This years ILA offered a wide range of exhibits from all areas of aviation incorporating a variety of traditional airplanes and a broad range of replica
aircraft, which wasn’t even noticed by many of the spectators in attendance. The flight program was so compact that most participants were displayed in pairs. Of special note was the appearance of a reproduction of the
Messerschmitt M17 - the first aircraft constructed by Willy Messerschmitt. Almost exclusively made from wood he had designed and built this light airplane in 1925 at the age of only 27 years, with this model Messerschmitt
received numerous awards. Eight examples of the M17 were built with one preserved in original condition at the German Museum in Munich. It was this aircraft that provided the pattern for the replicas reproduction, which was
carried out by the Bitz aircraft company on behalf of the Messerschmitt foundation. The engine used in the replica is an original Bristol Cherub II producing 29 HP.
Only a short time later the Klemm L25 made its maiden flight in 1927. From 1927 to 1939 no less than 1000 aircraft of this type were manufactured, partly under license in Great Britain (British Klemm Company) and in
the USA (Aeromarine). This open cockpit two-seater was made famous in the film: Quax-The Crash Pilot, featuring the famous German actor Heinz Ruehmann in the leading role. The aircraft displayed was a model
L25a, built in 1929 and belongs to the foundation: "Historical Airplanes Josef Koch - The Flying Museum". It’s also possible go for a joy flight in such a wonderful old machine, for more information go to: www.fliegendes museum.de
The Albatros B.I on display is an accurate, airworthy replica of this light, reconnaissance and training aircraft of the First World War. This unarmed
biplane was used from 1914 to 1915 on the western front - however the appearance of armed fighters saw a dramatic reduction in its chances of survival over the battlegrounds of France. Powered by a Walter Minor IV
engine producing 165 HP, this beautiful reproduction is owned by the Historischer Flugzeugbau Fuerstenwalde: www.historischer flugzeugbau.de
Likewise in the possession of the Historischer Flugzeugbau Fuerstenwalde is this Replica of the legendary Etrich Taube DII (Dove). The original dates back to 1910 and was designed and built by Igo Etrich who lived in the
Austrian city of Wiener Neustadt. The Dove was one of the first airplanes to become a commercial success with no less than 500 Doves being built by Inter Alia and also under license by
the German company Rumpler. It was an Etrich Dove that became the first aircraft in history to drop bombs (in the Italian-Turkish conflict in Libya on the 11th November 1911)! The Dove was a very safe machine to fly
and was still in use at the very beginning of the First World War with the German and Austrian air forces.
“It climbs like a monkey and manoeuvres like the devil" – So claims no one other than Baron Manfred von Richthofen. Naturally he meant his Fokker Dr
.1 Triplane, in which he acquired most of his 81 victories. Only 320 Dr.1’s were built although briefly after its introduction within the Jastas (fighter squadrons) in August 1917 this small machine dominated the skies over the
battlefields of Flanders. Structural weaknesses in wing construction led briefly to their grounding however only after the defect was reasonably corrected was the Dr.1 replaced by the Fokker DVII. Therefore it is quite
amazing that this machine, which was manufactured only in small numbers and whose front line employment was only as long as the length of its fuselage became a synonym for the German fighter of the First World War.
Even Baron von Richthofen flew this fighter only for a brief period - including his very last mission on 21st April 1918. Unfortunately no original Dr.1’s exist today. The machine on display at ILA is a replica built in 1988
and is equipped with a Siemens Halske SH14 Radial engine producing 145HP - in contrast to the original Oberursel UR II rotary engine with an output of 110HP
Although the small FVM OE1 Tummiliten (Tummelisa) also looks, as if it saw action in World War I, it was actually designed and built in 1919 as a single-seat trainer for the Swedish Army-Aviation Corps
(Flygkompaniet) being powered by a 80HP Thulin A rotary engine, a licence built version of the French Le Rhone. The Tummelisa holds a remarkable record in that in its 15 years of service, all 28 production aircraft
did not have one single serious accident. The aircraft seen at ILA is owned by Mikaell Carlsson of Sweden and was rebuilt from 1980 to 1989 using numerous original parts (engine, instruments, etc).
