A Rare Restoration Project

The last surviving example of its type, this Heinkel 219 is in the hands of Smithsonian's restoration experts.
From the Show: America's Hanger bit.ly/2yS52sm

[@Bryan-cs9to]

I took a private tour in the Paul E Garber Facility about 30 years ago and this plane was there still in original condition awaiting this restoration. There where so many extremely rare WW2 aircraft there during my tour waiting to be restored - it was such an amazing experience one I will never forget. Thank you!

[@davidmicheletti6292]

I just saw this plane about a month ago. What has been done to date is extremely well done.

[@chris_hisss]

Did its wings get mounted?

[@gasdorficmuncher9943]

is was left outdoors i cant beleave it , its one of the most amazing nazi aircraft ..didnt even put a tarp on it soo sick

[@Th.G.M.]

My sincere thanks for everyone involved to preserve such aircraft!

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

This reminds me of when Dale was restoring the Fw190. We didn't know he was dying of cancer yet he made it his mission to finish the bird which he did. Those of us that worked or like me knew the people at Silver Hill were stunned by his drive and speed. I miss old bldg10 and that time when you could talk to the gang while they worked. Richard Horrigan, Bob Padgett, Mary Fiek to name a few great people all.

[@roscoe9507]

Incredible work and I can imagine it being very rewarding and satisfying too

[@longsweep1]

I have to admit it does look like a beautiful plane!

[@Tiberiotertio]

I hope they restore the Go 229 too as it is also the only one left.

[@Tiberiotertio]

soaringtractor Shows you know next to nothing on the topic, that there where test flights already taken and that the captured one was the third prototype. But I guess the test pilot who got killed in the test flight with the second plane was just sitting on the ground with no engines. Got to love it, people who don´t know the details think they know it all. Go stuff yourself with some more big Macs.

[@Tiberiotertio]

soaringtractor Duhhh duhh Mr. Stupid personally go FUCK OFF with your Bullshit

[@grumblesa10]

Well, to add some details, and not a rant: There were 2x prototypes completed and flying. In fact, one was flown in a training engagement with an Me-262 and defeated it every intercept. Secondly, a lot's been made about the Ho229's supposed LO characteristics. Pure speculation: the flying wing design was to maximize performance-and sort of an obsession by the Horten brothers. Tests against a simulator with typical WW2 VHF radars, such as those used by the RAF showed a decrease of less than 30% in RCS. Helpful, but not necessarily "stealthy".

[@bobdyer422]

Whoops! I wrote GO229, it should have been HO229.

[@Tiberiotertio]

bob dyer Go 229 is correct or it is Horten H IX both where used.

[@kl0wnkiller912]

AWESOME! I have been waiting for them to get the 219 restored!

[@josephstabile9154]

Thanks for the video! Keep up the great work. I know there's a Horten and a Ta-152 that, unlike great wine, aren't improving with age out back in your warehouse!

[@billbright1755]

Owl. Ejector seat equipped, very innovative radar to "see" at night.

[@leesherman100]

First aircraft in squadron service to utilize an ejection seat.

[@joestephan1111]

The first ejection seat was developed as part of a SAAB rear-engined "pusher" propeller fighter that was used by the Swedish air force in their fierce battles against the Nazis to protect their neutrality.

[@ErichKartmann]

Please preserve the Horten Ho 229 as well

[@joevanseeters2873]

The Heinkel HE219 was an advanced night fighter which came too late in WWII to make any significant difference. Had they had this aircraft in significant numbers earlier in the war, it would have been a very formidable weapon. This aircraft was one of the first fighters with a pressurized cockpit which no doubt was a welcomed addition by the pilots due to being able to have a comfortable environment to fly the aircraft and not be subject to the freezing temperatures that pilots had to endure before pressurized cockpit's allowed for air conditioning and heating keeping a very comfortable interior temperature at all times. No doubt being comfortable in flight makes it a much more enjoyable experience, especially on longer missions. It could be argued that the pilot would be able to fly the aircraft more effectively in comfortable surroundings than if the pilot was freezing cold, especially in the extremities such as the feet, hands, and fingers. So glad that the Smithsonian is restoring this important piece of history. No doubt the Americans and other ally nations studied this aircraft extensively after they got their hands on them, as they did with many of the other German aircraft and related technologies after WWII which probably aided in the creation of new, even more advanced aviation technology from what they learned studying and testing all sorts of German technologies, many of which, were far more advanced than any other nation in the world.

