Browsing through the classified section of ‘a well known GA magazine’,I found one or two interesting/worrying adverts.
“Cream of the Classic Jets
Seen at UK and European air displays for last 12 years.DH Vampire Trainer G-HELV and two-seat Gloster Meteor NF.11 G-LOSM are now for sale with current Uk Permits to Fly.
http://www.ianc-w.freeserve.co.uk “
“Westland Lysander Mk.IIIa
Year 1942,extremely rare.Not Flying,located in Germany
£87,000″
Does anyone know anything about the Lysander?I didn’t realise there were any in Germany.A pic shows it painted overall yellow and covered in dust,sitting on flat tyres at the back of a GA hangar.
By: cas - 5th January 2004 at 21:03
the lysander is not as good as it sounds….
what you see is what you get…
I saw her at Brandon in Canada november 2002
the airframe and wings have been sheeted in alloy and we suspect pop riveted into the spars. and there is very little systems internally
it would probally make the basis of a good static but not much else
By: Kenneth - 4th January 2004 at 20:43
The Lysander belongs to MDM Aviation (www.mdm-aviation.com) in Freiburg in South-West Germany and would seem to have come from the US via Portugal. I found the aircraft in the WRG database. MDM Aviation is an aircraft broker and operates a Yak-3 reproduction (D-FYAK).
By: duxfordhawk - 4th January 2004 at 00:37
Get the feeling yet another “Meatbox”is going to leave the country 🙁 ,i hope i am wrong but meteors don’t seem to do so great here in UK.
By: JDK - 3rd January 2004 at 22:12
Like the ‘Only Meteor on the UK civil reg’ in the advert. True, as the Llnbedar target machine is military (technically) and almost out of hours / use and the MB machines are not civil reged and use military colours. Sounds better than 1 of 3 flying in UK. To be fair, it’s the only display flier!
Lysander – you are right David. The French were iven one and did scrap it, back in (I think) the sixties as you said. Still, they may deserve another chance? Or if someone wants to fly it…
The CWH machine is coming on very nicely. sould be flying in a brilliant yellow / black TT schem ‘soon’ – no don’t ask ‘how soon’!
ARCo Mercuries. I’d stand by ‘not operating the engines sucessfully’. Right, the engines didn’t fail, the whole a/c /crew system did. Result, stopped engines, bent a/c (mercifully) no major injuries.
By: Yak 11 Fan - 3rd January 2004 at 22:10
Fair enough, I guess I see your point, but it wasn’t the fault of the Mercury, it would have still had the same result had it been something powered by something modern such as a pair of 0-540’s.
By: JDK - 3rd January 2004 at 22:06
Well…, Yak fan, you are right, but the engines stopped and the a/c bellied. Cause is important, but the end result wasn’t good for crew, a/c props or engines – sooo… problems operating – shall I add ‘safely’? They’ve now got a major problem replacing / fixing the props.
I might add I’m a firm supporter of the Blenheim, but not an uncritical one.
By: David Burke - 3rd January 2004 at 22:04
The engines were fine! I think the supply of flamable liquid was the problem . Regards the French and Lysander’s I seem to remember the RAF presenting them with one circa 1960’s only for it to be broken up if my memory doesnt fail me!
By: Yak 11 Fan - 3rd January 2004 at 21:59
Originally posted by JDK
Few have kept theirs running satisfactorally – and I must include ARCo in that bracket now!Cheers
Why?? I thought it was a fuel flow issue rather than an engine problem which occured during the summer.
By: JDK - 3rd January 2004 at 21:55
Gah, beaten by the Ant!
Well done that man…
As regards the Lizzie price – as was once said: “Well, he would wouldn’t he!” The trick will be a reliable Mercury engine. Few have kept theirs running satisfactorally – and I must include ARCo in that bracket now!
Cheers
By: JDK - 3rd January 2004 at 21:52
Yes, Martin Baker do operate a Meteor 7.5(!) and have another in backup. However they are both working aircraft, and get shown static at airshows, but aren’t normally alowed to fly in displays, as MB understandibly want to get money for airframe fategue life. Only 1 is flying at a time at MB’s own field, Chalgrove, S. Oxon.
There’s a fair few Lizzie airframes in Canada – the French might be interested to represent a 161 Sqn a/c. The RAF Museum’s example has 161 Sqn service I discovered reading it’s board the other day!
Cheers
By: Ant.H - 3rd January 2004 at 21:49
MB operate a pair of converted T.7’s from Chalgrove in Oxfordshire.An article in A*roplane stated that MB could still be flying them 20 years from now! 🙂 It would make it no less of a shame for G-LOSM to go abroad though 🙁
Thnaks for the info on the Lizzie David,do you happen to know what sort of internal condition she’s in?Presumably from the price tag teh current owners feel she’s a potential flyer.
By: Yak 11 Fan - 3rd January 2004 at 21:30
Do Martin Baker still operate a Meteor or two?
By: Black Knight - 3rd January 2004 at 21:28
I seem to remember both of these being offered for sale along with the Sea Vixen. I don’t think the Vampires price has changed but the Meteor’s has come down quite alot. My money’s on that one going to the U.S.
By: sconnor - 3rd January 2004 at 21:26
Only 130 Grand for the pair, what a bargain – I desperately hope someone in the UK buys them, too many heritage aircraft are disappearing overseas.
Ironically all that money goes to the Vulcan and the last remaining flying Meteor might leave the UK.
By: David Burke - 3rd January 2004 at 21:23
Ant- The Lysander is ex Wes Agnew and seems to have at least routed through Portugal on the way in. Not quite sure what the original deal was for it to arrive in Europe though.The registration
on the side is spurious. It’s Canadian built .
By: RobAnt - 3rd January 2004 at 21:18
Wow – I do hope someone comes along who can afford to buy the Meteor & Vampire, and keep them flying together as the Vintage pair! With both of them having nearly half of their fatigue life remaining, they sound like good value given their historical importance.
Sadly, I wouldn’t know where to start and know little of which I speak!
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January 3, 2004 at 8:55 pm