Focke-Wulf Fw 190F-8
We are currently restoring/rebuilding the fuselage for the Collings Foundation’s Focke-Wulf Fw 190F-8 German WWII fighter. The project was formerly owned by the White 1 Foundation out of Kissimmee, Florida. This aircraft was shot down in Norway and recovered by John Houston from Texas, and then sold to Mark Timken and the White 1 Foundation. Once completed, this will be the second original airworthy Fw 190 in the world.
Restoration timeline - click any image to enlarge and browse
Fuselage frames being installed in fuselage fixture
Fw 190 parts back from heat treating, in form blocks to hold shape
Fabricating wood form blocks
Fuselage frames and stringers being installed in fuselage fixture
Support angle in fabrication process, original on left and fabrication on right
Aft fuselage, fitting stringers and doublers
Fuselage, orienting aft fuselage components
Original compass after restoration, being fitted in fuselage
Fuselage, in fuselage fixture
Skin being fit to fuselage
Fuselage, in fuselage fixture; various components being fit into place
Top rear skins being fit and drilled
Upper deck access door frame after fabrication, being fit to fuselage
Right hand console being fit in cockpit
Left hand console being fit in cockpit
Forward lower instrument panel, in fabrication process
Fw 190F-8 -Fitting left side fuselage skins
Inside of fuselage looking aft
Fitting right side fuselage skins
Fitting skins on belly of fuselage
Fitting skins on belly of fuselage
Locating consoles and instrument panels
Flight control differential unit
Fuselage
Working on empannage
Locating console components and other cockpit components
Organizing flight control differential unit
Forms, original rib and fabricated rib
Fabricating rib
Fitting canopy deck
Fabricating wood portion of fuselage access door
Locating and fitting canopy deck
Fabricating wood portion of access door on belly of fuselage
Wood portion of access door on belly of fuselage
Fitting and locating canopy deck
Fitting and locating canopy deck
Fuel port
Access door
Restoring ailerons
Restored aileron tip and fabricated aileron tip
Restoring wing
Locating components on firewall
Installing trailing edge spar in fixture
Flap in restoration process
Restoring fuelbay door
Removing fuselage from build fixture
Inside cockpit looking aft
Fuselage removed from build fixture
Restoring wing
Restoring wing
Prepping to paint the cockpit
Spar center section web
Restoring empannage
Fabricating the vertical leading edge
Fabricating the vertical leading edge
Fitting and locating wing skins and armament blister
Restoring the wing
Restoring empannage
Side console
Fitting a locating side console
Restoring wing
Assembling spar web components
Fitting instruments in instrument panel
Fitting canopy
Locating wiring brackets
Preparing to mate wing halves
Forms, original and fabricated wing tip ribs and original cap
Fitting aft fuel tank
Assembling center leading edge section
Restoring gun cowling
Assembling original armament access doors
Wing in restoration process
BMW 801 engine
Removing wing from build fixture
Placing wing in the flight position
Locating center leading edge section
Beginning installation of landing gear
Fitting cowl flap cowling
Fitting cowling
Restoring cowling
Fitting landing gear
Fitting wheel well inserts
Ammo can doors
Cockpit in restoration process
Mating wing and fuselage
Installing empannage
Cowling gun receivers and ammo cans installed
Fabricating oil tank
Installing plumbing
Installing engine
Fitting wing root fairing
Fuelbay door in restoration process
Restoring top cowling
Installing electrical connectors on engine mount
Plumbing installed
Fitting cowling
Forward fuel tank installed
Fuel tank plumbing installed
Fabricating plumbing
Fabricating plumbing
Locating oxygen bottles
Focke-Wulf in restoration process
Locating gunbay doors
Restoring firewall access covers
Installing windscreen deicing plumbing
Fabric boot installed in aft fuselage
Locating hinge on gunbay door
Fitting landing gear doors
Applying linen fabric to aileron
Assembling lower landing gear door
Landing gear doors installed
Custom Connections wiring side console
Aileron in fabric process
Aileron in fabric process
Installing wing root fairings
Fitting leading edge fillets
Cockpit in restoration process
Left side inboard leading edge sections complete
Rudder pedals installed
Custom Connections wiring cockpit
Fitting oil tank, oil cooler and armor ring
Focke-Wulf in restoration process
Fitting cowling
Cockpit complete
Radio and battery compartment
Left side gunbay
Installing skin on cowling side blister
Starter handle to hand crank engine
Installing plumbing on oil cooler
Cowling complete
Restoring center sections of wheel wells
Fabricating access panel with original as template
Inspection hole covers installed
Putting Focke-Wulf on gear
Prepping for paint
Arizona Aeropainting painting airframe
White 1 airframe painted
Making stencils for markings
Original drop tank before repairs
ETC 501 rack restored and installed
ETC 501 rack cover
Original drop tank repaired and installed