This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Wed Feb 26, 2025 5:18 pm
It's N108TN, a Nord N.1002 Pingouin.
Wed Feb 26, 2025 6:40 pm
Is anyone a Bf-108/Nord fan or maintain a registry?
I 'd like to know which example was in Abilene, Texas circa 2000.
I saw it once in the back of the CAF hangar, but no one knew much about it.
Later I heard its owner passed away.
Quite by chance, I saw it on a trailer (with wings folded) heading west on I-20 in 2003/4.
Just curious about the airframe.
It looked quite nice and was said to be airworthy.
BTW: I was watching my the old film Mosquito Squadron on cable (MGM+) the other night and they used 108s (or Nords) as Bf-109s. For side views, I prefer seeing them in films as opposed to Buchons.
Thu Feb 27, 2025 2:59 am
I believe the Mosquito Squadron Nord 1002s were subsequently ferried across the Atlantic by Martin Caidin and A N Other - the Other aircraft ditched alongside a village on a Canadian estuary, both crew escaping with some of their kit.
I heard of a further pair also making the crossing and one was parked on the Greenland ice cap! Tony Haig-Thomas had been asked to fly it but was prevented from doing so by his RAF employers! (Possibly actually the first pair and Tony got the place of the engine failure wrong?)
Edit: Per a Flypast thread, it was Jeff Hawke rather than Martin Caidin who led the ferry of the first pair, Martin Caidin certainly owned one as documented in his Ragwing book wherein appears the tale of the ferry flight. Where lurks my copy...?
Fri Feb 28, 2025 1:39 pm
Martin Caidin was extremely eccentric and eventually died of a brain tumor. (Super nice guy and gave a lot of free rides in his JU-52) , but that was very foolish to fly those across the Atlantic. they have folding wings and could've been shipped easily. The Renault engines were tired and unreliable and many of the Ratier hollow steel props had corrosion. My dad had the one pictured,. N108TN and we had to make engine and other parts from scratch as the aircraft were sold without any spares except a used engine or two.
Fri Feb 28, 2025 1:39 pm
Martin Caidin was extremely eccentric and eventually died of a brain tumor. (Super nice guy and gave a lot of free rides in his JU-52) , but that was very foolish to fly those across the Atlantic. they have folding wings and could've been shipped easily. The Renault engines were tired and unreliable and many of the Ratier hollow steel props had corrosion. My dad had the one pictured,. N108TN and we had to make engine and other parts from scratch as the aircraft were sold without any spares except a used engine or two.
Fri Feb 28, 2025 5:48 pm
On the subject of 108s, does anyone know what happened to the one Cliff Robertson used to keep at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo? I can't remember whether it was an original or a Nord. I know it got sold ages ago, but I've never been able to find out what happened to it. The only info I've gotten is a rumor that it was in Missouri somewhere.
Fri Feb 28, 2025 6:48 pm
Hooligan2 wrote:I believe the Mosquito Squadron Nord 1002s were subsequently ferried across the Atlantic by Martin Caidin and A N Other - the Other aircraft ditched alongside a village on a Canadian estuary, both crew escaping with some of their kit.
I heard of a further pair also making the crossing and one was parked on the Greenland ice cap! Tony Haig-Thomas had been asked to fly it but was prevented from doing so by his RAF employers! (Possibly actually the first pair and Tony got the place of the engine failure wrong?)
Edit: Per a Flypast thread, it was Jeff Hawke rather than Martin Caidin who led the ferry of the first pair, Martin Caidin certainly owned one as documented in his Ragwing book wherein appears the tale of the ferry flight. Where lurks my copy...?
Loved Caidin's excuse for the ditched one running out of fuel. "The fuel system design had a standpipe and it got a bubble of air in it and wouldn't allow fuel to flow." Um, yeah. Last time I checked, the viscosity of fuel allows it to run downhill in virtually any circumstances.
Fri Feb 28, 2025 7:09 pm
This site has not been updated in over 10 years but still contains lots of information
on preserved Axis Aircraft.
This page of it is just for Bf 108/ Nord N 1002 info and photos (anything highlighted in blue has a photo).
https://axis.classicwings.com/
Tue Mar 04, 2025 2:02 pm
Thanks to quemerford and marine air for the replies. That means the Nord is identified. I noticed that the plane has been de- registered. And the owner apparently passed away a couple of years ago. Hopefully the plane will return to the air at some time.
T J
Sat Mar 15, 2025 6:40 am
Funnily enough G-OTME, the former N108E, just passed over my head in Suffolk, UK. First one I've seen in quite a while. Lycoming O-540 under the bonnet apparently...
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