This is off topic here (well sort of it involves a Me-262. But it seams that the Me-262 is flying again. It is a reproduction but still very interesting and it flew the last time on Mar. 9 2005.
These are all from the Stormbirds website.
09 FEB 05
STILL MORE GOOD NEWS! Yesterday turned out to be a day of significant progress for us. Following the successful "wheels up" outing, White 1 was given a thorough once-over and sent back out onto the runway for test flight number nine!
Before this rather monumental day was through, White 1 had logged yet another 60 minutes aloft, reaching a speed of 360 knots in the bright Seattle sunshine!
08 FEB 05
MORE GOOD NEWS! Test flight number eight took place today just before 1400 hours (local time).
We are especially pleased to report that today's sortie marked our first successful "wheels up" flight in the White 1 airplane (see photo, above). To our relief and delight, the gear cycled flawlessly while aloft, validating the careful redesign and rebuild effort that had been underway since our January 2002 landing mishap. Touchdown and rollout were once again picture perfect. The aircraft also made two 90° turns at the end of the landing roll with no problems whatsoever. Today's flight was once again 50 minutes in duration.
We can safely call this one a true milestone for the Project as we draw ever closer to completion of the FAA flight test requirement.
06 JAN 03
AVWEEK REPORT Courtesy of the Aviation Week & Space Technology web site, here's how writer Jim Goodall summed up the events of our first flight:
The first of two reproduction Me262A jet fighters flew for 35 minute on December 20 from Paine field near Seattle. The pilot, Wolfgang Czaia, said the airplane was airborne after a takeoff run of 14 seconds, lifting off at 110 knots.
Czaia left the gear down during the flight as a safety precaution. “The airplane’s handling qualities were excellent in all three axes, and I could trim the aircraft to fly straight and level hands-off,” he said.
"The Messerschmitt's aerodynamically-operated inboard/outboard leading edge slats worked well, fully extending at 150 knots, and retracting fully at 165 knots, and there was minimum pitch change during flap extension/retraction" Czaia said.
Before returning to Paine Field, Czaia set up a 3-degree glide path at 140 knots to check handling on final approach, slowly reducing airspeed and increasing angle of attach until the airplane stalled at 100 knots. “There was only a mild pitch-down at the stall break and I had good aileron control at the stall,” he said.
For landing, Czaia flew the final approach with the airplane trimmed for 125 knots, slowly reducing power to touchdown at 108 knots. Czaia said the second flight is tentatively scheduled for late this week and will include retracting the landing gear.
Future flights will expand the airplane’s flight envelope slowly and focus on determining the Me262’s critical Mach number, which is estimated to be Mach .082. The jet is powered by two GE J-85 turbojet engines each rated at 2,859 lb. static thrust.
Quote:
THE LEGEND FLIES AGAIN!
We are delighted to announce that White 1 took off this afternoon at 1400 local on a 35 minute test flight with pilot Wolf Czaia at the controls.
The flight was conducted "wheels down" at 2000 feet with a L-39 chase plane in trail. By all accounts, the flight was a complete success. Czaia rated the jet's handling qualities as "excellent."
A crowd of some 50 people had gathered to witness the event, and as such, were treated to the first sighting of a Me 262 aloft in more than five decades.
http://www.stormbirds.com/project/general/updates.htm |
/
Linear Mode
