Bugatti Airplane?
Date: Sun, June 26, 2005
Bet you didn't know that Bugatti made an airplane.
Just before the start of WWII the germans held the world aircraft speed record, with a Heinkel He-100, and then a Messerschmidt Me-209. This was, of course, very galling to the french, so Bugatti designed a plane to compete with the Germans. It used 2 Bugatti engines (in a very bizarre arrangement!), had contra rotating props, swept forward wings.. And unfortunately never flew. The germans invaded while they were finishing the plane, and it was then hidden in a barn for many years.
For the rest of the story, and many interesting pictures, follow the links on the page provided above, it's an interesting read.
Just before the start of WWII the germans held the world aircraft speed record, with a Heinkel He-100, and then a Messerschmidt Me-209. This was, of course, very galling to the french, so Bugatti designed a plane to compete with the Germans. It used 2 Bugatti engines (in a very bizarre arrangement!), had contra rotating props, swept forward wings.. And unfortunately never flew. The germans invaded while they were finishing the plane, and it was then hidden in a barn for many years.
For the rest of the story, and many interesting pictures, follow the links on the page provided above, it's an interesting read.
Dave: I have seen it at the EAA museum a couple times now, and it's in very nice shape for something that was basically a house for mice for 50 years.
Bob: I'll Have to make a trip from CT. to visit the Museum. Do you know who put it together? Is it possible to speak to them? I'm curious to gets some of the reassembly details.
Jim:
Galling to the French? Don't you mean Gaul-ing?
Sometimes, I'm just too funny.
Dave:
Hehe, I was thinking the same thing. Plus, Bugatti himself was originally an Italian, until they gave him the boot. ;)
Bob: I had the luck of seeing the original in pieces. It was a real shame that the person who owned it gave it to this shop. They lost or even worse sold parts for other Bugatti's it was left in a terrible damp garage for years before it was donated to the Museum it seems like a short time ago but it looks like it has been 9 or 10 years now. I am happy to see it back together! I'm sure it was a lot of work for all.
Dave: I'm not sure who did the restoration, but the EAA has a restoration shop at the museum (when I was there this summer, they had a Rutan Solitaire in pieces). My guess is they did it themselves (they certainly have access to enough restoration talent to get the job done). Usually it's hung from the ceiling in the main hallway, but this summer they had it parked on the floor next to a Bug racer that was in very nice condition. The EAA museum has a page, and there's even an international society for the plane.
Dave: Oh! and the natural time to go to the EAA museum is the end of July during the convention. If you haven't been, it's totally amazing.