NASM Paul E. Garber Facility Aircraft - 3

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Tom Dietz
tom.dietz@nasm.si.edu
The NASM He 219
Thu Sep 27 18:39:36 2001


Thought the group might be interested to learn that we plan to begin a major refurbishment of our Heinkel He 219 A-2, WNr. 290202, at the NASM Paul E. Garber Facility in the next few weeks. I will be curating the project, which is expected to take a full year. This will not be a complete restoration, but will be almost as thorough. The aircraft retains its original German paint (two different schemes) under an American-applied layer of paint, so we plan to do some careful sanding and IR photography to determine its original camouflage and markings before conducting corrosion control and repair of hangar rash. The airframe will then be repainted in one of the two schemes it carried during its operational life.

The aircraft is relatively complete. We have most of the avionics, including the radios and FuG 220 display. The most challenging part of the project will be locating such missing components as the radar arrays (including the tail warning radar antenna) and the special canopy-mounted Revi 16 gunsight for the _schraege Musik_. The armament package for this particular aircraft comprised two obliquely mounted MK 108s, one MG 151/20 in each wing, and a pair of MG 151/20s in the outboard positions of the ventral armament tray. No armament was fitted in the inboard positions.

I'll keep the group posted as the project progresses.

Tom Dietz
Museum Specialist
National Air and Space Museum
Washington, DC USA

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Christoph Vernaleken
That's fantastic news!
Fri Sep 28 09:22:29 2001


Hi Tom,

that's truly fantastic news! Do you plan to reassemble the He 219 for Dulles? What about my special favourite, the Ju 388?

Cheers,

Christoph

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Tom Dietz
The NASM He 219
Fri Sep 28 12:46:07 2001


Yes, it will be displayed at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport. Because we're under such pressure to get as many aircraft as possible ready for display there when the building opens in December 2003, we had originally planned to put off doing anything with the He 219 until our new restoration shop at the Hazy Center is completed. Inspection of the airframe revealed it is in remarkably good condition internally. As a result we decided to refurbish it now and install the reassemblied aircraft in the Hazy Center at some time during 2004 or 2005.

I don't expect that we'll get around to the Ju 388 until the new restoration shop is completed. A more likely candidate for our next Luftwaffe aircraft restoration project will be the Ta 152 H-0, WNr. 150020.

Tom Dietz

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Gordon
what about your Horten...?
Fri Sep 28 15:50:54 2001


Sir, I personally would love to know when you guys are going to get that flying wing back into your usual superb condition. Any chance of that...?

v/r
Gordon

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Tom Dietz
Ho 229 V3
Fri Sep 28 16:29:55 2001


It will eventually be brought into the new restoration shop at the Hazy Center for a full restoration. But we've got to get that part of the facility built first. At this point we've raised only enough money to build the main hangar building, not the restoration shop. I suspect we won't have the new shop (which will be large enough to handle three 727-sized aircraft at the same time) completed until at least a couple of years after the Hazy Center opens in December 2003. Once the construction of the new shop is under way, we'll be able to refine our restoration schedule for the next decade and beyond in detail.

Keep in mind that even after we begin restoring aircraft again, the process of selecting aircraft for restoration is guided by a number of factors, including the number of staff needed to conduct the treatment, the condition of the aircraft, and its overall historical significance within the entire NASM aircraft collection. I'm not ready to start selecting the order in which the remaining unrestored Luftwaffe aircraft will be treated at this time nor do I expect to do so in the immediate future.

Tom Dietz

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Troy Molitor
He-219
Fri Sep 28 16:46:14 2001


This is great news Tom. The He-219 is one of my favorite aircraft.I also happen to work for Steve Udvar-Hazy at ILFC. He is a great person and even better working for. Regarding the missing components. I have taken a few visits to the Swiss Airforce Museum in Dubendorf Switzerland(Near Zurich)and they have an earlier style Liechtenstein (sp?)radar antenna from a Bf-110G hanging on the wall. I don't think it's a Mk IV, but maybe you could set up some form of a trade if you locate what you need for something else. Just a thought.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Ronnie
Ta 152 H 150020 ?????
Fri Sep 28 19:45:08 2001


I've heard mention of it being the 0003 or 150010. But 150020 is new to me. Could you explain please?
Also could you tell me what camouflage colours this Ta 152 has???

Cheers!

