The Gotha fuselage after arrival, with author Peter Metzmacher.

The world’s only surviving Gotha Go 145 trainer returned to its birthplace in the town of Gotha, central Germany, on October 18. It will now be restored by a team from Gotha Fahrzeugtechnik, a successor of the original company, which builds metal masts and pylons.

An original Argus As10C engine has recently been acquired for the project. The fuselage was displayed in a beer garden near Munich Airport for many years, fitted with Bücker Jungmann wings. In 1996 the Berlin-based Deutsches Technikmuseum acquired it, using the wings for another project.

In total 1,182 Go 145s were built during 1936–40, the type serving with the Luftwaffe, the Spanish Air Force and, post-war, the Czech Air Force.