[@EnterpriseXI]

Like many axis aircraft, He-219 very unique beautiful aircraft. Would love to see it fly again but it’s the last of its kind so best to preserve it on the ground then in the air.

[@drstrangelove4998]

❤ beautiful restoration work.

[@oxcart4172]

Obviously none of those exhibits will fly again, but it would be great to be able to hear them at least

[@oxcart4172]

@@ivorbiggun710 No, but wouldn't it be great if they got them running?

[@vmlelectronics]

Or even be the model for a flying replica!

[@oxcart4172]

@@vmlelectronics now you're talking! We can all dream!😁😁

[@johnritchie4801]

All these rair birds deserve to be restored

[@thenoobletlego]

Doesn't look like they ever finished the restoration, the fuselage is still the only piece of the 219 on display... What a shame.

[@clapos7922]

They're still restoring it. The last update I got was a year ago, they were restoring the landing gear back then. The wings paint is also finished but afaik they're still looking for the antennas as they (and their connection to the fuselage) are still missing.

[@adamestes5227]

Now it has been reassembled at Hazy! They are still trying fabricate the radar antennas, but will be done soon.

[@willlee3378]

I wished they had filmed the nacelle I was working on. I had spent weeks gluing paint chips back on using Soluvar a paint conservators varnish used in restoring fine paintings.

[@blazeiscrazy8737]

OOoOo Will do you work on the Horten? I ain't a conspiracy nut that plane just has a particular interest to me because of it's backstory and design. I've seen it before and even in it's condition it still looks pretty. I heard that Dulles didn't have the funds to continue working on it.

[@searchthetruth1981]

My deepest respect ...🙏

[@christopheschwartz7374]

Une très rareté ce He-219 vu la tournure de la restauration de cet oiseau unique?! Merci pour ce partage, un abonné français et passionné.

[@normvw4053]

As I have said before, the 1930's and 1940's were the golden age of aviation. There were so many advances, some good and some not so good, and some tnat should really never have been cosidered. Still, the aeronautical advances were really phenomenal.

[@Billhatestheinternet]

Would be wild to actually see some of these aircraft restored to flight status.

[@bondophobic]

i hope the ki-45 gets it's wings back

[@eyalcr500]

wow, if i only knew 1/10 of what that Mrs. Jia-sun Tsang knows about colors and paints..... i'd be THE Master of model kits painting

[@williamkoppos7039]

Fabulous work, bringing history back. Any news on the "Swoose"?

[@adamestes5227]

The Swoose was transferred to the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio. Some restoration work on it was carried out, but it was stopped to focus on other projects, notably the Memphis Belle is now done. Another thing to add is that when the Smithsonian transferred the Swoose to the USAF Museum, the USAF Museum decided to transfer the Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby to the Smithsonian now that the Memphis Belle was put on display.

[@danielwhyatt3278]

It really is a great aircraft. Just like the rest of the German and British designs of the time. They all need great love and care.

[@RogbodgeVideo]

The RLM at the time wern't so keen, probably because they wanted Heinkel to concentrate on bombers!

[@normvw4053]

This is one of my favorite aircraft of the WW II Era. Typical of thr German Engineers of the time. Equipped with the first ejector seats and inverted V engines gave it speed and altitude, it's combination of 20 and 30 mm cannon made it leathal on it's opponents. Back on subject, the surface showed looked as if there was a severe surface corrosion. please tell me if this is the case. Would it be possible to contact the Germans on this? They were apparently were/are very good record keepers. I remember when the "Glacier Girl" a P-38 Lightning was restored, (resurrected), many people who were involved in the manufacture of the aircraft wanted to help with the rebuild. Perhaps there is someone in Germany who would like to help. All you can do is ask.

[@fw1421]

And 9 years later it still hasn’t been assembled. When are they going to restore the Foche Wolf Ta152?

[@fjbutch]

Fascinating... and dedication to !!

[@fredferd965]

Will they also restore the German radar set?

[@fw1421]

And here it is 2021 and the 219 still hasn’t been assembled. Lord knows how many years it’s going to be till they start restoring the Ta152 and Me 410. They still have many WWII Axis aircraft that need to be restored. If the Smithsonian doesn’t have the resources to do the job how about giving them to the USAF Museum or Museum of Flight in Seattle?

