He 219 Salvaged.

[dr_gn]

Following on from the P-40 Kittyhawk in the desert story, apparently the remains of a rare He219 night fighter (Schräge Musik equipped) was raised off the Danish coast yesterday.

[Hooli]

Will be interesting to see the state of it.

[Eric Mc]

Now that is truly unique. Look forward to reading about this in Aeroplane Monthly and Flytpast.

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

Now that is truly unique. Look forward to reading about this in Aeroplane Monthly and Flytpast.

There's also one being restored in the Smithsonian Museum apparently, but I Think that's it. How much is left of the one recovered yesterday remains to be seen I guess.

[Yertis]

I just looked at the pics. It's a bit of a wreck. Nice find though.

[davepoth]

Yertis said:

I just looked at the pics. It's a bit of a wreck. Nice find though.

If someone's got the cash, and the Smithsonian has the blueprints, there's every chance it could fly again...

[Eric Mc]

Yertis said:

I just looked at the pics. It's a bit of a wreck. Nice find though.

Any link?

[Yertis]

Eric Mc said:

Any link?

Just needs a bit of Uhu

[blueedge]

I saw the one at the Smithsonian a couple of years back, it's great that they've found another one albeit in a bit of a state.

[Hooli]

Rather fooked then. Oh and 'ejector seats'?

[dr_gn]

Hooli said:

Rather fooked then. Oh and 'ejector seats'?

First aircraft to have them operationally I think.

[Hooli]

dr_gn said:

Hooli said:

Rather fooked then. Oh and 'ejector seats'?

First aircraft to have them operationally I think.

Learn something everyday etc, I thought they were a 1950's thing.

[Eric Mc]

The need for them was becoming obvious in the 1940s as pilots were finding it very hard to safely get out of an aircraft travelling faster than 300 mph. Many pilots were killed or injured by striking the fuselage when baling out.

I think the Dornier 335 had an ejector seat too - although the 335 never became operational.

[The Hypno-Toad]

Eric Mc said:

.
I think the Dornier 335 had an ejector seat too - although the 335 never became operational.

Indeed it did. And the system was responsible for two very nasty fatalites.

The story goes that two prototypes crashed and the pilots didn't eject. When they found the wrecks, it was discovered that both of the pilots had no arms.
Turned out when they designed the ejector system they put the jettison handles for the canopy which the pilot had operate before he pushed the out button, actually on the canopy. Which meant that due to the airflow over aircraft the canopy flew off at a very rapid rate taking the poor pilots arms with it. Not a good way to die, frantically trying to press the out button with your nose while looking like the Black Knight from Holy Grail.

[Eric Mc]

The Hypno-Toad said:

Eric Mc said:

.
I think the Dornier 335 had an ejector seat too - although the 335 never became operational.

Indeed it did. And the system was responsible for two very nasty fatalites.

The story goes that two prototypes crashed and the pilots didn't eject. When they found the wrecks, it was discovered that both of the pilots had no arms.
Turned out when they designed the ejector system they put the jettison handles for the canopy which the pilot had operate before he pushed the out button, actually on the canopy. Which meant that due to the airflow over aircraft the canopy flew off at a very rapid rate taking the poor pilots arms with it. Not a good way to die, frantically trying to press the out button with your nose while looking like the Black Knight from Holy Grail.

And we had a 335 go down in Farnborough as well. This accident was caused by a fire in the rear engine which burned through the elevator controls/ The aircraft nosedived into the playground of Cove Junior School. Altrhough the pilot, Group Captain Hards, was killed, there were no children in the school at the time.

[dr_gn]

Was it the He219 that twanged the pilots out on the end of a long lever when they ejected? Bit like a human trebuchet arrangement.

I'd imagine the forces involved in the mechanisms of these early attempts probably resulted in some pretty nasty side effects (like death).

[Yertis]

dr_gn said:

Was it the He219 that twanged the pilots out on the end of a long lever when they ejected? Bit like a human trebuchet arrangement.

Here's the seats:



Impressive wiring loom, if that's what all that yellow stuff is.

[IroningMan]

Yertis said:

Just needs a bit of Uhu

I see what you did there...

[DamienB]

More pics:

http://www.danas-have.dk/He219.htm

Looks like a job for the Bluebird boys.

[Eric Mc]

Does seem heavilly corroded.

I wonder what state the Dornier 17 at the bottom of the Channel is in?