Stolen bitz triplane ei-apw

[Blue Max Aviation DR1]

I have been looking for my Bitz built Fokker Dr.1 Triplane for a number of years. It disappeared from Chino Airport in California. I Google EI-APW Triplane whenever I am on the internet ...without success until it popped up last week. I have written the following e-mail to the person who managed to get it from the Flabob Museum in California where it was supposedly abandoned.

I would appreciate in and all information anyone has on this incident.

Best regards,

Lynn Garrison..

**************************

Dear Mark

Partial quote from your comments on the Sands DR.1 Builders Group on Aerodrome

sands-builders-group-235



“The story as I've been able to gather is that the plane was brought out from the LA area to a fellow in the Inland Empire area to have some work done. The fellow who did the work was then unable to contact the owner. After storing the plane for several years he moved and took the plane with him. After several more years and still unable to contact the owner, he was going to move again but didn't want to move the plane again. That's when he dropped it off at Flabob.
As you can see, it's a bit of a mystery plane. Maybe something from the movie industry?

Are there missing DR.I's out there?”
****************

The answer to your question is yes.

Your description could only apply to one of the two Bitz Triplanes built for use in the film BLUE MAX.

I have owned the Bitz Triplane EI-APW since the mid sixties and have never transferred Title to anyone else. I have never authorized any lien or encumbrance against the Title, nor any mechanical work.

I have been looking for the Triple EI-APW for a number of years and was always amazed that it never appeared on any of the internet sites. Especially when I have had aviation friends, all over the world, keeping their eyes open for any hint of its existence. I even kept a watch out for the Siemens engine in case it was utilized in someone’s replica project.

It wasn’t until last week, when I Googled Triplane EI-APW that your entry on the Sands Forum/Aerodrome came up.

This aircraft was stored with my old friend Bruce Goessling at his Chino facility where he specialized in restoring War Two aircraft, along with some newer jets. I had known Bruce sine the mid-sixties when I had my Corsair operating from Monterey where he had his P-40. (Later owned by Gill Macy.) The Triplane was stored on a trailer at his shop at the Chino airport when it disappeared. At that time, anyone involved with classic aircraft, at Chino, knew the Triplane belonged to me.

I did not authorize its removal from Bruce Goessling’s property.

I did not seek, authorize, or approve any mechanical work on the aircraft. (Why would I do that when I am in the business ?)

I have absolutely no idea of who the person could be who “dropped” the aircraft off at Flabob. I would appreciate any information as to who was involved. It may be too later for criminal action, since the statutes have probably expired. However, I can still bring a civil action against those involved for a variety of things.

I would also appreciate some type of schedule so that I can have someone pick my aircraft up. I will then be able to start the restoration process to get it back in the air, as I have intended for years.

With best regards,

Lynn Garrison


aerodrome id Blue Max Aviation DR1

[Laserlloyd]

Blue Max Aviation DR1:

I have gone to the Chino Airport once in the late 70's for the WW2 air show and what a show it was. I thought it was a great gathering of WW2 planes and watching a B25, B25 and B26 wing tip to wing tip was fanatic. I wish I had known that there was a DR.I there at that time.

Was this one was used in the movie? If so did it have the original fabric or was it recovered?

Lloyd...

[Major Larabee]

Originally Posted by Laserlloyd

Blue Max Aviation DR1:

I have gone to the Chino Airport once in the late 70's for the WW2 air show and what a show it was. I thought it was a great gathering of WW2 planes and watching a B25, B25 and B26 wing tip to wing tip was fanatic. I wish I had known that there was a DR.I there at that time.

Was this one was used in the movie? If so did it have the original fabric or was it recovered?

Lloyd...

This is one of the two made for and used in "The Blue Max" and several other Films in the Sixties early eventies. It would have been repainted and probably recovered many times!
Its sister is alive and well int the UK, be great to see her restored and returned to the air where she belongs.

[Ross_Moorhouse]

Moved thread to this forum. You should get more replies from here.

[Blue Max Aviation DR1]

Ross:

Thanks a lot.

The extra exposure will help.

Many years ago, before I got into the RCAF, I was involved with motorcycles. I had an Indian 80 cubic inch Bonnyville, Harley 74, 61 and 45 cubic inch bikes, a Triumph Trophy and ----a Brough Superior that I bought for $75.00. Wish I had kept it!!

Lynn Garrison

[Brad]

Just giving the thread a little bump to get attention. I really, REALLY hope you recover your aircraft.

[Major Larabee]

Thought i'd give this a little bump, hoping for the right outcome othis one

[hank jarrett]

I'm with Larabee on this. I want to know what happens and what actions have been and are taken to get the plane back. My rather thick 3 ring binder with all my research and plans for my GL Nie 11 were stollen a couple of years ago (at an EAA meeting of all places, Although I am sure it had to be a visitor). I have since rebuilt my folder, but the loss of so many drawings and notes on the modifications to the design I wanted were extremely difficult to overcome. I haven't started building yet and loss of that book came as close as anything to ending my plans to build a replica. Starting over caused numerous distractions and wasted time looking at other designs. The only positive result was I ended up putting much more time into my Taylorcraft. It will fly first, but if I hadn't lost my papers, I would have had the Nieuport in the air by now. From what the lawyers have told me, I still own the serial number for the plans that were stollen and if the slime ball who has them ever builds a plane I have a pretty good shot at taking the plane that results from him in court. I would never fly such a plane, but would really enjoy taking it from him, making it unflyable, and hanging it in an airport lobby with the whole story of the thief (I would prefer an airport where the thief had to walk past it every time he traveled. ;-)
Keep this thread going till you have the plane back in your hangar. We are pulling for you!
Hank

[Blue Max Aviation DR1]

Originally Posted by hank jarrett

I'm with Larabee on this. I want to know what happens and what actions have been and are taken to get the plane back. My rather thick 3 ring binder with all my research and plans for my GL Nie 11 were stollen a couple of years ago (at an EAA meeting of all places, Although I am sure it had to be a visitor). I have since rebuilt my folder, but the loss of so many drawings and notes on the modifications to the design I wanted were extremely difficult to overcome. I haven't started building yet and loss of that book came as close as anything to ending my plans to build a replica. Starting over caused numerous distractions and wasted time looking at other designs. The only positive result was I ended up putting much more time into my Taylorcraft. It will fly first, but if I hadn't lost my papers, I would have had the Nieuport in the air by now. From what the lawyers have told me, I still own the serial number for the plans that were stollen and if the slime ball who has them ever builds a plane I have a pretty good shot at taking the plane that results from him in court. I would never fly such a plane, but would really enjoy taking it from him, making it unflyable, and hanging it in an airport lobby with the whole story of the thief (I would prefer an airport where the thief had to walk past it every time he traveled. ;-)
Keep this thread going till you have the plane back in your hangar. We are pulling for you!
Hank

Mark Lightsey, who seems to have taken possession of the stolen aircraft has not replied to my post on the Aerodrome and he has not replied to the several e-mails I have sent to his aviation restoration company in Hemet, California. He was on an aviation commission there some time ago. He has a company called AeroCraftsman and seems to be marketing bomber seats he makes on jalopy.com
I still am the registered owner so the aircraft cannot be of much use to anyone.
As you probably know, I am out of the States at the moment and will have to take some legal action when I return to California.

Lynn

[Jim Bruton]

You need an Airplane Bounty Hunter to go and get it for you.

Jim