RENOWNED WARBIRD PILOT JOHN ROMAIN TALKS TO NIGEL PRICE ABOUT THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF FLYING THE BF 109 AND ITS SPANISH BRETHREN „
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| Bf 109 |
"As I came out of the loop I knew something was seriously wrong with the engine or with the propeller, so I decided to pull the aircraft up to gain height and time to think. At that point there was a loud bang and a big lump of metal came flying out of the crankcase. The crankshaft had broken in half and the mass balance had gone straight through the side of the engine." This was how Aircraft Restoration Company boss John Romain described the spectacular engine failure he suffered while displaying Hispano Buchón 'Yellow 10' (G-BWUE) at the Headcorn airshow on June 22, 2014. The Spanish built, Merlinengined Bf 109 had just started its routine when the problem occurred.
