An old Messerschmitt gathering dust

[Tiki Tom]

As young Indiana Jones once said "this belongs in a museum."
Very haunting photos of old WWII war birds gathering dust in a Texas hanger.
Supposedly the collection is bigger than at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.
I'd love to have the opportunity to poke around in that old hanger; maybe be so bold as to climb into a cockpit.

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...-collector-ended-up-with-millions-6508767.php

 

[Otter]

http://www.urbanghostsmedia.com/201...arn-spitfire-messerschmitt-battle-of-britain/

Linkey to a lot of nice photos and a bit of history. These planes were used in the film Battle of Britain.

 

[Frunobulax]

Sounds like they're not there anymore. The article states they were all sold to collectors in their home countries.

 

[Stearmen]

As the article states, they belonged to Connie Edwards. They have been sold! After his son, Tex died, he lost all interest in them. I was fortunate enough to know both of them. Tragically, Connie's brother was killed in a P-51 crash, after that, the hanger doors were simply closed. It was very eerie to go in there, with all the tools and planes as they were left!

 

[foamy]

Those 109's are powered with Hispano-Suiza motors (hence the exhaust on top and the P-40-like air scoop/chin on the bottom) and built in Spain after the war. The motor changes the whole look IMO.

Edit: Just looked them up. Officially, they're Hispano Aviación HA-1112's. Developed from the Me-109 G.

 

[Stanley Doble]

Notice that he got them in leu of payment after they were used to make a movie in 1969. If he hadn't put them away and preserved them, there is a good chance they would have been scrapped in 1970.

 

[Stearmen]

Those 109's are powered with Hispano-Suiza motors (hence the exhaust on top and the P-40-like air scoop/chin on the bottom) and built in Spain after the war. The motor changes the whole look IMO.

Edit: Just looked them up. Officially, they're Hispano Aviación HA-1112's. Developed from the Me-109 G.

Actually, the great irony is, they were powered by Rolls Royce Merlin 500-45! Thus, bringing the Bf109 full circle, since the prototype was powered by a Rolls Royce Kestrel engine. http://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/visiting/about-the-air-tattoo/lookingback/looking-back-at-2015/aircraft-in-the-spotlight/ha-1112-m1l-buchn-g-awhk

 

[Stearmen]

 

[foamy]

Cool! Thanks for that bit of info. Nice link to some Me-109's flying as well!

I remember being a kid and hardly being able to wait for the Saturday matinee to go see The Battle of Britain, in which they were featured. I can't remember how many variants of the 109 I built as plastic models.

 

[MisterCairo]

An incredible collection. It's good to know they ended up in other collections vice the scrap yard, but wouldn't it have been great to keep the collection intact, in memory of its collector.

 

[Stearmen]

I thought some of you would like these photos! The first is Connie Edwards, with the CAF, mounting up in a Spitfire, while making Battle Of Britain. The second is his ultra rare two seat HA-1112 trainer. He took Adolf Galland for a ride in it. Needless to say, Galland showed him a thing or two about flying that airplane!

 

[Stearmen]

A couple of photos of a Hispano in flight. Just goes to show you how small the 109 family of airplanes were! An engine and a man.

 

[Otter]

What got me the first time I saw the cockpit on one I was struck by quiet how small and tight it was.

 

[Smithy]

We're restoring a G-2 at my work at the moment. Not too far off from being ready for display

 

[Otter]

Cool ! Any chance of some photos of the work in progress ?

 

[Smithy]

Cool ! Any chance of some photos of the work in progress ?

Hi Otter,

I'll see what I can do, I've currently only got some shitty photos on my mobile of the cockpit (basically finished). She's nearly ready for paint, just waiting for the wings to come back from Hungary and to finish a couple of other projects here which have been prioritised.

I entirely agree with what you guys have said, 109s are surprisingly small when you see them in the flesh. Small but lethal

Cheers,

Tim