Buchons are a rare sight in the air today; the Planes of Fame example crashed during filming of Pearl Harbor last year, the 1999 crash of the Old Flying Machine Company’s example claimed the life of Mark Hanna, and the Belgium-based Vormezeele Collection machine has flown infrequently over the last eight years.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hispano HA-1109/HA-1112 Buchon - ИспанияSpain - 1945

Charlie Brown airborne in Harold Kindsvater’s Hispano HA-1112-M1L Buchon N109W - formerly C4K-169 with the Spanish Air Force, G-AWHT during the filming of Battle of Britain, and N9939 with the Confederate Air Force at Harlingen, Texas, USA. The Rolls-Royce Merlin 500-powered aircraft, painted in Luftwaffe camouflage as a Messerschmitt Bf 109 of JG27, was photographed by MICHAEL O’LEARY on July 19, 2001, near the former Castle Air Force Base (now a civilian-run airport) in central California.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hispano HA-1109/HA-1112 Buchon - ИспанияSpain - 1945

For the Battle of Britain Film the Buchon had its elliptical wingtips replaced with Bf 109E-style square units. These have since been replaced, but the aircraft retains its dummy guns atop the cowling.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hispano HA-1109/HA-1112 Buchon - ИспанияSpain - 1945

TOP Charlie Brown (how can you tell he’s British?), who completed the test flying and trained the Buchon’s owner.
BOTTOM Owner Harold Kindsvater in N109W’s cockpit. “What a thrill! ... It was the best feeling I have ever had on a first flight”, he recalls.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hispano HA-1109/HA-1112 Buchon - ИспанияSpain - 1945

The Buchon’s impressive climb performance led pilot Charlie Brown to proclaim “It’s a monkey!” repeatedly during the test-flying phase.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hispano HA-1109/HA-1112 Buchon - ИспанияSpain - 1945

A Buchon in wolf’s clothing: Harold Kindsvater’s aircraft has been painted in Luftwaffe colours as a home-defence Messerschmitt Bf 109G of JG27, with Afrika emblem on the nose.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hispano HA-1109/HA-1112 Buchon - ИспанияSpain - 1945

Looking particularly Teutonic from this angle, N109W displays its splayed undercarriage and classic Bf 109 rear fuselage and tail.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hispano HA-1109/HA-1112 Buchon - ИспанияSpain - 1945

Attention to detail: note the “Nicht betreten” (“no step”) stencils on the split flap.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hispano HA-1109/HA-1112 Buchon - ИспанияSpain - 1945

Further authentic German markings on the starboard wheel ...

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hispano HA-1109/HA-1112 Buchon - ИспанияSpain - 1945

Seen here in Spanish Air Force markings, a Hispano HA-1112-M1L shows off its 20mm cannon armament and eight underwing rocket rails.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hispano HA-1109/HA-1112 Buchon - ИспанияSpain - 1945

The Hispano-Suiza-engined HA-1109-K1L variant had much less bulbous cowl lines than the Merlin-powered variants.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hispano HA-1109/HA-1112 Buchon - ИспанияSpain - 1945

Where has test- and warbird-pilot Charlie Brow been hanging his helmet?

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hispano HA-1109/HA-1112 Buchon - ИспанияSpain - 1945

... but the cockpit has been equipped with English-language instruments, controls and placards.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hispano HA-1109/HA-1112 Buchon - ИспанияSpain - 1945

Looking a bit bent after its unscheduled contact with Harlingen’s grass in October 1976. Eight-and-a-half years earlier the aircraft had flown as Messerschmitt Bf 109 “Red 5” during the making of the Battle of Britain film in Spain and at Duxford in the UK.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hispano HA-1109/HA-1112 Buchon - ИспанияSpain - 1945