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Dick Powers
Ta 152
Fri Sep 28 19:58:22 2001


If you visit the web site for the Hazy Center, go to artifacts, go to aircraft, look under Ta 152...the text explains the werk number confusion.Here's the URL:

http://www.nasm.edu/nasm/aero/aircraft/focke_ta152.htm

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Ronnie
Cheers! Very interesting! (n/t)
Fri Sep 28 20:12:26 2001

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Mikael Olrog
He 219 and Lippich DM 1
Fri Sep 28 16:38:20 2001


Great news on the He 219. I'm really looking forward to visiting when the new fascilities are up and running.

Do you know anything about the Lippich DM 1 that is reported to be in your collection. I have never seen a photo of it in storage with NASM so I'm curious in what condition it is and if there are any plans for it. I've visited a couple of times but never seen it on the tours.

As you can see from the response you get to you're posting here, you're presence is very appreciated. I hope that you'll continue to share you're findings and progress in restoring these (and other aircraft) with us!

Best whishes
//Mikael
Webmaster Preserved Axis Aircraft
www.algonet.se/~molrog/ (http://www.algonet.se/~molrog/)

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Dick Powers
Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center
Fri Sep 28 19:49:31 2001


For those interested, this web site provides background information and current construction photos.

http://www.nasm.edu/nasm/ext/

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Franek Grabowski
The NASM He 219
Sat Sep 29 01:18:47 2001


Why original camo couldn't be retained and post-war paint washed up? My friend, Wojtek Klimek, had been successful with such cleaning on few A/C (incl. Albatros H.1) at Polish Aviation Museum.
Perhaps she wouldn't look as new but I think museum is proper place to see old things. http://www.lwag.org/ubb/wink.gif
Bet regards
Franek

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Ronnie
Re: The NASM He 219
Sun Sep 30 01:44:40 2001


I agree that that would be the best way to display an old plane - in its truly original colours. I am afraid though it would be hard to maintain them during restauration. I wonder what's the restoration experts view on this?
I am afraid though that museum owners want to offer their visitors ("general audience") good looking planes, instead of original looking planes though...

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Franek Grabowski
Re: The NASM He 219
Sun Sep 30 16:51:02 2001


Usually it's possible to preserve original paint, though it's more expensive & troublesome. Nevertheless some museums make such attempts, see eg. Me 262 project at AWM.
I'm afraid most of surviving A/C aren't treated as unique bits of history.
Franek

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Bryan Bury
Re: The NASM He 219
Sun Sep 30 18:23:33 2001


It's my understanding that the NASM's primary mission is preservation. Then comes restoration. Sometimes preservation requires the removal of the original paint.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Franek Grabowski
Re: The NASM He 219
Sun Sep 30 19:10:17 2001


Original paintwork is historical artefact too and as such should be preserved. In most cases paint removal and/or overpaint are unneccessary. OTOH IIRC there's possibility to remove and preserve original paint, though it's very expensive.
Franek

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Tom Dietz
The NASM He 219
Mon Oct 1 19:47:48 2001


We do not plan to remove any more of the original German paint than is necessary to document the two different camouflage schemes the aircraft carried while in Luftwaffe service, determine its original markings, and effect corrosion control and repairs to the airframe. As a result of the time the aircraft spent outdoors during the 1950s, the paintwork overall is in rather poor condition. This is especially true on the upper surfaces of the wings, where little paint, original or American, remains at all. Simply preserving what's left of the original paintwork would not yield an exhibitable artifact.

Rest assured that the days of stripping all of the original paint off vintage aircraft here at NASM are long over. We did not follow this earlier practice with the recently completed Aichi Seiran. It was repainted, but over what was left of the original paint and primer. I understand that some would not accept even this compromise. But it is our current practice. The He 219 will receive similar treatment. Bear in mind that those of us who are responsible for making curatorial decisions in connection with refurbishing or restoring historic aircraft must always make judgment calls as we attempt to balance the need to preserve as much of the original fabric of an object as possible, the need to provide long term conservation, and the need to return an object to exhibitable condition if it is no longer so. Conservation and preservation requirements differ from one aircraft to another. What was the best approach for the AWM with their Me 262 might not be the best for the NASM He 219. 'Nuff said.

Tom Dietz

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Franek Grabowski
The NASM He 219
Mon Oct 1 20:09:20 2001


The approach is OK, as far as everything is reversible. Thanks for good news!
Would be any 'witnesses' ie. parts or panels in original colours left on this A/C?
Best regards
Franek