In 1976, now registered as N1940H and owned by Texas aerobatic pilot Bob Haak, the former U-90 was involved in a serious accident. Reportedly this happened at the conclusion of a low level loop. Following the accident, the aircraft was rebuilt with a Lycoming engine and a cowling which would be unlikely to win a prize at an aircraft beauty contest. Initially repainted white/red, it reverted to the familiar Swiss military scheme before It was placed on display at the Texas Air Museum in San Antonio.
During the white/red period, the aircraft displayed a German Imperial Eagle (Reichsadler) motif on the fin, but an eagle with part of one leg missing. This was apparently because Bob Haak sported a similar configuration :)
Now comes a happier period in U-90's life. Retrieved from the museum Tom Muller set about bringing the aircraft back to its original configuration. WIth a Siemens Sh14 engine newly overhauled by Dirk Bende and Swiss border conspicuity paint scheme, U-90 flew for a number of years from the Thomaston, Georgia airport until Tom was persuaded to part with it by Dr. Tim Callis. - There are more details of the rebuild here: U-90 Update
Unfortunately, in an accident that is still not fully understood, Dr. Callis was seriously injured when U-90 crashed on takeoff from the Ohio County airport in Kentucky. (Dr. Callis continues to recover and as of last month is communicating with family members and telephoning old friends to catch up)
And now what will with any luck be the final, and best part of U-90s life, the aircraft has been transported to the Bücker Museum in Teufen, Switzerland, where Albert Zeller and Thierry Lestang have already begun the rebuilding process. The Bitz company in Augsburg Germany will repair the fuselage and is manufacturing a new lower left wing.
