Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
I'm curious Chris, since your in the same country and speak the language, could you get in touch with Flugwerk and find out why they are making P-51's and not something a little more rare? I mean, there are a over 150 flying P-51 and there are less than 10 of most of the other WWII planes in flying condition, sometimes not any.
I'm sure the answer is the all mighty $$$$, but you know if they can sell 262's, then they could sell 190D's or He-162's or a Do-335 or heck, make a Zero from scratch.
Sorry, it just bugs me that we have types vanishing from existance, but they make types that there are hundreds of. GRRRRRRRRR
Ok, I'm off my soap box.
Actually, because of inconsistancies and subtle sabotage by the laborers, it was opted to stick to Willy's actual production blueprints and revisions to guarentee the aircraft didn't have any potential flaws.If I remember right, the 262s were built by doing a tear down of an existing original in the process of restoration. They aren't built from "plans", so there will be differences.
I believe Flugwerk has a pretty good approach to things. They were already building replacement components for Mustangs, so the step to a complete airframe isn't such a huge jump.
- Ivan.
If I remember right, the 262s were built by doing a tear down of an existing original in the process of restoration. They aren't built from "plans", so there will be differences.
- Ivan.
I know that the Collings has one but it's in major rebuild. Seems many problems in the systems of the "original" from the manufacturer so they have to do some major rebuilds.
Scott
Other than that it is a perfect reproduction, even the CG is 100% correct. The engines are also of the exact same weight as the original Jumo 004B's because of the casted block around the GE engine to give it the exact same dimensions of the Jumo 004.
Most experimental exhibition jets are issued an ops letter that will specify that. My guess the feds gave it "VFR Only."BTW, does anyone know if the repro Me's are rated for IFR? I suspect that, due to their nature, they are a VFR aircraft only.
Most experimental exhibition jets are issued an ops letter that will specify that. My guess the feds gave it "VFR Only."
Actually it might but its the FSDO that are reluctant to give and former military or "homebuilt" combat type jet aircraft IFR approval, the liability is too great. If they are going to do it, the feds will make sure the aircraft is operated away from large cities.That was my guess; the original Me's didn't have enough instruments to qualify them for modern-day IFR.
Perhaps the engines were derated, b ut the thrust is still considerably higher than the originals. The you-tube film describes them as maximimum speed 560 knots "just like the originals" which isn't really accurate.
- Ivan.
Yes, they are; IIRC, there is a sticker on the dashboard that ADVISES pilots NOT to exceed 560 KIAS, even though the a/c is fully capable of hitting 600 KIAS. Here is what the official website of the Me-262's, Stormbirds.com, has to say about that:
"In purely theoretical terms, the added power of the J-85 should give the new production Me 262s a speed advantage of at least 75 miles per hour over any previous generation Me 262.
The fact remains that the airframe was never designed to handle the stress loads encountered at speeds in the 600 mile per hour range. To push the aircraft into this environment simply because additional power "happens to be available" is a highly dangerous and ill-advised move.
In the interest of safety, the Me 262 Project will be placing a placarded airspeed limitation upon the jets in the vicinity of 500 MPH. The official position of the project is that there is simply no need -- or benefit -- in flying these aircraft any faster."