Tender loving care for HA-LIX

For owners and operators of historic aircraft, wintertime is the season for periodic overhaul and repair of their precious machines. The Goldtimer Foundation in Hungary is no exception. Their ultra-rare Lisunov Li-2 HA-LIX, named ‘Kármán Tódor’ is currently in the final stages of its overhaul in the Foundation’s facility at Budaörs Airport, Budapest.

Although operated and maintained by the Goldtimer Foundation, the owner of the Lisunov is actually the HM or Hadtörténeti Museum (MoD military museum).

During the overhaul period, both propellors were removed and serviced. They have recently been installed again. The undercarriage legs were inspected and serviced too, after disassembly of the wheels and brakes. The ailerons have been repaired and will soon be installed again.

If all goes according to plan, the Goldtimer Foundation expects HA-LIX to return to operational condition by the end of April.

And for those of you unfamiliar with the type Lisunov Li-2: this was the Soviet, licence-built version of the Douglas DC-3 Dakota/C-47 Skytrain. Some 5,000 examples have been built, of which HA-LIX, a former Malév machine, is the only airworthy Li-2 in the world! It is powered by two Shvetsov ASh-62IR radial engines.

Info and photos: Endre Zsaludek