AEROTRANSTORNADOS Nº56 - Notes on the Celourico da Beira's FIAT G.91

First noted by me in 7 June 1999, following information published in a planespotting magazine (not sure which), I had mistakenly identified the FIAT G.91R/3 displayed in Celourico da Beira, in a public garden/kids playground located in the Largo da Corredoura. 

The aircraft was noted on that date without the c/n serial plate thus the information I had was as this being the c/n 91-508, thus exWGAF 32+39 (previously HD+498, EC+313, MD+313, BD+270 and 32+39), and noted as one of the BA2 Ota decoys, noted as cannibalized sometime in 1984.  

This aircraft was lend to the Celourico da Beira municipality in the 70’s or 80’s, for display, being first noted here in 1989.

In a visit to the Museu do Ar, in Alverca, in September 2000, I was able to consult some data on the aircraft lend to several municipalities, and found that the FIAT of Celourico was noted as being c/n 91-508 (ex32+39), and noted there by 14 December 1993. Which in a way, corroborate the previous information.

Later on, was noted dumped in the outskirts of the city, near the IP3 road [IP5 between exit 23 and 24, North side].  I was able to access the aircraft in 22 April 2001, and took a few more shots of it. By the time the WGAF markings were more visible, because the paint that was covering it was fading out. By this time, I corrected some of my previous notes, including the information on EMOOS 2007, which was also correct. Unfortunately the information I gave to for Scramble no.263 (sorry guys!).  

From now, there was no doubt that the FIAT noted by me in 1999 and 2001 was in fact exWGAF 32+69 (c/n 91-539).

The same aircraft was noted in the following month, during a protest in front of the Portuguese Parliament, in Lisbon, related to the demand by Canas de Senhorim, in Nelas, to become a council. I presumed then that the aircraft went back to the dump site or to Canas de Senhorim. 

I’ve visited Canas de Senhorim in 12 September 2001, but could not locate the aircraft, and several attempts to contact the promoter of the protest were unsucessful.

Some years after, a video showing what appears to be a ex-WGAF FIAT G.91 submerged in a dam, for training purposes for divers of firefighting corporations. This appeared in a blog of a diver in 2011, it was most likely placed here some years before. The dam is Barragem de Calde, Várzea de Calde, in Viseu.

This one could be the “lost” FIAT from Celourico da Beira... exWGAF32+69…?

Other video, possibly from the same a/c apeared on FB around November 2020. 

Apart from all that, by some odd reason I persisted in the mistake in my FIAT list, which was, corrected this week.

Enough of that, here are some of the slides I’ve recently scanned.

AEROTRANSTORNADOS Nº47

Some planespotting notes...

Lockheed T-33AN no.1952 (c/n T33-278; RCAF 21228) 

@ Chaves airfield (noted 26.08.2016)

FIAT G.91R/3 FAP no.5470 (s/n 91-339, exWGAF 30+77).
@ Vila Real airfield (noted 24.08.2016)



FIAT G.91R/3 (c/n 91-342; exWGAF 30+80)
@  Horta do Numão, V.N. de Foz Côa (noted 24.08.2016)

Lockheed T-33A, FAP no.1922 (USAF s/n 56-1624, c/n 9974)

@ Bragança airfield (26.08/2016) 

Noteworthy at  Bragança airfield, at the base of the T-33, a plaque in memory of the first landing ever to take place in Bragança, on the 29th August 1925, a Vickers Valparaíso II, of  the Arma de Aeronáutica do Exército (Army Air Corps). The aeroplane was piloted 

by Lt. Sérgio da Silva and Capt. Carlos da Cunha Almeida as an Observer.

Continued presence at  BA5 Monte Real (noted 1.9.2016)

Gate guards: A-7P 15524; F-16A ‘15150’

“Base Collection” – A-7P 15521, T-38A 2609, F-86 5347, G.91R/3 5454 

Vila Nova da Rainha

Displayed at Vila Nova da Rainha, in a roundabout between the local primary school and the N3 road, is the Alphajet A nº15231 (exWGAF 40+96; c/n 0096; exBA11).

Following several events commemorating the 100th anniversary of Portuguese Military Aviation, this Alphajet integrates a monument inaugurated on the 17th July, 2016.

