The hardest letter I've had to write...

[ME108 Taifun]

Well it is official. I've sent a letter to the CAF General Staff relinquishing and disbanding our sponsorship group for the ME-108 Messerschmitt.

Rising insurance costs, increasing ANUAC fees, etc., have made it impossible by our group to continue its sponsorship. The costs are just way too high.

Our biggest fear is that the CAF would decide to sell the airplane. That would be a travesty beyond words.

The airplane has been under the painstaking, loving care of our family for 34 years now. It's been a priority that has taken over family holidays, events, and graduations. We've spent thousands of hours at the airport restoring her into the airplane it is today.

So this is a very tearful goodbye.

[ME108 Taifun]

Oh and I should add we've put thousands of dollars into the airplane. At last count, I think we have 17 sponsorships on the airplane.

That's a good chunk of change.

[sandiego89]

Thank you for all your support and dedication. Know it must be hard. I apprecaite all those that help keep these birds in the public eye.

[SPANNERmkV]

Darned sorry to here this Taifun...

SPANNER
CAF-Gulf Coast Wing

[Rauhbatz]

Need to check my lotto ticket I bought over the weekend. As a CAF member if I hit it big the Me-108 will get a wing formed around it.

The original sports car with wings....

[Enemy Ace]

Could you please take the time to expand a little on what annual costs are to own/ sponsor such an aircraft? I really enjoy reading these types of analysis on the Beechcraft and Yak websites. Cost breakdowns are very educational to those who would like to own an aircraft some day. Most people do not believe me when I explain what it costs to hangar, annual, avionics checks, taxes, fuel per hour, Mx reserve etc etc etc....

[ME108 Taifun]

For those wanting to keep up with the Messerschmitt, an update to my last post.

N2231 the CAF's ME-108 Messerschmitt left Alamogordo December 18, 2014 enroute to its new home with the Third Pursuit Squadron in Upham, California.

It was a heartbreaking departure, and it has taken me a couple of weeks and the holidays to recover from the emotional goodbye to a friend our family invested "all in" as Steve Brown would like to say.

We are happy that the Third Pursuit Squadron has stepped up and has reassured us that the airplane will continue to receive the care it deserves. She a good ol' temperamental gal that needs a lot of TLC to keep her flying.

I and my sister hope to still be involved sponsors from afar. Besides which, I know we still have parts for the plane (including two engines) that are worth some value to the airplane. In settling my parents estate, we'll just have to figure out what they are worth money wise and go from there. We just won't "give" the parts away to the CAF. We certainly have given "enough."

Please support the Third Squadron in this endeavor.

Jackie (aka "The Fuel Lady)

[JohnB]

Circa 2001 the CAF squadron in Abilene, TX housed a 108..I believe it was a real 108 and not a Nord.
The owner died and the last I saw it, it was on a trailer headed out of town.

Is this that aircraft?
If not, does anyone know what happened to that aircraft?

[ME108 Taifun]

Circa 2001 the CAF squadron in Abilene, TX housed a 108..I believe it was a real 108 and not a Nord.
The owner died and the last I saw it, it was on a trailer headed out of town.

Is this that aircraft?
If not, does anyone know what happened to that aircraft?

No. Our airplane was in Alamogordo at the time in restoration. It might have been Robb Satterfield's ME-108 (which was a Nord).