Rare Me 13 Komet on display at USAF museum

On December 10, 1999, a Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet was added to the vast collection of the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. Before acquisition by the museum, the Komet was owned and restored by the Canadian National Aviation Museum.

Komet test pilot Rudolf "Rudi" Opitz was on hand to recount his experiences of flying the rocket-propelled fighter. Speaking to a standing-room-only crowd, Mr. Opitz talked about his long career in aviation, which dates back 70 years to when he made his first flight in a glider in 1929. His lifelong flying experiences include service with a secret glider assault unit. which became Luftlandegeschwader Ithe first air-landing group. He also instructed assault and transport glider pilots until he joined the Komet test program, where he later commanded IL Gruppe of JG 400-the second operational Komet group. At age 89, Rudi still flight instructs in gliders.

Copyright Air Age Publishing Apr 2000
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved