Heinkel He-115 recovered in Norway

[Raptor05121]

Supposedly the only known still-existing example in the world.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ace_1338726717

[Reschke]

Awesome...wish I could understand Norwegian.

[Krusty]

Awesome...wish I could understand Norwegian.

I like to imagine their words echoed my thoughts, and that in their own tongue they were saying what I was thinking:


"HOLY CRAP!!!!"

[GScholz]

First he's talking about the various roles the plane was used in, torpedo plane, search and rescue, recce etc. He then explains how the plane got its floats ripped off and sank during landing due to pilot error. He goes on telling how they are going to disassemble the wreck into five parts and submerge them in a freshwater tank for 2-3 years to get all the salt out. If they don't the salt will crystallize and expand, causing more damage to the structure.

[Krusty]

First he's talking about the various roles the plane was used in, torpedo plane, search and rescue, recce etc. He then explains how the plane got its floats ripped off and sank during landing due to pilot error. He goes on telling how they are going to disassemble the wreck into five parts and submerge them in a freshwater tank for 2-3 years to get all the salt out. If they don't the salt will crystallize and expand, causing more damage to the structure.

Thank you for the summary. 

[GScholz]

Happy to serve

[Babalonian]

That's really a cool find.

I'm surprised the condition the vertical stab is in for resting upside down on it for so long.

First he's talking about the various roles the plane was used in, torpedo plane, search and rescue, recce etc. He then explains how the plane got its floats ripped off and sank during landing due to pilot error. He goes on telling how they are going to disassemble the wreck into five parts and submerge them in a freshwater tank for 2-3 years to get all the salt out. If they don't the salt will crystallize and expand, causing more damage to the structure.

Sorry to hear it's going to take so long before they can even get started, but thanks for the translation.... did they go into much detail on precisely how the pilot erred and ripper his floats off (too fast, bad weather/landing conditions)?

[Volron]

I hope they will be able to restore her to flying condition.   It's a LONG stretch, but one can hope, right?

[Krusty]

If it were a land plane, I could see maybe doing that... But the fact that it's a floatplane IMO makes it almost impossible that will ever happen.

Why? Well aside from the fact they don't have the floats, it's an entirely different danger-level to take off in a sea plane, let alone a restored/rebuilt/fabricated design that hasn't ever been tested. A choppy surface and you could lose all that work/money.

It was dangerous even back then to take off in one of those things. Heck, the prototype Ar196 had a hard wave and the engine mounts snapped off and the rest of the airframe caught fire from the leaking gas. It was lost (crew got out, though).


From a liability, cost-v-reward aspect, and several other aspects, I don't see it happening. Just my personal opinion, though.

[Big Rat]

Unbelievable shape for being submerged so long, I was really surprised by it's good condition.

 
BigRat

[GScholz]

That's really a cool find.
I'm surprised the condition the vertical stab is in for resting upside down on it for so long.
Sorry to hear it's going to take so long before they can even get started, but thanks for the translation.... did they go into much detail on precisely how the pilot erred and ripper his floats off (too fast, bad weather/landing conditions)?

He didn't go into more detail than to say that the pilot came in "a bit crooked" and tore the floats off.

[GScholz]

If it were a land plane, I could see maybe doing that... But the fact that it's a floatplane IMO makes it almost impossible that will ever happen.
Why? Well aside from the fact they don't have the floats, it's an entirely different danger-level to take off in a sea plane, let alone a restored/rebuilt/fabricated design that hasn't ever been tested. A choppy surface and you could lose all that work/money.
It was dangerous even back then to take off in one of those things. Heck, the prototype Ar196 had a hard wave and the engine mounts snapped off and the rest of the airframe caught fire from the leaking gas. It was lost (crew got out, though).
From a liability, cost-v-reward aspect, and several other aspects, I don't see it happening. Just my personal opinion, though.

It would also be quite irresponsible in my opinion since it's the only known He 115 in existence. Would be better to build a replica and put the original in a museum somewhere safe. They would most likely have to replace most of the structure anyway if they rebuild it. It will probably end up in the aviation museum in my home town.

http://www.luftfart.museum.no/Engelsk/Velkommen.htm

[GScholz]

Maybe they'll put her next to this old lady.

[Wmaker]

It is clear that that thing won't fly. I'm sure it'll get restored beautifully like many Luftwaffe aicrraft found from Norway's territory that have found the way to Gardemoen's museum for example.


Regarding sea planes, they take off and land hundreds/thousands of times each day without an incident. Alaska is full of them working their butts off. Certainly there are issues to deal with when landing in water but with proper procidures and traning it's just as safe as any means of transportation.

[GScholz]

Flying boats are generally very safe in calm sea state yes, but float planes are far more sensitive to weather and sea state, and with little or no margin for pilot error.