It’s All About Diversity…
…these four words seem to sum up the successful concept of most European air shows, and the Airpower05 was certainly no exception. Featuring a wide range of planes dating from before WW2 into modern times there was bound to be something in it for everyone.
As far as Warbirds go, a lot of them actually came directly from the beautiful city of Salzburg, out of Hangar-8 operated by the Flying Bulls. This organization started off as a small private circle of Austrian warbird owners, when current Chief Pilot Sigi Angerer (back then still flying as an airline pilot in his day job) acquired his F-4U Corsair, and originally only had three members, with the other two pilots owning a Grumman G-44 and a T-28 Trojan.
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Eventually the idea of getting a B-25 came up, the collection started growing, and in summer 2003 it found its final place in the artistic combination of glass and steel that is Hangar 8. Their biggest and most expensive flying exhibit currently is certainly the DC-6 of former Yugoslavian head of state Marshall Tito, which has been in restoration since 2000 and was finally finished under it’s new US Registration N-996DM in spring 2004.
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With Dietrich Mateschitz from Red Bull fame aboard as a financially powerful and aviation-loving sponsor, this collection actually owns more legendary airplanes than any government-run Austrian history or aircraft museum I’m aware of.
Aside of the Flying Bulls, many other private owners brought their warbirds into the show. Especially notable were the last remaining flyable De Havilland Sea Vixen, one Catalina, two Hawker Hunters, a De Havilland Vampire, one Yak-11, two T-6 Texans flown by Walter Eichhorn and his son, as well as my absolute personal highlight of the show: the privately owned airworthy BF-109 G4 “Red 7”, flown to perfection by Wilhelm Heinz.
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Well, almost a 109… this plane actually started it’s life as a Spanish “Buchon” in 1950 and was featured in the original and famous “Battle of Britain” movie. Temporarily remodeled to pretend as a P-51 Mustang in another movie, it eventually was restored back to 109 G4 specs (with a few differences to fulfill modern safety requirements) and fitted with an original DB 605 engine. The sound of this thing flying, including the famous supercharger-whistle, is something I’ll remember quite a while.
