Schleißheim Model Show 2007
Part 2: the real stuff

by Chris "the Ripper" Novak

Here is Part 2 of the „Schleißheim Model Show“-report and it will contain a bit of history and pics of the museums „interior“.

Oberschleißheim is one of Germany's oldest airfields and it´s history can be documented back to the roots and the dawn of aviation.
Many enthusiasts developed and tested their „flying machines“ in the early years of the last century around this area, aviation shows were held and the small airfield grew up to one of Germany's most interesting and busiest aviation areas. In the early thirties a part of the Junkers factory developed many of their products in Schleißheim, ( some of the old „Junkers-Hangars“ are still „alive“ and are used as a storage for the „Deutsches Museum“ in Munich) and, surely, the WWII held his hand over this area in the forties. So, for example, Schleißheim has been used as a training-field / school for German night fighters and also as a testing-area for German night fighter-developments. At the end of the war, in May 45, American troops conquered the airfield without any resistance , and many years of less busy aviation-action followed. But the airfield „Oberschleißheim“ never died, and today it is the base of a squadron of the German „Border-patrol“ and therefore it´s still busy. A few years ago some new expo halls were added to the old and original „Flugwerft“- buildings and the German „Deutsches Museum“ , based in Munich, made it to a department of the Museum which now houses all aviation and aeronautic stuff, including a wonderful garage were they restore their own ( and mostly unique and very rare) aviation stuff, for example one of the last remaining He 111, originally a Spanish CASA. This project goes on, besides some others, for nearly 5 years now and will last for another 4 or 5 years, ´cause some new and actual projects have to be done simultaneously ( for example they're getting one of the first EURO FIGHTERS soon which will have to be prepared for static display)
As an modeller/ exhibitor I was invited to participate to an exclusive excursion through the museums garage and storage to be informed ´bout the actual projects and the „how and why“ of restoring and conserving an old plane................a dream for every aviation enthusiast!

Here are the pic of the most interesting stuff, enjoy:

The dawn of aviation - Original!

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Civil aviation in the front part of the Museum

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Military aviation: the one and only X-31, a German ( EADS) and American (Boeing) joint venture-development for testing Vector-thrust

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Starfighter and Saab Draaken

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The Phantom, F-86, and T-33

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DO-31, Germany's first vertical-take-off development. Some may know this plane standing as a gate-guard in front of the „Deutsches Museum“ in Munich

Do-24...........one of the last remaining. This plane was stored outside in parts at the last years model show and has been assembled, cleaned and prepared for static display the last months

The museum owns a large collection of power plants from all categories, including unique parts like DB 610 ( 2 x 605 mounted together, working on one well, used for example in He-177) and many more..........

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Finally, the trip through the garage, were actual restoration projects are the ( originally Spanish CASA) He 111, a polish Mig 15 Trainer and soon an EUROFIGHTER

Front end of the He-111:

Nose section of the He 111 in the spray booth, ready for priming

Port side engine nacelle. The original CASA was powered by RR-Merlin's which are both ready and completed/ restored by the Bavarian BMW company, if all works well the museum is trying to restore the bird for static display but with the possibility to run the motors one or two times a month.

Starboard motor mounted

Starboard wheel-well

Belly fuel tank

Starboard wing root-structure

Port side wheel well with main-gear mounted

Port side main-gear

That´s all for part 2, if you ever have a chance for a visit check it out ´cause it´s a great place with a great history.

Cheers

Chris "The Ripper" Novak

© Chris Novak 2007