@ Lancaster, CA
May 2006
Another photo from my only visit to the now-defunct Milestones of Flight Air Museum in Lancaster. First flown in 1936, the fabric-covered Storch observation aircraft served German Forces throughout World War II. This aircraft possessed impressive STOL capabilities, in a light breeze the Storch could take off in 200 feet and land in about 66 feet. Fieseler began building the Storch in Germany, but was forced to move production to Morane-Saulnier in France (as the M.S.500 Criquet) and Mraz in Czechoslovakia (as the K-65 Cap) to free up manufacturing capacity for Messerschmitt Bf109 production. After the war Morane-Saulnier continued to produce the Storch as the M.S.500, and Mraz continued to build the K-65 Cap. Over 2,900 Fi 156s were produced. Panasonic FZ30 photo.
