Crusader
September 2nd, 2008, 15:07
Micha has already shown a series of wonderful pictures (http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=180605) of the airshow at the August-Euler-Flugplatz in Darmstadt/Griesheim on 30 and 31 August 2008.
While I neither can hope nor do I intend to rival Micha's skills as a photographer, let me add a few pictures of my own. (I apologize in advance for the less than satisfactory quality of my photographs, skills and equipment.)
Two of the three Bf 108 Taifun present and flying at the airshow and that's all the Bf 108s in flying condition in Germany. One is owned by the Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin Stiftung, one by the EADS Heritage Flight (EADS being the successor to the Messerschmitt company), and the third one is privately owned.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06559Bf108-1.jpg
Original Argus AS 10 engine of a Bf 108 Taifun (the same engine was used in the Fieser Storch)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06558Argus.jpg
Fieseler Storch, recently restored, on static display
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06561FiStorchStatic.jpg
and about to touch down
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06608FiStorchtouchdown.jpg
Ju 52/3m of the Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin Stiftung
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06612Ju52takeoff.jpg
During the 1930s and in WWII, Darmstadt was the location of the DFS and the center of sailplane design in Germany:
Replica of an experimental rocket-powered sailplane of the 1920s which made the first rocket-powered airplane flight.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06570EnteRhnsperber.jpg
Vintage DFS sailplane
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06574Habicht.jpg
Historic sailplane being towed to height
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06597Biplanetowshistoricsailplan.jpg
Two historic sailplanes tended to by the ground crew after their flight performance
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC065782historicsailplanes.jpg
A modern battery-powered (!) advanced motor glider
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06604battery-poweredglider.jpg
And some more modern representatives of aviatic research: two test planes of the DLR
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC065942DLRresearchplanes.jpg
The airshow kicked off with a display of eight or nine biplanes in the air at the same time.
Two biplanes
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC065832biplanesinflight.jpg
One more biplane (a Bόcker?)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06582Historicbiplane.jpg
Focke-Wulf FW 44 Stieglitz, almost unavoidable at airshows
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06573FWStieglitz.jpg
Tiger Moth
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06586TigerMoth.jpg
One of the most impressive sights: the replica of a Bleriot XI, the first airplane to cross the Channel. The pilot more or less sits on top of the plane a very windshaken and flimsy affair, but a most impressive sight
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06588BleriotXI.jpg
Messerschmitt M 17, one of Willy Messerschmitt's earliest successful designs, also a replica of the EADS Heritage Flight
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06607MesserschmittM17.jpg
Helicopters were not forgotten:
Sikorsky S-58, very impressive sound from the piston-engine and a stately appearance
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06602SikorskyS-58.jpg
A Hesse state police helicopter (Bo 105) dropped by to visit its ancestor
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06585HeliPolizeiHessen.jpg
For those not content watching historical planes fly by, there was also some airshow action:
Two North American AT-6 Texans taking off for an impressive piece of flying
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06610TwoTexans.jpg
and on collision course
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06611TexanAirshow.jpg
and in a chase:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06614Texandogfight.jpg
The Me 163, originally a rocket-powered interceptor in the final days of WWII, was present as an engine-less replica (probably a good idea given the high percentage of rocket motor explosions suffered by the original planes). As it was designed to gain height quickly and then continue to glide back home, the plane has excellent sailplane qualities which were demonstrated in the airshow.
Me 163 on static display
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06577Me163Static.jpg
Me 163 manhandled for the tow to the end of the runway
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06596Me163handledfortowing.jpg
Me 163 full frontal, with an auxiliary wheel fitted under the wing for towing
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06600Me163fullfrontal.jpg
Me 163 hooked up for towing
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06599Me163hookedupfortowing.jpg
Me 163 full speed, wrong direction
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06603Me163fullspeedwrongway.jpg
Me 163 being towed (by a Do 27)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06617Me163towedinair.jpg
Me 163 released from the tow
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06620Me163unfetteredflight.jpg
The Me 163's agility in sailing mode was the biggest surprise for me
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06621Me163flying.jpg
Me 163 rolling back on the ground after the touch down
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06624Me163touchdown.jpg
I hope you enjoyed the pictures!
