Messerschmitt Bf-109E-4 Red 12 WN-1983 ...

[Mark Allen M]

Another great creation.


Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1515336032038325
2023-03-17 Hangelar airfield near Bonn Germany
Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 , WN-1983, Red 12 (D-FEML) DB engine
Owner Eberhard Thiesen
Archive photo 2023 of Helmut Schmidt





Photos below: Udo Schumpe
https://www.facebook.com/groups/4456587 ... 3718632182

[DH82EH]

ummmm.. ....WOW!!

[Pat Carry]

Looking good!

[Jesse C.]

Simply gorgeous!

I am not on facebook, so can someone give me the quick bio on this bird?

Thanks!

[JohnTerrell]

The remains of the aircraft were recovered near Murmansk, Russia in 1993, where it had crashed on January 24, 1942 when operated as part of 5./JG5. The fuselage was rebuilt by Craig Charleston and the wings were rebuilt by Hartmair Leichtbau. The DB 601 fitted to the restoration was rebuilt by Sigi Knoll and Karl Vogt. It was taxi-tested in 2017, but issues were found with the engine which required more attention (the engine could be seen being worked on/tested on a ground stand at Manching for a while). With the engine refitted, Klaus Plasa did some more ground tests with the aircraft in 2022, but it did not fly. Recently, when those latest photos were taken, the aircraft had been undergoing more ground tests, this time with Charlie Brown in the cockpit. As of yet it has not flown.

Here are some Peter Arnold photos taken when it was under restoration at Charleston's shop in England in the early 2000s. It was described as the finest of the three Bf 109E restorations that Charleston had done to-date.

[AG pilot]

It looks like a Bowden cable running to the tailwheel fork assembly. Has this been added, or is this standard fare for a Bf-109E-4?

[lmritger]

It looks like a Bowden cable running to the tailwheel fork assembly. Has this been added, or is this standard fare for a Bf-109E-4?

That's very much a non-standard cable in that photo - almost looks like a grounding strap.

As to the aircraft itself:

[Zac Yates]

There are some superb photos there, what a gem that machine is! Thank you for the background info, JT: I'd forgotten there was a third Charleston machine.

I hope she's able to fly displays - I can only imagine how excited European enthusiasts would be to see and hear an Emil in action.

[Sopwith]

That’s a really good looking aeroplane. Hope one of the magazines does an in depth article on her recovery and restoration, unless it’s already been covered and I missed it.

[JohnTerrell]

The aircraft was successfully test flown today from its home airfield, Bonn-Hangelar, piloted by well-known English warbird pilot, Charlie Brown.

[Scott Rose]

Great looking aircraft. I love the 109 but always thought it looked awkward on the ground, like it;s on its tippy toes or something.

[Firebird]

The aircraft was successfully test flown today from its home airfield, Bonn-Hangelar, piloted by well-known English warbird pilot, Charlie Brown.

Charlie adds yet another original Bf.109 serial to his extensive logbook.....as well as another first flight of one.

[JohnTerrell]

Here is some video of the aircraft in operation at Hangelar. Mr. Brown has done three or four test flights in the aircraft this week.

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, the aircraft operated with 5./JG5 and was forced down by Hawker Hurricanes during combat near Murmansk, Russia in January 1942. The aircraft was recovered in 1993. The main body of the restoration/rebuild, including fuselage, tail, cowls, cockpit, landing gear, etc., was done by Craig Charleston in the UK, and the wings and some other components were restored/rebuilt by Hartmair Leichtbau in Germany. It was reported some years ago that the DB 601 fitted to the aircraft was rebuilt by Sigi Knoll and Karl Vogt (at the Messerschmitt Foundation, Manching, Germany), and Dirk Bende has been involved with the engine more recently, getting it consistently running correctly. I would suspect Skycraft in the UK was responsible for the propeller, since they did those for the other two airworthy Bf 109Es (currently not flying, but hopefully soon-ish).

[Zac Yates]

I would suspect Skycraft in the UK was responsible for the propeller, since they did those for the other two airworthy Bf 109Es (currently not flying, but hopefully soon-ish).

It amuses me greatly that the normal source for Spitfire propeller blades is Germany and that 109 units are done in the UK!