The Coolest '109' on the Block?

[Bomber_12th]

Here are some photos of the just-completed Bf-109G-12 (the wartime designation given to the German modified dual-control G's), at MeierMotors in Germany, owned by the Hangar10 museum (also located in Germany - for which the reason there cannot be a swastika on the completed paint scheme). Weight and balance checks were completed today, and I hear that the first test flight is imminent

This aircraft was originally the Spanish-built Buchon that was owned/operated by Harold Kindsvater in the US for many years until it was sold to Hangar10 back around 2010. It was operated in Germany for a short time, in its original Buchon-form, including flying at the Duxford Flying Legends airshow in 2011, until the aircraft suffered a landing accident, requiring some significant repair work to fly again. Since the aircraft would already require some significant work to fly again anyway, Hangar10 seized on the opportunity to convert the airframe to a WWII-stock Bf-109G-12, to serve as a pilot-training and ride-selling platform for the museum (with the museum also owning two other stock single-seat Bf-109's (an E and a G-6) nearing completion to fly). The preserved two-seat Avia-built '109' at the Prague Aviation Museum helped to assist in the modifications required, as well as an original surviving set of German G-12 canopy framing. Firewall-forward, the aircraft has newly-built G-variant cowls, with a Volvo-built-under-license DB605 engine.

The completion of this project follows upon MeierMotors' completion of the Bf-109G-4 last year, owned/flown by the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach.

Photos below all courtesy of MeierMotors.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th001/bf109g12%20Genth_zpsoi5fiivi.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th001/bf109g12%20Genth_zpsoi5fiivi.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th001/13495529_901150083346419_9196081107354373287_o_zps zct2pq0j.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th001/13495529_901150083346419_9196081107354373287_o_zps zct2pq0j.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th001/13528647_901149930013101_3402268902595973910_o_zps btohcokp.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th001/13528647_901149930013101_3402268902595973910_o_zps btohcokp.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th001/13568818_1103013829744638_2230299561182098690_o_zp s1ju2n0sx.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th001/13568818_1103013829744638_2230299561182098690_o_zp s1ju2n0sx.jpg.html)

[Bomber_12th]

Original Luftwaffe pilot Karl Fritz was on hand during the aircraft's first engine runs the other day.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th001/13512053_901150073346420_5618530094507847585_n_zps xp4xjxsa.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th001/13512053_901150073346420_5618530094507847585_n_zps xp4xjxsa.jpg.html)

"Weight and Balance" just ahead of first flights.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th001/13559132_1103003953078959_8740656223543903817_o_zp sqeavhhaq.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th001/13559132_1103003953078959_8740656223543903817_o_zp sqeavhhaq.jpg.html)

[Bomber_12th]

The Hangar10 museum also has a Bf-109G-6 "Black 8" (new build, using some original parts/date plate) and a Flugwerk Fw-190 (the former French-example that ditched in the sea a number of years back) under restoration to fly at MeierMotors as well. Hangar10's Bf-109G-6, seen below, should also be flying very soon as well.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th001/12377742_993986917313997_8841089640396152678_o_zps j2dakyk0.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th001/12377742_993986917313997_8841089640396152678_o_zps j2dakyk0.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th001/920694_993986807314008_7397127237479579634_o_zps6d vk9zcd.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th001/920694_993986807314008_7397127237479579634_o_zps6d vk9zcd.jpg.html)

Hangar10's Flugwerk Fw-190 getting paint-

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th001/12764900_1030533223659366_5720887071867205958_o_zp se30zmov7.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th001/12764900_1030533223659366_5720887071867205958_o_zp se30zmov7.jpg.html)

[Bomber_12th]

Interestingly, the only other chance of riding in a '109' as a paying customer is currently underway in England, with the restoration of the two-seat Buchon that was used in/for the filming of the movie "Battle of Britain", and which had been one of the dozen or so Buchons that were sold last year, having been all owned/stored by Connie Edwards since the late 60's/early 70's.

[SPman]

Meiers turn out some stunning work. The G-12 looks almost to good to fly!

What's the bet Karl Fritz will be an early candidate for a back seat flight.

[MustangL2W]

Those BF's are Outstanding!! I never thought you could call a Messerschmitt "Beautiful." (Unless you were talking about a 262) It would be like calling an old Jack-knife you fished out of your pocket "Beautiful," and it isn't! It is just a tool! Hard to believe that the dual control is the Kindsvater Buchon. I last saw it at Oshkosh, ('04 if I remember right) and I believe it was Skip Holm who flew it. He basically assured those of us standing there that it wasn't "Fun" to fly. Said it was a real handful.

[Bomber_12th]

Here's the Bf-109G-4 that Meiers completed last year. Like the G-12 conversion, this one also was originally a Buchon, but had been converted many years ago for the USAF Museum, which then ended up selling it once they obtained an original. This one is owned by Jerry Yagen/Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, and having already been flight tested in Germany last year, the aircraft has been flying now in Virginia Beach since the "Warbirds Over the Beach" airshow last month.

This one is fitted with the larger "Tropical" oil cooler/lower cowl assembly, as fitted to some G-4's during the war, as it was deemed a safer route to ensure proper cooling in the warm Virginia Beach climate (help the engine last longer).

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th001/11270666_897807890265234_2426691683339115455_o1_zp suxh8yep6.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th001/11270666_897807890265234_2426691683339115455_o1_zp suxh8yep6.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th001/11879222_934934636552559_365697584960952980_o1_zps 38pxrtmf.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th001/11879222_934934636552559_365697584960952980_o1_zps 38pxrtmf.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th001/27337930781_6b626a0a65_o_zpsupr4e96v.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th001/27337930781_6b626a0a65_o_zpsupr4e96v.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th001/27337933041_50b80f808a_o_zpsuaqqzimm.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th001/27337933041_50b80f808a_o_zpsuaqqzimm.jpg.html)

[Obie311]

Gorgeous work! Thanks John for this and all your history lessons on WWII.

Obie

[huub vink]

The G-12 is definitely a very special aircraft, but for me not the coolest 109 on the block. For me the Bf109 E-3 from the Flying Heritage Collections is currently the coolest one around.

But that's purely a matter of personal taste.

Cheers,
Huub

[Bomber_12th]

The G-12 flew for the first time today, with renown English warbird pilot Charlie Brown at the controls. Here is video of the first takeoff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke58yaG2EXU

(Charlie Brown was also the one who test flew Jerry Yagen's Bf-109G-4, while it was still in Germany, last year, and of course he also flew the Bf-109G-2 "Black 6" quite a bit in the 90's).

[Bomber_12th]

On-board camera footage from the first test flight:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=759CIhZgXsw

[Victory103]

Pretty docile stall, barely a wing drop.