He-115 Seaplane Found and Raised From Sea off the Norwegian Coast

[imalko]

Title says it all, German seaplane recovered from fjord 70 years after it sank in very good condition. Check the link for full story, pictures and video:

German seaplane recovered from depths of fjord 70 years after it sank raising hopes it could fly again | Mail Online

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Now that is amazing! Great condition. Can't wait to see it restored!

 

[N4521U]

That's in better shape than Me! an I'm a year younger!

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

WOW!!! What a find! I am with Adler, hope they can restore it back to flight status!

 

[Airframes]

Great stuff. This was posted here a few weeks ago, and I'm wondering if that's why we haven't seen much of Guttorm on the forum lately.

 

[Erich]

it is a great find covered by all the major LW forums on the net nearly day by day progression. a couple of good videos are available on this bird rising

 

[proton45]

Amazing...thanks for "heads up". I'm not sure I would have seen the article, if not for your post.

 

[Oreo]

Good to see. I hope they are taking all the necessary steps to prevent salt-water corrosion. Once you bring those wrecks to the surface you only have a short period of time to halt the process.

 

[A4K]

They are Oreo. It was mentioned on the other post that the aircraft will be completely stripped down and all parts bathed in open tanks of solution for 2 years.

 

[baclightning]

Amusing that the photo in the article captioned "Wartime Nazi bomber: The Heinkel He-115 flying boat, pictured during World War Two..." actually shows a Finnish He 115, and as noted in the comments, it's a seaplane, not a flying boat! Great find, though. I love it when seemingly "extinct" aircraft are recovered.

 

[Procrastintor]

2 years? I'm a bit of a noob in the plane restoring stuff but is 2 years necessary?

 

[Gixxerman]

Nice, I remember making one of these as a kit back in my younger model-making days.
Handsome looking plane the He115, considering its been in sea water this one is in incredible condition, something to do with the very cold temp of the water?

 

[Gnomey]

Very cool! Looks in great condition too.

 

[Denniss]

2 years? I'm a bit of a noob in the plane restoring stuff but is 2 years necessary?

It takes a loong time to wash-out all the salt to prevent corrosion.

 

[Erich]

note it is LW not Finnish, the unit has been ID'd on other forums. more pics

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chcmech/sets/72157630045760546/with/7168977745/

 

[herman1rg]

Will be great if it flies again

 

[A4K]

Heres Maria's original post with video of the recovery: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/aviation/heinkel-he-115-b-c-raised-bottom-fjord-norway-32937.html

 

[imalko]

I must have missed that somehow.

 

[A4K]

No worries Igor, better 3 times than not at all! (Beaupower 32 also posted a thread on it )

 

[yulzari]

Does anyone know the fate of the Heinkel He115s operated by the RAF? I know one burnt out on the Tunisian coast when landing agents possibly 1941 probably 1942. I understand this was their normal role from Malta. Presumably they could have done the same from Scotland into Norway.