Must visit also, at the local train station, thus where was located the former army barracks (Escola Aeronáutica Militar) -- at least one of the buildings still exists -- a set of panels illustrating some of the first steps of military aviation in Portugal. (noted 4.9.2016)

Thanks to: Rui Joaquim.

Aerotranstornados nº30 - Contributos para a história do FIAT G.91 na Força Aérea Portuguesa

Contributos para a história do
FIAT G.91
na Força Aérea Portuguesa

 

Da minha colaboração permanente com os projectos European Military Out Of Service, e Aviation Museums and Collections of the World, leva à tentativa de manter um continuado acompanhamento das movimentações das aeronaves incluídas nestas publicações e também, a uma busca do esclarecimento das dúvidas e incertezas sobre a identificação de algumas delas. Dúvidas essas que que começam tantas vezes, e como diz um Amigo, por um «ignoro» que , por vezes, não chegam nunca a ser verdadeiramente esclarecidos. Outras vezes, por entre as certezas de termos identificado um ou outro aparelho, não se pode pensar que chegamos a uma verdade absoluta.

No caso dos FIAT G.91R/4 nos. 5414 e 5415 que estão nos Açores, são aparelhos que numa primeira análise não se nos apresentam dúvidas sobre a sua identificação mas, uma analise posterior, revela que há ali algo mais para contar, gerador até de alguma confusão.

Assim, ainda que este trabalho seja constituido por notas muito pessoais sobre o tema pretende-se, não o derradeiro esclarecimento das dúvidas mas antes, um contributo no sentido do seu esclarecimento.

'5414’   [5415 c/n 91-4-0147]

Para além do FIAT G.91 nº5418 que está exposto frente á Rádio Lajes, este é um dos dois FIAT que desde há muitos anos estamos habituados a ver na BA4, nas Lajes.

O FIAT ‘5414’ foi restaurado em data que não consegui apurar mas que, estimo, tenha sido por volta do início dos anos 90, e oferecido ao Museu de Angra do Heroísmo, sem que tenha alguma vez saído das Lajes, talvez por o museu não ter forma de o expôr num local apropriado. Foi armazenado nos hangares da base até que, a 8 de Maio de 2010 foi transportado para o hangar do Aero Clube da Ilha Terceira, junto à aerogare civil, onde se encontra.

Não sendo possível identificá-lo pela placa metálica do construtor, junto à estrutura dos vidros do cockpit, foi possível confirmar, em meados de 2013, e de novo em Abril de 2015, a existência do “Radio Call”, no interior do cockpit, o 5415.

Mais ainda, a numeração pintada na fuselagem, que contém a inscrição do número de construtor, apresenta o número 91-4-101, sendo que este número é bem o do FIAT nº 5426, aparelho que se perdeu em acidente em 14 de Setembro de 1979.

Em ambos os lados da cauda, devido já a algum desgaste, ou “weathering”, como se diz na gíria modelística, é possivel verificar que o último algarismo está pintado sobre o que aparenta ser um outro algarismo, talvez o algarismo “5”? Quem sabe. Isto poderá significar que pelo menos a cauda seria do 5415, ainda que pudesse ser um “spare” utilizado apenas para este restauro. Nada disto é conclusivo.

‘5415’ [5414 c/n 91-4-0133]

Este FIAT encontra-se exposto, num pedestal, no bairro da ANA, no Aeroporto de Santa Maria, nos Açores.

Terá sido restaurado também pela mesma altura, no início dos anos 90, para ser ofertado ao Clube da ANA de Santa Maria, tendo sido o monumento inaugurado em 27 de Setembro de 1993.

Numa análise efectuada no início de 2014, foi possível observar que a cauda do aparelho aparenta ser do 5415, mas não foi possível confirmar o “Radio Call”. De todo o modo este aparelho aparenta, pelo menos do exterior, não possuir instrumentação.