While I neither can hope nor do I intend to rival Micha's skills as a photographer, let me add a few pictures of my own. (I apologize in advance for the less than satisfactory quality of my photographs, skills and equipment.)
Two of the three Bf 108 Taifun present and flying at the airshow and that's all the Bf 108s in flying condition in Germany. One is owned by the Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin Stiftung, one by the EADS Heritage Flight (EADS being the successor to the Messerschmitt company), and the third one is privately owned.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06559Bf108-1.jpg
Original Argus AS 10 engine of a Bf 108 Taifun (the same engine was used in the Fieser Storch)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06558Argus.jpg
Fieseler Storch, recently restored, on static display
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06561FiStorchStatic.jpg
and about to touch down
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06608FiStorchtouchdown.jpg
Ju 52/3m of the Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin Stiftung
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06612Ju52takeoff.jpg
During the 1930s and in WWII, Darmstadt was the location of the DFS and the center of sailplane design in Germany:
Replica of an experimental rocket-powered sailplane of the 1920s which made the first rocket-powered airplane flight.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06570EnteRhnsperber.jpg
Vintage DFS sailplane
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06574Habicht.jpg
Historic sailplane being towed to height
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06597Biplanetowshistoricsailplan.jpg
Two historic sailplanes tended to by the ground crew after their flight performance
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC065782historicsailplanes.jpg
A modern battery-powered (!) advanced motor glider
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06604battery-poweredglider.jpg
And some more modern representatives of aviatic research: two test planes of the DLR
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC065942DLRresearchplanes.jpg
The airshow kicked off with a display of eight or nine biplanes in the air at the same time.
Two biplanes
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC065832biplanesinflight.jpg
One more biplane (a Bόcker?)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06582Historicbiplane.jpg
Focke-Wulf FW 44 Stieglitz, almost unavoidable at airshows
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06573FWStieglitz.jpg
Tiger Moth
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06586TigerMoth.jpg
One of the most impressive sights: the replica of a Bleriot XI, the first airplane to cross the Channel. The pilot more or less sits on top of the plane a very windshaken and flimsy affair, but a most impressive sight
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06588BleriotXI.jpg
Messerschmitt M 17, one of Willy Messerschmitt's earliest successful designs, also a replica of the EADS Heritage Flight
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06607MesserschmittM17.jpg
Helicopters were not forgotten:
Sikorsky S-58, very impressive sound from the piston-engine and a stately appearance
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06602SikorskyS-58.jpg
A Hesse state police helicopter (Bo 105) dropped by to visit its ancestor
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06585HeliPolizeiHessen.jpg
For those not content watching historical planes fly by, there was also some airshow action:
Two North American AT-6 Texans taking off for an impressive piece of flying
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06610TwoTexans.jpg
and on collision course
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06611TexanAirshow.jpg
and in a chase:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06614Texandogfight.jpg
The Me 163, originally a rocket-powered interceptor in the final days of WWII, was present as an engine-less replica (probably a good idea given the high percentage of rocket motor explosions suffered by the original planes). As it was designed to gain height quickly and then continue to glide back home, the plane has excellent sailplane qualities which were demonstrated in the airshow.
Me 163 on static display
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06577Me163Static.jpg
Me 163 manhandled for the tow to the end of the runway
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06596Me163handledfortowing.jpg
Me 163 full frontal, with an auxiliary wheel fitted under the wing for towing
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06600Me163fullfrontal.jpg
Me 163 hooked up for towing
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06599Me163hookedupfortowing.jpg
Me 163 full speed, wrong direction
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06603Me163fullspeedwrongway.jpg
Me 163 being towed (by a Do 27)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06617Me163towedinair.jpg
Me 163 released from the tow
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06620Me163unfetteredflight.jpg
The Me 163's agility in sailing mode was the biggest surprise for me
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06621Me163flying.jpg
Me 163 rolling back on the ground after the touch down
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Lobebaer/Griesheim%20Airshow%202008/DSC06624Me163touchdown.jpg
I hope you enjoyed the pictures!