HISPANO BUCHÓN INSIGHTS: A warbird legend compares the Spanish-built Bf 109 with the German original
Because of the recent influx of Buchóns to the UK scene, many more pilots have now had their skills challenged by this demanding aircraft — certainly more than the handful who flew it when the Old Flying Machine Company operated the single Buchón in Britain. As the experience base has widened, there will be many more views on how to tame the type. Mine is but one.
I was sitting in my new office in London in August 1998 when I got a call from Mark Hanna. I had been flying with the OFMC at Duxford for some years in what spare time I had from my duties in the RAF, as well as displaying the RAF-owned Bf 109G-2 ‘Black 6’. “I know you have been flying ‘Black 6’”, Mark said, “so would you like to fly the Buchón?” Visions of a nice, sunny day at Duxford with the wind nicely down the strip sprung to mind, so I replied in the affirmative. I had just had a month between jobs, so had filled my boots flying the Spitfire, Mustang, Corsair and Fury and felt ready for this new challenge. “Good”, replied Mark. “Can you pick up our Buchón from Sion, Switzerland, and take it to Warsaw next week?” Simple! Luckily for Ma…
