Black 6's final flight - October 12, 1997 Accident:On October 12, 1997 the last German built, Daimler-Benz engined Bf 109 crashed while trying to make an emergency landing after developing engine problems at the Duxford Autumn Air Show. The pilot, Strike Command C-in-C Sir John Allison survived unscathed but the same cannot be said for Black 6. As the pictures show, Black 6 suffered significant damage and at present it's future is undecided though restoration to at least static display is almost guaranteed.Black 6 was completing what was to be it's last flight to be permitted by the British Ministry Of Defence, the planes owners. Black 6 was seen to emit puffs of vapor - probably coolant - while performing a roll maneuver during it's final display. ACM Allison immediately lowered the gear and came in on a fast approach and touched down briefly on the runway before Allison was forced to pull up to avoid the M11 roadway. ACM Allison then proceeded to land Black 6 in a freshly ploughed field on the other side of the roadway. Black 6's landing gear sunk into the soft earth and flipped over.Rescue crews were on hand immediately but were not permitted to cut ACM Allison out due to the pilot's insistance that the Gustav not be damaged further. It took the crews 45 minutes of digging before ACM Allison was able to emerge, luckily unhurt.Restoration Team Leader Russ Snadden seemed optimistic about Black 6's potential to return to the sky and everyone is now waiting to hear the results of the AAIB inquiry and the MoD's final decision.
Original G-10 built by Erla Maschinenwerke GmbH., parts of which were found in Czechoslavakia, an original DB605 was found crated in Italy and so Hans Dittes decided to convert his HA 1112-M1L C.4K into a G-10 by using the parts off the original G-10 and also by scratch building some new parts. This aircraft is currently airworthy and even went to New Zealand to do a display in 1994. It is not classed as 100% original and so therefore cannot be classed as the only genuine Luftwaffe fighter flying in the World.
