October 13, 2011 – Another Focke-Wulf Fw 190 restoration made its first flight this past week in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the Baton Rouge Metro Airport. Owner Don Hansen, EAA 240289/Warbirds of America 548087, and manager of PAI Aero Inc., said the aircraft flew on Sunday, October 9, and has since made several other flights. N4190 is mostly a Flugwerk restoration, but the original aircraft – Fw 190A-8 Werknummer 173056 - was produced in 1944 at the Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG in Marienberg, Germany. It was later discovered buried in Rheims, France, after being stripped of many parts by the German military.

The restoration project began in 2000, and it took eight and a half years of work to complete the four major components: tail, fuselage, wings, and engine. “Needed quality repair parts were produced by Flugwerk, which has been most helpful,” Hansen said.

The engine is a Russian-made, 2000-hp Ash82T, also obtained from Flugwerk, of Gammelsdorf, Germany. It started “instantly” about two years ago – its first time running in 30 years. At the time Hansen and crew termed initial engine run “a smoky success.”

Experienced Fw 190 test pilot Capt. Klaus Plasa reported that the aircraft handles very well; engine parameters are good with a bit cool oil temperatures, the cockpit is quiet, propeller set is okay, and he’s experienced very smooth and predictable operations throughout test phase so far, Hansen said.

More flights are planned once a just-discovered fuel leak is remedied, and Hansen indicated he might someday fly the plane to Oshkosh - but he needs to learn how to fly it first, he said.

[img]http://www.eaa.org/news/2011/images/FW190_airborne.jpg[/img] is not a valid Image.
Don Hansen’s Fw 190 in flight on October 10, 2011. Photo credit: Rusty Gautreaux

[img]http://www.eaa.org/news/2011/images/FW190_takeoff.jpg[/img] is not a valid Image.
Fw 190 test pilot Capt. Klaus Plasa performs the first post-restoration takeoff in N4190 on October 9, 2011.