Tall Tale [That's True] Rare warbirds to depart Edwards Ranch

AOPA.org [Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association] ^ | July 31, 2014 | Dave Hirschman

[SZonian]

Hang around aircraft restorers and you’ll inevitably hear tales of priceless historical relics hidden in barns, buried in shrink wrap, or otherwise stuck in time awaiting discovery.

These stories are almost always wild exaggerations or outright fiction. But if you’ve ever heard of the cache of iconic warbirds at Wilson Connell “Connie” Edwards’ west Texas ranch, it’s absolutely real.

The irascible former movie pilot who made a fortune in the oil business has added to his vast inventory of mostly World War II-era fighters, seaplanes, and surplus parts for more than a half century. Now, he’s decided to sell many of them—but only on his own nonnegotiable terms.

“People can either pay my price or go to hell, I really don’t care which,” says Edwards, 80, who is perhaps best known for choreographing and flying many of the aerial scenes in Battle of Britain, a 1969 movie that starred Michael Caine and Sir Lawrence Olivier and featured more than a dozen Messerschmitt Bf 109s (technically Spanish-built HA-1112 Buchons), Heinkel He 111 (CASA 2.111) bombers—and, of course, British Spitfires and Hurricanes. “I know the value of what I’ve got, and I don’t haggle. Pay my price, or don’t waste my time,” Edwards says.

[SZonian]

As time passes, it seems more and more "treasures" are beginning to surface [Re: 'vettes in NY warehouse]...

[yarddog]

I guess if his prices are too high the buyer could just wait a while and buy them at an estate sale.

[smokingfrog]

I love stuff like this! Those airplanes and parts are worth a small fortune!

[Vinnie]

Just got back from a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the restoration hangar at the Air Force Museum in Dayton.
Fascinating. Amazing the lengths they are going through to restore the Memphis Belle.
Right down to cloth wrapped wiring, correct gauge of course.

[rockrr]

I’m so glad to see him to this - especially on his terms ;’)

All too often guys hold onto their treasures just a wee bit too long and then invariably either they rot into worthess junk or someone else has to dispose of them (or both!).

[Karl Spooner]

Great well done story. He certainly has a high opinion on the ME 109's.

Thanks for posting.

[ken5050]

When "The Battle of Britain" was being filmed, the movie studio was said to be the "5th largest air force" in the world..

The P-38 is, IMHO, gorgeous...

[yarddog]

I remember in his biography, Erich Hartman preferred the ME-109 to the better performing FW-190. After reading this, I wonder if the 190 really was the better performer.

I do know that late in the war the Germans had developed a really powerful engine for the BF-109. I think something like 2000 HP which should have been a real terror in such a small plane.

[SZonian]

snicker...there is always that...a bidding war to be sure.

[SZonian]

When I was stationed at Dover AFB, I got to help a little on Shoo Shoo Baby...but at that time, she was in pretty bad shape...I understand she’s now at WPAFB.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoo_Shoo_Baby_(aircraft)

[SZonian]

Seen it way too often...a priceless collection lost.

[Karl Spooner]

I remember in his biography, Erich Hartman preferred the ME-109 to the better performing FW-190.

Gunther Rall felt the same way. Matter of trust I guess. I heard the 190 had some problems in a dive.

[Rodamala]

My pop is an AOPA member and I happened to visit him in July and had a chance to read this article. Seeing that thread regarding the Corvettes the other day totally reminded me of this.

[Vinnie]

It’s there, all pretty. Another B-17 being worked on, an earlier model, and faster, is one named SWOOSE.
The nose art is a goose with a long neck. Someone said it looked like a cross between a goose and a swan, a swoose. Lol
A long way to go to display that one.

If you ever want to go to the Museum, the Restoration tour is really fascinating. Have to sign up and reserve online. Max number each tour is 38. Tours are Friday at noon only.

[Flag_This]

With many hundreds of hours in both the P–51 and Bf 109/Buchon, for example, he says the German-designed aircraft is far and away the more nimble fighter. “It’s not even a close contest,” he says. “In the hands of a similarly trained and experienced pilot, the 109 wins hands-down.”

I wonder if his experience is limited to the Spanish 109 with the Rolls Royce engine. Switching from the Allison engine to the Rolls Royce certainly changed the capabilities of the P-51.

[Flag_This]

Did anyone catch NOVA last night? A bunch of guys in New Zealand built WWI replica aircraft to learn about combat flying in those planes from 1914-1918.

[alfa6]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swoose

Back in the early 70’s there was a gent in the St. Louis area who had a complete, crated F-6 Photo Mustang in his garage.

I remember seeing flyable P-51s in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch going for a measly $10,000, ah to have bought a few of those back then:-)

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Vinnie]

I thought this was funny. A daughter named for a plane.

Actress Swoosie Kurtz (Colonel Kurtz's daughter) was named after The Swoose.

BTW, they have a Foxbat there and a very early drone I'd never heard of, Condor. Had a 193 ft. wingspan!!

[tanknetter]

They aren’t Bf 109s. They’re Bouchons ... post war Spanish made knockoffs fitted with Merlin engines.

Neat planes in/of themselves, but nowhere near as valuable as authentic Bf 109s are.

The PBY is an interesting bird. It was painted in special commemorative colors in the mid 1980s for the 75th Anniversary of US Naval Aviation and flown across the Atlantic to reenact the first transatlantic flight.

[alfa6]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_Condor

The Condor sounds rather interesting.

Now if they can find a set of wings for the Foxbat...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-25#Survivors

Regarda

alfa6 ;>}