Ki 27 replica destroyed, nobody hurt

Forgotten Field · **Posted:** Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:42 pm

Friends of mine were building a KI 27 replica out of an old air racer. Last night, the hangar burned down, total loss, including a disassembled Mooney. This occurred at Essex Skypark, W48, in Essex MD. They were pretty far along on the airplane, anticipating flying it late this year, or early next year.

RMAllnutt · **Posted:** Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:47 pm

That's very sad news John. I remember you telling me about this bird when I was out at your place a couple of years ago. I was really looking forwards to seeing it fly. I just found a website that seems to have been dedicated to this rebuild...

http://www.ki27.com/

Was this the one?

Richard

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:36 pm

How sad! I also heard about this project. I was waiting to see another japenese aircraft, no matter that it was a replica, now gone!

one of a kind that one. :cry:

MX304 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:44 pm

Forgotten Field wrote:

Friends of mine were building a KI 27 replica out of an old air racer. Last night, the hangar burned down, total loss, including a disassembled Mooney. This occurred at Essex Skypark, W48, in Essex MD. They were pretty far along on the airplane, anticipating flying it late this year, or early next year.

What racer were they using as a base?

Forgotten Field · **Posted:** Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:08 pm

That is the original pylon racer in the photo. That airplane was originally built with a cut-down BT-13 center section. They stretched the fuselage and grafted a mooney wing with a built-up fixed gear installation. It was very well done, and from 100 feet, you wouldn't have recognized it as anything other than a Ki-27. Very sad this happened- it's been in the works for several years. The people involved are very dedicated and this is quite a blow to them. I soloed at Essex and that is where I cut my teeth on the L-5. The place is like one big family and this is hard on all of us.

Jase · **Posted:** Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:02 pm

This sucks. I can just imagine how bad Norm Cliff & Tony are feeling....

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:10 am

How sad

I've been following that project via the site for a while now. How is his Corsair replica? Is it safe?

Forgotten Field · **Posted:** Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:22 am

The Corsair is being built in a different facility. It was undamaged. I'm on my way out to do overhaul today.

clangjr · **Joined:** Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:48 pm **Posts:** 106

I took my first lessons at Essex Skypark. That's a real shame. It's a good thing no one was hurt though.

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Ki 27 replica destroyed, nobody hurt

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