AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 28

PILOT BRIEFING

30 NEWS 32 PEOPLE 34 PILOT PRODUCTS 38 GIFT GUIDE 42 TEST PILOT 52 AOPA FLY-INS

'Battle of
Britain' movie
airplanes sold
Will be restored by U.S., European collectors
B Y D AV E H I R S C H M A N

THE RARE FIGHTERS from the 1969 Battle of Britain
movie have been sold to restorers in the United States
and Europe, according to the agent handling the sale.
Wilson Connell "Connie" Edwards, the irascible
80-year-old pilot who coordinated the movie stunts and
took the airplanes as payment, has stored most of them
in a dusty, west Texas hangar for more than 40 years.
"All of the airplanes have been sold, and they will
be gone by the end of the year," said Simon Brown of
Platinum Fighters, which handled the sale. "We had
multiple full-price offers for each airplane. They are
going to three different buyers who plan to restore them
to top flying condition."
An original Mark IX Spitfire is the jewel of the fleet
and will return to England. Six Buchons (Bf-109s built
under license in Spain) will go to a collector in Europe.
And an original P-51 Mustang (that didn't appear in the
movie) will be restored at a United Sates restoration
shop. Brown declined to identify the buyers.
"These are barn finds-the last unrestored aircraft
of their kind in the world," Brown said. "They went for
about 20 percent more than flyable aircraft because they
are so completely original."
Edwards and his many and varied aircraft were featured in the August 2014 issue of AOPA Pilot magazine
("A Tall Tale That's True"). Edwards had intended to
give the movie airplanes to his son, Wilson Connell
"Tex" Edwards, but the younger man was killed in a
traffic accident about one year ago.

28 | AOPA PILOT November 2014

13
The
number
of flyable
Spitfire
fighters
in the
United
States.

CONNIE EDWARDS at his

west Texas ranch with
a rare two-seat Buchon
that appeared in the 1969
movie Battle of Britain.
Edward coordinated the
aerial scenes and took the
airplanes as payment.

VIEW THE

VIDEO

Tall tale: Historical
relics hidden in barns,
a video from AOPA Live
This Week.

Edwards made a fortune in the oil, ranching, and
stone business and kept his aircraft on a private strip at
his Big Spring home. He has more than a dozen other
rare aircraft including a Grumman Albatross, Mallard,
and two Consolidated PBYs that weren't included in
the sale.
Edwards unapologetically set high prices totaling
more than $15 million for the Battle of Britain airplanes
and absolutely refused to negotiate. Brown said the tactic worked.
"Connie got his price," Brown said. "In fact, he got a
little more than he was asking. The Buchons were sold
in 24 hours, and the rest were under contract within
four weeks."
EMAIL dave.hirschman@aopa.org



AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014

Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - Cover1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 10
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 12
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 22
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 26
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 28
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 34
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 36
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - CSC-1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - CSC-2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - R-1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - R-2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - R-3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - R-4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 95
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 102
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 106
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 112
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 113
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 114
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 115
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 116
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 117
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 118
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 119
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 120
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 121
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 122
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 123
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 124
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 125
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 126
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 127
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 128
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103_test
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011demo
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot0308
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com