[@adamestes5227]

The He 219 has been getting reassembled. They put the wings back on it in 2019. In addition to that, it’s sitting on its landing gear, and got its engines on the wings as well. They fabricated some radar masts and antennas for it. Plus, the museum has a few pictures of it coming together on Flickr. As for the Ta 152 and Me 410, they aren’t the focus of any restoration because they have been renovating the museum in downtown D.C. for the past few years now, so the restoration staff is focused on getting everything from D.C. ready to go back on display over there. Then they will complete work on other projects such as the B-26 Flak Bait and the Sikorsky JRS-1 flying boat that survived Pearl Harbor.

[@fw1421]

@@adamestes5227 I’d really like to see the Jrs-1 restored. It was at the Hazy Center in 2014 when I was there last. From what I’ve seen in pictures they haven’t done anything to it yet. Thanks for the update on the 219,I’ve been holding off visiting again till the219 was put on display.

[@adamestes5227]

@@fw1421 you’re welcome for the update. The JRS-1 will be restored when Flak Bait is fully assembled after all the planes from D.C. return. In addition to the He 219 coming together, the Udvar Hazy Center also has the Nakajima Kikka and the nose of the Kyushu J7W Shinden on display there, along with the Horten Ho 229, which is currently displayed with the wings separated from the center section, though there is an effort to secure a grant to fund the necessary work to get the 229’s wings re-attached. Curator Jeremy Kinney said in an interview with Stars and Stripes that the museum was leaning towards restoring the JRS-1 to look like it did during the attack on Pearl Harbor. And one more thing, when the renovations to the museum in DC are completed, the museum will be constructing new storage buildings at the Udvar-Hazy Center to replace the Garber facility. They already built one building to store air and spacecraft from DC for the renovations, so perhaps we’ll be seeing more planes heading on the interstate for the Udvar-Hazy Center.

[@fw1421]

@@adamestes5227 thanks Adam. I’m afraid I’ll never see these warbirds finished. Time has started flying by at my age,67,and I know it takes time and money to restore these planes. The Ho229 is one of the birds I’ve been interested in and seeing it all rotten the way it is today is a shame. Just preserving it isn’t enough. I’m sure it would take 10 years to make it right and untold amounts of money. Thousands of hours of labor I’m sure. The JRS should be restored to its Pearl Harbor configuration and markings. Such a historical piece!

[@adamestes5227]

@@fw1421 I see. I may not be a local to the museum myself, but I often keep a close eye on their progress. Hopefully more of their planes in storage will go on display, if not in D.C. or Dulles then on loan. Besides the Ta 152 and Me 410, I’d like to see the Ju 388, BV 155, Ba 349 Natter, and He 162 go on display. Being a young man, I just hope I can see these and the other planes in storage someday.

[@wackaircaftmechanic2312]

The 219 is such a cool airplane but it's sad none of these are flying.

[@Icepacalapse]

Is this the one that sat at norfolk many decades ago?

[@maxsmodels]

That plane survived because it was brought to the US as part of operation MUSTY (Luftwaffe Secret Technologies).

Restore the Horten 229 jet powered flying wing.

[@lovethegame0204]

Anyone have a link to information about this project in it's current state?

[@ethanzarian3163]

What's important Is is this airplane being fully restored to fight capacity

[@FiveCentsPlease]

+ethan zarian Will never happen for this example in a museum. Single-engine German types in private hands are expensive to own and a twin-engine would be twice as expensive and twice the risk.

[@kl0wnkiller912]

@@FiveCentsPlease Not only that but being the only example left in the world I doubt anyone would risk flying it.

[@juanrios9522]

...I dont think I would be able to shoot down that plane if it was in the cross hairs of the guns of my P-51D if I was in WWII..!! I could hear my commander...shoot that damned plane, Captain Riggs..!.. but, but, Sir; it's a He-219..!!. and it's a beautiful plane, Sir..!! Captain Riggs..!!! coddamnit... you shoot that plane right now, or I would..........(..yeah, I know, it never saw active service, Im just having fun)...=)..kool video..!!

