Me109 Sabotage in Chino?

[Dan Jones]

Ok, now that I have your attention...

A couple of weeks ago I was in Chino and was wandering through one of the hangars at the Air Museum and discovered this, which I'm sure most of you are familiar with:











After looking it over closely though, I also discovered these in the left hand elevator:



Does anyone know the story here? Are these recently installed clecos, or was the airplane out flying like this? I've seen a C-46 vertical fin that, during an inspection, was discovered to be held together mostly by clecos that were installed in the factory (I still have several of them). French repair depot sabotage/shoddy work, maybe? Or just some fasteners that were added to it after it was salvaged?

Dan the curious (sorry Mudge!)

[aeroeng]

My guess is they were recently installed. They look in near perfect condition and very clean compared to the adjacent structure.

aeroeng

[DoraNineFan]

I say a video comment about the display sign somewhere. Strangely, it looks like it does spell "Ff109." Or am I seeing things?

[Dan Jones]

I say a video comment about the display sign somewhere. Strangely, it looks like it does spell "Ff109." Or am I seeing things?

You're right - blowing up the picture it does say "Ff 109" (printing shop goof, I guess.) I expect the clecos are new ones as well as you can see some new hardware used to attach the elevators. Without "hopping the fence" though, these were the only ones I could see. What incredible condition it's in.

Last edited by Dan Jones on Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[The Inspector]

Where's that bottle of detailer spray? That should buff out with no problem.
When I was @ RSTOL in NooAwlunz, one of the linemen in the hanger crushed the tip of the rudder on one of our customers 172's backing it into the hanger (we leased space from the former PAN-AIR @ Lakefront.) PAN-AIR removed the rudder and set about reskinning it @ their expense as it was their goof up. When they opened the rudder on the bench they found this 172 had been flying around since new (about 12 years) with two 1/4 inch spring clecos holding the rudder bellcrank to the rudder post- They were nasty and filthy and had some rust on them so we all agreed they'd been there since day 1.

[Elwyn]

Is this one listed on the Preserved Axis Aircraft website?

[Lynn Allen]

I understand it to be the next great work of art for the Friedkins with a real DB engine from Big Springs, Texas......

[pikas]

My guess is they were recently installed. They look in near perfect condition and very clean compared to the adjacent structure.

aeroeng

Hi ALL
Here is the story about this BF-109
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=39532&start=0