Google street-view group carrying wings

[Le_Treport]

I feel sure that this MUST have been commented on before, but I've spent 10 minutes searching and can't find a reference! Apologies if it has.

I was virtually-motoring in Google streetview towards Ieper along the Veurnseweg, and spotted this group. It's before you hit the roundabout where Oude Veurnestraat goes off to the left - and is just outside the walls of the house/chateau which has a moat.

Looks like the forum pals' version of carrying a cross along the via Dolorosa - but any ideas who, where and why? If it was for a build of a replica plane, surely they would transport on a lorry!

[Ron Clifton]

Is that the front of a fuselage just visible behind the last tree on the left? Perhaps they have removed the wings and are carrying them a short distance for repair?

Ron

[Roger H]

Or stealing them for scrap!

Roger

[centurion]

if wings they are off a wing warper (no ailerons) - look very like those from one of the Morane Sauliner monoplanes of 1914/15 http://fsaircraft.net/sites/default/files/models/Morane_BulletType-N%5B1%5D.jpg?1298129394

[cdr]

This is almost certainly a project by the Vrij Technisch Instituut Ieper (a local technical school) Since the 1920's the school

has an original working engine. Recently they decided to build with the pupils (woodwork, car engineering etc) a full scale replica of a Morane Saulnier Parasol L around it

Carl

[centurion]

This is almost certainly a project by the Vrij Technisch Instituut Ieper (a local technical school) Since the 1920's the school

has an original working engine. Recently they decided to build with the pupils (woodwork, car engineering etc) a full scale replica of a Morane Saulnier Parasol L around it

Carl

In which case there's a centre section gone missing somewhere

[cdr]

http://www.wo1.be/ned/evenementen/erbij/2009/juni/ieper0106/body1.htm

in flemish some pictures of the plane

Carl

[tootrock]

A closer view, driving past.

Martin

[centurion]

That's better - can see the cut out so the whole wing is there

[Le_Treport]

Thank you Carl - local knowledge pays off!

Oddly, it looks as though that stretch of road is covered by two 'runs' of the Google camera, as for much of the way there is no sign of this group, then suddenly - they are there. Then they disappear again.

[KevinBattle]

The roundels are the French version, with blue centre as the reverse of RFC/RAF roundels.

I'm not sure if the Belgian Air Force had roundels in their National colours at the time of WW1?

Now where did the fuselage go?

Well done those lads, great project, but those wings look awfully short!