Considered as one of the shapeliest sports aircraft of all time is the Messerschmitt Me-108 B. With it, Professor Willy Messerschmitt justified his
legendary reputation as a technical designer. The Taifun (German for Typhoon - receiving its name from aviator and film actress Elly Beinhorn) led to the design on another famous Messerschmitt: The famous Me-109. The
aircraft on display was built in 1940 and belongs to the German Lufthansa Berlin foundation and was christened in May 1993 by Mrs. Beinhorn bestowing her own name upon it. Apart from serving with six different Air
Forces the Saab Safir 91 also served the German airline Lufthansa as a training aircraft from 1954 to 1967. From a total of 323 aircraft built numerous examples remain flying today that can be frequently admired at
airshows. Reporting on the Junkers Ju 52 is like carrying coal to Newcastle. Hardly any other oldie is as well known or as popular as Old Aunt Ju. The Ju-52/3m made its maiden flight on the 7th of March 1932. Typical of
this three-engine low-wing aircraft was its corrugated sheet skin, which actually assisted in the aircraft’s stability. Although it was already outdated at the beginning of World War II, the Ju-52 was the standard
transport aircraft of the Luftwaffe, and was also flown by many different countries for a long time after the Second World War. Its reliability and unproblematic handling was legendary. At ILA 2004 two of these well
renowned planes were present: the famous D-AQUI of the German Lufthansa Berlin foundation and one which has been recently restored in France. The latter still has its original BMW 132A 9-cylinder radial
engines each producing 660HP of take-off power. The Old Aunt Ju was also produced in a sea-plane version incorporating floats. Altogether over 5,000 aircraft of this type were manufactured, some produced under
license by the Spanish company CASA.
With the P2 the Swiss company Pilatus established their outstanding reputation as a producer of fine, high performance advanced trainer aircraft
. The P2 made its first flight on the 27th of April 1945 and served with distinction within the Swiss Air Force until 1981, however only 54 of the type were ever produced. To save costs many of the P2 parts were from
the Messerschmitt Me-109 D and E models, for example the elevators, main gear and hydraulic pump. Power is provided by an Argus AS-410A2 12-cylinder V-engine providing 465HP of take-off power. Likewise conceived as
a trainer aircraft was the Russian Yak-11 - as one easily can see, a direct descendant of the legendary Yakovlev Yak-3 fighter (right photo). No less than 3,859 Yak-11 were built while 707 were manufactured by the Czech
company LET under licence. The twin-seater is powered by a Shwetzov ASh-21 radial engine rating 570HP while the previously mentioned Yak-3 possesses a substantially higher performance.
The Yak-3 on display was in almost brand new condition with restoration taking place from 1991 to 1992 by the Yakovlev Company. The only major difference between the restored aircraft and an original YAK-3 is the
use of a 1,350HP Allison V-1710-2L engine in place of the original Klimov VK-107A rated at 1,650HP. The Allison is basically the same engine used to power the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. The displayed Yak-3UA (the
official new designation) is owned by the brothers Hans Joachim and Elmar Meier.
Together with a North American B-25J Mitchell was an old acquaintance at
this years ILA, Austrian Sigi Angerer with his Chance Vought F-4U4 Corsair. This legendary Navy fighter, which received the nickname "Whispering Death" from the Japanese in Pacific theater in World War II, belongs to the
Flying Bulls team which is sponsered by the famous energy drink company Red Bull. Besides the aircraft previously mentioned this company also owns also a Douglas a DC-6B, a North American T-28B Trojan, a Grumman G-44
Widgeon and last but not least an Alpha Jet – Quite a remarkable collection of Warbirds.
A visitor happily seen at each airshow is Old Anna, the largest single-engine
biplane ever built - The Antonov An-2. Two machines of this type were present providing joy flights to any interested spectators. An experience, that wasn’t missed by many people at all!
However, the absolute highlight at ILA was the Dornier Do-24ATT. Up until recently one could only see this amphibian at the German museum in
Oberschleissheim. Before its transfer to the museum the Do-24ATT (Amphibious Technology Carrier) was reconstructed by the Dornier Company utilising the fuselage and tail section of a Do-24T built in 1944.
Equipped with a redesigned wing, new turbo-prop engines (Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45B), up to date avionics and many other improvements, testing began of this experimental aircraft on the Baltic Sea.
However, despite excellent results the project was discontinued and the DO was handed over to the museum on loan. Refitted again, it was then transferred in 2003 to Irenaeus Dornier, grandson of Claudius Dornier and
founder of Philippines based airline SEAIR (South East Asian Airlines) where it is now used as a special highlight for VIP gusts and joy flights. Now, exactly 75 years after the first historic around the world journey
of the legendary DO-X the trip is recreated by Iren (short for Ireaeus) Dornier in his Do-24 incorporating at least part of the original route flown with one stop being ILA 2004 Berlin. Thus countless people had the
privilege of seeing the last airworthy flying boat of this type flying again - truly a majestic sight!
Robert Kysela, managing editor
Release 5.0/2009
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Release 5.0/2009
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