Champlin fighter museum for sale

Air Classics, Dec 1999

In a move that has taken the international aircraft preservation scene by surprise, the Champlin Fighter Museum has been offered for sale. The Museum, which opened in 1980 at historic Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona, comprises a collection of 16 World War One fighter aircraft and eight World War Two fighter aircraft as well as two jet-age fighters.

Housed in two hangars that once accommodated the Royal Air Force training facility at Falcon, the museum is one of the most significant collections of fighter aircraft in the United States. Founded by Doug Champlin, the collection was also once home to the American Fiqhter Aces Association but a disagreement saw the Association move to a new location in Texas.

Since Mesa is not exactly a tourist Mecca, attendance at the museum has never really reached figures the staff had hoped for. However, negotiations commenced with several other cities that were interested in obtaining the collection but, as of this date, nothing firm has come about although the nearby city Of Scottsdale has shown considerable interest and would like to move the collection to its airport where the aircraft would be housed in, oddly, two further ex-\hWil RAF hangars. Some of the WWI aircraft are original airframes while other examples are exacting replicas, some with original engine,, "The value of original \WI aircraft has risen significantly within the past year," commented a museum spokesperson. "An example of this value is the large amount paid by Seattle's Museum of Flight to acquire what they state is the world's first fighter aircraft - the unique Caproni Ca.20. This aircraft is still in its original unrestored condition."

WWI FIGHTERS rkings of Lt. Kurt Wintgens)

Fokker Eindecker E.ill (markings of Lt. Kurt Wintgens)

Sopwith F. I Camel (Capt. Roy Brown)

Sop\with Snipe

Fokker DO n, No. 84 squadron)

S.E.5a (Lt. George Vaughn No.84 Squadron)

Fokker D-VII (Capt. Rudolf Berthold)

Rumpler Taube

Sopwith Pup (Capt. Maurice D.G. Scott)

Sopwith Triplane (Mel Alexander)

Nieuport Type 27 Quentin Roosevelt)

Nieuport Type 28 (Quentin Roosevelt)

Fokker D.Vill

SPAD XIII (Frank Luke)

Aviatik D. (Berg)

Albatros DMO (Capt. Von Hippel) Pfalz D-XII

WWII FIGHTERS

Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3

Supermarine Spitfire T. Mk. IX

Focke-Wulf Fw 19OD-13

Curtiss P-40N Warhawk

Goodyear F2G-1 Super Corsair

Republic P-47D-2-RE Thunderbolt

Lockheed P-38L Lightning

Yak 91J

JET AGE

MIG 17

MiG 21

ENGINES

Clerget 130 hp rotary Austro_Daimler 120 hp Le Rhone 110 hp rotary

Allison V-1 710 (and core+ of second engine) Walter HMW 509 rocket (for Me 163)

Junkers Jumo 213E

Junkers jumo 213A (Spares++)

Pratt & Whitney R-4360 (from Hughes Flying Boat)

Pratt & Whitney R-2800