News at MeierMotors GmbH / Bremgarten South Germany

[redvanner]

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In a couple of earlier posts there was mention of the SIAI Marchetti SF 260 lurking in the background behind the Spitfire and requests for photos. If possible, would you mind posting some close-up pictures of this airplane? Photos like the ones you've posted showing the normally unseen inner details found under the skin would be wonderful!

Hi AVI,

not willing to step into Matthias´ place, but in the meanwhile you can see several pics of the SF 260 at MeierMotors´ Homepage following this link:

http://www.meiermotors.com/index.php...id=221&lang=en

By the way, owner of this nice little plane is Stephen Stead, also owing Spitfire XVIe, TE184.

Michael

[AVI]

Hi AVI,

not willing to step into Matthias´ place, but in the meanwhile you can see several pics of the SF 260 at MeierMotors´ Homepage following this link:

http://www.meiermotors.com/index.php...id=221&lang=en

By the way, owner of this nice little plane is Stephen Stead, also owing Spitfire XVIe, TE184.

Michael

Thanks for the heads-up, Michael.
I was hoping to see more shots of various Marchetti components in a disassembled state rather than shots of the exterior of an assembled airframe. It's the guts that's interesting.

[TonyT]

AVI Might be able to sort some out as I used to maintain British Midlands old one. Will see what I have, what do you want?

[AVI]

AVI Might be able to sort some out as I used to maintain British Midlands old one. Will see what I have, what do you want?

Thanks for the offer, TonyT, much appreciated.
Any shots of the basic interior structure - fuselage, wing, tailplane - in other words, the bare bones of the aircraft, including the control system - rudder bellcrank, hinges, etc.

I've been researching the aircraft for a good number of years with the aim of developing a set of accurate, down-to-the-last-silly-millimeter, three-view scale drawings. There's been a great deal of Columbo-like detective work involved, especially since I do not have access to factory drawings. (Aermacchi won't provide factory drawings, claiming proprietary rights.) I discovered very early on that the specifications listed by SIAI Marchetti and in Janes were highly inaccurate if not downright misleading. However, it's fun work, and there's definite progress. Slow but sure. Good progress.

I've already amassed an extensive collection of data, sketches and photographs, but there always seems to be just one more measurement, line, curve, or hidden flange, that requires confirmation, and just one more small detail that the existing photographs don't reveal. Unfortunately, I don't have an airframe tucked away in the garage. -

Help from any source would be much appreciated.

In order that we don't hijack this wonderful warbird thread, let me start another thread exclusively for the SF 260:

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/sho...39#post1776039

[Matthias Dorst]

Thank you very much for your posts concerning the loss of BBD. I gave your posts to the ownerfamily and they are really impressed. Thank you for that.

Yes it was a sad lost, but no one was seriously hurt in this incident and that is the thing that matters. Rob Davies, what a hell of a pilot !

Live goes on in the shop, there are a lot of projects, and some of that projects are belonging to the airfighteracademy. The owner family is highly motivated to complete their collection with that projects, and I hope/think/wish that there will be again a single seater Mustang.

One of the major projects besides the stunning TF-project (compare to the other running thread) ist the Spitfire T9 MJ772



Teammember Julian is working on the electrics



preparing for maingear-tests



a piece of art !





Jochen and Felix (sitting) perparing the fighter for maingear-tests



everything works as it should do





I think you will ask yourselves, where is that engine ... not so easy to reply. The revised engine is in the shop, but you cant mount it without installing the front tank first. There was missing the fuel pump ..... now the parts are there and soon the magnificant fighter will get his heart !

Thats the place the tank will take place



the fuselage tank



and the brandnew original fuelpump



Jochen seems to be happy and soon he will sit in the backseater-cockpit and will have a lot of fun !



.... but at first Jochen has some work at the wheels

[TexanTrev]

Looking good - another superb project

[trumper]

WOW ,Fantastic photos ,all that craftmanship.
I hope you don't mind me asking but think alot of people will be wondering so i will ask has any decision has been made or will be made in the future regarding the remains of BBD.
You were correct,one good and lucky pilot.

[Matthias Dorst]

WOW ,Fantastic photos ,all that craftmanship.
I hope you don't mind me asking but think alot of people will be wondering so i will ask has any decision has been made or will be made in the future regarding the remains of BBD.
You were correct,one good and lucky pilot.

sorry, no decision at this second, but I will keep you informed.

[ZRX61]

On a related topic:
What brand are those blue toolboxes & how about some pics of what's in them etc?

[pagen01]

Not only very well thought out and illustrated updates of some fantastic workmanship, but superb photography aswel - thank you for sharing the companys' updates with us so openly.