[@clapos7922]

Well, it showed like 3 years of service if I remember correctly. But well, highly unlikely to come across a He 219 flying in a P-51D

[@pilotmiami1]

I want to join this team

[@fw1421]

If they would only assemble it!

[@drstrangelove4998]

They have assembled it

[@ronaldvanbeekveld8398]

Sad that she will not fly 😢 again

[@guitarshredddddder91]

The ho 229 though

[@destensgaming669]

hope it can fly

[@RailsOfTheSouthProductions]

As it is the last surviving model, it probably won't. If it wasn't, then it probably would fly. However I think they found another one, so it may just fly

[@DannyBoy777777]

It isn't the last surviving model. There is one in Denmark.

[@buxi444]

i hope not!. This wouldnt been the first only existing plane that has been crashed by aeronautic noobs. Like the Messerschmitt P 1101.

[@bakkerem1967]

Yeah, hope so too. These things were built to be flown, and maintained by professionals. Mockups are for the museum.

[@clapos7922]

I hope it stays on the ground. I love that plane (thats why I have two parts of one) but don't risk such a rare aircraft in a condition that good.

[@benjaminbellestlandawatson4965]

In norway there is an he 115

[@Albert87nl]

Heinzel fixen a Heinkel. the irony

[@ronaldvankuyk908]

Arado air first jet bomber the b 47 became the 707 remember? Ronadam

[@김송-l1i]

is there anyone restored U boat?

[@raulduke6105]

The u505 in Chicago

[@clapos7922]

In Germany at Laboe

[@popie.eucalyptus]

Ku aing di adukeun jeung amrik..!

[@gasdorfymunchy2552]

Warning this comment is not Smithsonian quality

[@juanpabloaravenariquelme5461]

SE DEVEN DEVOLVER ESOS AVIONES SON ALEMANES..

[@Strike_Raid]

Sophisticated? It was a full generation behind British and American night fighters. It has yagis sticking out of the front; yikes!

[@1joshjosh1]

That lady can help you learn to cook rice.

[@ilotrunisfoschkanuris1883]

ha ha, funny they play the game of americans using historical plans for restoring a historical plane in a new form. airplane restaurators never use plans and ever built a total new type of the historic aircraft for use in the contemporary ageing. best regard peter shaw

[@peterson7082]

?

[@richardmckrell4899]

Paid with tax payer money?

[@dr.wilfriedhitzler1885]

Give it back to Germany! All of them.

[@KamikazeCombat]

hahahahah........... no

[@airestesshistory8100]

The Dornier Do 335 shown at the end of the video was sent back to Dornier in 1974 for restoration, and after appearing as a static display at an air show in Hanover from May 1-9 1976, the plane was loaned to the Deutsches Museum in Munich until it returned to America in 1988. And a few more planes have come back to Germany from other countries.

[@donaldrobertson117]

See Winkle Brown's assessment of this overrated type. Then compare with a Mosquito night fighter.

[@hawkdsl]

I appreciate what the Smithsonian does, but any plane not flying, is a complete and utter waste. Hanging from the roof, or static on the ground is an abomination. Go to places like fantasy of flight.. History that is alive.

[@clapos7922]

It depends. If the plane is the last surviving example, in a really untouched condition (like the He 219) or to dangerous to fly (Me 163, He 162) they should stay on the ground. But if there are various examples of one type surviving some should fly, thats what I can agree with. But sending rare birds to the sky (like they wanted to do with the Fw 189) is a no-go.

[@hawkdsl]

I understand where your coming from.. but from my perspective, it is an abomination. If it can fly, it should fly. Especially so, if it's the last one.

[@ryanmorris2479]

Most one-of-a-kind Historic planes literally can not fly. There are no parts to use to bring them back to flying specs. Every gasket, wire, bearing, hydraulic fitting, etc, must perform flawlessly, but they are 70 years old, and there are no spares. Every structure must be crack, distortion and corrosion free. There is an enormous difference between a bolts-up flying restoration an historic preservation. I guarantee this he-219 can not fly for these reasons. We should be excited that we even get to see such a rare bird. It is also a priceless piece of history that shouldn't be risked for the poetic satisfaction of seeing it fly again. It would be easier, safer, wiser, and perhaps even cheaper to build one from scratch and fly THAT (which is precisely what has been done with other rare Luftwaffe aircraft like the Me-262 and the Fw-190.)