Focke-Wulf 190 Starts For The First Time In 4 Years
classicfighters / YouTube
Bad Luck for the Focke-Wulf 190
ground looped and the undercarriage collapsed. | Kahu1958 / YouTube
In 2015, a glorious Focke-Wulf 190 took to the skies at the Classic Fighters Easter Airshow in Omaka, New Zealand. It would be her last flight for quite some time.
Experiencing a linkage failure to the brake, the rare German bird collapsed in a ground loop. The propeller was destroyed, wings damaged, and the engine needed to be switched altogether. Fortunately, the pilot, Frank Parker, walked away.
Recovery
nortoncommandosrule
/ YouTube
But the road to recovery for the “Butcher Bird” has been a long one. Four years have come and gone and not one time did she roar to life. Until now.
Restored by JEM Aviation Ltd right next door to the Classic Wings hangar, the Focke-Wulf is back in the sun! Her old oil drum brakes were changed out with adapted P-63 disks and, of course, she got that new engine she needed.
Back In Action
Now the Chariots of Fire Fighter Collection Focke-Wulf 190 is slated to perform at the Yealands Classic Fighters Airshow. The plan is to pair her with a Spitfire in a mock chase. The two classic planes will be flown by husband and wife pilot duo Frank and Liz Parker. No doubt it will be a highlight of the show and we can’t wait to see it!
Until then, here is the beautifully restored Focke-Wulf starting up once more for the first time in four years.