2, Boeing Stearman, AT 6, Hispano HA-1112 Buchon (the Ex-Kindsvater one) and Buecker 131 Jungmann. Sadly missed was their P-51 D Mustang Big Beautiful Doll. Static Replica were a Bf-109 G-14, and a Fw 190 D-9 (fuselage pics only), under construction. Expected is delivery of Spitfire T9 MJ 772, very near to first flight at MeierMotors, and of TF-51 Serial No. 44-63473 , under construction at MeierMotors as well. Also expected in the (near) future is an airworthy Bf-109 E-3 currently under restoration in Britain. In future it is planned to buy a FW 190 and a Fieseler Storch.
Additionally a workshop will be opened to the public showing minor repairs and sheetmetal work.
When I entered the hangar, Mr. and Mrs. Schuelke were showing a group of visitors around, explaining the collection and each a/c in detail. They kindly invited me to join and even repeated the missed parts. There are information booths for every Nation, where there are stories told about the regular airman, in contrast to the heroes worshipped elsewhere.
Mr. Schuelke even invited me to take place in the 109 G-14 Replica, and I have to say it is quite narrow. Due to my mere 5.8 feet i could sit with enough headroom, but the guy who was first to take place in the pilots seat nearly banged his head. I will go there again, if I´ll get the opportunity, I would strongly recommend it to you as well.

Michael

DH 82


Yak 9


Po-2


Fw 190 D-9


Boeing Stearman


AT-6


HA-1112


Buecker 131 Jungmann


Bf-109 G-14


Bf-109 E wreck


Some more pics here:
http://s281.photobucket.com/albums/k...cpZZ1QQtppZZ20

Info here (German only at the moment):
http://airfighteracademy.com/

P.S.: If you like to drink your beer tapped in style, you can get your glass in the restaurant, coming out of a Walter Minor engine, lol.

[Warbird Kid]

I've been wondering about this Air Fighter Academy where all these aircraft have been going! Thanks for these shots!

[JohnTerrell]

Thank you, Michael, for sharing these photos from your visit to this new collection, and about their continued expansion!

With a similar thought to what Warbird Kid has posted, with all of the warbirds going to Europe and being moved around Europe in recent years, the warbird presence and population throughout Europe has changed a lot. For instance, recently in a post in one of the threads about the "Red Tails" movie, someone mentioned that there likely weren't 10 Mustangs flying in Europe (in regards to being able to pull that amount together for a large-enough formation for film work). This older thought, is actually not true anymore, based on this list I put together of all of the Mustangs within Europe, that are either flying or very close to flying at this time (not to mention all those under restoration to fly, throughout Europe):

-Jumpin Jacques
-Lucky Lady VIII
-Nooky Booky IV
-TF-51 USAF (D-FTSI)
-Miss Helen
-Ferocious Frankie
-Marinell
-Janie
-Old Crow
-Bare/Factory (D-FBUN)
-Miss Velma
-D a m n Yankee
-Trusty Rusty
-It's About Time
-Scat VII
-Excalibur (soon to arrive, if it hasn't already)

If they were to all show up at one European air show, it would be almost like the Mustang presence at Oshkosh! ; )

[Warbird Kid]

I noticed just now, no love for a Zero or a replica K5Y Willow?

[M.P.]

Thanks for the pictures. Did the owner tell some more detail about the Fw 190 D9 project?

[redvanner]

Thanks for the pictures. Did the owner tell some more detail about the Fw 190 D9 project?

No Manfred, he did not. What I do know is, that this static project is managed / provided by the Austrian company Sandy Air Corp. , as he mentioned the owner, Mr. Falch, who was supervising the completion of the project in situ. It might be the Fw 190 D-9 "White 16" as it is mentioned on Sandy Air Corp. Website. But I do not have any confirmed knowledge if or if not this might be true. What I can confirm is that this is a non-flyer as is the G-14 (also provided by Sandy Air Corp.). They are strictly static. This was stated by Mr. Schuelke, he even hinted at the possibility of opening the pilot seats of the static exhibits to visitors in the future. If this is intended to be by appointement only, I do not have any idea. During my visit he offered the invitaion freely, so I did accept. It was an eye-opener. But you might pm me if you`d like to know more details. If you prefer even in German,

Michael