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Re: Fw190
* Hi
I can't really believe the amount of criticism here. This is a static rebuild/restoration whatever you want to call it. There are probably flying examples with the same % of original material as this static. Does any really look that bad? Looks like a static Fw190D-9 to me.
On the ID, 400616 is recorded in Axel Urbanke's book 'Green Hearts First in Combat with the Dora 9'. 13th Feb 1945 400616 Fw190D-9 'White 16' of 9./JG54 shot down by P-47's of 22FS near Hübingen/Montabauer - 100% Uffz Günther Koch was killed in the crash. My one query would be whether 400616 should have a black/white tail band of JG54 for the period in question but this is a minor point.
The remains of the airframe were recovered in the 1980/90's (Axel and a group of friends excavated a number of JG54/JG26 Fw190's and it is possible this was one). If not it was another German recovery team.
In 2008 Sandy Air purchased the wreckages including the engine, two extra Jumo 213s and more D9 parts from a German collector who had had these parts since the early 1990s.
I have heard the following. Fw190 A8 replica is still in storage with the Meier Motor brothers and was not used for this rebuild. There is a small section of the cockpit that was made by Flugwerk but neither the wing, nor the tail, nor the fuselage.
Whatever the case, I think it looks like a great Fw190D-9. There are not many examples out there and I don't think there is any in Europe so I can't see why this would not be a suitable example for a museum.
Harrison, you seem to 'know' a lot about the ins and outs of Sandy Air Corp? Perhaps you have heard this first or second hand but have you actually spoken to Wolfgang at Sandy Air Corp concerning the projects he as actually worked on?
Nearly every restoration has numerous sub contractors. They are paid for their services but are not always names. Suppose it depends of how big a proportion they undertake. Think it is less of an issue with static restorations.
Can't think of any static restoration, rebuild or modern interpretation of any WWII aircraft costing just $25,000. Material and labour costs would be way higher than that.
There are also a number of aircraft flying that were 100% loses. The ID and originality often depends on how much original material was recovered, not necessarily reused.
I would not be as vocal in making statements concerning a company as what you are stating could be classed as 'damaging' and could be worthy of legal action.
I knew Wolfgang from the P47 'Dottie Mae' recovery in 2005. I have no connection to the company but think the criticism is unwarrented.
regards
Mark
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