Na fuselagem existe um número de construtor pintado e que, na realidade, não ajuda muito ao esclarecimento, já que, e apesar do “weathering” que torna a sua leitura um pouco difícil, aparenta ter pintado o número 91-4-10139. Ora, isto significaria que esta fuselagem seria do FIAT nº5422, aparelho que, segundo algumas fontes, se encontrava em Alverca, no DGMFA em Julho de 1994. Também aqui, a anotação do 5422 em Alverca poderia referir-se a uma outra fuselagem com a cauda do 5422, ou só a cauda...

Para este FIAT em Santa Maria se tratar da fuselagem do 5414 com a cauda do 5415, o número de contrutor seria o 91-4-0133 o que, não parece ser o caso.

De registar o restauro que lhe foi efectuado em 2018, tendo sido retirado para um hangar no aeroporto a 31 de Outubro, os trabalhos iniciaram-se no dia seguinte, e foi colocado de  novo no suporte a 9 de Novembro 2018.

Agradecimentos: Sr. Aristides Pires, Dr. Miguel Santos, Sr. TGen. Mimoso e Carvalho, Sr. Tobias Oliveira, Sr. Domingos Barbosa. Roberto Moura, Dr. João Toste;

(Minha) Lista de Aeronaves:

http://bu153188.blogspot.pt/2013/06/fiat-g91-list.html

Aerotranstornados nº27 - FIAT G.91R3 WGAF 32+89

FIAT G.91R3 exWGAF 32+89

The former scrap dealer António Silva Rego S.A., at Guardeiras, Maia, handled several dozen aircraft during the 60’s through the 80’s, including many of the Republic F-84’s withdrawn from service (FAP operated the type until 1974).

During the 80’s, there were some reports of sightings of a single aircraft, visible from the outside, referred as being a FIAT G.91. The aircraft was removed from sight, to the inside of one of the  buildings.

The scrap dealer processed the last aircraft scrap during the 90’s and closed down for business in 2009.

A few years years ago, there was a report about this aircraft, stating it was still there, inside one of the buildings of the compound. In March 15th 2014, in order to provide information for the 2014 edition of the European Military Out Of Service 2014, the owners allowed a visit to the site and the aircraft was confirmed as being the exWGAF FIAT G.91R/3 no. 32+89 (c/n 560).

During the visit, a detail inside the cockpit was drawn to our attention, the Radio Call of a different aircraft, no.“32+77”. This one was cannibalized and later used as decoy at BA1 Sintra (1982-1990). It is quite possible that during the cannibalization process (possibly all in the same location, Alverca? , BA6 Montijo?), the interior framing of the cockpit instrumentation was swapped.

The aircraft was in this location at least up until 2019.

According to several sources, the information gathered on this particular aircraft  is as follows,

FIAT G.91R3

c/n 560

exWGAF 32+89

1965 - built at Dornier at Oberpfaffenhofen factory under licence upon an order by German government in 1960 (for 232, later upraised to 294 aircraft);

1965 - KD+550 Dornier test-registration;
1964 – register EC+321 reserved for Luftwaffe unit AkG53 at Leipheim, however not delivered prior to 01.06.65, when this wing had been renamed LeKG44 (thus receiving serial code MD+...), ntu
28.09.1965 - taken on charge as MD+321 by LeKG44 at Leipheim;
05.1966 - transferred to LeKG42 at Pferdsfeld as MB+101, was "personal" aircraft of squadron leader of 1st Sqdn;
13.11.1967 - serial changed to 32+89, same unit;
1975 - replaced by F-4 Phantom and went to LeKG43 at Oldenburg;
01.1981 struck off charge and went to LVR6 for storage at Oldenburg;
08.1981 – noted at Oldenburg [MAP photo A08879]

1981 - to Portugal as gift (following former state aid givings) without overhaul for spares usage only;

1981(?) – cannibalized for spares;

1981(?) – scrapped – to António Silva Rego S.A.(scrap dealer) – l/n 2019;

09.2021 - to private owner, moved to Padrão de Moreira - confirmed 2022, l/n Jan2024;

 

Acknowledgements: many and sincere thanks to Sr. António Rego; Brian Pickering (MAP); Hans-Dietrich Lichtenhoff; Ian Carroll; Pedro “Pugachev” Oliveira; Peter M Gerhardt; Sérgio Couto;

FIAT G.91 list. 

Rui Ferreira