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Scramble 459
Czech Republic
It looks like somebody in the Czech Republic has lost his
interest in warbirds, as recently three have become avail-
able for sale. Two of the aircraft concerned are Sea Furies
N6243 (ES.8509), the former ‘Riff Raff’ and N1954H, which was
C-FGAT once. Both were flown in from the USA in 2012. They
are offered for sale by Courtesy Aircraft Sales for only $ 1.2
million. The third aircraft for sale is Stearman A75 N351AH
(75-12351) in USAAC colours with code ‘822’.
France
The Conservatoire de l’Air et de l’Espace d’Aquitaine owns an
interesting museum located at the military base of Bordeaux-
Mérignac. One of the current projects is Douglas Invader
44-35859 ( 29138 ). It is one of 155 A-26C-50-DT’s built by the
Douglas Tulsa factory and was delivered to the USAAF on 19
June 1945. With its designation changed into B-26C, it served
as a training aircraft at various Air Force bases until 1954. It
was then converted into an RB-26C at Hill AFB and shipped
to Germany the next year. It served the 10th Tactical Recon-
naissance Wing (USAFE), based at Spangdahlem AFB but
deployed to Rhein Main AFB. In April 1957 it was declared
surplus and stored at Châteauroux, France.
The Invader was then acquired by the Armée de l’Air, modi-
fied into a so-called B-26APQ13, and delivered on 16 June
1960. For a number of months it was flown by the CEAM
before the aircraft was passed on to the CIB 328. It was flown
as F-UKEY / 328-EY until January 1967, and retired at Châ-
teaudun in 1968. The aircraft then became a gate-guard at
Bordeaux-Mérignac, until it was dismantled by a CAEA team
in 2000. The latest stage in the Invaders restoration is the
recent installation of its starboard engine and propeller.
Top Gun Voltige is a flight school based at the airport of La
Roche sur Yon. Until now they have operated an Extra EA-300
(F-HTGV) and an Aero L-39. They recently had the brilliant
idea to add a Canadair CT-133 to their fleet. By Mid-June Cana-
dian built Silverstar C-FUPK was dismantled and shipped to
France. It is expected to be flown as from early 2018. C-FUPK
is former Canadian Armed Forces 133263 (T-33-263)
Germany
At Meier Motors the Messerschmitt Bf109 E-1 under restora-
tion for Robs Lamplough is making good progress. The almost
entirely new constructed fuselage was recently mated to the
original, restored, wings. The original fuselage was in bad
condition, and could only serve as a template for the new
one. This version of the Bf109 is one of the oldest known to
exist: it served with the (in)famous Condor Legion as C.5-88,
with fuselage code 6-88. It is believed to have been flown by
Hauptmann Siebelt Reents. It will be powered by an early
Daimler Benz engine, a DB-601.
After its successful first flight and transit to Heringsdorf last
year, two-seat Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-12 D-FMGZ has been
modified in a unique way. The aircraft was adapted with a
so-called Quick Engine Change System (QEC). This enables
the mechanics to easily switch from the original DB605 to the
new Rolls Royce Merlin 500-45 engine.
Therefore, D-FMGZ can use two engines, two propellers and
two cowling sets. Through an additional fuselage tank, the
aircraft’s radius has been doubled. As the Merlin engine is
much cheaper to operate, this will allow passenger carrying
flights. It is expected that these will soon be possible, maybe
even this autumn.
United Kingdom
Good news for the owners of Hawker Hunters on the UK Civil
Register. On 6 July 2017 the CAA withdrew the Safety Direc-
tive which grounded all Hawker Hunter aircraft on the UK
register. This Safety Directive was introduced in the imme-
diate aftermath of the tragic Shoreham airshow accident as
a precautionary and unprecedented measure. This action is
a result of the CAA concluding there were no airworthiness
issues relating to the Hawker Hunter aircraft that caused or
contributed to the accident. This is based on our own exten-
sive review and the AAIB’s final accident report. All aircraft
The Commemorative Air Force’s Gulf Coast Wing maintains and flies B-17G Flying Fortress 44-83872 named ‘Texas Raiders’, which is based at
Conroe North Houston Regional Airport in Conroe (TX). It was built in 1944 by Douglas Aircraft Corporation at the Long Beach (CA) plant under
license from Boeing. On 12 July 1945, the bomber was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps as a B-17G-95-DL and was one of the last twenty B-17s
built by Douglas. Within days these twenty B-17s were transferred to the U.S. Navy to serve as PB-1W Patrol Bombers and 44-83872 became BuNo
77235. From 1957 to 1967 the aircraft served as an aerial surveying platform at Aero Service Corporation, registered as N7227C. After several
restorations N7227C is in a better condition than ever and is regularly flown around the USA. In 2016 it was freshly painted, still representing a
U.S. Army Air Corps 8th Air Force, 1st Air Division, 381st Bombardment Group, 533rd Bombardment Squadron’s ‘heavy’. ‘Texas Raiders’ is seen
here during an airshow at Tyndall AFB on 23 April (Ramon Berk)
Warbirds
