To my knowledge, the Buchon was based on a 109 G2 and built under license in Spain. Originally it was intended to be powered by the DB605 but the engines never turned up so as a subtitute a Hispano Suiza engine was fitted. As it turned out they proved to be not much good so after the war the Spanish airforce bought a whole load of Merlin 500's and refitted the entire fleet with them.
How does it compare to the Daimler powered 109? I'll have to dig out my references but from what i can remember I've heard mixed reports. John Alison (he was at the controls of Black 6 when it had it's infamous accident) said something along the lines(if i remember correctly!) that the Buchon was "the most unpleasant and demanding of all the Warbirds he had flown". I think his main gripes were the non existant foward view (much worse than the DB605 variant and a Spitfire) and the noise.
Mark Hanna on the other hand described it as a "Very fine fighter that's fast and turns well". He then went on and made the following comments. "The problem comes with the take off and landing.You always get a bit nervous when you go flying in one of these.If you don't your foolish as you'll end up wrapping it up.It's more your favourate aircraft when you've landed it and are sitting having a beer looking at it".
I think the latter comments are true of any variant of the 109. I think those that have been fortunate enough to fly the DB605 powered versions and the Buchon prefered the former.
I did have an article comparing the Buchon to the Spitfire by OFMC's Brian Smith.
I'll try and find it and see what gives.
Oh BTW. The above pictures are of the OFMC's ill fated machine.
Cheers
Bradburger
[This message has been edited by Bradburger (edited 10-28-1999).]
