http://www.eaa.org/news/2010/2010-10-14_fw190.asp

October 14, 2010 — The BMW 801 engine of the Flying Heritage Collection’s (FHC) Fw-190A-5/U3 restoration project recently had its first run by Vintage V12s in Tehachapi, California, according to a report on the Meier Motors website. Although official news regarding the project has been hard to come by, EAA learned that FHC plans to fly the 190 for the public at Paine Field in time for its “Luftwaffe Day” during the 2011 May-September flying season next year. When complete, this will be the only airworthy original Focke-Wulf 190 in the world, according to the Meier Motors website.

A brief history of the airplane: According to the FHC website, the plane was built in Bremen in April 1943, and by mid-May that year was on the Eastern Front, assigned to 4./JG 54; Jagdgeschwader (fighter wing) 54, Staffel (squadron) 4. It was lost in combat within about seven weeks, brought down by flak after a fighter-bomber sortie in the area of Voibakala near Leningrad.

The pilot, Feldwebel Paul Ratz, was a prisoner of war until the 1950s, when he was released and repatriated to Germany. He died shortly before the aircraft was recovered in 1990. (See video.) The fighter was shipped to the UK and later (1999) sold to the Flying Heritage Collection, owned by Paul G. Allen and based at Paine Field in Everett, Washington.

http://www.eaa.org/news/2010/2010-12-02_fw190.asp



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Tools: Fw 190A-5/U3 Flies Again

Photo courtesy of Jim Larsen and Air Classics magazine
December 2, 2010 — On Wednesday afternoon, December 1, the Flying Heritage Collection’s (FHC) reported on its Facebook page that its Fw-190A-5/U3 fighter made its first post-restorative flight, marking the first time it’s been airborne since 1943 when it was shot down near Leningrad during World War II. Veteran test pilot Steve Hinton was at the controls as the aircraft took off in Tehachapi, California, and tested all major systems during a 20-minute flight. The pilot reported that the aircraft passed its trial flight with flying colors, stating, “The plane is very light, fast, and responsive…This lived up to the history books."

Paul G. Allen, FHC owner, wrote on his Twitter page Thursday, “Yesterday saw FHC Warbird Fw 190A5 fighter fly for 1st time since WWII; Steve Hinton at the controls, pretty amazing.”

Adrian Hunt, FHC executive director, told EAA the plane flew again on Thursday and that plans are to paint-seal the airframe in the spring, then get it ready for its first public flight in the early summer at FHC on Paine Field Airport, Everett, Washington.

Aviation legend Bob Hoover, who will be honored with a special day on Tuesday, July 26, at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2011, famously escaped a German POW camp, stole an Fw 190, and flew it to safety in the Netherlands. Hunt, asked if there was any chance we might see the aircraft in Oshkosh next year to participate in the Hoover tribute, replied, “Paul’s philosophy is to keep the planes close to home.”

However, since Hunt did not completely discount that idea, there’s no harm in hoping…

About seven weeks ago EAA reported the airplane’s BMW 801 engine had its first run by Vintage V12s in Tehachapi. Read about that and airplane history, including an incredible video of its discovery in a Russian swamp, here.

It makes a huge difference that this is a real FW and not a Flugwerk replica with a Russian radial. amazing!

Cool story.
I hope at some point they release a video of the flight.


Wheels

wow! what a lucky test pilot!!

Yeah. I'm surprised they didn't go to the trouble of posting the flight video when they did so for the engine tests. Go figure... Man, I'd love to have heard the pilot's commentary.

pic here:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=477343128665&set=a.115249348665.100226.13883518665

Somebody must have filmed it!

Steve Hinton does a lot of cool things. He is also the President of the Planes of Fame museum in Chino.
He was there on Saturday December 04, 2010 working on one of their F-86's. (two days ago)


Wheels

quoting from the article: "The pilot, Feldwebel Paul Ratz, was a prisoner of war until the 1950s, when he was released and repatriated to Germany."

I guess Russia was not too quick to repatriate it's German POWs.

Erich Hartmann was held by the Soviets for over 10 years after the war. Of the 91,000 Germans who surrendered at Stalingrad in 1943 only 6,000 remained alive when finally released 12 years later by the Soviets in 1955, 10 years after wars end.

Too many people forget the barbarity of the Soviet regime, demonstrated not only captured Germans but occupied civilian populations and the Soviet people themselves.

I'm excited to go see this beauty fly next Summer!

Suh-weet! There was a FW-190 at Reno this year. It flew in the races. I talked to the guys mending it, and they said it was part original, part FlugWerk. It was powered by an R-2800 though. Gonna be nice to see one with a BMW 801 fly

Yes, I will get around to posting those Reno shots here!

Important - for balance, I think - to note here that the Germans killed practically all their Soviet prisoners. The biggest atrocity of the German armed forces in WWII. The Eastern Front was the most brutal war in history, no quarter given or taken by either side. And it was Germany that started it all.

I would imagine that if Hitler and company had prevailed no one would ever be repatriated to their former life.

[quote=semmern]Suh-weet! There was a FW-190 at Reno this year. It flew in the races. I talked to the guys mending it, and they said it was part original, part FlugWerk. It was powered by an R-2800 though. Gonna be nice to see one with a BMW 801 fly
quote]

I saw that plane 2 weeks ago at the Planes of Fame museum in Chino. The guy there said it performed poorly at Reno because it had an incorrect propeller installed.

Greg