[trumper]

Thank you for the lovely updates it is a wonderful read,much appreciated

[Matthias Dorst]

HURRAY !!!

Today Marc "Leon" Mathis managed the first flight of the second Focke Wulf project based at MeierMotors !!! The Ex-Blair fighter was in the air for about 20minutes.

The team is completely happy and I think there is now time for a party :-))

Yiehaaaaa

[DazDaMan]

Excellent news!

[DCK]

Congratulations!

[8674planes]

Thats one Flying Legends 2012 participant already

[RogerN]

HURRAY !!!

Today Marc "Leon" Mathis managed the first flight of the second Focke Wulf project based at MeierMotors !!! The Ex-Blair fighter was in the air for about 20minutes.

The team is completely happy and I think there is now time for a party :-))

Yiehaaaaa

Hi

Great news - hope you had a good party! What engine does this one have?

Roger

[8674planes]

Good news that you have seen the participants list already. Perhaps you would like to post it up here for the rest of us who are not as fortunate.

Don't take it so litirally

[Matthias Dorst]

Here the pictures took by Werner Hovrath, engineer of Dieter Thoms Flighttest (they make all the paperwork for MeierMotors). Werner gave MeierMotors those photos, copyright by Werner Hovrath.

Btw. in the second of the maidenflight I laid on the beach at Bibione (Italy) and took a drink .... I hate holidays when there is a maiden in Bremgarten. But Achim sent me a SMS so I had the chance to party some 750km away ...

Today I talked with the team and Marc "Leon" Mathis. They seemed to be happy

checkruns before maiden



and here we go



what a beauty !!!!!!!



love that stunniung paintscheme really





touchdown after ca. 20minutes







Marc "Leon" Mathis, who else ? What a hell of a pilot







HORRIDOH !



Hope that I will get a video form Werner soon ....

[WJ244]

Thanks for posting the pictures. It is good to see this in the air - at long last and hope we will see it over here next year.

[Smith]

Apologies if I'm ill informed Matthias. But I LOVE that Fw. Is the colour scheme representative of an operational aircraft (like nothing I've ever seen) or is it something of the owner's preference? I think it looks fantastic.

regards Don

[Matthias Dorst]

..... or is it something of the owner's preference? I think it looks fantastic.

regards Don

it is .... and it looks fantastic ! In my eyes its a perfect scheme for a replica

[Matthias Dorst]

On a related topic:
What brand are those blue toolboxes & how about some pics of what's in them etc?

I took some shots especially for you these days

[8674planes]

Who owns the new FW190 anyway?

[Matthias Dorst]

Who owns the new FW190 anyway?

its a private German investor & enthusiast

[Matthias Dorst]

Lot of work and the last steps before mounting the Merlin



Achim Meier, Jochen and Julian are discussing the next steps





the fuselage tank in place





wing tanks



Achim and Julian levelling the plane out





lead package in the tailsection for adjusting the CG

[Matthias Dorst]

29th July 2011 another milestone

Felix Ohlhoff, the man who is responsible for that project



handbooks



in place











the Spitfire Team seems to be happy



overall view, now it looks like a Spitfire !





what a beautiful engine

[DazDaMan]

Looking great, Matthias.

[Tin Triangle]

What a beautiful gleaming machine, in a beautiful gleaming workshop! How do you keep everything so clean?!

[Matthias Dorst]

What a beautiful gleaming machine, in a beautiful gleaming workshop! How do you keep everything so clean?!

Thats no problem Every day in the evening the team cleans up the shop. Every team-member is responsible for his workingplace.

Safety first, so no tools on the ground, only the tools you use in this second are out of the tool-box. All parts not used are stored in a seperate area and so on. When the shop closes the team is checking their toolboxes (every teammember has his own). If there is a tool missing, there is a little problem for the teammember. No oil ore other liquids on the ground, no drinking or eating at the plane (threre is a perfect restroom).
As you might know, the shop works after EASA-rules and they are very hard. Elmar Meier, CEO and technical head looks "every second" after that and of course he is not amused when someone works against that rules.

Yes its typical German and its all ruled with LBA-Bulletins (the German FAA).
In the shop its like in a clinik and thats perfect. No part is missing, all tools at their place and so the team can work without disturbance or searching "this and that".

So to answer your question is easy. Everyone does it to keep the shop clean and safe. Of course the guys are very proud of that facility and they want to keep it in perfect

[trumper]

I guess that you don't really want to find you have left a tool inside part of the aircraft either to go rattling around causing damage and possibly worse.
Wish i had a garage like that LOL.
Thanks again for the updates