Raising a He-219

[beaupower32]

Plane Talking - HyperScale's Aircraft Scale Model Discussion Forum: Raising a He 219

Looks to bad a shape for a restoration, but then again, never say never.....

 

[A4K]

A real He 219..??!!! FANTASTIC whatever the condition!!!

 

[woljags]

be nice to get this with the body thats restored i think in the U.S to make a complete aircraft

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

According to the link in BikerBabes thread they plan on restoring it for static display.

 

[Crimea_River]

be nice to get this with the body thats restored i think in the U.S to make a complete aircraft

The NASM has the complete aircraft Bob. The wings were in for painting not too long ago and will be mated to the fuselage eventually.

Been follwing this story on LEMB for some time. Lots more pics here: He-219

 

[woljags]

Thanks for the heads up Andy on the U.S aircraft,makes you wonder why a secret type was deployed over Norway and not kept for home defense,do we know how the heinkel was lost

 

[Crimea_River]

Full details and discussion here. He 219 found in Denmark !!! - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum.

Let me know if you can't access it in which case I can summarize the discussion tonight.

 

[Thorlifter]

With planes that are in this condition, I just do see the point in restoring them (only referring to cost). If it's just going to be static, I would think it would be cheaper to just manufacture the shell, the glass, and paint it. It wouldn't need all the braces and much of the frame, wiring, etc. I would think that would be much cheaper and much faster also.

 

[Gnomey]

Very cool!

I agree Thor, although in some respects it would be good to see it in its unrestored state displayed next to a replica shell of one. Although if cost was no factor to see it restored would be the best outcome I think.

 

[GregP]

Thor, I hope you never reach a position of authority in a museum. Your proposal is great for a casual display, but not for a historically correct presentaion.

At our museum (Planes of Fame) we FLY them, not just resore them to static. I'd MUCH rather see a flying He 219 than a fiberglass shell. Our annual airshow is in about 10 days and we'll have about 50 WWII warbirds FLYING at the show and another dozen or so displayed static. The fuel bill for the last flgiht where they are all in formation is over $20,000 ... but we DO it to let people see then FLYING.

Our reliability rate is outstanding. We had a Corsair abort two years ago for a wing folding problem but, other than that, no issues with the planes other than flat tires occasionally ... they fly a bit later. Really, the WWII engine and airframes are pretty amazingly reliable.

 

[A4K]

I wouldn't want either version. Fibreglass repros look as good as they sound (...), and too many freak accidents lately with classic warbirds written off to see a rare bird like this in the air (latest case in point the XF-8F Bearcat ).

Rather see the rarer birds restored (ACCURATELY), if even to taxiing or airworthy standard , and preserved safe and sound in a museum display or hangar where the engines can be run up from time to time.
(Note this does not include the more common aircraft types like the Mustang or Spitfire, which are around in numbers these days)

 

[woljags]

thanks for the link,it seems there are no records of this aircraft in this area although they have now found an eye witness to the event ,makes you wonder if it was someone fleeing capture and was unlucky to get shot down or have some kind of failure on the aircraft,the very fact that it had many of its guns missing to me says it was being repaired and flown at very short notice,what do you all think chaps

 

[Crimea_River]

There are some true He 219 followers at TOCH that will likely get to the bottom of this story once they find the W Nr which should turn up.