Aerotranstornados nº33 – Notes
on FIAT G.91R/3 FAP No.5442
GPS: 37°
6'22.08"N 7°58'20.27"W
Noted in Pombal for a
number of years (my first note dates back to 8Jan1999), what initially appeared
to be a complete FIAT G.91R/3 FAP no.5442, was sold in November 2013 to a
retired airline pilot that brought it to a new location, in Santa Bárbara de
Nexe, in the Algarve.
After a visit to Captain
Simplício Pinto, I was able to take some pictures of all the parts that compose
the aircraft and was able to verify some of the data. The aircraft is reasonably
intact with some damage, all of it reparable. The previous owner, said to be an
ex-pilot, could have bought it in one of the scrap dealers in the Bucelas region,
bringing it here for storage around 1998.
Fuselage – the
fuselage has still the c/n plate which is not common in
many of the scrapped G.91’s, thus being,
Werk-Nr 91-1-0077
Baumuster G91 R/3
Sach-Nr 0-0101-0-00-34072
Baujahr 1-1961
Vers-Nr 1510-15-041-1958
All the damaged parts
are being repaired, some to be built from scratch, though is believed by the
owner that the Portuguese Air Force will be able to provide some spares.
Tail cone/planes –
early sightings while still in Pombal, the number was painted over, so only
after a few years was possible to read the number “5442”. No signs of the
number being painted over. In this section it is still readable on the OGMA
paint shop sticker that can be found on the fuselage the date “87-12-10”, so
the plane was delivered to FAP around that time at the end of it’s second IRAN.
The fin and the port horizontal stabilizer have extensive damage.
Wings – in WGAF c/n
and markings, with some minor damage, all of it repairable.
As said, there are a
lot of parts of the aircraft missing and, as well as many fuselage panels (they
were already missing in Pombal), but Captain Simplício Pinto, together with a
group of volunteers, has already begun work to have it restored to its full
glory (maybe in full tiger c/s!). The aircraft will set for display in a
private plot. However, it will be well visible for anyone interested visiting.
The planned final resting place is the backyard of Captain Simplício own home. It
will be a tribute to the Portuguese Air Force, where he served as a T-6 pilot during
the colonial war in Mozambique.
Throughout his commercial flying carrer, Captains Simplício logged over 35.000
hours as pilot in command, in types such as the Boeing 737-100, 737-200
extended, Fokker F-27 Friendship and the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar.
All visitors are
welcome but, at this point only by prior appointment with Captain. Simplício
Pinto to arrange a visit, if possible. Mail to: simpliciopintocp@gmail.com
Acknowledgements: the
webmaster of Aerotranstornados wishes to thank Com. Simplício Pinto and Bruno
Filipe Pires for all the help and additional input.
Additional
information by Eddy Wierenga.
FIAT G.91R3
1961.01 - built at Dornier at
Oberpfaffenhofen factory under licence upon an order by German government in
1960 (for 232, later upraised to 294 aircraft);
1961? – BD+117 WS-50 at ErdingAB;
1963.06 – noted Hopsten AB, with
AG53 1stSqdn as EC+117 [photo on F40Ausg.29 page19]; Based Erding AB
? – ER+117 Reserveflugzeuge der AkG
? – MD+253 of 2nd Squadron, LkG-44,
at Leipheim AB;
1968 - changed to 30+21 with LeKG44 at Leipheim AB;
1976.07.13 – delivered FAP, became
5442;
1979 – to Esq.301/BA6 – l/n 1986;
1979? –
noted oper. (foto livro FIAT)
1987 – noted OGMA [paintshop date
1987.12.10];
2013.11.17 –
moved to Santa Bárbara de Nexe, owner Captain. Simplício Pinto.
2014.06.14 – confirmed under
restoration;
